Who not How. Knowing God is primary; knowledge of God is foundational. An understanding of who God is defines who we are in relation to him and others. Our concept of God defines who we are—our beliefs determine our behavior. Without knowledge of truth we may be deluded into living out a lie. We can’t over emphasize the importance of clarity—in thought and speech.
Through his Names and attributes God allows himself to be known partially, progressively, and conditionally. The Bible states, “I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently find me.”1 It takes effort to know God but what starts out as dreadful promises to turn into delight. In the 1st chapter of Genesis, we can deduce that God is Creator, All Powerful, All Knowing. God created man and defined their purpose.2 God had a covenant with man. But sin created a chasm between God and man; sin caused man to suffer. Their cry for rescue from slavery came up to God. And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. God saw the people of Israel—and God knew.3 Thus, God called Moses4 But strangely, when Moses pressed God for his name that he would tell the people of Israel, God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.”5 God simply is; he is unified and not conflicted. All his attributes in unison. The LORD our God, the LORD is one.6 What God has spoken stays! All his promises are true. For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory.7 How assuring and comforting is that?
But now thus says the LORD, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.8 I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. And I will give you a new heart and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.9 Through Christ we gain direct access to God, Our Father!10 Whatever we were is immaterial; it does not define us. Our history, our heritage, our status, our work does not define us. Our relationship with Jesus defines us. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.11 We are Christians first. Our citizenship is in heaven . . .12 He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.13
For we are his workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.14 Clearly, those who are chosen are called for his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his son . . .15 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”16
Notes:
1. Proverbs 8:17
2. Genesis 1:27-28
3. Exodus 2:23-25
4. Exodus 3:4
5. Exodus 3:13-14
6. Deuteronomy 6:4
7. 2 Corinthians 1:20
8. Isaiah 43:1
9. Ezekiel 36:25-27
10. Hebrews 4:14-16
11. 2 Corinthians 5:17
12. Philippians 3:20
13. 2 Corinthians 5:5
14. Ephesians 2:10
15. Romans 8:28-29
16. Matthew 28:18-20
