THEME: GROWING DEEPER IN THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD (2 Timothy 3:14)
Topic of the Month: Knowing the Knowledge of God (Colossians 1:1- 10)
Introduction
We cannot know the knowledge of God without knowing God himself. One reason God sent his Son to us was so we could know more about the nature of God. So the answer to the question, “How do we know the knowledge of God”, is through the observation of the nature, the Scriptures, and especially the life of his Son Jesus Christ.
Knowing and understanding the knowledge of God
In 2 Timothy 3:14, Paul advises Timothy to continue in what he has learned and has become convinced of because he knows those from whom he learned it. Timothy had learned of the Scriptural truth from his mother and grandmother. The other teacher Timothy learned from was the apostle Paul whom he joined as a partner in the ministry.
We now see Paul and Timothy together in the ministry, Timothy whom Paul addresses as a brother when he is writing to the Saints and his fellow believers who are in Colossae (Col.1:1,2). These were believers who had come to know and understand the knowledge of God that had made them have faith in Christ Jesus and have love for all the believers (Col.1:4).
Knowing and understanding the knowledge of God enables every faithful believers professing to be followers of Jesus to acquire special qualities of love for all the saints and the hope that is laid up for them in heaven which is revealed in the Word of truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ (Col. 1:5)
The gospel of truth once received, brings forth fruit among the children of God the moment they come to know the atoning grace of God. Continuing on the learned knowledge of God is a requirement of every child of God and should be passed on to others also. The Colossian believers had learned from Epaphras a convert who had learned from the apostle Paul and became the founder of the church in Colossae.
In most of Paul’s epistles he is combating heresy that was infiltrating the Church through false teachers who were teaching other doctrine. He saw the urgent need of correcting the false doctrine which was being taught. You cannot depart from false doctrine unless you learn from the true knowledge found in the Scriptures. The true knowledge that is able to transfer believers from darkness to light, from slavery to freedom, from guilt to forgiveness, from the power of Satan to the power of God, which rescues us from rebel kingdom to serve the rightful King. That is why Paul and Timothy from the day they heard of the love of the Colossian brothers they never ceased praying for them asking that they may be filled with the knowledge of God’s will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God (Col.1:8-10).
Conclusion
You cannot know the knowledge of God without knowing God himself. One reason God sent his Son to us was so we could know more about the nature of God and his saving grace. Growing in the knowledge and understanding of God is not a one-time event but a lifelong and continuous pursuit. To grow deeper in his knowledge is to know whom to learn from. Jesus Christ is our example. He is the great teacher by his Spirit. He has commissioned us to go into the world and make disciple of all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that he has commanded us… (Matthew 28:20-21). This is the assignment he has given to every believing Christian. You cannot bear fruit in every good work and grow deeper in the knowledge of God unless you receive him in your heart personally. You may need to pray the prayer of repentance and receive him in your life.