It Is Not Possible To "Know God."
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Your correct in the sense that Christians know God through His written word, but also the indwelling of His Holy Spirit.
We know what makes God angry, we know that God is righteous, and we know what God loves and what God hates. Jesus was the living manifestation of God, so we know God through his example, in what he taught, what he lived, and what he did for us.
When you know the characteristics of God, revealed through scripture, you also know something about God. No one knows all the depths of God, it isn't given us, but we know enough to serve, believe, and love the Lord. That's all that really matters in this life. But of course, there's always some mystery, our knowledge is limited to what the Lord chooses to reveal to us.; "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD" (Isaiah 55:8).
Asking Christians such things is like asking a person why they love their spouse? They usually can't verbalize that type of knowledge; "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).
We know what makes God angry, we know that God is righteous, and we know what God loves and what God hates. Jesus was the living manifestation of God, so we know God through his example, in what he taught, what he lived, and what he did for us.
When you know the characteristics of God, revealed through scripture, you also know something about God. No one knows all the depths of God, it isn't given us, but we know enough to serve, believe, and love the Lord. That's all that really matters in this life. But of course, there's always some mystery, our knowledge is limited to what the Lord chooses to reveal to us.; "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD" (Isaiah 55:8).
Asking Christians such things is like asking a person why they love their spouse? They usually can't verbalize that type of knowledge; "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).
Because we are not remade yet to be able to enter into the next life.
We as believers are secure in the next life where we shall dwell forever.
The Lord has written our name in the Lamb's book of life while you are here on earth. Therefore means that you have been saved through the grace of Christ.
Revelation 3:5
5 He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.
Revelation 20:11–15
11 Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. 12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. 13 And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. 14 Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. 15 And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.
Revelation 13:8
8 and all who dwell on earth will worship it, everyone whose name has not been written before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slain.
Exodus 32:32–33
32 Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin—; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, rout of thy book which thou hast written. 33 And the Lord said unto Moses, Whosoever hath sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book.
We as believers are secure in the next life where we shall dwell forever.
The Lord has written our name in the Lamb's book of life while you are here on earth. Therefore means that you have been saved through the grace of Christ.
Revelation 3:5
5 He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.
Revelation 20:11–15
11 Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. 12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. 13 And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. 14 Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. 15 And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.
Revelation 13:8
8 and all who dwell on earth will worship it, everyone whose name has not been written before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slain.
Exodus 32:32–33
32 Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin—; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, rout of thy book which thou hast written. 33 And the Lord said unto Moses, Whosoever hath sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book.
My turn to ask two questions:
WHY ARE YOU HERE?
DO YOU BELIEVE IN THE HOLY TRINITY, OR DO YOU BELIEVE IN TELLING A LIE ABOUT YOUR BELIEFS TO BECOME A MEMBER HERE?
ONE LAST COMMENT:
YES, I KNOW HIM PERSONALLY, AND THE PROOF IS HOW HE CHANGED ME FROM THE INSIDE OUT. I AM IN HIM AND HE IS IN ME.
Titus 3:10-11 (NKJV)
[SUP]10 [/SUP] Reject a divisive man after the first and second admonition,
[SUP]11 [/SUP] knowing that such a person is warped and sinning, being self-condemned.
2 Peter 3:3 (NIV)
[SUP]3 [/SUP] First of all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires.
WHY ARE YOU HERE?
DO YOU BELIEVE IN THE HOLY TRINITY, OR DO YOU BELIEVE IN TELLING A LIE ABOUT YOUR BELIEFS TO BECOME A MEMBER HERE?
ONE LAST COMMENT:
YES, I KNOW HIM PERSONALLY, AND THE PROOF IS HOW HE CHANGED ME FROM THE INSIDE OUT. I AM IN HIM AND HE IS IN ME.
Titus 3:10-11 (NKJV)
[SUP]10 [/SUP] Reject a divisive man after the first and second admonition,
[SUP]11 [/SUP] knowing that such a person is warped and sinning, being self-condemned.
2 Peter 3:3 (NIV)
[SUP]3 [/SUP] First of all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires.
I suggest you study a little more!
Jeremiah 9:23-24King James Version (KJV)
23 Thus saith the Lord, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches:
24 But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the Lord which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the Lord.
Jeremiah 9:23-24King James Version (KJV)
23 Thus saith the Lord, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches:
24 But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the Lord which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the Lord.
These and you only know about GOD.
Mark 5:6-13 (NRSV)
[SUP]6 [/SUP] When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and bowed down before him;
[SUP]7 [/SUP] and he shouted at the top of his voice, "What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, do not torment me."
[SUP]8 [/SUP] For he had said to him, "Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!"
[SUP]9 [/SUP] Then Jesus asked him, "What is your name?" He replied, "My name is Legion; for we are many."
[SUP]10 [/SUP] He begged him earnestly not to send them out of the country.
[SUP]11 [/SUP] Now there on the hillside a great herd of swine was feeding;
[SUP]12 [/SUP] and the unclean spirits begged him, "Send us into the swine; let us enter them."
[SUP]13 [/SUP] So he gave them permission. And the unclean spirits came out and entered the swine; and the herd, numbering about two thousand, rushed down the steep bank into the sea, and were drowned in the sea.
Romans 1:21 (ESV)
[SUP]21 [/SUP] For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.
James 2:19 (GW)
[SUP]19 [/SUP] You believe that there is one God. That's fine! The demons also believe that, and they tremble with fear.
Even the DEMONS bow to HIM.
TRUTH:
John 14:15-21 (ASV)
[SUP]15 [/SUP] If ye love me, ye will keep my commandments.
[SUP]16 [/SUP] And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may be with you for ever,
[SUP]17 [/SUP] even the Spirit of truth: whom the world cannot receive; for it beholdeth him not, neither knoweth him: ye know him; for he abideth with you, and shall be in you.
[SUP]18 [/SUP] I will not leave you desolate: I come unto you.
[SUP]19 [/SUP] Yet a little while, and the world beholdeth me no more; but ye behold me: because I live, ye shall live also.
[SUP]20 [/SUP] In that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.
[SUP]21 [/SUP] He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself unto him.
Thus the born again inner personal LOVE relationship between Jesus Christ and born regain Believers is VERY REAL.
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J
Well, seeing how John 17:3 is cited in the signature at the bottom of each and every one of my posts, I'll take the time to defend the same while further exposing your ignorance or idiocy as I just finished doing here:
http://christianchat.com/bible-discussion-forum/107169-i-have-mind-christ-4.html#post1878589
The underlying Greek word which is translated as "know" in John 17:3 is "ginōskō"...
Greek Lexicon :: G1097 (KJV)
...and it can AND DOES carry the connotation of "knowing" someone as in "two becoming one" or as in "marital intimacy" even as it does in the following verse:
"Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS." (Matthew 1:24-25)
Yes, it is the same exact underlying Greek word "ginōskō" which is here translated as "knew" as in "oneness" or as in "marital intimacy".
Listen, wolf...
God's desired relationship with His people is likened to A MARRIAGE COVENANT ALL THROUGHOUT SCRIPTURE with Christ being the Bridegroom and the church being His bride. In the same manner in which a man and his wife come together and "are no more twain, but one", so, too, does a Christian's spiritual union with Christ make the two one:
"But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit." (I Corinthians 6:17)
IN FACT (are you listening, wolf?), CONTEXTUALLY, this type of "oneness" IS EXACTLY WHAT JESUS WAS TALKING ABOUT IN JOHN CHAPTER 17. In relation to the same, we read:
John chapter 17
[20] Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;
[21] That they all may be one; 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.
[22] And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:
[23] I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.
Yes, the "knowing" that Jesus was actually referring to is directly related to "the two becoming one" or Christians being in God and Christ and Christ being in us.
I KNOW GOD in this sense...and if you don't, then you need to repent of your sins and to be "born again".
Knowing you to not like "idle words" (from your other thread), I've graciously spared you the same in my responses to you.
You're welcome...
http://christianchat.com/bible-discussion-forum/107169-i-have-mind-christ-4.html#post1878589
The underlying Greek word which is translated as "know" in John 17:3 is "ginōskō"...
Greek Lexicon :: G1097 (KJV)
...and it can AND DOES carry the connotation of "knowing" someone as in "two becoming one" or as in "marital intimacy" even as it does in the following verse:
"Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS." (Matthew 1:24-25)
Yes, it is the same exact underlying Greek word "ginōskō" which is here translated as "knew" as in "oneness" or as in "marital intimacy".
Listen, wolf...
God's desired relationship with His people is likened to A MARRIAGE COVENANT ALL THROUGHOUT SCRIPTURE with Christ being the Bridegroom and the church being His bride. In the same manner in which a man and his wife come together and "are no more twain, but one", so, too, does a Christian's spiritual union with Christ make the two one:
"But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit." (I Corinthians 6:17)
IN FACT (are you listening, wolf?), CONTEXTUALLY, this type of "oneness" IS EXACTLY WHAT JESUS WAS TALKING ABOUT IN JOHN CHAPTER 17. In relation to the same, we read:
John chapter 17
[20] Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;
[21] That they all may be one; 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.
[22] And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:
[23] I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.
Yes, the "knowing" that Jesus was actually referring to is directly related to "the two becoming one" or Christians being in God and Christ and Christ being in us.
I KNOW GOD in this sense...and if you don't, then you need to repent of your sins and to be "born again".
Knowing you to not like "idle words" (from your other thread), I've graciously spared you the same in my responses to you.
You're welcome...
L
Hi Stegley,
While you are right about only knowing things about God that are revealed about him through the bible, that is a lot of information in itself to meditate on and grow closer to him with. Another thing we can use to draw closer to him is to look at his creation. We can see how wise he is, the power that he has, and his desire for man to be happy. I would really encourage you to look up the scriptures in this article in your own copy of the bible, so you can really see this from God’s point of view. Please let me know what you think about this article, or if you have any other questions.
Laura
Jehovah’s Witnesses—Official Website: jw.org
While you are right about only knowing things about God that are revealed about him through the bible, that is a lot of information in itself to meditate on and grow closer to him with. Another thing we can use to draw closer to him is to look at his creation. We can see how wise he is, the power that he has, and his desire for man to be happy. I would really encourage you to look up the scriptures in this article in your own copy of the bible, so you can really see this from God’s point of view. Please let me know what you think about this article, or if you have any other questions.
Laura
Jehovah’s Witnesses—Official Website: jw.org