How can we know God?

Answering the question from my previous post, “How can we know God?” I want to first talk about four different dimensions of knowledge. According to R.C. Sproul, in God's Will and the Christian, there are four dimensions of knowledge and they are listed below with a few scripture verses and are not exhaustive, as there are too many to list on this site and I only list two per dimension as to not overwhelm the reader.

The Dimensions of Knowledge:

1. Intellectual: Knowing the truth about God:

a. Deuteronomy 7:9

b. Psalms 100:3

2. Volitional: Trusting, Obeying and Worshiping God:

a. Psalms 95: 6

b. Proverbs 3:5 & 6

3. Moral: Practicing justice and love:

a. Jeremiah 22:16

b. I John 4:7&8

4. Relational: Reciprocal love (Relationship)

a. John 10:14

b. Galatians 4:9

c. II Timothy 2:19

We can to learn how to experience interaction between intellectual knowledge (truth) and relational knowledge (authenticity) as we develop and grow in relationship with the Father. Volitional knowledge and moral knowledge will flow naturally out of the other two.

In the second book of Peter chapter 1, verses 1-12, the Apostle Peter uses different Greek words for the word, “knowledge.” As he is writing in the Greek language, the recipients of his letter read and understand in that same language and the meanings are not lost in translation. As we read and understand the word “knowledge” in our 21^st century context, we do not fully understand the import and weight of this word. It is an important distinction as many of us will read “knowledge” and define it as an awareness of and/or academically acquired information about God.

So, what is the difference of those Greek words and why does it matter? In the Greek, one word is “epignosis” [*1922] which means, “to recognize or become fully acquainted with,” which implies relationship. The other is “gnosis” [*1108], which means to “understand, to be resolved, growing knowledge, seeking after, active knowledge.”

If you look in verses 2, 3 and 8 of II Peter, the Greek word for “knowledge” there is, “epignosis” [*1922] and in verses 5 and 6 is “gnosis” [*1108]. Try reading these passages with these literal definitions and see if it doesn’t change your perception and understanding. Peter knows that we can learn to know God, through Christ, but that it is a knowing that will be based on relationship and not through religious ideas and/or acts. Actions will flow out of our relationship, because we will become an extension of His heart in real, experiential and practical ways. We do not “do” to receive His love, stuff will happen in and through us because we are in relationship with Him…because He loves us and we are learning to live in that relational knowledge.

Scripture speaks of “knowing God” as the knowledge of God’s covenant agreement with us as reciprocal, with affection on both sides.

“Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God's kindness leads you toward repentance?” (Romans 2:4)

We know God as ours because He knows us as HIS!

*Represents index numbers for these words in Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance.