Stroke Survivor Blog

Have you ever wondered how to truly know God?

Many people know about God, but only few really know him. Today you can learn how to have a relationship with him that will fill the void in your life. This article is not about becoming more religious, but about becoming intimately acquainted with a God who loves you.

God is a Spirit, so how do we get to know a spirit? Sounds like a dilemma, but God made a way. He knew we couldn’t relate to him in that spirit form, so He revealed himself to us in human form so we could know him and love him.

“In the beginning the Word already existed. He was with God, and he was God…He created everything there is. Nothing exists that he didn’t make. So the Word became human and lived here on earth among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the only Son of the Father…God’s unfailing love and faithfulness came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God. But his only Son, who is himself God, is near to the Father’s heart; he has told us about him.” (John 1:1,3,14,17-18)

God revealed himself to us through his son, Jesus Christ. The Bible tells us that “The Son reflects God’s own glory, and everything about him represents God exactly.” (Hebrews 1:3)

And again in First John 5:20 we are told, “And we know that the Son of God has come, and he has given us understanding so that we can know the true God.”

The key to truly knowing God is knowing his son, Jesus Christ. Conventional religion teaches us that the way to God is by going to church and doing good works. These are noble things not to be ignored, but they are not the way to know God. It takes faith, because “without faith, it is impossible to please God.”

“But the Jews, who tried so hard to get right with God by keeping the law, never succeeded. Why not? Because they were trying to get right with God by keeping the law and being good instead of by depending on faith…For they don’t understand God’s way of making people right with himself. Instead, they are clinging to their own way of getting right with God by trying to keep the law. They won’t go along with God’s way. For Christ has accomplished the whole purpose of the law. All who believe in him are made right with God.” (Romans 9:31-32, 10:3-4)

Others tell us that there are many ways to God, but the Bible teaches us that there is only ONE way.

Jesus said, “I am the way…no one comes to the Father except through me. If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.” (John 14:6-17)

In the passage above, Jesus was essentially telling his disciples that if they really knew him, they would recognize that he was the exact representation of the character, personality, holiness, compassion, love, mercy and forgiveness of God the Father. All of the characteristics and attributes of God are wrapped up in the personage of Jesus Christ. He and the Father are one and the same (John 10:30). One of them is in spirit form and the other is in human form.

“For in Christ the fullness of God lives in a human body.” (Colossians 2:9)

Knowing Christ is knowing God, but in order to know a holy God, we must be holy also. However, our sins have separated us from God, so holiness is impossible to attain on our own. But God has made a way, and again, this way is through his son Jesus Christ who came to reconcile us to God. Because of our sins we deserve death.

“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord. ” (Romans 6:23)

God poured out his wrath for our sins on his son Jesus who willingly gave his life for us so we could be made right with God.

“But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s judgment.” (Romans 5:8-9)

Jesus was crucified, died and was buried, but on the third day he was raised from the dead and came to life again by the power of God. He was seen by more than 500 people at one time before he ascended into heaven 40 days later (See 1 Corinthians 15:1-8). Jesus overcame sin and death, and he is alive forevermore. You can’t say that about Buddha, Mohammed, Allah or any other so-called god.

“For since we were restored to friendship with God by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be delivered from eternal punishment by his life. So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God – all because of what our Lord Jesus Christ has done for us in making us friends of God.” (Romans 5:10-11)

Through Jesus Christ we can be made holy. He is the only mediator between Man and God (1 Timothy 2:5). Yes, he is the ONLY way to God.

Without Christ, we are like “dead men walking.” But when we repent of our sins and receive the free gift of salvation offered to us by Jesus Christ, we are forgiven and made right with God.

Begin your life-long journey of knowing God by taking these steps:

• Acknowledge that you are a sinner and repent.

“For all have sinned; all fall short of God’s glorious standard.” (Romans 3:23) “Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, and that he may send the Christ, who has been appointed for you – even Jesus.” (Acts 3:19-20 NIV)

• Believe, accept and confess your allegiance to Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior.

“Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ [give yourself up to Him, take yourself out of your own keeping and entrust yourself into His keeping] and you will be saved…” (Acts 16:31 Amplified Bible) “For if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved.” (Romans 10:9-10)

“But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. They are reborn! This is not a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan – this rebirth comes from God.” (John 1:12-13)

Pray like this:

God, I know that I am a sinner and deserve punishment for my sins. I turn away from them and ask you to forgive me. Thank you for loving me so much and for sending your son Jesus. I believe that he died for my sins and was buried, and that on the third day he came to life again. I surrender my life to him right now, and I ask you, Jesus, to be my Lord and Savior. Help me to know you and be the person you want me to be. Amen.

When you sincerely receive Jesus Christ into your life, a miracle happens…something too wonderful and mysterious to explain or comprehend. He actually takes up residence in your heart. The very presence of God comes in and dwells within you. He gives you a desire to obey him and do his will.

“And we know that the Son of God has come, and he has given us understanding so that we can know the true God. And now we are in God because we are in his Son, Jesus Christ. He is the only true God, and he is eternal life.” (1 John 5:20)

The power of sin is broken over you and it no longer controls you. Your sins are forgiven and God begins to change you from the inside out. Once that happens, you are on your way to truly knowing God.

Nurture your relationship with God by following these steps:

• Read the Bible everyday. This is God’s word and he reveals his will to you in it. Begin reading in the Gospel of John. The New International Version (NIV) is good version to use, or get The NLT One Year Chronological Bible and start reading in the New Testament.
• Pray everyday. Prayer is talking to God just like you talk to a friend.
• Start to journal. This will help you remember the things God is doing in your life. If you don’t know how, there are journaling coaches who can help you.
• Attend a good Bible-believing church where the Gospel of Christ is preached. This will help you to grow in the Lord, and it’s also a place to find friends who share your new faith.

If you have read this article because you truly want to know God, he will honor your desire, and will reveal himself to you as you continue to seek him.

My prayer for you is this…“that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray that your heart will be flooded with light so that you can understand the wonderful future he has promised to those he called. I want you to realize what a rich and glorious inheritance he has given to his people. I pray that you will begin to understand the incredible greatness of his power for us who believe him.” (Ephesians 1:17-19)

All scriptures taken from the New Living Translation of the Bible unless otherwise noted.

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About the Author:

Kathy A. Boncher is a Bible Teacher, Speaker, Writer, and Altar Minister. She has co-authored two books on spiritual journaling, and has spoken at numerous Bible studies, women’s seminars, conferences and retreats on how to find intimacy with God. Kathy was born-again and Spirit-filled in 1974, and called to preach God’s Word two years later. She has a hunger and thirst for the Word and has committed much of it to memory.

Read Kathy’s Testimony on how she came to know God. Contact Kathy

Copyright (c) 2010 Kathy A. Boncher. All Rights Reserved.