How to Know God?

IV. How to Know God

God has created each of us to know Him personally. Four basic truths explain how this is possible.

1. God loves us and wants us to experience a meaningful life.

“God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). God the Father loves you. He gave His only Son, Jesus Christ, to die for you. “I [Jesus] have come that they might have life, and have it to the full” (John 10:10).

2. We are separated from God.

God is holy, which means He is perfect. Unfortunately, every person has sinned; “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). The consequence of sin is separation from God; “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). An enormous gap separates us from God. Individuals try without success to bridge this gap through their own efforts, such as philosophy, religion, or living a good moral life. It is important to understand that we only live on this earth once. “Man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment” (Hebrews 9:27). There is no such thing as reincarnation.

3. God’s only provision to bridge this gap is Jesus Christ.

“But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). Jesus Christ died on the cross to pay the penalty for our sin. He bridged the gap between God and us. Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me’” (John 14:6). This bridge is a gift from God; “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9).

4. Each of us must receive Jesus Christ.

“To all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God” (John 1:12). Nothing in life compares with of knowing Christ personally. We can experience true peace, joy, and hope when we receive Him as Savior and Lord. If you desire to know the Lord and are not certain whether you have this relationship, you may receive Christ right now. Pray a prayer similar to this one: “Father God, I need you. I invite Jesus to come into my life as my Savior and Lord and make me the person you want me to be. Thank you for forgiving my sins and giving me the gift of eternal life.” “Believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life” (1 John 5:13). If you have asked Jesus Christ to come into your life as your Savior, you now know Him and have eternal life.