Knowing God

This is what the Lord says: “Do not let the wise boast in their wisdom, or the powerful boast in their power, or the rich boast in their riches. But those who wish to boast should boast in this alone: that they truly know Me and understand that I am the Lord who demonstrates unfailing love and who brings justice and righteousness to the earth, and that I delight in these things. I, the Lord, have spoken! Jeremiah 9:23-24 (NLT)

Our world today tends to admire human knowledge, power (strength), and wealth (possessions). Yet, God places a higher priority on knowing Him personally (intimately) and living a life that reflects His holy qualities. The prophet Jeremiah tells us that God is not impressed with our human wisdom, human strength (power) nor human riches (Jeremiah 9:23). Rather, God takes pleasure and enjoyment in His people coming to know Him and understand Him as a faithful, loving, forgiving, merciful, and fair God (Jeremiah 9:24). These qualities are God’s trademarks (see also Exodus 34:6-7). God is “compassionate and gracious . . .  slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion, and sin” (Exodus 34:6-7, NIV). Therefore, “Let him who boasts boast in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 1:31; see also 2 Corinthians 10:17). Ultimately, only God and our knowledge and love for Him are valuable.

Even more, God delights in people who also practice kindness, justice, and mercy, and faithfulness (Matthew 23:23). In fact, God promises covenant blessings to those who obey Him and follow His example of holy living (see Matthew 5 -7, Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount). God takes pleasure in His people living these His qualities of loving-kindness, mercy, and faithfulness in their daily lives (see also See also Psalm 11:7; Psalm 33:5; Psalm 99:4; Micah 6:8; Galatians 5:22-23). The true and living God wants everyone to live a life fully committed to Him as their God and following His example of living (Romans 2:25-29).

And this is the way to have eternal life—to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the one you sent to earth. John 17:3 (NLT)

Theologians use many big words to describe God’s special qualities:  transcendence (greatness), omnipotence (all-powerful), and omnipresence (always present). Yet, truly knowing God comes through our wholehearted faith in Him as the true and living God of heaven and earth. This faith-relationship in God brings our salvation and eternal life as well as generating love, faithfulness, mercy, fairness, humility, grace, and forgiveness (John 17:3; Ephesians 1:17-19; Ephesians 3:19; Philippians 3:8-11).

Our faith-knowledge only comes by knowing God the Father Himself through His Son, Jesus Christ, who is God incarnate (in human flesh). Jesus Christ has clearly revealed to us God, His truth, and how we can know Him (Matthew 11:27). Through Jesus Christ, we come to know His Father as our loving heavenly Father (John 14:6; see also Matthew 11:27; John 17:3). Even more, our wholehearted faith produces the fruit of rebirth (John 3:5-15), the delivery of a new heart (Jeremiah 24:7; 1 John 5:20), and enlightenment by the Holy Spirit (2 Corinthians 4:6; Ephesians 1:17).

Many respected biblical scholars will attest that no one can fully understand God because God is eternal and beyond our full understanding. Psalm 145 says, “Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised, and His greatness is unsearchable” (Psalm 145:3). In other words, God’s greatness is beyond searching out or discovering and is too great ever to be fully known (see also Psalm 147:5). No one can fully comprehend God except the Spirit of God (1 Corinthians 2:10-12). As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are God’s ways higher than our ways and His thoughts than our thoughts (Isaiah 55:9). We can all cry out with David, “Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain it” (Psalm 139:6).

Nevertheless, if we are to lead a life “worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to Him,” it must be one in which we are continually “increasing in the knowledge of God” (Colossians 1:10). God has given us His love letter, the Holy Bible, to help humanity know and love Him (Deuteronomy 6:4-6; Matthew 22:37). From the Holy Bible, we can know that God is love (1 John 4:8), that God is light (1 John 1:5), that God is Spirit (John 4:24), that God is just and righteous (Romans 3:26). Still more, God controls the universe and our lives in perfect wisdom, justice, and love as He is the possessor of all power and all wisdom. Although we may not all understand God completely, “we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them” (Romans 8:28, NLT).

Oh, how great are God’s riches and wisdom and knowledge! How impossible it is for us to understand His decisions and His ways! For who can know the Lord’s thoughts? Who knows enough to give Him advice? And who has given Him so much that He needs to pay it back? For everything comes from Him and exists by His power and is intended for His glory. All glory to Him (God) forever! Amen. Romans 11:33-36 (NLT)

Reference

Life Application Study Bible. Carol Streams, IL: Tyndale House Pub., 2005.

New Student Bible. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1992.

Zondervan NIV Study Bible. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2008.

Packer, J.I. Concise Theology: A Guide to Historic Christian Beliefs. Carol Stream, IL:  Tyndale House Pub., 1993.

Grudem, Wayne. Systematic Theology. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1994.