While exploring the subject of “Knowing about Knowing”, let’s cast our spotlight today on the key Christian doctrine of Justification…
“And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent” (John 17:3)
Well, the Christian life begins as it were by experientially knowing God and Jesus Christ (here too for “know” the Greek word “Ginosko” is used in the original text) which means being quickened from spiritual death by the receipt of life-giving God’s Spirit (Rom 8:2). Until that Spirit is known and received as an earnest of the soul’s inheritance, there can be no saving knowledge of God and Christ (Romans 8:9). Doesn’t the ever truthful Scripture attest this truth in another place…“Hereby we know that we abide in Him and He in us because He hath given us his Spirit” (1 John 4:13).
This new birth experience is bound to generate oodles of respect and love in the Saved for the Saviour (Luke 7:47). If Success in the book written by Thomas Edison is 90% perspiration and 10% inspiration, then let it be said that major component of the “all odds surmounting love” (I Cor 13:7) in the forgiven one is respect for the Forgiver. Respect in essence is the core belief that my Divine Deliverer from sin is good all the time. Period (Thanks Don Moen)!!!
For instance, did the Jews in the Wilderness who missed out on the Promised Land really “know” Him? Obviously “no” since one can suspect from their frequent rebellious outbursts (Exo 16:3/17:3/Numbers 11:4-6/14:3) that far from loving Him, they did not even respect Him in the first place! True knowledge of the Saviour would lead to respect in one’s heart culminating in love-laced obedience at all times to One who gave His all at the Cross to “buy” our pardon (2 Cor 5:21).
Prayer: Father, even as my heart is bubbling with gratitude for Your miracle of saving me from sin, help me know more and more about Thy infinite goodness in order, I am grateful at all times. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
Suresh Manoharan,
Hyderabad, India
J and SM Ministries
(To access the entire “Knowing About Knowing” mini-series, please click here.)