Knowing Jesus (2)
By Abraham Eli
This study was first taught on December 24, 2013
Topic: What We Are Talking About (2): A Knowing of Jesus?
(use the audio to study)
Background
In our study last week, we saw that when we talk about “Knowing Jesus”, we are not just referring to having a head knowledge about Him. We likened a head knowledge about the Lord, to a student who has read his Chemistry textbook from cover to cover, but who has never entered into a laboratory in his life. Such a student, though may have seen sketches and photographs of test-tubes, pipettes, burettes, conical flasks, round bottom flasks, etc., will not be able to handle or even identify these items when he sees them in real life.
In the same way, to have a head knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ, is to have merely read about Him, but not have experienced Him. Such knowledge of the head breeds arrogant and ignorant men and women. It breeds men and women who are rigid, heartless, loveless, and selfish. And although they may appear to be zealous for the Lord, their zeal is destructive. Such was the zeal Saul of Tarsus manifested, pursuing the righteousness of the Pharisees, instead of the righteousness of God. Saul of Tarsus pursued the Law of Moses, but missed the Lord Who gave Moses the Law. A person in this state thinks he or she is doing God service by legislating the word of God, rather than gently, but firmly teaching the word of God. They think that they are doing God service by seeing every tiny speck in people’s eyes, whereas, they have logs of wood in their own eyes. In a Pharisaic state, everything is natural and carnal, whereas the Lord Jesus (and those who have been saved) are spiritual beings—new creatures! A spiritual knowledge about the Lord Jesus Christ is therefore what is required; not a head or academic knowledge!
Scripture Text(s)
James 2:19-20
Our knowledge of a person will usually elicit a reaction, when we see or hear about that person. Our scripture text tonight, indeed tells us that devils tremble as a result of their knowledge of God. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said of many human beings, including some people who say that they are Christians, because the fear of God is not in them, though they claim to believe in God, and in Jesus Christ. May the Holy Spirit help us to know the Lord Jesus, as He should be known, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
To know of a person is to have a mere mental ascent of the existence of that person, without any meaningful interaction with the person. For example, many people know of Africa, but they don’t know that Africa is a continent—they think Africa is a country. They also don’t know that Africans are one of the brightest and best in the world. What such people know of Africa is that it is a land of poverty, diseases, corruption, and savagery; and that Africans are illiterates, idol worshippers, and cannibals, who have no knowledge of Jesus, hence, they see Africa as the place for evangelism mostly! How wrong they are! Do you really know Jesus? Or do you just know of Him?
Matthew 14:1-2; 26:59-68; Galatians 1:21-24; Acts 19:13-16; 5:1-11; 1 Corinthians 2:6-8; Romans 1:18-25; Hebrews 11:6; 10:31.
Conclusion
When we talk of “Knowing Jesus”, we are not talking about ‘knowing of’ Him. When you know of a person, you have a mental ascent as to the existence of the person, without a reaction or action which corresponds to who that person really is. Such a knowing of the Lord Jesus, has given rise to ‘theologians’ who seek to prove that the Lord Jesus was just a great man; and, all manner of Christians who profess Christ, and yet live at variance with everything that the Lord Jesus stands for. These mere ‘professors’ of Christ think that the name of Jesus is a talisman that can be used by anybody for their protection, or for the demonstration of power. People who know of the Lord Jesus, think of Him as a mere man who does not see or know what they are doing in secret; and so, like Ananias and Sapphira, they have no qualms telling lies and acting deceitfully in their local assemblies!
They know of Jesus, but do not acknowledge Him as the Creator; nor do they know the power and the extent of His salvation (John 1:1-3; Hebrews 1:1-4; Colossians 1:13-29). These people also do not know what God is capable of doing—that He rewards those who diligently (earnestly; not lackadaisically, nor begrudgingly) and patiently follow Him; and that He is also a consuming fire (Deuteronomy 32:39; 2 Kings 5:7)! Indeed, for people who merely ‘know of’ Jesus, the fear of God means nothing; in fact, the bible says that they are unrighteous (Romans 3:10-18).
May our knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ manifest not only in our love for Him, but also in our reverential fear of, and obedience to Him, which will make us to live holy before Him all the days of our lives.
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