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Answer
Within each of us, there is a strong desire to be known and to know others. The most important Being to know is our Creator. Jesus taught that eternal life is not just a duration of time; it is a relationship: “Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent” «And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. », (John 17:3).
The key to truly knowing God is found in what God has revealed about Himself in the Bible. He desires to be known (see Acts 17:27). The issue lies in our sinfulness. We are all sinful (Romans 3) and we fall short of the holiness standard required to have a relationship with God. We have “exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles” «And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. », (Romans 1:23). Therefore, to truly know God, we must first acknowledge our sin and repent of it (see Acts 3:19).
When turning away from sin, we must turn to Jesus Christ, the only Savior from sin. Salvation is found only in Jesus «Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. », (Acts 4:12). We receive Jesus through faith: “As many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name” «But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: », (John 1:12, NKJV). Jesus’ death and resurrection provided for the forgiveness of our sins, and He alone is the way to a personal knowledge of God: “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” «Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. », (John 14:6, NKJV).
Jesus revealed to us who God is, so in knowing God, we must look to Jesus: “Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. . . . Believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me” (John 14:9-10; cf: John 17:6). Every work that Jesus did was in obedience to the Father in heaven «Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise. », (John 5:19). Every word Jesus spoke was straight from the Father «For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. », (John 12:49). To know God, we must know Jesus.
Another key ingredient in truly knowing God is reading the Bible, God’s Word. In the Bible, we have God’s revelation of His character, His promises, and His will. It is through the Bible that we know that God is “a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness” «But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, Longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth. », (Psalm 86:15)
It is through the Bible that we know that God is “mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality and accepts no bribes” «For the LORD your God is God of gods, and Lord of lords, a great God, a mighty, and a terrible, which regardeth not persons, nor taketh reward: », (Deuteronomy 10:17). It is through the Bible that we know that God is “the King eternal, immortal, invisible,” worthy of “honor and glory for ever and ever” «Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen. », (1 Timothy 1:17).
Truly knowing God also comes through our commitment to obey what we read in the Scriptures. We were saved unto good works «For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. », (Ephesians 2:10), and, as we obey the Lord, we become part of God’s plan of continuing to reveal Himself to the world. We are salt and light on this earth (Matthew 5:13-14), designed to bring God’s flavor to the world and to serve as a shining light in the midst of darkness. Jesus Himself placed the greatest importance on loving God with all we are and loving our neighbor as ourselves (Matthew 22:37-40).
These are the keys to truly knowing God. Of course, those who know God will also be committed to prayer, fellowship with other believers, sincere worship, and walking in the Spirit. Jesus taught His disciples about the Holy Spirit, contrasting the world’s ignorance of Him with the disciples’ knowledge: “The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him.”
But you know Him, for He lives with you and will be in you” «even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it sees Him not, neither knows Him: but you know Him; for He dwells with you, and shall be in you. », (John 14:17). It is through the Spirit of God that we have “adoption to sonship. And by Him we cry, ‘Abba, Father.’ The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children” (Romans 8:15-16). Through Christ and the indwelling Holy Spirit, our lives can be filled with God, and we can experience the joy of truly knowing Him.
