Knowing The Unknowable God II

1
Knowing The Unknowable God (II)
Jn 173 This is eternal life, that they may know
You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You
have sent.
2
Knowing The Unknowable God (II)
1 Cor 1312 For now we see in a mirror dimly,
but then face to face now I know in part, but
then I will know fully just as I also have been
fully known
3
Gods Immanence His Self-disclosure To Us

• Immanent near present God is active in his
  creation

Isa 5715 For thus says the high and exalted
One Who lives forever, whose name is Holy, I
dwell on a high and holy place, And also with the
contrite and lowly of spirit. In order to revive
the spirit of the lowly. And to revive the heart
of the contrite.
4
Gods Immanence His Self-disclosure To Us

• Immanent near present God is active in his
  creation

Acts 1727-28 that they would seek God, if
perhaps they might grope for Him and find Him,
though He is not far from each one of us for in
Him we live and move and exist, as even some of
your own poets have said, For we also are His
children.
5
Gods Immanence His Self-disclosure To Us

• How the transcendent (separate) God becomes
  immanent (near)
• 1. Gods self-revelation
• In Creation

6
Psalms 191-6 The heavens are telling of the
glory of God And their expanse is declaring the
work of His hands. 2 Day to day pours forth
speech, And night to night reveals knowledge. 3
There is no speech, nor are there words Their
voice is not heard. 4 Their line has gone out
through all the earth, And their utterances to
the end of the world. In them He has placed a
tent for the sun, 5 Which is as a bridegroom
coming out of his chamber It rejoices as a
strong man to run his course. 6 Its rising is
from one end of the heavens, And its circuit to
the other end of them And there is nothing
hidden from its heat.
7
Psalms 191-6 The heavens are telling of the
glory of God And their expanse is declaring the
work of His hands. 2 Day to day pours forth
speech, And night to night reveals knowledge. 3
There is no speech, nor are there words Their
voice is not heard. 4 Their line has gone out
through all the earth, And their utterances to
the end of the world. In them He has placed a
tent for the sun, 5 Which is as a bridegroom
coming out of his chamber It rejoices as a
strong man to run his course. 6 Its rising is
from one end of the heavens, And its circuit to
the other end of them And there is nothing
hidden from its heat.
8
Psalms 191-6 The heavens are telling of the
glory of God And their expanse is declaring the
work of His hands. 2 Day to day pours forth
speech, And night to night reveals knowledge. 3
There is no speech, nor are there words Their
voice is not heard. 4 Their line has gone out
through all the earth, And their utterances to
the end of the world. In them He has placed a
tent for the sun, 5 Which is as a bridegroom
coming out of his chamber It rejoices as a
strong man to run his course. 6 Its rising is
from one end of the heavens, And its circuit to
the other end of them And there is nothing
hidden from its heat.
9
Gods Immanence His Self-disclosure To Us

• How the transcendent (separate) God becomes
  immanent (near)
• 1. Gods self-revelation
• In Creation

Rom 120 For since the creation of the world His
invisible attributes, His eternal power and
divine nature, have been clearly seen, being
understood through what has been made, so that
they are without excuse.
10
Gods Immanence His Self-disclosure To Us

• How the transcendent (separate) God becomes
  immanent (near)
• 1. Gods self-revelation
• In Creation
• In Scripture

11
1 Cor 26-13 THINGS WHICH EYE HAS NOT SEEN AND
EAR HAS NOT HEARD, AND which HAVE NOT ENTERED THE
HEART OF MAN, ALL THAT GOD HAS PREPARED FOR THOSE
WHO LOVE HIM." For to us God revealed them
through the Spirit for the Spirit searches all
things, even the depths of God. For who among men
knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of
the man which is in him? Even so the thoughts of
God no one knows except the Spirit of God. Now we
have received, not the spirit of the world, but
the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know
the things freely given to us by God, which
things we also speak, not in words taught by
human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit,
combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual
words.
12
Gods Immanence His self-disclosure To Us

• How the transcendent (separate) God becomes
  immanent (near)
• 1. Gods self-revelation
• In Creation
• In Scripture

Job 12.22He reveals mysteries from the
darkness And brings the deep darkness into light
13
Gods Immanence His self-disclosure To Us

• How the transcendent (separate) God becomes
  immanent (near)
• 1. Gods self-revelation
• In Creation
• In Scripture

Amos 37 Surely the Lord GOD does nothing Unless
He reveals His secret counsel To His servants the
prophets.
14
Gods Immanence His self-disclosure To Us

• How the transcendent (separate) God becomes
  immanent (near)
• 1. Gods self-revelation
• In Creation
• In Scripture
• And the proclaiming of it

2 Cor 4.7But we have this treasure in earthen
vessels.
15
Gods Immanence His self-disclosure To Us

• How the transcendent (separate) God becomes
  immanent (near)
• 1. Gods self-revelation
• In Creation
• In Scripture
• In Jesus Christ

Jn 118 No one has seen God at any time the
only begotten God who is in the bosom of the
Father, He has explained Him.
16
Gods Immanence His self-disclosure To Us

• How the transcendent (separate) God becomes
  immanent (near)
• 1. Gods self-revelation
• In Creation
• In Scripture
• In Jesus Christ

Jn 147-9 If you had known Me, you would have
known My Father also from now on you know Him,
and have seen Him. Philip said to Him, Lord,
show us the Father, and it is enough for us.
Jesus said to him, Have I been so long with you,
and yet you have not come to know Me, Philip? He
who has seen Me has seen the Father how can you
say, 'Show us the Father'?
17
Gods Immanence His self-disclosure To Us

• How the transcendent (separate) God becomes
  immanent (near)
• 1. Gods self-revelation
• In Creation
• In Scripture
• In Jesus Christ

Col 115 He is the image of the invisible God,
the firstborn of all creation.
18
Gods Immanence His self-disclosure To Us

• How the transcendent (separate) God becomes
  immanent (near)
• 1. Gods self-revelation
• In Creation
• In Scripture
• In Jesus Christ

Heb 11-3 God, after He spoke long ago to the
fathers in the prophets in many portions and in
many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in
His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things,
through whom also He made the world. And He is
the radiance of His glory and the exact
representation of His nature, and upholds all
things by the word of His power. When He had made
purification of sins, He sat down at the right
hand of the Majesty on high.
19
Gods Immanence His self-disclosure To Us

• How the transcendent (separate) God becomes
  immanent (near)
• 1. Gods self-revelation
• 2. Gods coming near to us
• He comes to dwell with us

2 Cor 616 I WILL DWELL IN THEM AND WALK AMONG
THEM AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND THEY SHALL BE
MY PEOPLE.
20
Gods Immanence His self-disclosure To Us

• How the transcendent (separate) God becomes
  immanent (near)
• 1. Gods self-revelation
• 2. Gods coming near to us
• He comes to dwell with us
• He lives in us

1 Cor 619 Or do you not know that your body is
a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom
you have from God, and that you are not your own?
21
What It Means To Know Me

• Relationship
• Through prayer

22
What It Means To Know Me

• Relationship
• Intimacy
• Like the deepest of human relationships -- Gen
  41,17,25

1 Cor 617 But the one who joins himself to the
Lord is one spirit with Him.
23
What It Means To Know Me

• Relationship
• Intimacy
• Like the deepest of human relationships -- Gen
  41,17,25

Eph 531-32 FOR THIS REASON A MAN SHALL LEAVE
HIS FATHER AND MOTHER AND SHALL BE JOINED TO HIS
WIFE, AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH. This
mystery is great but I am speaking with
reference to Christ and the church.
24
What It Means To Know Me

• Relationship
• Intimacy
• A two-way relationship

Gal 49 But now that you have come to know God,
or rather to be known by God, how is it that you
turn back again to the weak and worthless
elemental things, to which you desire to be
enslaved all over again?
25
What It Means To Know Me

• Relationship
• Intimacy
• A two-way relationship

1 Cor 1312 For now we see in a mirror dimly,
but then face to face now I know in part, but
then I will know fully just as I also have been
fully known.
26
What It Means To Know Me

• Relationship
• Intimacy
• A two-way relationship

Jn 1014 I am the good shepherd, and I know My
own and My own know Me.
27
What It Means To Know Me

• Relationship
• Intimacy
• Familiarity

Gal 46-7 Because you are sons, God has sent
forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts,
crying, Abba! Father! Therefore you are no
longer a slave, but a son and if a son, then an
heir through God.
28
What It Means To Know Me

• Relationship
• Intimacy
• Familiarity

Heb 416 Therefore let us draw near with
confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may
receive mercy and find grace to help in time of
need.
29
What It Means To Know Me

• Relationship
• Intimacy
• Familiarity
• Likeness

Jer 2216 He pled the cause of the afflicted and
needy Then it was well. Is not that what it
means to know Me? Declares the LORD.
30
What It Means To Know Me

• Relationship
• Intimacy
• Familiarity
• Likeness

Jer 924 but let him who boasts boast of this,
that he understands and knows Me, that I am the
LORD who exercises lovingkindness, justice and
righteousness on earth for I delight in these
things," declares the LORD.
31
What It Means To Know Me

• Relationship
• Intimacy
• Familiarity
• Likeness

32
Knowing The Unknowable God (II)

• We must seek to know God

1 Chron 289 As for you, my son Solomon, know
the God of your father, and serve Him with a
whole heart and a willing mind for the LORD
searches all hearts, and understands every intent
of the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will let you
find Him but if you forsake Him, He will reject
you forever.
33
Knowing The Unknowable God (II)

• We must seek to know God

Phil 38 More than that, I count all things to
be loss in view of the surpassing value of
knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have
suffered the loss of all things, and count them
but rubbish so that I may gain Christ.
34
(No Transcript)