To Know as We are Known
We have all spoken the name, heard it spoken in sermons, sang in songs and read the name in Bibles, studies and meditations. While we may not have experienced the name, Jesus Christ, in everyone of the ways mentioned above we have all been touched by it. The true question is how real is the man Jesus to you? In fact, ask yourself, what do I know about Jesus?" You might conclude that you know very little beyond what you learned in Sunday School and sermons.
If you were to write everything you know about Him in a letter to a friend who wanted to know and understand Jesus, how long would your letter be? Another key question that you should answer is; " how much of what I know is based upon the scriptures and how much is rooted more in mythologies than theology". God reveals to us by the prophet Hosea, "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children (4:6)
The Scriptures are clear, our lack of knowledge causes our destruction. We are attacked and overcome because of what we do not know, nor strive to know even when opportunity presents itself. Our rejection of knowledge is at the heart of our destruction. We can look around us and see. We fail in relationships, because we don't know and don't want to know, and much less do, the things necessary to preserve and prosper them and us.
God's Desire For Us
God's desire in the scripture is that we know Him. His desire that we know Him is at the root of The Bible. The Bible is, God revealing Himself to us so that we might know Him as the True and Living God, Creator, Savior and Lord of Life itself. He tells us in 2 Timothy 3:16&17, "16All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works." (KJV) His purpose in revealing Himself to us in Scripture is rooted in the He desire to prosper us through this knowledge. The New Living Translation interprets verse 17 as, "God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work."
Clearly, the Bible has been written and given to us to increase our lives, to empower us to live with more Grace and Peace. As we study the Bible, we discover more about God, meaning that our knowledge of God grows. As you will see, there are many benefits and blessings which arise out of knowing God better.
Knowing God
While the Scriptures declare that God may be known in them, they specifically say that God is best revealed to us in the Life and Ministry of His Son, Jesus Christ. God says in John 1:16-18
16 From his abundance we have all received one gracious blessing after another. 17 For the law was given through Moses, but God’s unfailing love and faithfulness came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God. But the unique One, who is himself God, is near to the Father’s heart. He has revealed God to us." (NLT)
The Scriptures declare that God can be known personally only through His Son, Jesus Christ. In fact, by Jesus Christ we receive adoption into the family of God. John 1:12-13 says
"But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. 13 They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God."