2. Believers need to know the tactics of the enemySatans wicked schemes (2 Corinthians 2:11). Because human knowledge is limited, and without God the intellect is darkened, humans are unable to grasp truths about God (1 Corinthians 2:14) without Him. New American Standard Bible Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. When you embrace, promote, and exalt wisdom, you will get the amazing benefits of having wisdom and knowledge, which are: Therefore, eternal life is the knowledge of God, the Holy One. Sanctify them in the truth;your word is truth. They had become virtually blind to what Christ had done for them in cleansing them from their sins. Have we dealt drastically with all sin and every doubtful thing in these tents? Knowledge forever pursues the truth. But since Peter has talked about the true knowledge of Christ in reference to conversion (1:3), I understand him here (1:8) to be saying, If you have truly come to know the Lord Jesus Christ, you will be growing in godliness and seeking to be useful and fruitful in serving Him.. Second, how do you know that your repentance and faith were genuine? The abundant entrance into the eternal kingdom (this is the only time eternal is used with kingdom) may have behind it the picture of a returning war hero who is welcomed into the city with great fanfare. Jesus says, I am the way, the truth, and the life. Be diligent is the verb related to the same noun in verse 5. Even if you are already a believer, rereading the words reminds us that He gave His only son for us to live in Him. Promises that He will be our rock, our refuge and stronghold. Jesus reminds us inJohn 17:17that it is Gods word is truth. One day as I was jogging in the woods, I asked the Lord one of those far beyond all you can ask or think prayers. Peter means that if we are diligent to grow in godliness, God will welcome us into our eternal dwelling with Him in heaven. God speaks to us through the Bible. No doubt His growth in wisdom as a child was based on the spiritual training He had at home (Luke 2:52). Knowledge, therefore, is learning with perception. 3:18). If you find it, then there will be a future. Then begin to ACT. With Him are wisdom and strength, He has counsel and understanding.(Job 12:13). (2:11), The lips of the righteous feed many,But fools die for lack of understanding. In Isaiah 1:18, people are urged to reason or consider with Him concerning sin and how to be forgiven. But to say that those in verse 9 are not truly saved, you must say that they were never really purified from their former sins; they only claimed to be purified, perhaps through baptism. DILIGENCE = to search out; enquire; to seek after; to investigate; to crave. It affirms how much God cares for you and brings supernatural peace and comfort to your soul. Father God is patient with those who are ignorant, and Jesus understands the weakness of the flesh. D.L. This is to be our testimony in these last days. In this section, we will see how Scripture teaches that knowing God is the highest good above all other good things. Knowledge and understanding will help Christians train others. Hearing God, in his own voice while reading scripture helps us to discern when He is speaking with us at other times. Knowledgeable in employment law. Promises never to destroy the earth again by flood. How does it differ from wisdom? The more intimate your relationship with Jesus, the better youre your life will become. Fearing the Lord is not a fear of fright but a reverence to God. Know that wisdom is thus for your soul;If you find it, then there will be a future,And your hope will not be cut off. It has a wider sweep than our English word "know, " including perceiving, learning, understanding, willing, performing, and experiencing. Solomon and the wise men of Israel regarded wisdom, understanding, and knowledge as worthy pursuits in life. We should want this knowledge so that our lives can be more like Him and live according to his will. I prayed, Lord, use me as You used Spurgeon! I didnt hear any voice, but almost instantly the thought popped into my mind, which I believe was from the Lord, Which Spurgeon? 9 Bible Verses about Benefits Of Knowledge Most Relevant Verses Proverbs 24:5 Verse Concepts A wise man is strong, And a man of knowledge increases power. Scripture is life and nourishment to us as believers, and meant to help us thrive as we walk out the life of faith. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror.. Verse 10 follows from and applies verses 8 & 9: Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you. Brethren shows that Peter is talking to Christians here. When something in the Bible doesnt make sense, Christians can test statements and arguments, and hold fast to what is good knowledge and biblical practice. In verse 10, Peter brings together two things that we often separate: Gods sovereignty in calling and choosing us and our responsibility to be diligent to grow in godliness so that we grow in assurance about Gods calling and choosing us. To act as a witness within and outside the Body. Our burdens become lifted when we read of our God delivered others, throughout history, from defeat, hunger, death and more. 2:9; 2 Pet. Paul desired that believers love would keep on abounding and growing in knowledge and discernment (Philippians 1:9). We believe that there is one God, our creator, manifested into three persons God the Father, Jesus the Son, our Savior and the Holy Spirit, the very Spirit of God, who provides spiritual power for daily living and Godly service. This way, not only can He help guide our lives but also teach us about Himself through the scriptures. Basics of Biblical Aramaic, Second Edition by Miles V. Van Pelt is designed for students who are already familiar with biblical Hebrew and . 11 Bible Verses about Drawbacks To Knowledge 1 Corinthians 8:1 Verse Concepts Now concerning things sacrificed to idols, we know that we all have knowledge. If the Holy Spirit has imparted a word of knowledge to you, know that God has and will continue to equip you with all the spiritual tools necessary to carry out your spiritual assignment. When we read the Bible and see so many of the promises of God, we are comforted to know how very much He loves us and will see us through. in all areas of life. You will be growing in the godly character qualities that Peter lists (1:5-7). We cant do that if our minds and hearts arent full of knowledge and wisdom from reading His Word often enough. God has a feast for us. He has granted us His precious and magnificent promises so that by them we have become partakers of His divine nature (1:4). and takethe helmet of salvation, andthe sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,. Its a good reminder that He wants us to know whats written in scripture. How, then, do we gain the assurance that God has called and chosen us? Andit shall be with him, and he shall read in it all the days of his life,that he may learn to fear theLordhis God by keeping all the words of this law and these statutes, and doing them,Deuteronomy 17:19 (ESV), This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, butyou shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. Jesus was saying that the eternal benefits should motivate us to endure whatever hardship we now encounter in following Him. Level 7 CIPD qualified - Post Graduate Diploma in Human Resource Management. Certainly, daily Bible reading, study, and meditation are a good starting point. of Suffering sometimes opens hearts to greater knowledge of and intimacy with Christ. The Bible is filled with Gods promises. Moody said the Bible was not given for our information but for our transformation. Mans thoughts and ways are not naturally Gods thoughts and ways (Isaiah 55:8). Bible study brings strength and guidance for life. Paul said God showed him great mercy before he turned to Christ, because he had acted in ignorance and unbelief (Acts 3:17; 1 Timothy 1:13). Why be patient, kind, gentle, and self-sacrificing towards others, especially when they dont seem to appreciate your efforts? SourcesChristianity.com, What Is Knowledge, According to the Bible?GotQuestions.com, What Does the Bible Say about Knowledge?. How much better it is to get wisdom than gold!And to get understanding is to be chosen above silver. Even so, they recognized the limits of human thinking: Trust in the LORD with all your heartAnd do not lean on your own understanding.In all your ways acknowledge Him,And He will make your paths straight.Do not be wise in your own eyes;Fear the LORD and turn away from evil. Therefore, the Spirit guides you as you accept the power and authority you have been given through Christ. This virtue represents a manner of thinking and an attitude that result in prudent, sensible living. Verse 27 tells us this. While this is similar to the one above, it is distinctly different. Photo credit: Getty Images/Prostock-Studio. The more believers know of Gods Word, will and ways, the better they can instruct, mentor, and counsel. As believers learn to fear God, the knowledge of the Holy One brings understanding (Proverbs 9:10). Effective verbal communication skills to communicate with a diverse client group. 2:21b). Christians cannot trust their deceitful hearts to point them in the direction of good knowledge, and Satan always tries to trick people (Jeremiah 17:9; John 10:10). 3. in hope of eternal life, which God,who never lies,promisedbefore the ages began. Copyright, Steven J. Cole, 2010, All Rights Reserved. In light of these great benefits, be diligent to grow in godliness. In other words, by knowing Him we become spiritually strong, virile, robust men and women - look up Ephesians 6:10. Visit the about page for more info! Does the prospect of heaven motivate you to live for Christ now? Therefore knowledge is emphasized in the Bible as the highest priority. I plan to live so selfishly and with such disregard for others that I will shred all of my relationships. The Bible teaches that creation reveals the knowledge of God (Psalm 19:1-2), which is infinite. The unfolding of your words gives light;it impartsunderstanding to the simple.. To me, this has become one of the most important benefits of reading the Bible. While Peter ponders the vision, God imparts another word of knowledge to him through a voice. And an advantage to those who see the sun. Life is a vapor (James 4:14)! In Hosea, God harshly admonished and punished the Israelites for not paying any attention to Him and forgetting His law. 6) The Bible as the Word of God touches on every dimension of human experience. In fact, given the choice between wisdom and material wealth, they opted for wisdom, hands down. The words of a mans mouth are deep waters; The fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook. Notice verse 25, then the Almighty will be your gold, the choicest silver for you, so to know Him is to become enriched indeed gold and silver in abundance look up Colossians 2:9, and verse 10! About. It is written in His word that we are saved when we put our hope in Him. Our vision is to bring revival to Israel, the Church, and the nations through a deeper understanding and revelation of the power of covenant. When we add knowledge in our lives, we will increase in strength. in a secular home. It will keep us from stumbling and falling away from the Lord. No one comes to the Father except through Me. John 14:23 Gods word is truth. Sheand her husband Bob live in Southern California. Christians today can learn from the mistakes and victories of people in both testaments. Our salvation is totally from God. For them, clear thinking held the key to success One cannot understand the fight against slavery, the women's suffrage movement, or the Civil Rights movement without knowledge of the Bible. But God also offers plenty of opportunities to gain knowledge about Him. The people who are effective witnesses for the Lord, by life or by lip, are the people who really know Him. A well-guarded heart will glorify God and edify others. It includes things like a teachable spirit, a willingness to listen, a desire to discover what is really there. What are the benefits of knowing God? Bible study is vital to our spiritual growth and maturity. But the advantage of knowledge is that wisdom preserves the lives of its possessors. Christ-followers desperately need solid biblical teaching in the church and through personal Bible study. This is done through a deeper understanding of our identity and inheritance in Christ. Matthew 4:4reminds us that physical food isnt all we need, but we also need Gods words to survive. Paul warned, knowledge puffs up while love builds up.. Wisdom belongs to God. She is more precious than jewels;And nothing you desire compares with her. And Moses blessed them. She could only worship God. Wisdom comes from God Almighty. Gods Instructions for Life Are Housed in His Word. But if his word of warning applied to some, they should take heed. The benefits of Bible study are incredible. And you will be seeking to make your life useful and fruitful to the Master who shed His blood to redeem you. Those with understanding can extract the meaning out of informationseeing the what, how, and whyenabling a person to produce life principles. He insisted that people cannot enter it without living in a godly way.. From Living the Proverbs by Charles R. Swindoll, copyright 2012. These are just a few benefits of Bible study, friend, but there are many more (keep an eye out for more in an upcoming post)! If youve said the prayer asking Jesus to be your Lord and Saviour, congratulations! This word describes our ability to observe, gain insight, and then discern in order to devise a plan or make a decision. 5) Simple academic knowledge of God is not the goal but is the means to the goal. However, the reason so many Christians are weak is because they have not pursued diligently the knowledge of God and His Word. Its all in there. When Satan questioned Gods commandment in Eves presence, she chose to disobey God, as did Adam (Genesis 3:1-6). Most Christians are not diligent about anything in their Christian walk, which explains why things often turn out the way they do in their lives. And by knowledge the rooms are filledWith all precious and pleasant riches. The world encourages knowledge of all things, but not all knowledge is good. In light of all this knowledge of the Holy One, which is also understanding, we see that Wisdom is Jesus Christ, who is God. Of course, there is a great difference between knowing God and simply knowing about Him. 2. If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them. Have them constantly in your mind and heart. It was as if the Lord was saying to me, You focus on being as faithful and godly as John Spurgeon and leave it to Me as to whether you become as influential as Charles Spurgeon! Peter is telling us, Focus on growing in godliness and you will be fruitful in your Christian life., When Peter says, in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ, is he talking about growing to know Christ more deeply as you grow in godliness, or is he talking about coming to know Christ at the point of conversion as the basis for growing in godliness? As you learn what He has taught and how to conduct yourself and your business and daily affairs and as you see How to conduct your business in an ethical, God-ordained manner, you will become more successful. Psalm 34:18 "The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.". Our bodies are the temples (tabernacles) of God (1 Corinthians 6:19), and when and as we really know God we shall share His hatred of sin and we shall deal with it look up 2 Corinthians 7:1. Solomons point was that accumulation of knowledge isnt as important as fearing and obeying God (Ecclesiastes 12:12-13). He actually outlived his famous son. We know from Scripture that knowledge is a gift from God. Alternatively, you could say the prayer at the end of this article then find guidance on what to do after saying the prayer from HERE. There are also many more benefits when you do. So the first benefit of growing in godliness is fruitfulness in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. Far too many people are skipping the church services where their answers are being revealed by their pastor as he ministers from gods Word. I had read about wisdom, understanding, and knowledge in the Bible but never given it much thought previously. But here, Peter again is emphasizing that growth in godliness requires diligence. Fear of the Lord is the beginning of all understanding. A word of knowledge is when God supernaturally imparts comprehension of a current or past situation to you that you would not otherwise know. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Copyright 2023, Bible Study Tools. All rights reserved. Additionally, knowledge can help us make wise choices in life. Wisdom has the advantage of giving success. And, when we step into eternity, there will be a grand welcome! Believers need to know the tactics of the enemySatan's wicked schemes ( 2 Corinthians 2:11 ). Learning to walk in the Spirityielding to His controlwill also enable growth in knowledge and understanding, because the Holy Spirit is the Christians greatest teacher. There are some things that we are to develop in in our Christian walk that helps us to grow strong in faith and to be pleasing unto the Lord. Additionally, you will need to put away a deceitful mouth and focus straight on the path of goodness, avoiding evil. Jesus modeled this for us. You will also learn the importance of tithing and how that directly impacts your prosperity. Seeking the Gospel in Malachi, the Last Book of the Old Testament. My ninth-grade English teacher pulled off a phenomenal feat: she motivated a bunch of teenagers, who at first couldnt care less about expanding their vocabularies, to learn 120 vocabulary words. But solid food is forthe mature, for those who have their powersof discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.. Understanding, Whelchel says, is the ability to translate meaning from the facts. It is mymeditation all the day.. You may hear the voice of God. In Jesus mighty name, I have prayed, Amen. 1 Corinthians 12:8 Verse Concepts For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit; Philippians 3:8 (. Believers hold to the Lords teachings so they can live in the truth (John 8:31-32). But they overlook the clear biblical truth that new life in Christ always manifests itself in the fruit of godliness. The original Hebrew word emphasizes accuracy and the ability to sense what How we should act or react in situations. He who keeps understanding will find good. November 4, 2020 by Curt Landry Ministries, But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit,1 Corinthians 12:7-8 (emphasis added). If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us (1 John 1:8). In Proverbs 1:27-29, God warned His people that in times of calamity, they would call out to Him, but He would not answer, because they hated knowledge and did not fear Him. Diligence means to get after something quickly and not hesitate. The measure in which we know God is determined by the measure we receive from Him.