I Believe in God but Don't Know Him

The reason I left you in Crete was that you might straighten out what was left unfinished and appoint elders in every town, as I directed you. An elder must be blameless, the husband of but one wife, a man whose children believe and are not open to the charge of being wild and disobedient. Since an overseer is entrusted with God’s work, he must be blameless—not overbearing, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain. Rather he must be hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined. He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it. For there are many rebellious people, mere talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision group. They must be silenced, because they are ruining whole households by teaching things they ought not to teach—and that for the sake of dishonest gain. Even one of their own prophets has said, “Cretans are always liars, evil brutes, lazy gluttons.” This testimony is true. Therefore, rebuke them sharply, so that they will be sound in the faith and will pay no attention to Jewish myths or to the commands of those who reject the truth. To the pure, all things are pure, but to those who are corrupted and do not believe, nothing is pure. In fact, both their minds and consciences are corrupted.

Titus 1:16 NIV84

They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good.

Reality: God created us to have a relationship with Him.

Three Categories of Knowing God

1. SOME BELIEVE IN GOD BUT DON’T KNOW HIM.

1 John 2:3–4 NIV84

We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands. The man who says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him.

Transformation Shows You Know God.

Matthew 7:21–23 NIV84

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’

These Folks Know Who Gods is but Don’t Have a Relationship with Him.

2. SOME BELIEVE IN GOD AND KNOW HIM BUT DON’T KNOW HIM WELL.

We are Informed about God, but Not Transformed By God.

Galatians 4:8–9 NIV

Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods. But now that you know God—or rather are known by God—how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable forces? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again?

If You Don’t Know Him Well, You will be Tempted to Turn Back to Your Old Lifestyle.

SOME BELIEVE IN GOD AND KNOW HIM INTIMATELY AND SERVE HIM WHOLEHEARTEDLY.

You know that when you are weak, He makes you strong.

Psalm 63:1–4 NIV84

O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water. I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory. Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands.

Paul’s Prayer for You

Ephesians 1:17–19 NIV84

I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength,

Where does your faith land? Don’t Know Him; Know Him but not well; Know Him intimately and serve Him wholeheartedly?