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“ Summary, Part 5 (final) ” 3. THE INDISPENSABLE SUBSTANCE OF A SAVING KNOWLEDGE OF GOD PROVIDES US A DEFINITION OF KNOWING GOD BY WHICH TO MEASURE OUR PROFESSED KNOWLEDGE OF GOD [47:35]. Saving knowledge involves mystery, but is not mystical. It comes by revelation and has manifested itself throughout history.
Ian Migala (4/30/2014)
from Minneapolis, Minnesota
“ Summary, Part 4 ” 4) EVANGELICAL INTERCOURSE WITH THE TRIUNE GOD [36:40]. This is the epitome of saving knowledge, ravishing to the soul: the sort of knowledge a Christian doesn’t want to live without. The SONG OF SOLOMON is not just about a husband and his wife, but about a Christian and his God. Marriage is a picture of Christ dying for His bride, the church. Passages to consider in this light: on intimacy with the Father (MATTHEW 11:27), the Son (JOHN 8:19, 14:8-9, 17:3, PHILIPPIANS 3:10, 2 PETER 1:2-3), and the Holy Spirit (JOHN 14:17). This intimate knowledge leads to doxology and devotion. ABIDING MESSAGE: 1. THE LIMITED SCOPE OF GOD’S SAVING KNOWLEDGE UNDERSCORES FALLEN MAN’S NEED OF SOVEREIGN GRACE BEFORE HE CAN KNOW GOD SAVINGLY [42:45]. We’ll never know God if He doesn’t reveal Himself to us. Man’s religions lead men further away from Him. 2. THE LIMITED SCOPE OF A SAVING KNOWLEDGE OF GOD REMINDS US THAT NO MAN BY NATURE OR THAT EVEN EVERY PROFESSING CHRISTIAN KNOWS GOD SAVINGLY [43:30]. When we’re not walking closely with the Lord, even zealous Christians can make us uncomfortable and ashamed. Professing Christians even run to church to escape God, as if mere proximity has saving value.
Ian Migala (4/30/2014)
from Minneapolis, Minnesota
“ Summary, Part 3 ” This type of knowledge includes three elements: a) A BIBLICAL CONCEPT OF GOD’S WORD IS THE FOUNDATION OF THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD [27:30]. We learn our concept of Scripture from Scripture. This is not circular because Scripture is God’s out-breathed word. b) A BIBLICAL CONCEPT OF GOD’S NATURE AND WORKS IS THE CORE OF THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD [28:00]. This includes knowledge of God’s attributes, His character, and His personality (JEREMIAH 9:24, JOHN 8:19, COLOSSIANS 2:2-3, EPHESIANS 1:17-18, 2 PETER 1:2-3). c) A BIBLICAL CONCEPT OF GOD’S EXPECTATIONS IS THE CAPSTONE OF THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD [30:50]. This involves an accurate understanding of the duty He requires of us (COLOSSIANS 1:9-10). A saving knowledge of God is the foundation of Christian ethics (1 JOHN 4:6). Bare knowledge of God merely puffs one up (1 CORINTHIANS 8). 3) SPIRITUAL PERCEPTION OF GOD [33:20]. This is the recognition of God at work in history and of His presence in daily life (JOHN 21:12, PHILIPPIANS 3:10, 1 CORINTHIANS 2:14). A practical atheist can’t see God anywhere. 1 CORINTHIANS 2:15 says that the spiritual man discerns all things spiritually. This isn’t mysticism, but saving reality.
Ian Migala (4/30/2014)
from Minneapolis, Minnesota
“ Summary, Part 2 ” i. THE INDISPENSABLE SUBSTANCE OF GOD’S SAVING KNOWLEDGE [15:00]. In Scripture, knowledge is classified in four different ways: information – factual; by observation, research, or revelation (cf. 1 CORINTHIANS 2:11); comprehension – understanding the meaning, importance, function, or implication of something (cf. MATTHEW 22:29, JOHN 7:15); perception – recognition of motives; the discernment of reality (cf. MATTHEW 27:18, GENESIS 22:12); experience – knowledge that yields intimacy (cf. 2 CORINTHIANS 5:21, LUKE 1:34, MATTHEW 7:23). Saving knowledge includes all of these elements, which in turn yield to the Christian: 1) INFORMED AWARENESS OF GOD [24:20]. Saving knowledge is factual, and those facts are contained only in Scripture and are captured by orthodox Christianity. Paul told the Greek pagans that they worshipped an unknown god (ACTS 17:23). Though the Jews knew much about God in the scriptures, they didn’t know Him savingly (ROMANS 2:17-20). 2) BIBLICAL COMPREHENSION OF GOD [26:30]. Saving knowledge is conceptual. It encompasses God’s eternal decrees, His work of salvation from things.
Ian Migala (4/30/2014)
from Minneapolis, Minnesota
“ Summary, Part 1 ” [Pastor Nutter credits his former professor, Pastor Greg Nichols of Grace Immanuel Reformed Baptist Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan for the outline of this message, which can be found in Pastor Nichols’ book, *What does the Bible say about God?: The Biblical doctrine of God*.]
Last week, we examined B. THE KNOWLEDGE SOME MEN HAVE OF GOD: GOD’S SAVING KNOWLEDGE, 1. THE MAJOR FEATURES OF A SAVING KNOWLEDGE OF GOD, a. THE SOLE SOURCE OF GOD’S SAVING KNOWLEDGE. Today, we continue with,
b. THE LIMITED SCOPE OF GOD’S SAVING KNOWLEDGE [starting at 3:40 of the audio]. MATTHEW 11:27, 1 CORINTHIANS 2:10-14 – Knowledge of God is a supernatural work of divine grace. Many are called, but few are chosen. Creative knowledge (also known as general revelation or natural theology) is damning (cf. JOHN 6:44, TITUS 3:5). EPHESIANS 2:1-3 – we are born dead in sin, but raised in Christ. JAMES 1:18 – God willed to save us and give us knowledge of Him (cf. JOHN 6:37 – Christ receives those whom the Father gives to Him). No one would come to God if God didn’t choose them. The natural man hates God; if Arminianism were true, no one could be saved (ROMANS 1:30). Therefore, when someone comes to know God, it is His work alone (EPHESIANS 1:3-5, ROMANS 8:28ff, PSALM 65:4).
