According to the Bible, how can we really know God?
Let’s start with a verse from the book of John:
“And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.” John 17:3
The Bible makes it clear that knowing God is essential for salvation; or, in other words, God must know that we know Him in order to be saved. There’s another interesting passage in Matthew on this subject that sheds light on this issue (emphasis supplied):
“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 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 7:21–23
Notice that Jesus first says that only those who do the will of God will enter Heaven. So what is the will of God?
“I delight to do Your will, O my God, and Your law is within my heart.” Psalm 40:8
“Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.” Ecclesiastes 12:13 (KJV)
The psalmist confirms that God’s will for His people is for them to hold His Law dear to their hearts. This means that God desires obedience over everything. Solomon confirms this in the last few words he wrote in regards to the lifelong duty of man. It is the whole duty of man to keep Gods commandments. This shouldn’t surprise us, since Jesus confirms it when He tells those who do not know Him to depart from Him. Those who depart practice lawlessness, so we can conclude that to know God means to do His will, which means to be a commandment-keeping people. All this becomes even more clear through these verses:
“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
To know God means that we are obedient to Him and keep His commandments. While we know we cannot gain salvation through the keeping of God’s Law, this is still how He determines if we know Him—and ultimately love Him (John 14:15).
“But if anyone loves God, this one is known by Him.” 1 Corinthians 8:3
“For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.” 1 John 5:3
To know God is to love God and to love God is to keep His commandments. It’s not so much a faith versus works concept, but rather a “faith which works by love” concept (Galatians 5:6). We are not saved by works, but we are judged by them, because our faith in Jesus produces works that authenticate our love relationship with Jesus (Revelation 20:12–13).
May we all be among the saints that know God and inherit His kingdom because we love Him enough to obey Him (Revelation 14:12; 22:14).