Please find below the notes from this talk.
November 8, 2010
Knowing God
Opening Question: What is your favourite way to learn something new?
There are many ways to learn about something. One and the most common one is to study it in some form of organized education. Some people learn from practice or by working along those people who are already knowledgeable about the topic in question. Nowadays, many things can be learned on the Internet and many courses are even offered online.
How can we know about God?
1. The Bible teaches us about God
God has revealed himself through the words of the Bible. In Hebrews 1:1-2 we read: 1 In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe.
In the Old Testament, God spoke to some of the people directly. God spoke to Adam and Eve, to Noah, to Abraham and to Moses. In Exodus 3, verses 1 through 4, we see God talking to Moses: Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian, and he led the flock to the far side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. 2 There the angel of the LORD appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush. Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up. 3 So Moses thought, “I will go over and see this strange sight—why the bush does not burn up.” 4 When the LORD saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, “Moses! Moses!”
So, in the Old Testament, if people wanted to know the will of God, they were expected to listen to the word of the prophets, to whom God had spoken.
In the New Testament, God spoke to people through Jesus Christ. In John 12:49-50, Jesus says that: For I did not speak on my own, but the Father who sent me commanded me to say all that I have spoken. 50 I know that his command leads to eternal life. So whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to say.”
What does it mean to us that God has spoken through Jesus?
We should listen to Jesus to find out the will of God.
The New Testament has recorded many teaching of Jesus. The four gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are accounts of Jesus life, His teachings and His miracles. The other books of the New Testament are written by people who were taught by Jesus, who spent time with Jesus and with His apostles and disciples.
Mark 3:13-14 says: 13 Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him. 14 He appointed twelve that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach
the New Testament, as well as the Old Testament, is the word of God ultimately even though people wrote it down, because God spoke it both to the prophets, and to Jesus and to His apostles.
The New Testament says that it is given by God, inspired by God. In 2 Timothy 3:16, we read: 16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness. And Peter writes in 2 Peter 1:21: For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
When a secretary types a letter dictated by her boss, who is actually writing the letter?
The boss, of course. The secretary just writes down what he or she tells her to.
So, when Paul and the other writers penned down the word of the Bible, they only wrote what God told them to write.
In the same way that in order to know how to use a new computer or a new TV we need to read the manual, in order to know God, we need to know the Bible. The word “testament” also means “will”. In order to know the will of God for us, we need to study the Bible and listen to the words of Jesus, written in the Bible.
2. The Bible teachings are complete
Not only is the Bible the way to know God, but the Bible is also complete. Today, we do not need any other book written by men to complement the word of God.
In Jude 3, we read that: Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt compelled to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to God’s holy people.
What does it mean that the faith was given once for all?
It means that we do not need new faiths or new revelations about faith today.
Revelation 22:18-19 teaches us that: 18 I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to that person the plagues described in this scroll. 19 And if anyone takes words away from this scroll of prophecy, God will take away from that person any share in the tree of life and in the Holy City, which are described in this scroll.
We are not to add or to take away from the word of God, and we are warned with a great punishment if we do such a thing.
What does it mean to add to the word of God?
It means to teach things that God did not include in His word, the Bible.
Paul is very clear when he advises us not to turn our ears to teachings that are not in the Bible. He says in Galatians 1:6-9: 6 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— 7 which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let them be under God’s curse! 9 As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let them be under God’s curse!
Even if an angel appears to us and teaches something different from the word of God, we are not to believe them.
Conclusions
We can know God and His will for us by studying the Bible, which is the inspired, true and complete word of God.
Campus Bible Talk 2010
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