Knowing God by J. I. Packer J. Tofflemire Preface: the book has 3 parts;
Why we should know about God, 2. What God is like, 3. The benefits of knowing God. Packer held the Puritan conviction that all theology is also spirituality. Puritans valued being spiritually mature, which involves forming godly disciplines. The knowledge of God should lead to spiritual transformation. Packer also wrote “Finishing our course with Joy”, “Growing in Christ”, and “Keep in Step with the Holy Spirit”. Ignorance of God and his ways and the practice of fellowship with Him, lies at the root of much of the church’s weakness today. Chap. 1 The Study of God. For a Christian , the study of God is the highest science, and pursuit- his name nature, work, doings and presence. Here are 5 basic truths about God: 1 He has spoken to man and the Bible is His word. 2 He is Lord over His word and rules all things for His glory so that we may worship Him. 3 He is our Savior through love by Lord Jesus to rescue believers from guilt and sin and bless them. 4 He is triune – 3 in one. 5 Godliness means responding to His revelation and word with trust and obedience, faith, prayer, praise and worship. God’s qualities include: self existence, infinity, eternity, almightiness, omniscience, omnipresence, his holiness, justice, his love and mercy, truthfulness, patience, faithfulness, goodness and wisdom. We need to note what pleases or offends Him or gives Him joy. Ps.119-1-2 happy are those whose way is blameless, who live according to the Lord’s instruction! Happy are those who keep His decrees and seek Him with all their heart. Vs.125 I am Your servant; give me understanding(discernment) so that I may know Your decrees. Meditation is calming the mind, thinking over dwelling on His works, ways and promises. It is also talking to oneself while reasoning and pondering on God’s word and ways. Chap. 2 People who know their God. Those who know God have an mater of fact attitude about it, that not many people have. Here is what Paul says about it: Phil. 3:7-10 “But everything that was a gain to me, I have considered to be a loss because of Christ. More than that, I also consider everything to be a loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. Because of Him I have suffered the loss of all things and consider them filth, so that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, — My goal is to know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death” They gave a gaiety, goodness and unfetteredness about them via the holy spirit. Knowing God is different than knowing about God. One can know a great deal about God and about godlessness without knowing him. This is evidence of knowing God: 1. Those who know God have great energy for God. Dan. 11:32 “the people who know their God will be strong( stand firm) and take action.” While their God is being defied or disregarded, they must do something about it. Example Daniel in the Lions den and his 3 friends walking in the fire. 2. Those who know God have great thoughts about God. He is sovereign and his hand is on history and he foreknows all things. Daniel told king Neb–. Dan. 4:25 “You will be driven away from people to live with the wild animals. You will feed on grass like cattle and be drenched with dew from the sky for seven periods of time, until you acknowledge that the Most High is ruler over the kingdom of men, and He gives it to anyone He wants.” Dan. 9:4-5 “I prayed to the Lord my God and confessed: Ah, Lord-the great and awe-inspiring God who keeps His gracious covenant with those who love Him and keep His commands- we have sinned, done wrong, acted wickedly, rebelled, and turned away from Your commands and ordinances.” 3. Those who know God show great boldness for God. The apostles in Acts 5:29 before the priests “But Peter and the apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than men.” Again Daniel and his 3 friends before the king, and David before Goliath. 4. Those who know God have great contentment. Paul in Rom. 5:1 “Therefore, since we have been declared righteous by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Rom 8:28 “We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God: those who are called according to His purpose.” 8:35 Who can separate us from the love of Christ? Chap.3. “Knowing and being Known John 17:3 This is eternal life: that they may know You, the only true God, and the One You have sent-Jesus Christ.” Jer. 9:23-24 “The wise man must not boast in his wisdom; the strong man must not boast in his strength; the wealthy man must not boast in his wealth. But the one who boasts should boast in this, that he understands and knows Me-
that I am Yahweh, showing faithful love, justice, and righteousness on the earth, for I delight in these things.” Does knowing God involve a tingling feeling, or does one hear a voice or see a vision? Theses are possible, but what else is involved? 1John 2:4 The one who says, “I have come to know Him,” yet doesn’t keep His commands, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.” Knowing a person take a while, but knowing an abstract person you can’t see is more difficult. Knowing a person involves the person revealing to you. First it involves reading God’s word and and asking the Holy spirits interpretation of it.There the analogy of of a wife knowing her husband or a sheep knowing its shepherd, or a son knowing his father. Jesus said anyone who has seen me has seen the father and the sheep hear my voice.This knowing takes some time commitment and dedication. Ps. 34:8 says “Taste and see that the Lord is good. How happy is the man who takes refuge in Him” he gave the example of the staff knowing by serving, and listening to Winston Chruchill. Knowing God is also a matter of grace. Chap 4. This was on the 2nd commandment; Exodus 20:4-5 “Do not make an idol for yourself, whether in the shape of anything in the heavens above or on the earth below or in the waters under the earth. You must not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the fathers’ sin, to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me,” Images dishonor God and his glory. I mages mislead us for they give false images of god God. Chap. 5 God Incarnate. “the christian claim is the Jesus was God made man and one part of the trinity as in 1 Cor. 15:47 The first man was from the earth and made of dust; the second man is from heaven.” John 1:14 “the word became flesh and dwelt among us.” There were many signs of this: the atonement for all, many miracles, the virgin birth, the resurrection. He was the only begotten Son of God. John 1:18 “No one has ever seen God. The One and Only Son the One who is at the Father’s side He has revealed Him”Also see John 1:1-14 He was also temped as a man and is able to help us in this. Heb.2:17-18 He was born to die for our sins. Phil. 2:6-8 He emptied himself so some of his divine powers and became poor. He gave is time, care, effort to help others. Ps. 119:32 I pursue the way of Your commands, for You broaden my understanding. Chap. 6 He shall testify the Trinity. John 16:28 “I came from the Father and have come into the world. Again, I am leaving the world and going to the Father.”15:26 “When the Counselor comes, the One I will send to you from the Father-the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father-He will testify about Me.” 1. The son was sent by the father and subject to Him. 2. the spirit is subject to the Father 3. The spirit is also subject to the Son. John 20:21-22 Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” After saying this, He breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” The holy spirit is important. Initially the disciples were not good pupils of Jesus. After Jesus left the spirit counseled and reminded them of all Jesus had said. John 14:26 “But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit—the Father will send Him in My name-will teach you all things and remind you of everything I have told you.” John16:12-14 “I still have many things to tell you, but you can’t bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all the truth. For He will not speak on His own, but He will speak whatever He hears. He will also declare to you what is to come. He will glorify Me, because He will take from what is Mine and declare it to you.” the spirit testified to the apostles revealing to them the truth about the gospel and Jesus. The spirit also convinces peoples(new) consciences about he truth of the gospel. Chap. 7 God Unchanging. God’s live, truth, word, purposes and character does not change. Chap. 11 Thy Word is Truth. PS. 31:5, Ps. 119:160 “The entirety of Your word is truth, and all Your righteous judgments endure forever” 2 Sam. 7:28 God’s commands and promises are true.