WHY SHOULD YOU KNOW THE TRUTH ABOUT GOD?
You need to know the truth about God: Because of Who God Is! God is the Creator, the Ruler, and the Judge of the universe.
As Creator He has made everything that exists. As Ruler He has certain laws for the good of all His creatures and His world. As Judge He will decide the final reward of men and women according to how they have responded to Him. Since God is your Creator, Ruler, and Judge, you need to know the truth about Him and His plan for you.
God is a loving Father, too; He offers you true joy. You need to know Him to enjoy His love and blessings.
Because It’s a Matter of Life or Death for You
God is the Giver of life. He offers you a better, fuller life now and a never-ending perfect life after death.
John 17:3 And this is eternal life: for men to know you, the only true God, and to know Jesus Christ, whom you sent.
Because to Please God, You Must Know Him
God’s children love Him and want to please Him. If you have received Jesus as your Saviour, you are now a child of God. You will want to know your heavenly Father better every day, and you will want to find out what He likes so you can please Him in all that you do. This is the only way to find real satisfaction in life, because you were created to do the things that please God.
HOW CAN YOU KNOW THE TRUTH ABOUT GOD?
You can learn some things about a person by looking at his work. When you look at the world that God has made, you know that He is very wise and powerful.
Romans 1:20 Ever since God created the world, his invisible qualities, both his eternal power and his divine nature, have been clearly seen. Men can perceive them in the things that God has made.
You can find out the truth about a person from those who know him personally. In the Bible we read thrilling accounts of many people who knew God personally. He talked with them, solved their problems, and supplied their needs. He healed their bodies and gave them strength and joy. God hasn’t changed. On every continent today you can find thousands of persons who know and love God. They will tell you how wonderful He is.
1 John 1:3 What we have seen and heard we tell you also, so that you will join with us in the fellowship that we have with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.
You can know a person by reading his writings and by hearing him talk. God talks to you in the Bible. In it you discover His character, His plans, His feelings, and His love for you.
John 5:39 You study the Scriptures …. And these very Scriptures speak about me.
You can know a person well by living, talking, and working together with him. God wanted us to know Him in this way, so He sent His Son Jesus Christ to live among men and women. Jesus is just like His Father, so in Him you can see the nature of God. You can know God through Christ.
Hebrews 1:1-3 In the past God spoke to our ancestors many times and in many ways through the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us through his Son. . . . He reflects the brightness of God’s glory and is the exact likeness of God’s own being.
When you accept Jesus Christ as your Saviour, He will reveal God to you. As you talk with Him in prayer and read His Word, you will experience His presence and come to know Him in a way you never dreamed was possible.
John 14:21, 23 My Father will love whoever loves me; I too will love him and reveal myself to him. . . . Whoever loves me will obey my teaching. . . . My Father and I will come to him and live with him.
WHAT IS GOD LIKE?
God Is an Infinite, Eternal Spirit
God is not limited by time, space, and natural laws as we are. He has always existed and always will. He is everywhere. He knows everything and can do anything.
God Is Three Persons in One
Some people think of God as an impersonal force that controls the universe, or as an influence for good. We know that He is a Person because He thinks, feels, and acts.
In fact, the Bible teaches that God is three Persons in one, the Triune God. The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are just the same in nature, power, and purpose. They work together in perfect harmony as one Person—one God.
Matthew 28:19 Baptise them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
God Is Love
God is love—love is His nature. He loves everyone. He loves you and wants to give you what is best for you in life. Then He wants you to live with him in His wonderful home in heaven.
1 John 4:8 Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love.
God Is Perfect
God is completely good, pure, truthful, and right in all he does. He is generous and kind.
Matthew 5:48 Your Father in heaven is perfect.
God Is Just
God is a righteous judge. This means that He always does what is right. Because He loves everyone, He has made a way for them to know Him through Jesus Christ. He rewards those who accept Jesus by giving them eternal life. Those who reject Jesus and follow Satan receive the punishment God intended for Satan. Through Jesus, He wants to save us from sin and all of its effects. But if we won’t let Him, He can only allow us to feel the evil results of our wrong actions.
Psalm 19:9 The judgments of the Lord are just; they are always fair.
Romans 3:26 God shows that he himself is righteous and that he puts right everyone who believes in Jesus.
God Knows Everything God knows the past, present, and future. He sees, hears, and understands everything that happens. He knows your thoughts and why you do what you do. God knows what is best for you and wants to help you make the right choices.
Genesis 16:13 Thou God seest me.
1 John 3:20 God . . . knows everything.
God Can Do Anything
The Creator has built into His world certain patterns that we call the laws of nature. Everything functions according to these patterns. God is above these natural laws and is not bound by them. He does supernatural works called miracles, things that are beyond the power of man or nature.
Jesus did many miracles when He was on earth. He healed the sick, raised the dead, and changed lives. He is still the Great Physician and enjoys making us well in both body and soul.
Matthew 19:26 With God all things are possible.
Exodus 15:26 I am the Lord that heals you.
HOW DOES GOD WANT YOU TO WORSHIP HIM?
In worship we show God that we love, honour, and respect Him. We thank Him for what He has done, and we talk with Him. In different churches you will see different ways in which men worship God. How does He want you to worship? What will please Him?
Be Honest and Sincere
You must mean what you say. You must believe in God and be willing to obey Him.
John 4:24 God is Spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.
Hebrews 11:6 He who comes to God must have faith that God exists and rewards those who seek him.
Worship Only God
Your Creator is the only true God. He does not want you to pray to any other gods, persons, spirits, images, or things.
Exodus 20:3 Worship no god but me.
Acts 14:15; 17:29 We are here… to turn you away from these worthless things to the living God. We should not suppose that God’s nature is anything like an image of gold or silver or stone.
Thank the Lord for His Blessings
In song and prayer, and even in the silence of your own heart, thank God for His love and goodness and for all of His blessings to you.
Psalm 98:1 Sing a new song to the Lord; he has done wonderful things.
Psalm 150:6 Praise the Lord, all living creatures.
Worship Humbly but With Faith
Recognise that you cannot make yourself good enough to come before a holy God. However, since you have asked Jesus to be your Saviour, God has forgiven you and accepted you as His child. So talk to Him as you would talk to your Father and tell Him whatever is in your heart.
Pray to God now in your own words, asking Him to reveal himself to you. Worship Him.