BIBLE STUDY REQUIRES KNOWING GOD

BIBLE STUDY REQUIRES KNOWING GOD

Monday, September 14, 2015

John 1:1-4 [Also note Col.1;17] In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He [Jesus Christ] was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him [Jesus Christ], and without Him [Jesus Christ] not even one thing came into being that has come into being. In Him [Jesus Christ] was life, and the life was the light of men.

John 5:37-42 And He sending Me [Jesus Christ; Jn.3:16], the Father Himself, has borne witness of Me [Jesus Christ]. Neither have you heard His [God the Father] voice at any time nor seen His shape. And you do not have His [God the Father] Word abiding in you, for you do not believe Him whom He [God the Father] has sent. You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life. And they are the ones witnessing of Me [Jesus Christ], and you will not come to Me [Jesus Christ] that you might have life. I [Jesus Christ] do not receive honor from men. But I know you, that you do not have the love of God [the Father] in you.

Hebrews 12:1-2 [Also note Rom.8:34] Therefore since we also are surrounded with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily besets us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and sat down at the right of the throne of God.

  Years ago I was told that in studying the Bible it helps to know God. I disagree with this. I consider it essential to know God personally. Friend and brother in Christ Mark reminded me of this one day. He said something like “There are people that want to know God, but few of those want to know about God.”

  Here is knowledge of God, The Author, necessary to studying His Book.

·         He is not limited. He is infinite; immeasurable. (Ps.139:7-10; Mt.9:26; 1Jn.3:20)

·         He is eternal. (Ps.90:2; Rev.1:8)

·         He is unchangeable. (Mal.3:6; Heb.13:8; James 1:17)

·         He is Omniscient; having complete absolute knowledge of all past, present, and to be. (Ps.139:4; Mt.10:29-30; Rom.11:33; 1Jn.3:20)

·         He is Omnipotent; able to do everything He wills. (Isa.46:9-10; Mt.19:26)

·         He is Omnipresent; everywhere, has not been, is not, will never be confined. (1Kng.8:27; Ps.139:7-12) [Though his influence is circumambient, Satan is not omnipresent. Eph.2:2]

  It is essential to know The Author’s moral attributes; character traits.

·         The Author is absolutely holy. (Lev.11:44a; 1Jn.1:5; Rev.4:8)

·         The Author is absolutely just. (Zep.3:5)

·         The Author is absolutely good. (Ps.119:68; Jn.10:11; Heb.4:15; 7:26)

·         The Author loves, He is absolute love. (Jn.3:16; Rom.5:8; 1Jn.4:8-10)

·         The Author does not just tell the truth, He is absolute Truth. (Deut.32:4; Jn.14:6)

  As men and women we all practice measured craft of careful pretense, fearful of others completely knowing our heart. God is not so for He is love without reticence, pure and holy with nothing to hide. How glad I am that it is possible to know The Author of The Absolutely Most Beneficial Book, the Bible; most beneficial when we forget not who and what The Author was, is, and always will be.

  To fail to study apart from this knowledge is failure to gain all He has for us.  EBB4