Notes compiled by Marty Zide and Steve McAtee
Introduction
Doing things that promote an increase in our knowledge of God should be on every true believer's shortlist of priorities. When occupying ourselves with this worthy endeavor, we will find ourselves doing that which pleases God Himself.
Jer. 9:23-24 -Thus says the Lord, Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches; but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord who exercises lovingkindness, justice, and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things, declares the Lord.
Hos. 6:6 -For I delight in loyalty rather than sacrifice, And in the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.
Gaining knowledge, wisdom and an understanding of God is better than all of the gold, silver, and rubies of this world and it does not even begin to compare to anything else that you may desire in this life! In other words, gaining the knowledge of God in this life is bigger and better than any materialistic thing that you could ever buy, want, or desire in this life!
Pro. 16:16 -How much better it is to get wisdom than gold! And to get understanding is to be chosen above silver.
Pro. 20:15 -There is gold, and an abundance of jewels; But the lips of knowledge are a more precious thing.Pro. 3:13-15 -How blessed is the man who finds wisdom And the man who gains understanding. For her profit is better than the profit of silver And her gain better than fine gold. She is more precious than jewels. And nothing you desire compares with her.
The Goal of Our Study
The study of God must lead us to God Himself, or our study has failed to produce its fullest potential. It must lead us first to a personal relationship with Him through His Son the Lord Jesus and then to a deeper communion with Him through continued spiritual growth
True believers should not be content with simply studying and pondering the truths in the Bible, we must take it a step further and seek to commune with the God of the truth. All acquired truth should lead to a deeper understanding, fellowship, and communion with God Himself.
God Has Revealed Himself In Several Ways
If it were not for God choosing to reveal Himself, we would be left to ourselves to try to understand who God is.
God has chosen three ways in particular to reveal Himself:
Creation
Conscience
Revelation
Rom. 1:20 -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.
Rom. 2:14-15 -For when Gentiles who do not have the Law do instinctively the things of the Law, these, not having the Law, are a law to themselves, in that they show the work of the Law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them.
1 Cor. 2:9-12 -but just as it is written, things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, And which have not entered the heart of man, All that God has prepared for those who love Him. For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God. For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God.
It needs to be understood that no human being has the ability to understand God exhaustively. There is a limit to how much we will be able to comprehend His being. That’s because we are finite creatures and God is an infinite being. This does not mean that we cannot know anything about God. It simply means that our knowledge is partial and limited. We can know God to the degree that He chooses to reveal Himself.
Coming Up Next –The Triune God