KNOWING GOD THROUGH JESUS
Repenting is to make up your mind to leave sin and to live for God. Matthew 3:1–3 says, In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the Desert of Judea and saying, Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near. This is He who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: A voice of one calling in the desert, Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for Him.
By repenting, the people promised to do right in the future. There had to be full preparation for the pure and holy King. The past sins had to be removed, by forgiveness. Those who repented had to be baptized. John became known as “John the Baptizer or John the Baptist” for this reason.
Baptism by John divided the people. Those who wanted to get ready for the Messiah confessed their sins and were baptized. But certain, especially religious leaders, were too proud. They would not say how sinful they were. Baptism (is) was simple obedience to God’s command. It meant trusting God for forgiveness. Their hard hearts had no room for obedient trust. See Luke 7:29–30. It says, ( All the people, even the tax collectors, when they heard Jesus’ words, acknowledged that God’s way was right, because they had been baptized by John. But the Pharisees and experts in the law rejected God’s purpose for themselves, because they had not been baptized by John) See also Acts of Apostles 1:21–22, Therefore it is necessary to choose one of the men who have been with us the whole time the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from John’s baptism to the time when Jesus was taken up from us. For one of these must become a witness with us of His resurrection.
To bear witness is one who tells what he sees and knows to be true. When he gives his report of the truth, he testifies or gives testimony. John the Baptizer was such a witness. John 1:7–13 and verse 34. He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through Him all men might believe. He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through Him, the world did not recognize Him. He came to that which was His own, but his own did not receive Him. Yet to all who received Him, to those who believe in His name, He gave the right to become children of God – children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God. I have seen and I testify that this is the Son of God. See also John 14:1 and verses 9 – 11, Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. Jesus answered: Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, Show us the Father? Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing His work. Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves.
In love God predestined (planned for) us to be adopted as His sons and Jesus said I have come that they (us) may have life, and have it to the full. John 10:10 says, The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. See also Mark 9:23, it says, If you can? Said Jesus. Everything is possible for him who believes. See Mark 10:27, Jesus looked at them and said, With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.
The way of truth. Peter shows that he follows the way of truth given by Jesus. He warns against “shameful ways” from others. They claim His name, but they are enemies who work against Him. See Matthew 7: 15, It says, Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. See Matthew 13: 24–30, Jesus told them another parable: The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared. The owner’s servants came to him and said, Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from? An enemy did this, he replied. The servants asked him, Do you want us to go and pull them up? No, he answered, because while you are pulling the weeds, you may root up the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn. Lastly read Matthew 24:24, it says, For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect – if that were possible.
There are many reasons for knowing God through Jesus’ teaching. Among them is its practical wisdom for successful living.
Repenting is to make up your mind to leave sin and to live for God. Matthew 3:1–3 says, In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the Desert of Judea and saying, Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near. This is He who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: A voice of one calling in the desert, Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for Him.
By repenting, the people promised to do right in the future. There had to be full preparation for the pure and holy King. The past sins had to be removed, by forgiveness. Those who repented had to be baptized. John became known as “John the Baptizer or John the Baptist” for this reason.
Baptism by John divided the people. Those who wanted to get ready for the Messiah confessed their sins and were baptized. But certain, especially religious leaders, were too proud. They would not say how sinful they were. Baptism (is) was simple obedience to God’s command. It meant trusting God for forgiveness. Their hard hearts had no room for obedient trust. See Luke 7:29–30. It says, ( All the people, even the tax collectors, when they heard Jesus’ words, acknowledged that God’s way was right, because they had been baptized by John. But the Pharisees and experts in the law rejected God’s purpose for themselves, because they had not been baptized by John) See also Acts of Apostles 1:21–22, Therefore it is necessary to choose one of the men who have been with us the whole time the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from John’s baptism to the time when Jesus was taken up from us. For one of these must become a witness with us of His resurrection.
To bear witness is one who tells what he sees and knows to be true. When he gives his report of the truth, he testifies or gives testimony. John the Baptizer was such a witness. John 1:7–13 and verse 34. He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through Him all men might believe. He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through Him, the world did not recognize Him. He came to that which was His own, but his own did not receive Him. Yet to all who received Him, to those who believe in His name, He gave the right to become children of God – children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God. I have seen and I testify that this is the Son of God. See also John 14:1 and verses 9 – 11, Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. Jesus answered: Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, Show us the Father? Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing His work. Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves.
In love God predestined (planned for) us to be adopted as His sons and Jesus said I have come that they (us) may have life, and have it to the full. John 10:10 says, The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. See also Mark 9:23, it says, If you can? Said Jesus. Everything is possible for him who believes. See Mark 10:27, Jesus looked at them and said, With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.
The way of truth. Peter shows that he follows the way of truth given by Jesus. He warns against “shameful ways” from others. They claim His name, but they are enemies who work against Him. See Matthew 7: 15, It says, Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. See Matthew 13: 24–30, Jesus told them another parable: The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared. The owner’s servants came to him and said, Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from? An enemy did this, he replied. The servants asked him, Do you want us to go and pull them up? No, he answered, because while you are pulling the weeds, you may root up the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn. Lastly read Matthew 24:24, it says, For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect – if that were possible.
There are many reasons for knowing God through Jesus’ teaching. Among them is its practical wisdom for successful living.