Nature of knowing God

The origin of knowing God

Knowing God depends on revelation

Romans 11:33–36 NASB95

Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who became His counselor? Or who has first given to Him that it might be paid back to him again? For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen.

See also Is 40:13; Dt 29:29; Nu 12:6; Nu 23:3; Job 12:22; Is 40:5; Is 65:1; Eze 20:5; Da 2:20–23; Da 2:28

Am 4:13; Mt 11:25–27 Jesus Christ praises the Father for the revelation the disciples receive; Ro 16:25–26; Ga 1:12; Eph 3:4–5

God gives knowledge of his reality through creation

Romans 1:20 NASB95

For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.

See also Ps 8:1; Ps 19:1–4; Ps 97:6; Ac 14:17; Ac 17:24–27

God gives knowledge of his mercy and his will through Scripture, both law and gospel

Romans 1:17 NASB95

For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “But the righteous man shall live by faith.”

See also Dt 31:13; Ac 10:36; 1 Co 1:20–21; Heb 8:10–11; Je 31:33–34

God gives knowledge of himself through Jesus Christ

Matthew 11:27 NASB95

“All things have been handed over to Me by My Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father; nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.

See also Jn 3:2; Jn 8:19; Jn 10:32; Jn 14:7; Jn 16:30; Jn 17:3; Col 2:2; 2 Ti 1:9–10; 1 Pe 1:20–21

God gives knowledge of himself and his ways through the Spirit

Ephesians 1:17 NASB95

that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him.

See also Is 11:2; Jn 14:16–17; Jn 14:26; Jn 15:26; Jn 16:12–15; Ac 4:31; 1 Co 2:9–11; 1 Co 12:8; Eph 3:16–19; 1 Pe 1:12

God gives knowledge of his greatness and grace through experience of him, submission to him and in answer to prayer

Psalm 56:9–11 NASB95

Then my enemies will turn back in the day when I call; This I know, that God is for me. In God, whose word I praise, In the Lord, whose word I praise, In God I have put my trust, I shall not be afraid. What can man do to me?

See also Ex 9:29; Ps 17:6–7; Ps 66:19–20; Is 41:19–20; Is 45:3–6; Is 50:4; Is 60:16; Je 22:16; Je 24:7; Eze 6:7

The nature of knowing God

Knowing his character

Jonah 4:2 NASB95

He prayed to the Lord and said, “Please Lord, was not this what I said while I was still in my own country? Therefore in order to forestall this I fled to Tarshish, for I knew that You are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, and one who relents concerning calamity.

See also Dt 7:9; Ps 9:10; Ps 36:10; Ps 135:5; 1 Th 4:3–5; 1 Jn 4:8; 1 Jn 4:16

Knowing his words and works

Amos 3:7 NASB95

Surely the Lord God does nothing Unless He reveals His secret counsel To His servants the prophets.

See also Ge 41:25 Pharaoh; Ex 6:6–7; Ex 7:5; Ex 7:17; Ex 18:11; Dt 29:29

Samuel:

1 Sa 3:7; 1 Sa 3:21

David:

1 Sa 17:46; 2 Sa 7:21; 2 Sa 7:27

2 Ki 8:10 Elisha; 2 Ki 19:19 Hezekiah; Ps 147:19; Eze 20:9; Lk 2:26 Simeon; Jn 17:8; Ac 2:22; Ac 22:14

To know Jesus Christ is to know God

Jn 14:6; Col 1:15

See also Mt 16:16–17; Jn 8:19; Jn 15:15; Jn 16:15; Jn 17:26; Col 2:2–3; 1 Jn 5:20

To know God is to experience his salvation

John 17:3 NASB95

“This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.

See also Ps 17:6–7; Is 25:9; Is 43:12; Is 52:10; Is 56:1; 1 Jn 5:13; 1 Jn 5:20