The Evidence Of Knowing Him
If you read your Bible, you first must have faith that it truly is inspired by God. God declares Himself throughout the Scriptures and gives us clear indications of His purpose, not only for us but His mighty incomprehensible plans for all eternity.
God designed the Bible to demonstrate that He is. The claims of His deity (Deut.6:6-9); His claim of His law to us and the prosperity to us for keeping His law (Joshua 1:8); and His claim that the Bible is the proven word of God (2 Samuel 22:31). On and on the evidence is crystal clear that the Bible is truly His inspired words penned by man.
Scripture backs up Scripture. This continuity clearly demonstrates that over a period of 2000 years, and over 40 authors, that the Bible supports itself in more ways than one. But what about the evidence around us in every day life? His creation, I feel is the tangible evidence that we have to know that God is. For this external evidence, consider Psalm 19:1-4: The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows his handiwork. Day unto day utters speech, and night unto night reveals knowledge. There is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard. Their line has gone out through all the earth and their words to the end of the world. Or we can consider Romans 1:19, 20: because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse.
All men know God. From Adam and then Noah, all from those times had the knowledge of God. And in the same way the sins of the fathers will be passed down to their children, so our Heavenly Father has passed down the knowledge of Himself through His creation. Available to every man is a certain knowledge of God. This knowledge is attained by observing God in creation. Just as we can learn much of a writer by studying his work, or a painter by his expression on the canvas, so, also, we can learn from His handiwork. This is the evidence to believer and unbeliever alike, that when you look around, you “can” know and “see” that God is.
The internal and external evidence of God is clear. This is His proof to us that He was and is and always will be. But the absolute foundation of theology is not to know that He is but to “Know” Him. We can only do that through the study of the Scriptures. To know the personality and character of our Creator is to present ourselves approved unto God, rightly dividing the Word of truth.
He shows us how to know Him, to understand the truth about Him, and most importantly, how to live under His statutes. As we study the Word, we find how to understand His mind, His values, and His will for us.
We are to be doers of the Word and not hearers only. Being a doer is to build our character toward His. Understanding this is to deepen our relationship with Him. As we strive to become more like Christ, who is God and now lives in each one of us, we who believe that He is, are called according to “His” purpose, and not our own.
Man needs to feel significant. But how can we feel significant without our Creator in the forefront of our lives? After all, He is the reason why we are here! Our desire to gain significance in our lives will either bring us closer to God or separate us from Him. It is simply the way that we go about achieving it in our lives. Lasting significance is hid in Jesus Christ. Jesus said, “I am the vine and you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing”. That last part is saying that a man cannot find true and lasting significance in his life apart from Christ. So then, if a man is in Christ, and submitted to God’s plan and purpose, then he can satisfy man’s greatest need in a way that will endure for eternity.
God designed the Bible to demonstrate that He is. The claims of His deity (Deut.6:6-9); His claim of His law to us and the prosperity to us for keeping His law (Joshua 1:8); and His claim that the Bible is the proven word of God (2 Samuel 22:31). On and on the evidence is crystal clear that the Bible is truly His inspired words penned by man.
Scripture backs up Scripture. This continuity clearly demonstrates that over a period of 2000 years, and over 40 authors, that the Bible supports itself in more ways than one. But what about the evidence around us in every day life? His creation, I feel is the tangible evidence that we have to know that God is. For this external evidence, consider Psalm 19:1-4: The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows his handiwork. Day unto day utters speech, and night unto night reveals knowledge. There is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard. Their line has gone out through all the earth and their words to the end of the world. Or we can consider Romans 1:19, 20: because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse.
All men know God. From Adam and then Noah, all from those times had the knowledge of God. And in the same way the sins of the fathers will be passed down to their children, so our Heavenly Father has passed down the knowledge of Himself through His creation. Available to every man is a certain knowledge of God. This knowledge is attained by observing God in creation. Just as we can learn much of a writer by studying his work, or a painter by his expression on the canvas, so, also, we can learn from His handiwork. This is the evidence to believer and unbeliever alike, that when you look around, you “can” know and “see” that God is.
The internal and external evidence of God is clear. This is His proof to us that He was and is and always will be. But the absolute foundation of theology is not to know that He is but to “Know” Him. We can only do that through the study of the Scriptures. To know the personality and character of our Creator is to present ourselves approved unto God, rightly dividing the Word of truth.
He shows us how to know Him, to understand the truth about Him, and most importantly, how to live under His statutes. As we study the Word, we find how to understand His mind, His values, and His will for us.
We are to be doers of the Word and not hearers only. Being a doer is to build our character toward His. Understanding this is to deepen our relationship with Him. As we strive to become more like Christ, who is God and now lives in each one of us, we who believe that He is, are called according to “His” purpose, and not our own.
Man needs to feel significant. But how can we feel significant without our Creator in the forefront of our lives? After all, He is the reason why we are here! Our desire to gain significance in our lives will either bring us closer to God or separate us from Him. It is simply the way that we go about achieving it in our lives. Lasting significance is hid in Jesus Christ. Jesus said, “I am the vine and you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing”. That last part is saying that a man cannot find true and lasting significance in his life apart from Christ. So then, if a man is in Christ, and submitted to God’s plan and purpose, then he can satisfy man’s greatest need in a way that will endure for eternity.
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