“Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.” (1 John 2:3-4 NKJV)
It is possible to speak about God eloquently and passionately without having a loving, intimate relationship with God or a revelation-knowledge of God. It is possible to experience or receive miracles from God without knowing God intimately or experientially.
The generation of Israelites whom God brought out of Egypt undoubtedly saw and experienced diverse wonders and miracles of God, heard God’s audible voice, and witnessed God descending mightily upon Mount Sinai. Yet, they did not know God intimately (Exo. 32:1, Psa. 78:8-19). How sad!
What are the valid tests or proofs of knowing God intimately?
It is walking in obedience to God and demonstrating Agape love towards people!
The first actual test of knowing God is “the obedience test.”
You are a liar if you claim to know God and do not obey what God says or commands in the Bible.
The Scripture clearly states, “Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.” (1 John 2:3-4 NKJV).
Walking in obedience to God’s Word proves that you know God intimately!
Your revelation-knowledge of God is revealed in your obedience to God’s Word. A lifestyle of prompt and perfect obedience to God shows that a man truly knows God.
The man who truly knows God is not the man who speaks eloquently and passionately about God, prays fervently and frequently to God, gives generously to God, or receives mighty miracles from God, but rather the man who promptly obeys God’s Word.
While studying and teaching God’s Word, praying, and receiving answers to your prayers are excellent, these are not valid tests of knowing God intimately. The actual test of knowing God is obeying Him!
The second test of knowing God is “the love test.”
The Scripture rightly concludes, “He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.” (1 John 4:8 NKJV).
Love is essentially God’s nature. Love is an expression of God’s life. God’s love is divine, pure, perfect, constant, unselfish, undeserving, unconditional, unending, infinite, or everlasting.
The highest and ultimate expression of God’s love for humankind is revealed at the cross, where and when Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, willingly offered Himself as a propitiation for our sins.
1 John 3:16 – NKJV
16 By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
1 John 4:9-11 – NKJV
9 In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him.
10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
God’s love for us transcends any human comprehension. God loves us unconditionally, perfectly, absolutely, endlessly, immeasurably, constantly, or perpetually. God’s love does not discriminate, exempt, or exclude anyone.
The Scripture states, “He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.” (Matt. 5:45 NKJV).
Therefore, claiming to know God and not walking in love is contradictory. A believer who truly knows God is known by His love for God and people.
John writes, “If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?” (1 John 4:20 NKJV).
“He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now.” (1 John 2:9 NKJV).
Paul also admonishes, “Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.” (Eph. 5:1-2 NKJV).
Beloved, enough of deceiving yourself or others. You cannot honestly know God and yet continue to disobey God’s Word and walk in hatred towards the people God loves. True experiential or revelation knowledge of God is revealed in your godly conduct, lifestyle, and loving relationship with people.
Knowing God starts with putting your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and His perfect redemptive work. You cannot know God intimately nor have a personal, intimate, and loving relationship with God unless you come to God through His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ (John 14:6-7).
Only the Son, Jesus Christ, can reveal the Father to you!
Matthew 11:27 – NKJV
27 “All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.
Friend, if you claim to know God, show it by your obedience to God’s Word and by your love for God and people.
James 3:13-15 – NKJV
13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom.
14 But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth.
15 This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic.
Prayer:
Dear Holy Spirit, teach and help me daily to grow in the revelation-knowledge of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and to show it by my walk of obedience to God’s Word and in my love towards God and people, in Jesus’ name. Amen.