Day 16 – Knowledge of God
In our on-going series of the Word of God, I am learning that there is nothing above God’s own words. God is not man that He should lie and, therefore, He is Truth. God never changes. And, lastly, God is eternal. God’s Holy Word is sure because He cannot lie and He never changes. Since He is eternal, His Word will go on forever without change.
Why is God’s Word so important to us? Why do we need it? Why do we care so much about its validity and preservation? Contained within the pages of the Holy Bible is the knowledge of God for mankind unto salvation. Is it any wonder that the devil, also known as the father of lies, would want to keep man from it? Is it any wonder that ole slew foot himself would try to corrupt it? (Joh 8:44) Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. This same Satan (Lucifer) wants to exalt himself above God. (Isa 14:13) For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: (Isa 14:14) I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. (Isa 14:15) Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit. Satan has tried to exalt himself since creation and has set himself against the Word of God. No matter how much the devil tries to corrupt the Word of God, he will end up in hell.
The Lord gave me 2 Cor. 10:5 this morning and it simply jumped off the page at me! (2 Cor. 10:5) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; According to Strong’s Concordance, the word imaginations is:
G3053
λογισμός
logismos
log-is-mos’
From G3049; computation, that is, (figuratively) reasoning (conscience, conceit): – imagination, thought.
The devil and those who work for him have tried to destroy God’s Word since the Garden of Eden. This same effort of perverting the Bible isn’t new and has been going on for thousands of years – but the end is near. Satan’s time is short. However, in the mean time, he is determined to take as many souls to hell with him. If the father of lies can do this by distracting mankind and convincing the so-called “learned and high-minded” that God’s Word cannot be preserved, he will have won. If he can deceive and convince people that the Bible today is nothing but man’s words, then he has managed to distract the populace from seeking salvation. Why do you think it’s such a big controversy in the world? Even amongst Christians there is division on this topic! What a victory for Satan! He has Christendom arguing and fighting amongst themselves and thus providing the world with the worse possible testimony of the Lord Jesus Christ. Instead of desiring to seek salvation, the world mocks Christ because of this.
What I cannot understand is how can a Christian believe that God created the sun and the moon and He placed the stars in the heavens yet this same Christian cannot believe that God is powerful enough to preserve His Word? It just does not make sense! It is an oxymoron to me. This belief states that this Christian’s God is not powerful – therefore, He cannot move mountains – therefore, He cannot heal – therefore, He cannot save to the uttermost for all eternity! What a horrible testimony for the Lord Jesus Christ! Is it any wonder why there are so many different belief systems today, even amongst Christians? It’s not enough that the devil is winning by having over 100 differenent Bible “versions.” He has managed to cast doubt on God’s Word in the Christian’s mind. If this is where you are at, Satan has won in your life.
Paul exhorts the Corinthians to put off (cast down – throw aside) the computation and reasoning of God’s Word, and all things that set itself against the knowledge of God (God’s Word); and to place our thoughts under the control (captivity) and obedience of Christ. Hmmm, that’s pretty powerful stuff, isn’t it? This pretty much sums up all the cults and how they twist the Scriptures to support their doctrine. Paul states that they exalt themselves against the knowledge of God and they disobey what Christ has commanded through His Word. If the “religious organization” you belong to is not supported by God’s Word, you have embraced wrong teaching and accepted it as doctrine. It is as simple as that.
Before you go on to say that the “knowledge of God” does not mean His words through the Scriptures, let’s allow the Bible to define what the “knowledge of God” represents. (Pro 2:5) Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God. The “fear of the Lord” allows one to find the knowledge of God, according to this Proverb. This same fear is said to be the fountain of life and will keep us from the snares of spiritual death. (Pro 14:27) The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death. The fountain of life leads to living waters – the kind of waters that can only be found through Jesus Christ and the Scriptures. (Joh 7:38 ) He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. It stands to reason that the Word of God is the knowledge of God which leads one to salvation in Jesus Christ.
(Hos 4:1) Hear the word of the LORD, ye children of Israel: for the LORD hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land.(Hos 6:6) For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.(Rom 11:33) O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!
(1 Cor 15:34) Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.
(Col 1:10) That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;
(2 Pet 1:2) Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,
Jesus stated that those who had access to such great knowledge of salvation didn’t even accept it and also prevented others from being saved. (Luk 11:52) Woe unto you, lawyers! for ye have taken away the key of knowledge: ye entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye hindered. So the knowledge of God is depicted through the salvation of Jesus Christ. The Word, the Holy Bible, records this knowledge and also records the way to obtain salvation through Christ. (1 Cor 12:8 ) For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; The Holy Spirit wrote the Scriptures and He gives wisdom and knowledge, as this verse states. The knowledge that God wished for us to have was penned in the Scriptures so that mankind could find salvation. (Eph 3:3) How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, (Eph 3:4) Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)
Therefore, if the Word is the knowledge of God, then 2 Cor. 10:5 must be obeyed. We cannot put our own reasonings above it. No church can say that their leadership’s words and traditions supersede the Word of God. Paul warned the Colossians of the same thing:
(Col 2:1) For I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you, and for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh; (Col 2:2) That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ; (Col 2:3) In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. (Col 2:4) And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words. (Col 2:5) For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ. (Col 2:6) As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: (Col 2:7) Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. (Col 2:8 ) Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
The Colossians were taught God’s Word and they were being exhorted to walk in His ways, rooted and built up in Him and established in their faith as Paul had taught them. Paul continues to exhort them by warning them that some man may spoil them through philosophy and vain deceit after the traditions of men – after the rudiments (the first teachings) of the world, and not after Christ.. Oh my goodness people, do you not see? Can you not comprehend? The Lord warns us that nothing – absolutely nothing can supersede God’s Words. If you think you are a Christian and you are reading this today, I pray that you will compare what you are being taught in your church with God’s Holy Word. Don’t allow traditions of men to be above God’s Word. Don’t allow an organized group of leaders in your church to determine what is to be practiced by your church if it is in conflict with the Word of God.
The same God who created the universe and all that is in it, is able to preserve His Word today so that you can seek His knowledge and find the path to salvation within the pages of the Holy Bible. Do not be deceived by Lucifer’s tactics – why do you think he is referred to as the “angel of light”? (2 Cor 11:13) For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. (2 Cor 11:14) And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. (2 Cor 11:15) Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works. Not only is he an angel of light but his followers are trying to appear as apostles of Christ and ministers of righteousness! The devil has wanted the throne of Jesus since the beginning and he will do what it takes to get it. He is so full of pride that he cannot even see that his time is short and he will be cast into the lake of fire.
My friend, the devil seeks to take away God’s Word from the face of this earth. He does not want anyone to be saved. (Mar 4:15) And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts. This is the devil’s job – to take away the Word of God and devour you so you can go with him to the pits of hell. (1 Pet 5:8 ) Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Believe me, any church who adds to or takes away from the blessed Gospel of Jesus Christ and His Words (the Holy Bible), will blow hell’s gates wide open and meet the father of lies there. There are too many Scriptures which speak against the traditions of men and the burdens they place upon man.
(Mat 23:13) But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in. (Mat 23:14) Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows’ houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation. (Mat 23:15) Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves. (Mat 23:23) Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone. (Mat 23:24) Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel. (Mat 23:25) Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess. (Mat 23:26) Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also. (Mat 23:27) Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness. (Mat 23:28 ) Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity. (Mat 23:29) Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous, (Mat 23:33) Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell? (Mat 23:38 ) Behold, your house is left unto you desolate.
Being a former roman catholic, these verses spoke volumes to me! I was so deceived – I trusted my priest to teach me God’s Word but all I got were dry bones. After salvation, I discovered the waters of life that Christ spoke about in His Word. The Bible has the knowledge of God contained within its pages and it led me to Him! Praise the Lord!
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