Experiential God-Knowledge is Freedom

Old Treasures on Tuesdays 👑

“And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent” (John 17:3, NKJV).

Recently we talked about how knowing all about God is not at all the same thing as knowing Him personally. Let’s dive just a little deeper into that thought today.

In the words above directed to His Father, Jesus revealed that knowing Him is life. It is, in fact, life eternal; life more abundantly. We can conclude, then, that eternal life begins the moment you truly begin to know God for yourself.

The Greek word in this verse for “know” is ginosko. Ginosko is an intimate, experiential kind of knowing. It’s the same word that Matthew used to say that Joseph did not “know” Mary until after Jesus was born (Matt. 1:25). It’s face-to-face knowing. It’s also the same word Jesus used to predict the moment when He will tragically proclaim to certain religious individuals, “I never knew you; depart from Me…” (Matt. 7:23, NKJV). What is missing from these people’s lives? An intimate walk with God. Intimate relationship with Him. Intimate, experiential co-knowing. Ginosko. Knowing, and being known.

Ginosko is also the word Jesus used in this powerful statement: “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32, NKJV). Jesus Himself is the Truth… the Way, the Truth, and the Life (John 14:6). Knowing the Truth means having your own personal knowledge of Jesus Himself. Knowing Him by experience is what makes us truly free.

His Spirit is the Spirit of Truth (John 16:13). Do you realize that when you give your life to Jesus, you become one with the Spirit of Truth? “But he who is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with him” (1 Cor. 6:17, ESV). The Spirit of Jesus, the Spirit of Truth, has come to live inside of us to guide us into all truth. When you surrender to Jesus, you become one spirit with Him. You become one with Truth.

Every day that we walk with Jesus, we get to know His heart better. Every day that we move further into this experiential knowledge of God, we move further and further into freedom. Every day, Truth is making us more and more and more… free!

“Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty” (2 Cor. 3:17, NKJV).

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In what ways has getting to know Jesus better directly resulted in increased freedom in your life? I would love to hear a little bit of your journey if you have a moment to share it, in the comments below.