The Humbling Nature of the Knowledge of God

Long title; short blog.
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To many people the knowledge of God can lead to pride: that they know Him, how much they know about or of Him. Scripture paints a very different picture. The knowledge of God is humbling:

1. Without Him stepping in to reveal Himself to us we could know very little about Him. Ro 1: 20 limits such knowledge as being of His divine nature and eternal power. Surely we couldn’t know such an infinite God as finite creatures in any meaningful sense if He didn’t take the initiative to reveal Himself further.
2. God must reveal Himself then to us so that we might know Him. He did so through His written Word (2 Ti 3:16) and by sending His Son (Jn 1:4, 14:7–8).
3. A correct knowledge of God is only possible by His help. When Peter acknowledged that Jesus was the Christ, Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.” (Mt 16:17)
4. Coming to a saving knowledge of God through belief in Jesus itself, because of the blindness caused by our sin, is only possible because of God’s actions. Throughout the Gospel of John this is made clear, “no one can come to me [Jesus] unless the Father who sent me draws him.” (Jn 6:44).
5. Once we’ve believed in Jesus our sanctification and increasing relational knowledge of God remains dependent upon Him too. We need His grace to help us grow in faith (2 Pet 3:18a).
6. Even doctrinal knowledge of God is based upon God’s grace. His common grace to give us minds to think, and His Spirit who helps us to spiritually discern the spiritual truths of Scripture (1 Cor 2:14).
7. The more you know about God the more you realize how little you know. The finite learning of the infinite.
8. Knowing God as we are known by Him (1 Cor 13:12), produces a certain mystery, “What is man that you are mindful of him.” (Ps 8:4)

The Christian knowledge of God, from start to finish, is of grace. There is no room for pride in the knowledge of God, only humility, for such knowledge is not worked up but shone down. This radically changes our outlook as we are graced with humility. Though we are still bold in proclaiming our knowledge of Him, no longer is there any room for pride. When we speak of the reason for the hope that is in us we will do so in gentleness and respect. It has been my experience that this greatly alters, in an advantageous way, how we go about evangelism, apologetics and debates.

May we know Christ and make Him known, in humility. Surely, the Lord will use this for His glory.