## Do You Know the Lord?

## John 8:12-30

(JOHN 8:19) "THEN SAID THEY UNTO HIM, WHERE IS THY FATHER? JESUS ANSWERED, YE NEITHER KNOW ME, NOR MY FATHER: IF YE HAD KNOWN ME, YE SHOULD HAVE KNOWN MY FATHER ALSO."

Do you know Jesus? That is the introductory question some people use when they witness for the Lord. It's not a bad question, either. Do YOU know Jesus? The scribes and Pharisees did not know Jesus or the Father, but they THOUGHT they did.

Some folks today do not know the LORD, but they THINK they do. Some church members do not know the Lord, but they THINK they do. Some preachers do not know the Lord, but they THINK they do.

I. There Is An Initial Knowledge Of The Lord

(GAL 4:9) "BUT NOW, AFTER THAT YE HAVE KNOWN GOD, OR RATHER ARE KNOWN OF GOD, HOW TURN YE AGAIN TO THE WEAK AND BEGGARLY ELEMENTS, WHEREUNTO YE DESIRE AGAIN TO BE IN BONDAGE?"

A. Listening to the word of God.

1. God reveals Himself to in the Bible.

2. This is the first step to knowing God.

3. As we are introduced to the Word of God we begin to gain a knowledge of who He really is.

B. Believing the Word we hear.

(ROM 10:17) "SO THEN FAITH COMETH BY HEARING, AND HEARING BY THE WORD OF GOD."

1. Reading the Word of God does not mean that we know Him.

2. We must exercise faith...begin believing the Word we read.

C. Obeying the Word of God.

1. When we believe, we will act upon what we read and obey the Word of God.

2. When we do what He instructs us to do, then we can begin to know Him.

3. This means letting go of our preconceived ideas and trusting His Word.

4. Resting upon God's work of redemption on Calvary.

After the INITIAL knowledge of the Lord

II. There Is An Intimate Knowledge Of The Lord

A. By studying Him

1. We must study Him as our example to grow in our knowlede of Him.

2. To be able to identify counterfeit bills, bank tellers study the real thing.

3. He should be the object of our life-long study.

B. By listening to Him - sitting at His feet (as did Mary)

1 JOHN 2:3 AND HEREBY WE DO KNOW THAT WE KNOW HIM, IF WE KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS.

1. W.W.J.D.

2. How are we to know what Jesus would do?

3. We must listen to His Word and learn of Him.

4. He commands us to learn of Him.

(MAT 11:29-30) "TAKE MY YOKE UPON YOU, AND LEARN OF ME; FOR I AM MEEK AND LOWLY IN HEART: AND YE SHALL FIND REST UNTO YOUR SOULS. {30} FOR MY YOKE IS EASY, AND MY BURDEN IS LIGHT."

C. By spending time with Him.

1. Some people are committed to learning languages.

2. Others are committed to mastering some sport.

3. Still others devote their lives to some sort of profession.

4. The key is that it all takes time.

5. If we want an intimate knowledge of the Lord, we must commit ourselves to spending time to see that accomplished.

(ACTS 4:13) "NOW WHEN THEY SAW THE BOLDNESS OF PETER AND JOHN, AND PERCEIVED THAT THEY WERE UNLEARNED AND IGNORANT MEN, THEY MARVELLED; AND THEY TOOK KNOWLEDGE OF THEM, THAT THEY HAD BEEN WITH JESUS."

Beyond this initial knowledge and intimate knowledge of the Lord, in GLORY:

III. There Will Be An Infinite Knowledge Of The Lord

(1 COR 13:12) "FOR NOW WE SEE THROUGH A GLASS, DARKLY; BUT THEN FACE TO FACE: NOW I KNOW IN PART; BUT THEN SHALL I KNOW EVEN AS ALSO I AM KNOWN."

A. We will be able to see Him fully - for we shall see Him as He is.

(1 JOHN 3:1-2) "BEHOLD, WHAT MANNER OF LOVE THE FATHER HATH BESTOWED UPON US, THAT WE SHOULD BE CALLED THE SONS OF GOD: THEREFORE THE WORLD KNOWETH US NOT, BECAUSE IT KNEW HIM NOT. {2} BELOVED, NOW ARE WE THE SONS OF GOD, AND IT DOTH NOT YET APPEAR WHAT WE SHALL BE: BUT WE KNOW THAT, WHEN HE SHALL APPEAR, WE SHALL BE LIKE HIM; FOR WE SHALL SEE HIM AS HE IS."

B. We will be able to share His perception knowing as we are known

C. We will be able to stay with Him forever.

(1 TH 4:17) "THEN WE WHICH ARE ALIVE AND REMAIN SHALL BE CAUGHT UP TOGETHER WITH THEM IN THE CLOUDS, TO MEET THE LORD IN THE AIR: AND SO SHALL WE EVER BE WITH THE LORD."

There is an initial knowledge, an intimate knowledge, and there will be an infinite knowledge of the Lord, but the sad fact is that:

IV. There Is An Insufficient Knowledge Of The Lord

(MARK 1:23-24) "AND THERE WAS IN THEIR SYNAGOGUE A MAN WITH AN UNCLEAN SPIRIT; AND HE CRIED OUT, {24} SAYING, LET US ALONE; WHAT HAVE WE TO DO WITH THEE, THOU JESUS OF NAZARETH? ART THOU COME TO DESTROY US? I KNOW THEE WHO THOU ART, THE HOLY ONE OF GOD."

A. A knowledge that does not recognize His deity is insufficient.

1. There are those who would acknowledge the historical Jesus. but deny that He is the Son of God.

2. Still others would want to place Him in a lower position, and make Him one of the prophets.

3. Then there are those that would seek to discredit Him and call Him a liar and con-man.

4. Jesus is the Son of God. He is not just a son...He is the Only-Begotten.

B. A knowledge that does not receive His declarations is insufficient.

1. A person cannot know the Lord and reject His Word.

...THE WORDS THAT I SPEAK UNTO YOU, THEY ARE SPIRIT, AND THEY ARE LIFE. " CF JN. 6:63

2. The Word of God is alive and it gives life.

3. There can be no eternal life apart from it.

C. A knowledge that does not rely upon His death, burial, and resurrection is insufficient

1. There is but one plan of redemption and salvation for us.

2. The gospel of Jesus Christ has not changed.

(1 COR 15:1-4) "MOREOVER, BRETHREN, I DECLARE UNTO YOU THE GOSPEL WHICH I PREACHED UNTO YOU, WHICH ALSO YE HAVE RECEIVED, AND WHEREIN YE STAND; {2} BY WHICH ALSO YE ARE SAVED, IF YE KEEP IN MEMORY WHAT I PREACHED UNTO YOU, UNLESS YE HAVE BELIEVED IN VAIN. {3} FOR I DELIVERED UNTO YOU FIRST OF ALL THAT WHICH I ALSO RECEIVED, HOW THAT CHRIST DIED FOR OUR SINS ACCORDING TO THE SCRIPTURES; {4} AND THAT HE WAS BURIED, AND THAT HE ROSE AGAIN THE THIRD DAY ACCORDING TO THE SCRIPTURES:"

Do you know the Lord this morning? Not do you know about Him, but do you know Him personally? You can know Him today. Would you allow us to introduce you to Christ this morning? Christian, how about our knowledge of the Lord? Do we know Him as we should? Do we spend the time in His Word that we should? Come today and re-commit yourself to Him.