Why Knowing God Matters (Part IV)
In parts one through three of this series, I have touched upon a few aspects of what it means to know God. In this fourth and final part, we shall discover that “knowing” God takes on an entirely new dimension. In fact, I am about to discuss the final and the ultimate goal of what “knowing” God really means.
John 17:3
When I was first introduced to the truth about God and His Son, the verse that was often quoted and applied in sermons, lectures or even articles written by various authors was John 17:3. In my experience, this verse, which was otherwise eclipsed in utter obscurity, suddenly appeared in the limelight. It now ranked among the most popular verses, next only to John 3:16, and I know that all OTG members can relate to what I am saying. The sheer popularity of this verse is largely attributed to the fact that it provides us with a solid prove that the Father alone is the only true God, and more so, when these words are the actual words of Jesus Himself. Once again, I invite you to take a look at the verse in question.
“This is life eternal, that they might know Thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom Thou hast sent.” (John 17:3)
Though spoken by Christ Himself, these words cannot be taken at face value. As I have mentioned in part III of this series that a mere intellectual knowledge is not enough to give us life, therefore, it stands to reason that Christ’s words have a deeper and profounder connotation behind them.
How “Know” is Used
To decode the message of Christ, we need to understand the meaning of the word “know.” The Bible uses this word not only to imply having a knowledge of something, but it also connotes the process by which husband and wife become “one flesh” through the process of sexual intercourse. An example of this usage is found in the book of Genesis.
“And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the LORD.” (Genesis 4:1)
It was only after Adam “knew” his wife that she conceived and gave birth to Cain. This is not the only place where this same word is used in this fashion in the Bible. We also find it in the New Testament, in the account given in Luke concerning the conversation that took place between Gabriel and Mary.
“And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS…. Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing that I know not a man?” (Luke 1:30-34)
Lesser and Greater Truths
At the time when this conversation took place, Mary had already been acquainted with Joseph. In fact, she was engaged to be married to him. Hence, when she said “I know not a man,” she meant that she was still a virgin. She had yet to experience the process of being “one flesh.” So, in John 17:3, Jesus was employing the physical and lesser truth to illustrate the spiritual and greater truth of what it means to have a complete knowledge of God and His Son. Just as husband and wife are one in the flesh when they are physically joined to one another, man is one in spirit with God and Christ when his spirit is joined to the Comforter. This truth is once again voiced out by Christ in John chapter seventeen.
“… as Thou, Father, art in Me, and I in Thee, that they also may be one in Us: that the world may believe that Thou hast sent Me.” (John 17:21)
“I in them, and Thou in Me.” (John 17:23)
Each member of God’s church has to be joined to the Spirit of Christ in order to be one body. In another sense, God’s church, the spiritual body of Christ, experiences the oneness that is made possible only through the indwelling of the Comforter – individually and corporately. This truth is spelled out in the words of Christ and in Paul’s letter to the Ephesians.
“And Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep My words: and My Father will love him, and We will come unto him, and make Our abode with him.” (John 14:23)
“Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God; and are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner stone; in whom all the building is fitly framed together for a habitation of God through the Spirit." (Ephesians 2:19-22)
The words of Christ lay more emphasis on the indwelling of the Spirit on an individual level whereas, Paul painted a picture of how the indwelling of the Spirit takes place within the body of believers in a collective manner. These two statements do not contradict each other.
Lively Stones
Peter integrates these two statements thus: “Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house…” (1 Peter 2:5)
The individuals that make up the spiritual temple and body of Christ are the ones who have Christ living in them. Christ is the glue that binds each individual or stone together so that they are “fitly framed together for a habitation of God through the Spirit.” Without Christ living in us, we are counted as dead. We ought to allow Christ to dwell in us because it is only when the He dwells in us that we can truly become alive. (Read 1 John 5:11,12). This and only this entitles us for eternal life. For this reason, it should be our earnest desire to be one with Christ, not only in doctrine but more so in the spirit. This is what it ultimately means to “know” God and Jesus Christ whom He had sent.
“But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.” (1 Corinthians 6:17)
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