God Through His Word

One of the most vital teachings of Scripture is that God can be known. The highest knowledge to which men and women can attain is a personal knowledge of God (Jer. 9:24). People do not naturally possess this knowledge (Rom. 3:10,11), even though they know He exists (Ps. 14:1; Rom. 1:19,20). Knowing that God exists is not the same as knowing God personally, just as knowing about the President does not mean that you necessarily know him personally. This knowledge of God is crucial, however, since to know God personally is to be saved and have eternal life (John 17:3).

People should rejoice in the fact that God earnestly wants them to attain his knowledge. That is why He has spoken to us in His Word, revealing Himself and disclosing the means by which we may know Him.

While God surely can be known, there is always more to be learned about Him. There are many Scriptures that teach that our knowledge of God is partial. It is said to be "too wonderful" (Ps. 139:6), "unsearchable" (Ps. 147:5). Since our knowledge of God is incomplete, we must increase it through Spiritual growth. Paul, for example, prays to know God better (Phil. 3:10). We are even commanded to grow in the knowledge of Christ (2 Pet. 3:18). The development of one's intimate knowledge of God constitutes one of the greatest delights of the Christian life.

The Bible also reveals that God cannot be known personally apart from His Word. It contains the gospel that must be believed (Eph. 1:13), and the gospel brings forth saving faith in itself (Rom. 10:17). The gospel can therefore be called "the power of God to salvation" (Rom. 1:16). The part that the Scriptures and the gospel contain within them play in bringing people to know God is described in three important illustrations:

1. The gospel is the agent of the new birth (James 1:18), that is, it is like the implant seed without which the conception of new life cannot occur.

2. It is also a cleansing agent through which God gives the believing sinner a spiritual bath that results in salvation (Eph. 5:26).

3. The Scriptures are like an educator bringing the wisdom that leads to salvation (2 Tim. 3:15). So bring the Word, bring the rain of God and be a light in this world.