Come And See

While I am certainly not against a good college education, or having an understanding that will help someone through life, there are too many people who think this is the only knowledge they need. We live in a country that continues to lose sight of God and His holy word. A great number of people feel like they are too smart or intelligent to be dooped by believing in a God they cannot see. While some will acknowledge that there is a God, many treat the Bible like their monthly subscription to their favorite magazine. God calls His people to have a knowledge of Him. He has given us His word through inspiration and preservation to this day that we might know His will for our lives. Do you have the proper knowledge that God has called you to have? Are you seeking to find what it is that God wants you to know? To this subject we have dedicated this article.

MANY PEOPLE DO NOT KNOW GOD

From the beginning of time, God has expected man to know Him and His will. But just as it is true of our day, the Bible reveals to us that God’s people were destroyed, “for lack of knowledge” (Hosea 4:6). Why did those people in the Old Testament disobey God and find themselves sent off into captivity? Why was God angry with His people on so many occasions? Because they would not retain God in their knowledge.

Even into the New Testament do we find record of forgetting about God and His word. Looking back to the time of creation, Paul wrote, “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools…”, then listings all the things that they did shows their disregard for God (Romans 1:20-22). The problem that man had, and continues to have, is that they try to know God by their own wisdom…Paul said that this is not possible (I Cor. 1:21). When Paul wrote concerning the need to remain pure in our knowledge of God, he wrote, “each one of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, not in passion of lust, like the Gentiles who do not know God…” (I Thess. 4:4-5). This does not mean that they cannot or will not come to know God, but that one can freely choose to take no knowledge of Him (Romans 1:28). The Bible reminds us time and again that we need not only to acknowledge God’s existence, but lives lives that are in accordance to His will. Paul wrote, “They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him, being abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work” (Titus 1:16) The danger in not knowing God is the consequence of damnation that it brings (II Thess. 1:8-9).

ALL MANKIND MUST KNOW THE FATHER

The beginning of knowledge is the fear (respect, reverence) of the Lord (Prov. 1:7) If someone claims to be His child, they must know Him (Hebrews 8:11) If we are God’s child we will also strive to increase in our knowledge of Him and His will (Colossians 1:10). A sure result of someone knowing God is their keeping of His commandments. John penned, “He who says, ‘I know Him,’ and does not keep His commandments, is a liar and the truth is not in him” (I John 2:4) Do you know Him?

ALL MANKIND MUST KNOW JESUS THE SON

Paul said to know the love of Christ “passes knowledge” and that by this knowledge we may be, “filled with all the fulness of God” (Ephesians 3:19) Paul did not simply express this need for others, but said of himself, “For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed to Him until that Day.” (II Tim. 1:12) Paul knew that all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hid in Christ (Col. 2:3) Are you in Christ? (Gal. 3:26-27)

ALL MANKIND MUST KNOW THE SCRIPTURES

It is never too early and certainly never to late to start learning the scriptures. As a matter of a fact, Paul wrote of Timothy, “from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus” (II Tim. 3:15) While we can learn of salvation in Christ by the word of God, we can also be ignorant of the same. Jesus told some, “You are mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God” (Matt. 22:29; Rom 1:16). God certainly desires that all mankind know the truth that is revealed in His word and be saved (I Tim. 2:4). Jesus even stated that those who “know the truth” are made to be free (John 8:32).

We are encouraged to be filled with the knowledge of God’s will (Col. 1:9). In order for one to do as God directs, they must, “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (II Peter 3:18). If we fail to continue to add knowledge to our faith we are not growing as God directs. In a list of attributes that Peter records of the Christian life, he says, “add to your faith virtue and to virtue knowledge…etc.” (II Peter 1:5-9) This is not worldly knowledge but knowledge of God’s inspired word.

While we are required to have a knowledge of God, we are also warned not to abuse it. Paul said that, “knowledge puffs up, but love edifies” (I Cor. 8:1) We must speak the truth in love and be sure to recognize that all knowledge (spiritual) comes from God and that we are to use that knowledge to His glory in leading others to Christ. Do you know the Lord?

Contact Us

Copyright ©
All rights reserved
 Northend Church of Christ in Ashland, OH, USA
Last modified: 05/02/08

.