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Jeremiah 9:23-24 “Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: (24) But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise loving-kindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD.”

Proverbs 9:10 “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.” KJV “The fear of Jehovah is the beginning of wisdom; And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” ASV

The Knowledge of God The highest & most holy of all pursuits. Nothing will so humble and expand the mind as the study of God. The two greatest questions impacting this life and eternity are: “Do I really know God?” “Does God know me as His child?”

Do I Really Know God? Because God is infinite & perfect and we are not, we can never fully understand God. He is incomprehensible in the sense that if we were able to understand Him exhaustively, we would have to be God ourselves! Romans 11:33 “O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and the knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past tracing out!”

Colossians 1:9-10 “For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray and make request for you, that ye may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, (10) to walk worthily of the Lord unto all pleasing, bearing fruit in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;”

Colossians 1:9-10 “For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray and make request for you, that ye may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, (10) to walk worthily of the Lord unto all pleasing, bearing fruit in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;”

Colossians 1:9-10 “For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray and make request for you, that ye may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, (10) to walk worthily of the Lord unto all pleasing, bearing fruit in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;”

Another Important Distinction It is God Himself Whom we are to know, not simply facts about Him or things He does. To be intellectually informed about an individual is not synonymous with having a close and intimate relationship with them. A person may know about God without knowing Him, but one cannot know Him without knowing about Him. John 17:3 “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.”

Philippians 3:10 “That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;” Hebrews 8:11 “And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.”

I John 5:19-20 “And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness. (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.”

I John 5:19-20 “And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness. (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.”

I John 5:19-20 “And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness. (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.”

I John 5:19-20 “And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness. (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.”

I John 5:19-20 “And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness. (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.”

Do We Desire That Relationship? God certainly wants us to have that desire (Matt.11:28-30; I Tim.2:4). Another thing is certain too! You and I are at this very moment as close to God as we have chosen to be!

2nd Question: Does God Know Me? Matthew 7:21-23; II Timothy 2:19 Does He know us as his children? Matthew 7:21-23; II Timothy 2:19 Does He consider us faithful? I Peter 3:12 The answers to these two questions determine where we are presently, as well as where we will be eternally.

Try to explain it, But try to deny it, A Challenge To Our Minds Try to explain it, and you’ll lose your mind; But try to deny it, and you’ll lose your soul.

Here’s The Challenge God eternally exists as three persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and each person is fully God, and there is but one God. The Triune Nature of God Tri-unity – Three-oneness The Doctrine of the Trinity

Not A Speculative Matter a matter of divine revelation deeply embedded in Scripture In one sense, the doctrine of the Trinity is something of a mystery in that it goes beyond the boundaries of human understanding with no analogy or illustration adequately conveying the facts of it.

However… To understand something of the truthfulness of the doctrine of the Trinity, summarize Scripture’s teaching thusly: (1) God is three persons; (2) Each person is fully God; & (3) There is but one God Must be balanced, not deny any part, & recognize Scripture wresting for what it really is, II Peter 3:16.

Necessary Procedure “Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.” I Thessalonians 5:21 “For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.” I Thessalonians 2:13 “These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.” Acts 17:11

The Oneness of God The word “God” is the designation in the Scriptures for the one divine essence or being. Numerous passages throughout the Bible attest the unity or oneness of the Godhead, proving that God’s Word stands opposed not only to atheism, but to polytheism as well. “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:” (Deuteronomy 6:4).

The Oneness of God “There is but one God” I Cor. 8:6 “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;” I Timothy 2:5 “You believe that there is one God. You do well,” James 2:19

The Oneness of God To understand something of the truthfulness of the doctrine of the Trinity, summarize Scripture’s teaching thusly: (1) God is three persons; (2) Each person is fully God; (3) There is but one God. Must be balanced, not deny any part, & recognize Scripture wresting for what it really is, II Peter 3:16.

The Oneness of God To understand something of the truthfulness of the doctrine of the Trinity, summarize Scripture’s teaching thusly: (1) God is three persons; (2) Each person is fully God; (3) There is but one God. Must be balanced, not deny any part, & recognize Scripture wresting for what it really is, II Peter 3:16.

God is pictured as, “. only a great imaginative experience,” by D. H God is pictured as, “...only a great imaginative experience,” by D. H. Lawrence So God is reduced to no more than what I feel and remember about life.

You’ve got to be kidding! “God is really only another artist. He invented the giraffe, the elephant, and the cat. He has no real style. He just keeps on trying other things.” Pablo Picasso What about entertainers or philosophers? You’ve got to be kidding!

“We must turn to religion to truly know God!” So Where Do We Go? “We must turn to religion to truly know God!” May sound like a good answer on the surface, but which religion? Judaism? Islam? Hinduism? Buddhism? Confucianism? Shintoism? Sikhism? Catholicism? Denominationalism?

“We must turn to religion to truly know God!” So Where Do We Go? “We must turn to religion to truly know God!” May sound like a good answer on the surface, but which religion? Judaism? Islam? Hinduism? Buddhism? Confucianism? Shintoism? Sikhism? Catholicism? Denominationalism?

“We must turn to religion to truly know God!” So Where Do We Go? “We must turn to religion to truly know God!” May sound like a good answer on the surface, but which religion? Judaism? Islam? Hinduism? Buddhism? Confucianism? Shintoism? Sikhism? Catholicism? Denominationalism?

“We must turn to religion to truly know God!” So Where Do We Go? “We must turn to religion to truly know God!” May sound like a good answer on the surface, but which religion? Judaism? Islam? Hinduism? Buddhism? Confucianism? Shintoism? Sikhism? Catholicism? Denominationalism?

“We must turn to religion to truly know God!” So Where Do We Go? “We must turn to religion to truly know God!” May sound like a good answer on the surface, but which religion? Judaism? Islam? Hinduism? Buddhism? Confucianism? Shintoism? Sikhism? Catholicism? Denominationalism?

“We must turn to religion to truly know God!” So Where Do We Go? “We must turn to religion to truly know God!” May sound like a good answer on the surface, but which religion? Judaism? Islam? Hinduism? Buddhism? Confucianism? Shintoism? Sikhism? Catholicism? Denominationalism?

“We must turn to religion to truly know God!” So Where Do We Go? “We must turn to religion to truly know God!” May sound like a good answer on the surface, but which religion? Judaism? Islam? Hinduism? Buddhism? Confucianism? Shintoism? Sikhism? Catholicism? Denominationalism?

“We must turn to religion to truly know God!” So Where Do We Go? “We must turn to religion to truly know God!” May sound like a good answer on the surface, but which religion? Judaism? Islam? Hinduism? Buddhism? Confucianism? Shintoism? Sikhism? Catholicism? Denominationalism?

“We must turn to religion to truly know God!” So Where Do We Go? “We must turn to religion to truly know God!” May sound like a good answer on the surface, but which religion? Judaism? Islam? Hinduism? Buddhism? Confucianism? Shintoism? Sikhism? Catholicism? Denominationalism?

II Corinthians 5:10-11 “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. (11) Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men;…”

Where Is The Right Answer? Only through the Bible has God chosen to fully manifest Himself. Romans 1:19-20; Psalm 19:1-6 there is “natural” revelation But only through His revealed will, the Bible, can we learn Who that power is and what He requires of us!

Where Will A Continued Misunderstanding Of God Lead? Further lack of love & respect for God Further rejection of a standard of right & wrong Distorted value system

Some Proofs Of God’s Existence You cannot hold God in your hand, Prove? You cannot hold God in your hand, You cannot place Him on a scale, Can’t measure Him with a tape, And then declare that God’s existence has been proven by these means.

Some Proofs Of God’s Existence However, we can, in the legal sense, prove that God does exist. If evidence can be produced that demands the existence of the God of the Bible, then one can prove God’s existence even without the ability to weigh and measure Him. It is in this sense that we now determine to prove that God does exist.

Some Proofs Of God’s Existence I am here! “Every effect must have an adequate cause” Man is alive, intelligent, moral, & intricately designed. Only God could have caused man!

How Does The Bible Address This? Isaiah 1:18 “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” Acts 24:25 “And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled:”

How Does The Bible Address This? Acts 17:2-3 “And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures, (3) Opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ.”

How Does The Bible Address This? “reasoned” “to select, distinguish, then to revolve in the mind, to converse (interchange of ideas), then to teach in the Socratic (“dialectic”) method of question and answer, then simply to discourse, but always with the idea of intellectual stimulus” With these Jews and God-fearers Paul appealed to the Scriptures as text and basis of his ideas.

God’s Simple Plan REMAIN FAITHFUL (Revelation 2:10) HEAR (Romans 10:17) BELIEVE (John 8:24) REPENT (Luke 13:3) CONFESS (Rom. 10:9-10) BAPTIZED (Gal. 3:27) ADDED TO THE CHURCH (Acts 2:41,47) REMAIN FAITHFUL (Revelation 2:10)