The Study of The Study of GodGod

Knowing and Being Knowing and Being KnownKnown

Knowing GodKnowing God JI Packer Chapter 3JI Packer Chapter 3

Seven QuestionsSeven Questions1.1. What were we made for?What were we made for?

2.2. What life aim should we set for What life aim should we set for ourselves?ourselves?

3.3. What is the “Eternal Life” that Jesus What is the “Eternal Life” that Jesus gives?gives?

4.4. What is the best thing in life?What is the best thing in life?

5.5. What gives God most pleasure about What gives God most pleasure about man?man?

6.6. What makes life worthwhile?What makes life worthwhile?

7.7. What does the phrase “Knowing God” What does the phrase “Knowing God” mean? mean?

Knowing God InvolvesKnowing God InvolvesStepsSteps in Knowing: ruby, leaf, cat, in Knowing: ruby, leaf, cat, teenteen

What makes knowing people so What makes knowing people so difficult?difficult?

What is the general principle?What is the general principle?

Apply this principle to Knowing Apply this principle to Knowing God.God.

The unexpected introduction and offer The unexpected introduction and offer by a “great man.”by a “great man.”

Joesph 1 Cor. 3:9Joesph 1 Cor. 3:9

Knowing God Involves ……Knowing God Involves …… Four ThingsFour Things::

1.1. Listening to God’s WordListening to God’s Word

2.2. Noting God’s nature and Noting God’s nature and charactercharacter

3.3. Accepting His invitationsAccepting His invitations

4.4. Rejoicing in His Love shown youRejoicing in His Love shown you

Knowing God IllustrationsKnowing God IllustrationsFour Word PicturesFour Word Pictures1.1. Son Knowing his fatherSon Knowing his father

2.2. Wife knowing her husbandWife knowing her husband

3.3. Subject knowing his kingSubject knowing his king

4.4. Sheep knowing shepherdSheep knowing shepherd

Father is known through SonFather is known through SonJohn 14: 9, 10, 6John 14: 9, 10, 6

John 14: 9,10 John 14: 9,10 Don’t you know me Don’t you know me Philip?..... Anyone who has seen Philip?..... Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How me has seen the Father. How can you say, “Show me the can you say, “Show me the Father.” Don’t you believe that I Father.” Don’t you believe that I am in the Father and the Father am in the Father and the Father is in Me?is in Me?

John 14: 6 John 14: 6 I am the way, the I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except by comes to the Father except by Me.Me.

What does the Resurrection mean in What does the Resurrection mean in regard to our relationship with and regard to our relationship with and knowledge of Jesus? knowledge of Jesus?

Jesus is the great man in the Jesus is the great man in the story.story.

Compare: Us/Disciples with JesusCompare: Us/Disciples with JesusDifferences: Differences:

Jesus in the flesh…for disciples thenJesus in the flesh…for disciples then

Invisible to our eye nowInvisible to our eye now

Any advantages for us over the Any advantages for us over the disciples?disciples?

John 10: 27 My sheep listen to John 10: 27 My sheep listen to My voice. I know them, and they My voice. I know them, and they know know me.me.

I am…...I am…... the bread of life. 6:35the bread of life. 6:35

the gate for the sheep. the gate for the sheep. 10:710:7

the good shepherd. the good shepherd. 10:1410:14

the resurrection. 11:25the resurrection. 11:25

John 5: 23 – 24 John 5: 23 – 24 He who does not He who does not honor the Son does not honor the honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him. Truly, Truly, I Father who sent Him. Truly, Truly, I say to you, he who hears My word say to you, he who hears My word and believes Him who sent Me, has and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life.eternal life.

Mt. 11: 28, 29 Mt. 11: 28, 29 Come to Me, all you Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble of heart and am gentle and humble of heart and you will find rest for your souls.you will find rest for your souls.

When is the voice of Jesus heard?When is the voice of Jesus heard?When we: When we: acknowledge His acknowledge His claimclaim

trust His promisetrust His promise

answer His callanswer His call

From then on: Jesus is our shepherdFrom then on: Jesus is our shepherd

We are His sheepWe are His sheep

John 10: 27, 28John 10: 27, 28

A Personal MatterA Personal Matter““To know You, the only true God, and To know You, the only true God, and

Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.” 17:3Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.” 17:3

Three Three AspectsAspects of Knowing God of Knowing God1. Personal dealing, more than 1. Personal dealing, more than

knowing aboutknowing about

2. Personal involvement…mind, will 2. Personal involvement…mind, will and feeling and feeling Ps. 34:8 Taste & Ps. 34:8 Taste & seesee

3. Grace3. Grace

Being KnownBeing KnownWhat, in the final analysis, is the only What, in the final analysis, is the only

thing more important than knowing God?thing more important than knowing God?

That He knows you and me.That He knows you and me.

All our knowledge of Him depends on All our knowledge of Him depends on His sustaining initiative in knowing us. His sustaining initiative in knowing us.

We know Him because He first knew We know Him because He first knew us and continues to know us. us and continues to know us.

God knows you as a friend, who God knows you as a friend, who wants your very best. wants your very best.

No moment when His eye is off No moment when His eye is off you.you.

Here is Momentous Here is Momentous Knowledge and Unspeakable Knowledge and Unspeakable Comfort.Comfort.

For those who know Him not, For those who know Him not, certain certain separation. separation. Mt. 7:23Mt. 7:23