Monday's Message: Knowledge

Today’s message will be on the second descriptor in 2 Corinthians 6:4 By pureness, by knowledge, by long suffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned,

Knowledge is a vast subject in the Scriptures and we will only be able to skim the surface of what God has to say about knowledge. What is it? Where does it come from? How do we get it? These are a few of the questions we will touch on today concerning knowledge.

I think the best place to start when discussing knowledge is at the beginning; Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

We see here in this very famous verse of scripture that the fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge. What does that mean? Well, I believe that God is telling us that we must build all our knowledge and understanding on a Christian worldview. We must start our studies, investigations and inquiries with the understanding that everything in this world, including ourselves is created by God.

2 Corinthians 4:6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

This has many implications and will affect our interpretation of certain evidences and facts that we are presented with in life. One implication of beginning with the understanding that Jesus Christ is the Creator of all things is that we will find order, design, and meaning in the creation of God. This is, of course, exactly what we find when we observe God’s creation, but if we don’t begin with the recognition of the God of the Bible as Creator and sustainer we will end up with false beliefs about where these creations come from, how they came to be and most importantly, why they are here at all. This does not mean that unbelievers can’t know anything, it means that all their knowledge is based on a foundation of falsehood.

The Apostle Paul said of Jesus Christ, In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge(Colossians 2:3). All knowledge and wisdom comes from God and if we want to receive understanding, we must look to Jesus Christ and His words to find it. The Bible says that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all(1 John 1:5). Jesus also told us that God’s Word is truth, John 17:17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. We must always begin with foundation of our faith, that God’s Word is true and we must compareall our beliefs with what He has taught us in His Word.

Titus 1:2 In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;

God does want us, as Christians, to get knowledge and wisdom and understanding. Proverbs 4:7 Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.We should daily be reading the Word of God and praying for wisdom and studying to show ourselves approved unto God (2Timothy 2:15). The Bible says in Hosea 4:6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.There is certainly a lack of knowledge of the Bible among God’s people today, and we being destroyed because of it. Peter concludes his second epistle with this admonition:But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.2 Peter 3:18

So we can see that it is very important to God that we have knowledge; however, God also warns us of the trap of getting proud of our knowledge and the dangerous effects of being built up in self pride. We must always accompany our knowledge with a humble and contrite spirit, realizing that all our knowledge comes from God and that we are still sinners and that but for the grace of Almighty God we would be living in ignorance and deception to this day.

1 Corinthians 8:1 Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledgepuffeth up, but charity edifieth.

2 And if any man think that he knowethany thing, he knowethnothing yet as he ought to know.

1 Corinthians 13:2  And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.

So, let us go forward learning and studying God’s Word, praying for wisdom and applying our understanding to glorify God and to lead others to our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, and always remember to do so with charity and compassion and a correct understanding of who we truly are and who God is.

Ephesians 3:19  And to know the love of Christ, which passethknowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.