Knowing God - Knowing about God
Last Thursday morning I realized that I've grown to know alot about God and this journey we're on...although knowing "about" God isn't what John 17:3 describes as "eternal life"...it's about "knowing" God, Jesus intimately...personally. The past few days a few mental pictures have come to mind; we know alot about the president but we don't know the president. Our "knowing" the president would involve personal encounters with him on a regular basis...walking through life with him...not just study sessions where we learn about the president...but intimate times of fellowship with the president.
Jesus chose us (John 15:16), that's certainly a good place to start. It's nice when someone choses to know you...and as the prior verses say...He calls us friends.
Some statements to consider...
Paul was not given a message or a doctrine to proclaim. He was brought into a vivid, personal, overpowering relationship with Jesus Christ. Paul was devoted to a Person, not to a cause.
"For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified"
Seeking to know Jesus, my friend, who chose me.
Conversion is not regeneration?!?!?!
I now send you, to open their eyes . . . that they may receive forgiveness of sins .
Acts 26:17-18
God's first sovereign work of grace is summed up in the words, ". . . that they may receive forgiveness of sins . . . ." When a person fails in his personal Christian life, it is usually because he has never received anything. The only sign that a person is saved is that he has received something from Jesus Christ. Our job as workers for God is to open people's eyes so that they may turn themselves from darkness to light. But that is not salvation; it is conversion-only the effort of an awakened human being. I do not think it is too broad a statement to say that the majority of so-called Christians are like this. Their eyes are open, but they have received nothing. Conversion is not regeneration. This is a neglected fact in our preaching today. When a person is born again, he knows that it is because he has received something as a gift from Almighty God and not because of his own decision. People may make vows and promises, and may be determined to follow through, but none of this is salvation. Salvation means that we are brought to the place where we are able to receive something from God on the authority of Jesus Christ, namely, forgiveness of sins AND His life.
Pretty bold statement eh...what thinkith thee
