To Know God
John 17: 3
“And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.”
Eternal life = knowing God.
How do we know God? By reading His word.
Yet, reading (or hearing) is not enough. We are not to be hearers of the word only, but doers. (James 1:22)
Doing the word.
What does that mean?
That means putting the principles that are demonstrated in the word into practice in our daily lives. It’s having our lives transformed by the renewing of our minds. (Rom 12:1-2)
The main point here, though, is that hearing the word and not doing it computes to NOT knowing God. If we truly knew Him, then we are going to live by His word.
1 John 3:4-10 describes two groups of people. One who ‘knows’ God and one who does not.
This section begins with describing what sin is. (Breaking God’s law.) Then it says that if you break God’s law, then you do not know God.
Jesus said in John 14:15 that if we love Him, we are to keep His commandments.
Obedience = demonstration of love.
Obedience = knowing God.
Obedience = entrance into the gates of heaven (Rev 20:14)
Obedience does not save. It is the proof we are saved. It is the proof we love God. It is the proof we have died to self (carnal nature) and now live to God.
The Bible is very plain.
The majority of Christians today agree that we are not to have anything in our lives over God.
We are to honor and respect our parents.
We are not to use God’s name in vain.
We are not to worship idols.
Or kill.
Or commit adultery.
Or steal.
Or lie.
Or covet.
Yet, these same Christians will say that the 4th commandment that begins with REMEMBER is no longer pertinent. That the law has been 
changed (God never changes. His law never changes.) They say that it is for the Jews, even though the Sabbath was set apart before there were any Jews, only Adam and Eve.
So why are all the other commandments still important but the one which starts with REMEMBER is not?
James 2:10 tells us if we break one, we break them all.
The Bible tells us that the 7th day Sabbath demonstrates that God is our Lord; that He is the one that sanctifies us. (Ezek 20:12)
Revelation does not say that those who keep nine of the commandments will be entering into the gates. It describes a people who keeps all of God’s laws.
Satan got kicked out of heaven for breaking God’s law.
Adam and Eve got kicked out of the Garden of Eden for breaking it.
The children of Israel went into bondage/exile multiple times for breaking it.
Since sin, the breaking of the law, will not happen again in heaven, that means only law-keepers will be in heaven.
When a death row prisoner has been pardoned, he does not leave and go out to continue breaking the law. If he did, he will end up back on death row without any chance of pardon.
Jesus does not save us to continue to live and break His law. He came to show how it is to be kept. He promises to give us the strength to do so, if we rely on Him rather than ourselves. In fact, in Matt 7:21-23, Jesus specifically describes those who are ‘workers of iniquity’ as being people He does not ‘know.’ Why? Because they continue to sin rather than allowing God to transform them by the renewing of their mind.
The great controversy is coming to an end. Soon, we will have to choose whom we will worship. We demonstrate our choice by the day of worship we keep. God’s truth Sabbath (the 7th day) or satan’s counterfeit (the 1st day).
This choice will lead to a sealing.
We will either be sealed by God for obedience.
Or marked by satan (the counterfeit) for disobedience.
Our choice. Each week we choose. Who will you serve?
Something to think about.