"The Kingdom of God ... is in the Holy Spirit"
Biblical Knowings
Although this study is primarily about some of the understandings to do with Christ's New Covenant Kingdom of God it also covers associated things, hence the title Biblical Knowings. These associated things are intended to be helpful observations and hints in living out the understandings in everyday life.
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When Paul said, "I know whom I have believed!" so confidently he showed that he possessed a spiritual understanding from the word of Christ. It was part of his disposition. He knew something wonderful, so he said:
"... I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day," 2 Timothy 1'12.
Every genuine Believer can possess such understandings too and say them with confidence.
Throughout the centuries Believers have possessed and expressed these understandings with the same confidence. Sadly though, there are Believers today who find themselves in various oppressive situations. They too possess them but can't say them out loud.
It is through spiritual understandings that the Holy Spirit conveys assurance and confidence. He puts Believers in a place where He can move in our lives.
Biblical knowings come to those who believe: "By faith we understand" and "faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God" (Hebrews 11'3, Romans 10'17).
And the Holy Spirit responds to faith. For instance, here's a testimony from way back:
"By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts ...," Hebrews 11'4.
Listen to what Job said:
"I know that my Redeemer lives. And He shall stand at last on the earth. And after my skin is destroyed, this I know, that in my flesh I shall see God whom I shall see for myself," Job 19'25-27.
When Believers read Christ's New Covenant Kingdom word and believe it they are able to say, "I know that I know that I know". Because, "The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God," Romans 8'16.
KNOWING GOD
Years before Paul spoke about knowing, Jesus had spoken about the possibility of ordinary people knowing God, and having eternal life. He said:
"... this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God and Jesus Christ whom You have sent," John 17'1-3.
Jesus is saying that anyone who has eternal life will know Him, the true God, and Jesus Christ. Knowing the true God would be absolutely amazing. And Jesus? How do we know Him? And how does anyone obtain eternal life?
Ordinarily, no one can know God. What we do know is that our lives are such that we can't know God of ourselves. We seem to be alienated from Him.
Here's what the Bible says:
"... all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God," Romans 3'23.
It also says:
"For the wages of sin is death ...," Romans 6'23.
It doesn't stop there but goes on to say that:
"... the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord".
Eternal life comes as a gift from God Himself. That is amazing! However, our self-centred lifestyle completely hinders us from receiving it because it is sin.
Nevertheless, He still offers us the gift of eternal life but it is in Jesus Christ. How does anyone receive Jesus Christ then?
Obviously, since our sin, with all its self-centredness and worldly thoughts, is anti God we need order to be rid of them. Here's the good news:
"Christ died for our sins ... He was buried ... He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures (1 Corinthians 14'3-4).
Believe these words, repent which means change your mind absolutely. Repenting involves acknowledging your wrongdoing and your sin against God and turning away from all ungodly things and receive Christ into your heart.
John 1'12-13, in the New Testament, says:
"... as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:
who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God".
This is saying that through your sincere faith and repentance you have been "born again", born of God.
Now what about God's gift of eternal life? It came with Christ when you received Him. 1 John 5'11-12 assures all Believers:
"... this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.
He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life".
On earth eternal life is a life of knowing God, thanking Him for sending Jesus Christ. and possessing eternal life. If you're not already part of a Christian group who believe these things, look for one. And remember to check everything you hear, read or taught with the New Testament scriptures.
DO YOU NOT KNOW?
Our heavenly Father wants His People to be a people of spiritual knowledge. Possessing precious and powerful understandings from the word of Christ. Knowing Him and doing His will His way.
Through Hosea God expressed His words about Israel: "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge" (4'6).
So spiritual understanding is extremely important. In His day Jesus said: “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free,” John 8'31-32.
It should be no surprise, then, that there are some strong exhortations about Believers not knowing or being ignorant. Paul asks directly:
"... do you not know that as many of us as were immersed into Christ Jesus were immersed into His death?" Romans 6'3.
Also:
"Now concerning spirituals, brethren, I would not have you ignorant,"1 Corinthians 12'1.
An Old Testament proverb says: "... get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding," Proverbs 4'7.
KNOWING THE BIBLE
Having the Bible so readily available in Western World could have the effect of taking it for granted or making it seem any other book. But on the contrary, the Bible is precious and very different from all other books.
Its difference is what motivated faithful and persevering Believers in the past to translate, produce and preserve it in spite of persecutions, difficulties and even death.
That's because it is the Word of God and it is living and powerful. And all true Believers are thankful to them!
Interestingly, the word "bible" is not actually in The Bible! The word bible comes from the Greek word biblia, meaning "books". Because the Word of God, or The Scriptures, is made up of 66 "books" it forms a kind of library.
It has been quoted by unbelievers over time mostly unknowingly as the result of people attending church services.
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In His earthly ministry, Jesus was preparing His Disciples for the New Covenant and Kingdom to come with the Holy Spirit's arrival.
At one stage, He told them that He would send the Holy Spirit who would guide them into all truth (John 16'13). That began on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2'2).
Some of them wrote about the Holy Spirit's work with the disciples, and about the lives of Believers (in Acts and the "letters") and the Revelation. The disciples preached the Good News of God's Son and the Kingdom of God.
The earthly life and ministry of the Lord was recorded in what are commonly called the "gospels".
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Although the Bible is made up of two parts the Old Testament and the New Testament are interlinked. (For more see "Hear Him!" on the Menu.) Together they are what Paul was referring to when he spoke to the Elders of the Ephesian Believers:
"I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God (Acts 20'27).
And it is counsel that does not change:
"God, determining to show more abundantly to the heirs of promise the immutability of His counsel ..." Hebrews 6'17.
(Note that God's counsel is "to the heirs of promise". That is, the Body of Christ. Be wary of any individual who claims to know the whole counsel of God exclusively. Be suspicious if someone offers to seek God's will on your behalf. Don't accept!)
When Jesus said the "Spirit of truth ... will guide you into all truth" (John 16'13 ), He was addressing His disciples only. These words do not apply to any individual or group claiming to be led by the Spirit into all truth. They are out of order.
In the years following Pentecost Holy Spirit-led scribes wrote the Kingdom scriptures which are available today.
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However, in today's world there are quite a number of Bible translations and paraphrases. One thing to realise is that authors of paraphrases have biases. As do some translators.
But paraphrases can be useful at times especially for providing an every day English rendering.
The New King James translation (published by Thomas Nelson) provides all the scriptures for these Kingdom Inheritance Today studies. It is preferred mainly because the New Testament is "based on the traditional text of the Greek-speaking churches" and translated in the straightforward method called "essentially literal".
Also, the NKJV is set out in verse form, making memorising it easier.
A KNOWING DISPOSITION
The way a person approaches the Bible makes all the difference to understanding it. That's because each person has a disposition in their approach to it. Everybody's disposition is made up of the preconceptions that they have adopted. In this case, in approaching the Bible.
So a Believer's disposition to the word of Christ makes all the difference to their growth in Him.
Interestingly, there's a certain church service in which a churchman leads a procession while holding the Bible above his head. Obviously a symbolic gesture. It appeared to symbolise at least these two things:
That the Bible is the Word of God and is above all other "words", and
that the man standing under it is submitted to it.
And it is these presuppositions that make up the disposition for a Believer approaching the Bible. It's a disposition of honour, open mindedness, acceptance and humble submission to it. Summed up, it is simply to stand under it.
Those with other presuppositions have dispositions that are opposite. Their stand over approaches to the Bible are likely to produce stand over conclusions. They arise out of ignorance, inaccuracy or distortion. Hence, misquoting the Bible is common.
There are also those who profess to believe in Christ and yet have presuppositions that produce a stand over disposition. In their approach to God's word they hold various unBiblical teachings. These may come from church traditions, theological viewpoints, academic or so-called "scientific" teachings.
"Where are they coming from?" In any conversation it is important to keep this question in mind. Put another way, "What is their background?" Finding that out, in a friendly way, can be helpful in discovering a person's disposition.
But this conversation is much more than finding out about a person's disposition. Whoever it may be, everyone has a background. And usually, a person will talk about their past quite readily.
So this conversation is first and foremost heart talk and listening ministry. Believers should be ready to hear things and notice things - and offer to pray with them.
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In the Old Testament, God's people of faith approached the Scriptures with this godly stand under disposition (see Hebrews 11).
Jesus revealed His godly disposition throughout His earthly ministry (Matthew 1'1 to Acts 1'8). Later on Paul, Peter, John and the other New Covenant scribes did the same.
Consequently, they knew that:
"Scripture ... never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit," 2 Peter 1'21.
"All Scripture is given by inspiration of God," 2 Timothy 3'16.
"... faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God," Romans 10'17.
"By faith we understand ..." Hebrews 11'3.
Since the Holy Spirit came Christ's New Covenant Kingdom of God is displayed in the Kingdom scriptures of Acts 1'1 to Revelation 3'22 and in Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.
KNOWING THIS
Uncertainty is a very difficult thing to experience, as most people know. But it is certainty that is at the heart of the Lord's Good News message. He leaves His People in no doubt about where they stand.
One example is:
"... this is the testimony that
God has given us eternal life,
and this life is in His Son.
He who has the Son has life;
he who does not have the Son of God does not have life," 1 John 5'11-12.
And:
"... knowing this, that our old man (old nature) was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin," Romans 6'6.
And:
"... whatever you do, do it heartily,
knowing that from the Lord
you will receive the reward of the inheritance;
for you serve the Lord Christ," Colossians 3'23-24.
Do not lean on your own understanding, praise the Lord for the wonderful assurance of the word of Christ.
KNOWING WITH LOVE
Knowing for knowings sake is simply head knowledge and is not God's way. It only inflates the ego. As 1 Corinthians 8'1 says:
"Knowledge puffs up ..."!
The sentence continues by saying, "... but love edifies". How wonderful is that!
There can be no place for a Believer to be proud or "puffed up" about knowing something spiritual. Only knowledge with love edifies.
Here's the reality:
"... what do you have that you did not receive? Now if you did indeed receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?" 1 Corinthians 4'7.
And here's the Believers' godly disposition:
"Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God," 2 Corinthians 3'5.
Let's remember Jesus' words: “... without Me you can do nothing" John 15'5.
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The Holy Spirit encourages God's People to gain this kind of knowledge:
"... grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen." 2 Peter 3'18.
This is the love-knowledge which builds up and strengthens others up as well as ourselves.
HEARING AND KNOWING
Acts 17'11 speaks about some Jews who lived in a town called Berea. And it's not unusual to hear them commended as an example to new Believers for their godly disposition. Because of it some studies for new Believers are called "Berean".
They were members of the Jewish synagogue and they were deeply challenged by Paul's teaching. Using the Old Testament scriptures He showed them that Jesus of Nazareth, who they knew had lived in Israel, was definitely their Messiah, the One prophesied, the Anointed One.
Unlike the Jews who Paul had very recently preached to, their disposition was remarkable:
"These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica
in that they received the word
with all readiness of mind,
and searched the scriptures daily,
whether these things were so,” Acts 17'11.
The point is, they did not reject Paul's teaching out of hand. Their attitude was, first, to simply receive what he said.
Then they searched their Hebrew scriptures, which they would have known well. Because of the importance and the great challenge of his teachings they searched daily.
But the scripture goes on to say:
"Therefore many of them believed and also not a few of the Greeks, prominent women as well as men".
Jesus said more than once: "If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear" (Mark 4:23). These Bereans were willing to hear Him and "stand under" the word of Christ.
Not only Jews. There were Gentiles, men and woman, who witnessed it all and believed. Because of their disposition, all came to know The Truth.
KNOWING AND DIVIDING
Knowing the word of truth is for all Believers. But dividing it is a different matter indeed, because dividing is the responsibility of those who minister it.
In his letter to Timothy Paul encourages him to ...
"... be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth," 2 Timothy 2'15.
Timothy was sent by Paul to assist the Believers at Ephesus and Paul is encouraging him in his ministry to them. In his first letter to Timothy Paul says:
"These things command and teach.
Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity.
Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine," 1 Timothy 4'11-13.
Remember, the words about commanding and teaching are not for everybody to do. Certainly, every Elder should take notice of the rest. But Timothy is a co-worker for the Kingdom of God (Colossians 4'11).
Paul is confident that his "true son in the faith", as he called Timothy, is the man for the ministry.
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So what is rightly dividing the word of truth? The Greek word for "rightly dividing", orthotomeo, is used only once in the New Testament.
According to Strong's Concordance it simply means "to cut straight"; from two words orthos (straight, not crooked) and tomoteros (sharp).
However, "cutting straight" the word of truth would have been something Timothy was familiar with because he was told to:
"Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching," 2 Timothy 4'2.
He would have known this as well:
"All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness," 2 Timothy 3'16.
He could divide the word of truth because he knew it. He would have heard his "spiritual father" Paul saying, "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom" (Colossians 3'16).
Knowing the word of truth meant he could divide and minister it truthfully - straightly. (For more go to "Hear Him!" on the Menu.)
KNOWING AND SPEAKING
Our Father knows that words have great power to affect people's lives more than anyone else. Those who minister to His People are privileged.
Peter it clear:
"If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God.
If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ," 1 Peter 4'11.
He says speaking, ministering and doing everything else has to be in Jesus' name and for God's glory. However, there is are at least two warnings:
"So speak and so do as those who will be judged by the law of liberty," James 2'12.
"My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment, James 3'1.
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"We speak before God in Christ. But we do all things, beloved, for your edification,"
2 Corinthians 12'19.
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