Knowing God (3 of 5)
Series: Hosea: The Holiness and Heart of God
Drew Hunter
Hosea 4: 1-6:3
Knowing About God and Knowing God
''What were we made for? To know God. What aim should we set ourselves in life? To know God. What is the 'eternal life' that Jesus gives? [Knowing God]. ''This is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent'' (Jn 17:3). What is the best thing in life, bringing more joy, delight and contentment than anything else? [Knowing God]. Jeremiah 9:23, ''This is what the Lord says: 'Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches, but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me'' (J.I. Packer, Knowing God, 33).
This is how J.I. Packer begins one of his chapters in his book, Knowing God. And I would commend this important book to you. We were made to know the Triune God.
And there is a difference between knowing about God and knowing God.
We can know a lot about God without actually knowing him. We will not continue to know God without growing in our understanding of him. And yet we can have an interest in theology and church history and the Bible. And it is very possible to have this and to not actually know God.
We can fall in love with our ideas about God - even true ideas about God - and not love Him. In other words, if we know God we will want to know about him; but knowing about God is not the same as knowing him.
The Deepest Problem Then and Now
This was the problem with many in Israel when Hosea was written.
Hosea's emphasis is unique in a two important ways.
1. First, Israel had many problems. Many of the prophets will address their various issues. Amos will draw attention to the social injustice of the time.
But Hosea focuses on the root. And the deepest problem, according to Hosea, is that they don't know God. It is their rejection of God himself - pers ...
Series: Hosea: The Holiness and Heart of God
Drew Hunter
Hosea 4: 1-6:3
Knowing About God and Knowing God
''What were we made for? To know God. What aim should we set ourselves in life? To know God. What is the 'eternal life' that Jesus gives? [Knowing God]. ''This is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent'' (Jn 17:3). What is the best thing in life, bringing more joy, delight and contentment than anything else? [Knowing God]. Jeremiah 9:23, ''This is what the Lord says: 'Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches, but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me'' (J.I. Packer, Knowing God, 33).
This is how J.I. Packer begins one of his chapters in his book, Knowing God. And I would commend this important book to you. We were made to know the Triune God.
And there is a difference between knowing about God and knowing God.
We can know a lot about God without actually knowing him. We will not continue to know God without growing in our understanding of him. And yet we can have an interest in theology and church history and the Bible. And it is very possible to have this and to not actually know God.
We can fall in love with our ideas about God - even true ideas about God - and not love Him. In other words, if we know God we will want to know about him; but knowing about God is not the same as knowing him.
The Deepest Problem Then and Now
This was the problem with many in Israel when Hosea was written.
Hosea's emphasis is unique in a two important ways.
1. First, Israel had many problems. Many of the prophets will address their various issues. Amos will draw attention to the social injustice of the time.
But Hosea focuses on the root. And the deepest problem, according to Hosea, is that they don't know God. It is their rejection of God himself - pers ...
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