Practical discipleship is about knowing the God of Light (Part Three)

From the desk of Dr. Robert L. Taylor, Th.D., Bible Expositor & Teacher. The goal of discipleship is that of knowing the God of Light (1 John 2:3-11). “By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments” (1 John 2:3). John says, “we know that we have come to know Him.” In other words, the believer who has come to know God (through concern for, and attentiveness to His commandments) can be fully assured that he’s attained this intimate knowing of God! It’s not a matter of wishful thinking or guesswork. We must understand and embrace that an intimate knowing of the Father and the Son does indeed flow into a heart that’s concerned for and attentive to His commandments. Also, the longer a believer walks with God in this way, the deeper and richer this knowing becomes!! This is what Jesus had in mind with these words, “He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him” (John 14:21). This is a promise of self-disclosure to the one who’s concerned for and attentive to His Word. John 14:21 and 1 John 2:3 both attest to Scripture as God’s self-disclosure to His disciples. The Bible is seen as a vehicle for God’s self-disclosure, where He reveals aspects of Himself, His character, His will, and His relationship with humanity. Brothers and sisters in Christ, it just doesn’t get any better than this! Be encouraged!