Do you really KNOW God?
Knowing God means more than just being able to describe him, or knowing the Bible, or going to church. Knowing God means that you have a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ. This personal relationship is only possible because of what God has done to redeem and to restore sinful people to what He created them to be as reflections of His glory and grace.
This is a helpful summary of what it means to truly know God:
God Created us to Know and Worship Him
God is our holy Creator and righteous Judge. He created us to glorify and enjoy Him forever in a relationship of love and obedience. We were created in God’s image to serve, worship, and reflect Him and His character. This is our ultimate purpose and design.
(see Genesis 2:7, 16-17; 18:25; Matthew 25:31-33)
We’re Not Perfect
But, the Bible tells us that no one lives up to God’s purpose and design – no one is blameless and perfect. But we rebelled against God by sinning against His holy character and law. We’ve all participated in this sinful rebellion by not perfectly loving God and obeying all that God has required. As a result, we have alienated ourselves from God and have exposed ourselves to God’s eternal punishment for sin, which will banish us eternally to hell if we are not forgiven.
(see Genesis 3:1-7; 1 Kings 8:46; Romans 3:23; 5:12, 19; Ephesians 2:1-12; John 3:36; Romans 1:18; Matthew 13:50)
God’s Plan for Our Salvation
But God sent Jesus Christ to rescue lost and helpless sinners, even while they we were still His enemies.
Christ, being fully God and fully man, was sent by God to die the death that we deserved for our sins – the righteous for the unrighteous – so that God might both punish our sin in Christ and forgive it in us. Jesus bore the wrath that man deserved, and was raised to new life in order that those who put their faith in Him would be saved.
(see John 1:14; Romans 3:21-26; 5:6-8; Ephesians 2:4-6)
We Must Repent and Believe
The only saving response to this Good News (“the gospel”) is repentance and belief in Jesus. We must repent of our sins (turn from them and to God) and believe in Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of our sins and reconciliation to God. Through repentance from our sin and faith in the death and resurrection of Christ, we are welcomed into the family of God as those declared righteous in the sight of God. Through Jesus, we are made right with God and restored to the relationship with God for which we were created. This is not because of what we have done, but because of what God has done for us through Jesus Christ. Therefore, salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone in Jesus Christ alone.
(see Matthew 3:2; 4:17; Mark 1:15; Luke 3:7-9; John 20:21)
New Life in Christ
The moment you truly believe, you are not only forgiven and welcomed by God, but you are changed and given the Holy Spirit. This means that God is committed to transforming us into the image of Jesus Christ – making us more like him. And the Spirit bears the fruit of righteousness in our lives.
This new life is not based on feelings, but is based on the authority of God’s Word. This is not merely an outward change of behavior, but a deep change of the heart that is given by God to those love and believe in His Son, Jesus.
How Will You Respond?
If you would like to know more, to ask questions, or to pray with someone, contact us – or talk with a pastor after one of our weekly worship services. If you have just taken the first steps of faith, then we are overjoyed and would love to talk with you about what it means to follow Jesus.