What Does it Mean to Know God?

What does it mean to be a Christian?
What does it mean to be a Christian? This would be an interesting question to ask a group of strangers at the mall or on the street. What would be some common responses that you might receive? Some might say that if you read the Bible or pray that you are a Christian. Some might say if you go or have always gone to
church that you are a Christian. Some may think that if they walked an aisle or raised their hand at a Christian meeting that they are a Christian. Many people just assume that they are Christians because they are Americans or just because they have always assumed they were Christians without giving it much thought.
Jesus tells us in the Gospel of Matthew that not everyone who says "Lord, Lord" will enter the Kingdom of heaven. Jesus continues by saying, "Many will say to me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'" (Matthew 7:21)

This declaration of Jesus causes us to ask the question, “What does it mean to be a Christian?” Ca we do “Christian things” and act like a Christian and still not be a Christian? Obviously, this is possible from what Jesus said in the book of Matthew. So then, what does it mean to be a Christian? This is the most significant question a person can ask.

In the Gospel of John, Chapter 10, Jesus tells us that He is the good shepherd. He takes care of his sheep. He watches over them and protects them. He is even willing to lay His life down for them. However, He also tells us something about the sheep, that He is known by them (John 10:14). They know Him in such a way that they even know His voice when He calls. They respond to Him. His sheep know Him. Jesus' definition is interesting. Nothing is said about reading the Bible. Nothing is said about praying or even giving an offering. Nothing is even said about walking an aisle or raising a hand or about being an American. No. The sheep know Jesus. Further on in the Gospel of John in Chapter 17, Jesus makes a similar statement in verse 4, "And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent." Again, this idea of "knowing" is central. Maybe this is the meaning? This is the meaning!

Do you know who Jesus Christ is?
Many think they know who Jesus Christ is. They know about Him. They know where He was born, that He was a good man, that He was a great teacher and that He died on a cross. Many other religions recognize Jesus as a prophet and great man. So does this make all these people Christians allowing them to enter into eternal life? No. To know Him is not to know about Him. It is to know and accept Him as He has revealed Himself. It is to experience Him or live in Him as He has revealed Himself through personal belief or faith.

How can I Know God?

Here is a summary:

Who is HE?
He claimed to be the true and only God over all the universe. John 1:1 "the Word was God", John 14:9 "Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father", See also Luke 22:69; 22:70; John 10:30,37, 38; John 12:45; 14:7, 8, 9, 10; John 16:15.

What did HE say?
He said we are slaves to our sin and shall face judgment for our disobedience. John 3: 19 'This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. " John 8:43 " ...whoever commits sin is a slave of sin" See also John 8:31-59.

What did HE come to do?
Jesus came to die on a cross as a substitutionary sacrifice for the sins of His people that whosoever believed in him should inherit eternal life. John 3: 16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. " See also John 3:36; John 10:10; I Timothy 1:15; Galatians 1:4; I John 3:16.

How can I become a Christian?
To become a child of God does not take a special formula. However, there are things you must understand and do. To say that you want to become a Christian means that you want to follow Jesus Christ. To begin to follow Jesus Christ and to become a Christian requires two things:

1. You must repent of your sins. To repent means you admit to Christ in prayer that you have lived and are living in ways that violate His commands and have ignored His Lordship. Repentance means to confess these things and to turn from your old sinful ways to seeking the new life of obedience. In military terms it means to do an "about face", leaving your old life and thoughts to follow a new life in Jesus Christ.

2. You must believe. Faith is resting and receiving what Jesus Christ said He would
do and who He said He was. When we believe in Him, we trust He will save us as He promised and we believe He can because of who He said He was.

Is Jesus Christ looking for special words in a special prayer? No! What He looks at is to see if the heart matches the words in the prayer. Jesus says, 'The one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out." If you have more questions and would like to know more information about becoming a Christian, see the pastor or one of the officers of the church.

What if I am not sure if I am a Christian?
Some people are confused and are not sure if they belong to Jesus Christ and have eternal life. This confusion can be for two reasons. First, the person may not actually be a Christian and may have been misinformed as to what a Christian is. Secondly, the person might actually be a Christian, but because of sin in their life and neglect in their relationship with Jesus Christ there is doubt. Assurance of salvation is not necessary for salvation but is essential to spiritual growth and maturity. The Lord desires that His people, for their spiritual well being, have a sense of their assurance. The Apostle John writes in his first letter, 'These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God." If you have any questions about your relationship with Jesus Christ please contact the pastor or the officers of the church. They would be glad to counsel you.