He knew that it is only with knowledge that people can prepare for life’s challenges.”
–B.N. Rundell (Journey to Jeopardy)
“As His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue.”
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This will be the last Echo for the week. We have a newly purchased steel mount in our possession and are planning on taking a short trip the rest of this week and through the weekend. The plan is to be back on task Monday morning.
In the meantime, let’s look at a few things from 1 John. I was recently asked what my favorite New Testament book was. That’s not an easy answer for they all supply and take care of many needs. I would say, however, that in the last decade it has become 1 John. If you recall from our study of “How to Live in a Pagan, Apostate, and Foolish World” that it what was the foundation for that study.
I want to draw your attention to the word, “know.” It is used thirty-three times in the Epistle of 1 John, with the word “known” used four times (NKJV). I want to focus on the things that “we know” as believers.
2:2, …we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments.
2:5, But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him.
2:18, …we know that it is the last hour.
3:2, …we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him…
3:14, We know that we have passed from death to life…
3:16, …we know love, because He laid down His life for us….
3:19, …we know that we are of the truth….
3:24, …we know that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us.
4:6, …we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.
4:13, …we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has give us of His Spirit.
5:2, …we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments.
5:15, …we know that He hears us…
5:15, …we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.
5:18, We know that whoever is born of God does not sin…
5:19, We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one.
5:20, …we know that the Son of God has come…
The Oxford dictionary defines “know” — Be aware of through observation, inquiry, or information.
The Merriam-Webster defines it as the following:
1) to perceive directly: have direct cognition of
2) to have understanding of
3) to recognize the nature of (discern)
4) to be aware of the truth or factuality of: be convinced or certain of.
It a fact! It’s truth! Read the above Scriptures again in their entirety. It is certain! No doubts about it–we know! So when the enemy brings doubt, when discouragement comes, when there is spiritual conflict, when fear rises its ugly head, when the great enemy of our souls tries to deceive — KNOW!
We can know for certain that we are of God; that He abides in us and we in Him. My, what a wonderful truth–we are of God!