Knowing God (1 of 5)

*NOTE: On Wednesdays in 2025 we will celebrate “walking in the Word” through applying Biblical doctrine. Rightly understanding Biblical doctrine fuels doxology, delight in Jesus, and gospel centered discipleship. This week we begin a five-week series on knowing God. 
 
Key Verse: “And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.” (John 17:3)
 
Recently, God has strengthened my soul with deeper revelation of Himself- His attributes healing my heart and His nature anchoring my hope. The overflow of this intimate revelation will fill the next few weeks of our “Walking in the Word” instalments. Historically, study of God’s nature, attributes, and work falls under “Theology Proper.” Personally, knowing God has taken on a whole new meaning. Beyond a theological category, knowing God is the true source of restoration and our only hope for refuge and strength.
 
Herman Bavinck begins his epic work, The Wonderful Works of God, with this simple line: “God, and god alone, is man’s highest good.”  (free pdf here) Knowing God is the greatest and best thing a person can do- our highest good. 
 
JI Packer begins his classic book, Knowing God, (free pdf here) by quoting Charles Spurgeon: 
 
“Would you lose your sorrow? Would you drown your cares? Then go, plunge yourself in the Godhead’s deepest sea; be lost in His immensity; and you shall come forth as from a couch of rest, refreshed and invigorated. I know nothing which can so comfort the soul; so calm the swelling billows of sorrow and grief; so speak peace to the winds of trial, as a devout musing upon the subject of the Godhead.” 
 
“Devout musing on the subject of the Godhead” is the focus of this brief series, for your good and God’s glory. Knowledge and enjoyment of God is wisest investment of our time.
 
In his Genevan Catechism, Calvin describes knowing God as “the sovereign good of humanity” because God created us and placed us in this world to be glorified in us. God is the beginning of our life, the headwaters of all life, and knowing God is the “chief end of human life.” (see questions 1-3) Calvin goes farther to say that true knowledge of ourselves comes from our knowledge of God. God’s desire to be known compels all creatures to know God, and when we begin the journey of knowing God we discover that we “will be led by the hand to find Him” (Institutes, 1.1) as we grow to become more like Him (Colossians 3:10).
 
God desires for you to know Him, weaving general revelation of Himself into the fabric of creation. Consider (Romans 1:19-20):
 
“For what can be known about God is plain… because God has shown it... For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse…” 
 
Special revelation of the knowledge of God comes from God Himself, through His Word (Luke 24:27, 44-45),by His work in Jesus Christ, (Hebrews 1:1-3) and from His wisdom through the Holy Spirit(1 Corinthians 2:6-13). These three things- God’s word, work, and wisdom; will guide and direct our discoveries and discipleship as we endeavor to know God.
 
This short series will survey some of God’s immutable attributes that have deeply formed me the past few months, specifically God’s eternality, immutability, aseity, and transcendence. Through meditating on God’s foreverness, His unchanging character, self-sufficiency, and preeminence we will discover His sufficiency. God, and God alone, is all we need. Knowing Him is our highest good and enjoying Him our highest purpose.
 
Richly Dwelling
-Do you know God, specifically His attributes, nature, and work?
 
-Do you desire to know God more intimately and personally? Take a moment to ask God the Holy Spirit to reveal Himself to you through His word, work, and wisdom.
 
-Meditate on the verse below. What does Jesus mean, and how does this apply to you and your discipleship?
 
Key Verse: “And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.” (John 17:3)
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