Know Scripture – Know God?

Engage in sacred Scripture – read John 8:48-57.

Most of Chapter 8, besides the incident of the woman caught in adultery, is Jewish leaders confronting Jesus: “Who do you think you are?”

Two Wills Collide

The Will of Unbelief

They willed to know a lie, and Jesus willed to tell them the truth. In the end, they wanted to stone Him.

Jesus makes claims about Himself that they are unable to see the truth. Their greatest error, though, was that they did not know God. They were

• Slaves to sin
• Indifferent to Jesus’ words
• Children of the devil
• Liars
• Guilty of mob tactics
• Filled with murderous intent

The greatest problem was that they did not know the God they claimed to know – the real God that the Son of God knew.

My Father, whom you claim as your God, is the one who glorifies Me. Though you do know Him, I know Him. If I said I did not, I would be a liar like you, but I do know Him and keep His word. John 8:54b-55 NIV.

The Will of Truth

Jesus continues to speak truth to them, and we have His echoing words in our souls. These are the claims He makes about Himself:

• I am not demon possessed
• I honor My Father
• I am not seeking to glorify Myself
• The Father seeks glory for Me
• He is the Judge
• If anyone keeps My word, he will never see death
• My Father glorifies Me
• He knew God
• Abraham rejoiced to see His day
• He is the “I AM”

But because I speak the truth, you do not believe Me (and continue in your unbelief)… Whoever is of God and belongs to Him hears (the truth of God’s words; for this reason you do not hear them: because you are not of God and you are not in fellowship with Him. John 8:45 & 47 Amplified Bible.

Know God or Not?

It’s easy to listen to this discourse and believe this message was only for that time and that place.

To know God is so important to our Lord that He prayed that we know Him because in such knowledge is eternal life.

Now this is eternal life: that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You sent. John 17:3 NIV.

Knowing God?

To know God requires prayer, Bible study, and spiritual discipline. It takes daily communion with Him to know Him intimately.

God’s word is a treasure trove of wisdom, knowledge and understanding. In the Spirit-illuminated passages, we find God revealed. Sacred Scripture is not a “know-how” book or a manual of instructions; it’s a “Know Him” book.

The estranged cannot understand it because they have no Spirit of God dwelling in them to teach them. The long-distance reader reads a little here and a little there, yet their hearts are not in it. They know very little about the God who cares for them so deeply. Their knowledge of God is shallow.

Ultimately, the intimate know God as God has revealed Himself in His “God-breathed” word.

Really knowing God rightly makes a difference.

“What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.” A.W. Tozer

How to know God?

Take up the Word

Knowing God takes more than intellectually gathering data. It requires complete surrender because we know God by reason (observe His creation), by faith (trusting in His revelation of Himself), and by the Holy Spirit (experiencing God’s personal presence).

Go to the Secret Place

God is found in the “secret place.” We must set aside not only a time daily to fellowship with Him but a secluded place as well. Prolonged, unhurried, and undistracted pursuit of God (for God’s sake) will produce the fruit of intimate knowledge.

Bypassing the Secret Place sabotages knowing God intimately.

Recent surveys reveal that roughly 40% of practicing Christians today use AI for prayer, Bible Study, and spiritual discipline. Sadly, about 48% of practicing Christians trust AI for their spiritual growth. That’s nearly half of Christians who attend church regularly and confess their faith as born-again believers.

One in three turns to AI for spiritual guidance and considers it as trustworthy as the pastor’s advice!

AI has some gatekeepers, but not enough. It can tell you what religions believe about God, but not the confidential truth about who God is. AI is not holy ground.

I believe the Holy Spirit knew this day would come and used John to reveal the truth.

We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood. 1 John 4:6 NIV.

Listen

Few Americans view the Bible as “God-breathed,” and professing Christians struggle with basic knowledge of doctrinal truth. As a society, we lean toward fast, digital consumption and video content over the deep word (text) study.

Traditional holy reading and study habits decrease daily.

The lack of foundational knowledge of God and His word is not because there aren’t enough Bibles; there are. The word is as close as the smartphone in our hand.

Distractions lead to deaf ears, and deaf ears do not know/hear God. We’ve lost the ability to listen and guard our hearts.

My son, give attention to My words; incline your ear to My sayings. Do not let them depart from your sight; keep them in the midst of your heart. For they are life to those who find them and health to all their body. Watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life. Prov 4:20-23 NASB.

His Words Are Important

In Chapter 8, Jesus tells the Jewish leaders that He who sent Him is true and the things He heard from the Father are what He is speaking to the world (8:26).

Jesus is clear about the Word

He speaks the things God taught Him to say to them – to us. If we continue in His word, then we are truly His disciples, and we will know the truth, and that truth will set us free (8:31-32)

His words had no place in them (8:37). Because His words had no place in them, they listened to the devil. Isn’t it interesting that the first words we hear from the evil one were to challenge the very word of God: “… did God really say….? (Gen 3:1). Satan is the father of lies, and He doesn’t want us to know God, so keeping us away from the Word sadly works.

The Word Kept – Eternal Life

Jesus was very specific about the value of His Word. If knowing the Word leads us to knowing God and knowing God leads to eternal life, THEN we need to keep it.

I assure you and most solemnly say to you, if anyone keeps My word (by living in accordance with My message), he will indeed never, ever see and experience death. John 8:51 Amplified.

Words matter. The truth matters more.

Sacred Scripture is “God-breathed.” Within the Spirit-illuminated words are paths leading to the heart of God. He is here – as close as the breath we breathe and as near as the beating of our heart. In Him we live, move, and have our being.

In sacred Scripture, we come to know God more intimately. Nothing else will do.

How?

As you approach the Word, move past simply reading it as a regular book. Engage with the Author, for He is present as you read it. Make it a living conversation with the living God.

By reading Scripture rightly, we daily encounter God’s voice, understand His character, and allow the Holy Spirit to transform our lives.

• Pray before and during the reading. It is spiritually discerned, so ask the Father to open your eyes and heart as you read. It helps to turn what you read into a prayer. God will reveal His character in such a way that you can’t help but praise Him.
• As reflective questions. Instead of rushing to finish the reading, slow down and meditate on the verses. Seek the word God has especially for you today.
• If you ask yourself these questions, it will help: What teaches me about God’s character? What does this reveal about me? How is God calling me to respond or obey?
• Add some bonuses to the day by listening to the Bible in audio as you commute or do your daily chores.

In Conclusion

No matter how much Jesus spoke to the Jewish leaders, they still did not grasp the truth. His last and final claim angered them so much that they picked up stones to kill Him right then and there.

Why? Because Jesus showed them the truth, He is God.

Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly. I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am. Therefore, they picked up stones to throw at Him, but Jesus hid Himself and went out of the temple. John 8:58-59 NASB.

So, I encourage you to take up the word and know God intimately. You’ll not regret it. The rewards are a matter of life and death.