KNOWING GOD ; KNOWING SCRIPTURE

NEW SERIES:-

KNOWING GOD

KNOWING SCRIPTURE

INTRO:-

For a while now almost as long as the Covid 19 has been causing us much concern.

I have been bothered and doing a lot of thinking about the many who name themselves to be Christian seemingly changing their mind about end time things etc.

I find this to have revealed a serious lack of knowledge ;

1. Who God is.

2. What the Scriptures say.

I have found over time that many people

“ Know about God but there are few who KNOW GOD”

“ Who know about the Bible Scriptures but again few actually the BIBLE SCRIPTURES”

These are the 2 driving statements for the NEW SERIES I am about to Begin

Philippians 3:10 (KJV 1900)

10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;

Philippians 3:10 (KJVSL)

That I may know γινώσκω him αὐτός,

and καί the power δύναμις of his αὐτός resurrection ἀνάστασις, and καί the fellowship κοινωνία of his αὐτός sufferings πάθημα, being made conformable συμμορφόω unto his αὐτός death θάνατος;

1 John 5:13 (KJV 1900)

13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

1 John 5:13 (KJVSL) These things ταῦτα have I written γράφω unto you ὑμῖν that believe πιστεύω on εἰς the name ὄνομα of the Son υἱός of God θεός;

that ἵνα ye may know εἴδω

that ye ὅτι have ἔχω eternal αἰώνιος life ζωή, and καί that ἵνα ye may believe πιστεύω on εἰς the name ὄνομα of the Son υἱός of God θεός.

These 2 Verse are the 2 scriptures that will form the base of our introduction to the Series.

The words for Know in these 2 verses are 2 different words in the Greek.

Allow us t look at the difference in these 2 words

Greek Verbs for Know

1. Ginosko:  “signifies “to be taking in knowledge, to come to know, recognize, understand,”or “to understand completely,”

e.g.,…

1 John 2:5 ,

1 John 2:5 KJV 1900

5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.

1 John 4:2 , 6 , 7, 13

1 John 4:2 KJV 1900

2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:

1 John 4:6 KJV 1900

6 We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.

1 John 4:7 KJV 1900

7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.

1 John 4:13 KJV 1900

13 Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.

1 John 5:2,20;

1 John 5:2 KJV 1900

2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.

1 John 5:20 (KJV 1900)

20 And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.

in its past tenses it frequently means “to know in the sense of realizing;” the aorist or point tense usually indicating definiteness,…

In the NT [New Testament –translation mine] ginosko frequently indicates a relation between the person “knowing” and the object known;

in this respect, what is “known” is of value or importance to the one who knows, and hence the establishment of the relationship,

e.g., especially of God’s “knowledge,” 1 Cor 8:3 , “if any man love God, the same is known of Him”;

1 Corinthians 8:3 KJV 1900

3 But if any man love God, the same is known of him.

Gal 4:9 ,”to be known of God”; here the “knowing “ suggests approval and bears the meaning “to be approved”; …

Galatians 4:9 KJV 1900

9 But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?

The same idea of appreciation as well as “knowledge” underlies several statements concerning the “knowledge” of God and His truth on the part of believers, e. g. ,…

1 John 2:3 , 13 ,14

1 John 2:3 KJV 1900

3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.

1 John 2:13 (KJV 1900)

13 I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father.

1 John 2:14 KJV 1900

14 I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.

1 John 4:6 , 8 , 16

1 John 4:6 KJV 1900

6 We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.

1 John 4:8 KJV 1900

8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.

1 John 4:16 KJV 1900

16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.

1 John 5:20 ;

1 John 5:20 (KJV 1900)

20 And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.

such “knowledge” is obtained, not by mere intellectual activity, but by operation of the Holy Spirit consequent upon acceptance of Christ…”

2. oida: “from the same root as eidon, “to see, “ is a perfect tense with a present meaning,

signifying, primarily, “to have seen or perceived”; hence, “to know, to have knowledge of,” whether absolutely, as in divine knowledge,…or in the case of human “knowledge,” to know from observation, …

The differences between ginosko and oida demand consideration:

(a) ginosko, frequently suggests inception or progress in “knowledge,”

while oida suggests fullness of “knowledge,”…

(b) while ginosko frequently implies an active relation between the one who “knows” and the person or thing “known” …

oida expresses the fact that the object has simply come within the scope of the “knower’s “ perception;…”

Philippians 3:10 (KJV 1900)

10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;

Philippians 3:10 (KJVSL)

That I may know ( ginosko) γινώσκω him αὐτός,

and καί the power δύναμις of his αὐτός resurrection ἀνάστασις, and καί the fellowship κοινωνία of his αὐτός sufferings πάθημα, being made conformable συμμορφόω unto his αὐτός death θάνατος;

ginosko frequently suggests inception or progress in “knowledge,”

This passage suggests 3 ways such Knowledge of Him can be seen

and the power of his resurrection,

Romans 1:4 KJV 1900

4 And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:

Romans 6:4 (KJV 1900)

4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

Ver. 10. That I may know Him —

The path of life: — Rom 6:4

Romans 6:4 KJV 1900

4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

I. KNOWLEDGE. II. POWER. III. FELLOWSHIP WITH CHRIST. IV. CONFORMITY TO HIS DEATH.

The believer's aspirations: —

It is said that St. Augustine wished to have seen three things before he died; Rome in its glory, Christ in the flesh, and Paul in his preaching.

But many have seen

the first without being the holier,

the second without being happier,

and heard the third and yet went to perdition.

But Paul, in this and the previous chapters, expresses seven wishes which centre in Christ

— that he might know Christ,

1.win Christ,

2.magnify Christ,

3.be conformed to Christ,

4.be found in Christ,

5.rejoice in the day of Christ,

6.and be forever with Christ.

7.Now these correspond perfectly with the desires of every child of God.

Here Paul desires —

I. TO KNOW CHRIST.

St. Paul appreciated the value of other departments of knowledge.

He was a scholar and a theologian; but after he had learned Christ they seemed to fade in interest.

This knowledge was the subject of his preaching everywhere, as he told the Corinthians and the Galatians. He wished to know Christ.

1. Increasingly.

The more he knew Him the more he wanted to know, and no wonder, for

(1) in Him is everything worthy to be known.

(2) This knowledge never cloys.

2. Experimentally.

To know in Scripture is to see and to taste. It is not the speculative knowledge that devils have, nor mere historical knowledge, but such as a hungry man has when he eats, and a thirsty man when he drinks.

It is appropriative of Christ — "My Lord," "My Saviour."

3. Superlatively (ver. 8).

For what is the widest and most delightful knowledge in the presence of this? but as sounding brass, vanity.

II. THE POWER OF HIS RESURRECTION.

The word "power" makes all the difference between religion in the head and in the heart, between possession and profession.

It is one thing to have knowledge, and another to have it vitally and brought into action.

Christ's resurrection has a vast power.

1. In our justification.

His ransom could avail nothing without His resurrection.

"If Christ be not raised your faith is vain." But by it the Father publicly testified His approval

2. In our sanctification,

which is the renewing of our nature and the strengthening of our graces by the Holy Spirit, who is the fruit of the resurrection.

3. In our edification.

Every sermon, etc., is vain if Christ be not risen.

All the means of Christian growth are dependent upon it (Eph 4:7-14).

Ephesians 4:7–14 KJV 1900

7 But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. 8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. 9 (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? 10 He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.) 11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: 14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

What power it gave to apostle’s preaching.

4. In our glorification.

There had been no resurrection for us without Christ's.

As in Adam, the covenant head, all died; so in Christ, the covenant head of Adam's posterity, all shall be made alive.

Romans 6:4 (KJV 1900)

Romans 6:4 KJV 1900

4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

walk in newness of life.

This Walk has become drudgery of defeated proportions.

The power ( Dynamite) of the resurrection living has turned to the punie affect of a pop gun puff

and the fellowship of his sufferings,

2 Corinthians 1:5 (KJV 1900)

5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.

Philippians 1:28 (KJV 1900)

28 And in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God.

III. THE FELLOWSHIP OF HIS SUFFERINGS.

Not in His merits: the crown must be forever on His head.

We know this.

1. By partaking of the benefit of His sufferings, pardon, etc.

2. By communion with Him through the channel of His sufferings — His Divine humanity, hanging on the Cross, and commemorated in the sacrament.

3. By enduring for His sake the same sufferings which He endured — the world's frowns, Satan's temptations. "Is the servant above his master."

The Fellowship of his sufferings is actually the company of the Ashamed

being made conformable unto his death;

Philippians 3:21 KJV 1900

21 Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.

IV. CONFORMITY UNTO HIS DEATH.

Why not His life?

That is not excluded.

But His death presents in a condensed form all that we could desire to he on earth.

We see in Him —

1. Great patience under suffering.

2. Great faith.

3. Great compassion for dying men.

4. Great filial tenderness.

5. Great love for repenting sinners. (J. Sherman.)

Knowing Christ: — He who of mortal men knew Christ best confesses that he knew Him but imperfectly.

1. How much, then, must there be in Him to know.

Do we lose a sense of the Redeemer's majesty by familiarity with His name?

See, then, His chief disciple, after years of contemplation, imitation, and adoration, confessing that the great object of God, manifest in the flesh, seems greater than ever, so that at the last he offers the prayer suitable to a novice.

2. This is true of all the works of God, whether in the material or the spiritual world, and is illustrated by what a climber sees of the starry firmament:

from the bottom the mountain tops seem among the stars, but as he ascends they seem to recede, and their vastness and distance are best seen from the summit.

Being made conformable to his death. In all things, being just like Christ---to live as he did, and to die as he did.

There can be no doubt that Paul means to say that he esteemed it so desirable to be just like Christ, that he would regard it as an honour to die in the same manner.

He would rejoice to go with him to the cross, and to pass through the circumstances of scorn and pain which attended such a death.

Yet how few there are who would be willing to die as Christ died, and how little would the mass of men regard it as a privilege and honour!

Indeed, it requires an elevated state of pious feeling to be able to say that it would be regarded as a privilege and honour to die like Christ; to have such a sense of the loveliness of his character in all things, and such ardent attachment to him, as to rejoice in the opportunity of dying as he did!

When we think of dying, we wish to have our departure made as comfortable as possible. We would have our sun go down without a cloud.

We would wish to lie on a bed of down; we would have our head sustained by the kind arm of a friend, and not left to fall, in the intensity of sufferring, on the breast; we would wish to have the place where we die surrounded by sympathizing kindred, and not by those who would mock our dying agonies.

And, if such is the will of God, it is not improper to desire that our end may be peaceful and happy; but we should also feel,

if God should order it otherwise that it would be an honour, in the cause of the Redeemer, to die amidst reproaches--to be led to the stake, as the martyrs have been--or to die, as our Master did, on a cross.

They who are most like him in the scenes of humiliation here, will be most like him in the realms of glory.

We have devalued the price of the CROSS