Regional Synod of Canada - Reformed Church in America

Pioneer Christian Monthly

Date - Oct/82

Contributor - John Verhoog

Title - God's Word

Topic - Bible

Long before Martin Luther wrote his famous Theses and nailed them on the door of the church at Wittenberg, the prophet Hosea wrote, "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge" (Hosea 4:6a). One of the causes of the degeneration in the church before the Reformation was that the people had no understanding of the Word of God, and for lack of knowledge the people perished. The Bible was a closed book, gathering dust while the people died of spiritual starvation.

The Reformation re-emphasized the importance of the Word of God. One of the great needs of the church today is a return to the Word of God. No longer can we afford, as a church or as individual Christians, to ignore what God has to say to us. For it is only by the Word of God that we can know ourselves and God.

When Hosea spoke of knowledge, he was not primarily thinking of intellectual knowledge. The key to the prophet's meaning is found in Gen. 4:1 "And Adam knew Eve his wife". Knowledge of God is intimate communion with the God in whom we live and move and have our being. Such knowledge is more than belief. It is easy to glibly say, "I believe in God" and it is remarkable how little difference such belief often can and does make in our life. Quite possibly the world's worst tyrants, criminals, gangsters and crooks believe in God. Indeed, James went so far as to say once, "The devils" also believe and tremble" (James 2:19). Belief without action, faith without works, is dead. Paul believed in God, but more than that, he could say, "I know whom I have believed" (11 Tim. 1:12).

We must distinguish then between intellectual knowledge and experiential knowledge of God. Many among us may know more about God theoretically than some of the saints. Knowing about God is one thing; knowing God is something else.

The knowledge of God of which Hosea speaks, because it was not theoretical, could not simply be attained by man's effort, but by God's grace. Man does not so much discover this knowledge as does God reveal it. It involves the disciplining of the life, the submission of the will. "If any man will do His will, he shall know." (John 7:1 7) Such knowledge comes from walking in the light, not just talking about it. "Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God."

One can think of many avenues by which the soul of man may be brought into closer fellowship with God: nature; the great literature of devotion; the life of some saintly soul; meditation and prayer; listening to the still small voice, "be still and know" (Ps. 46: 1 0); service to our fellow men in the spirit of Him who "came not to be ministered unto, but to minister" (Matt. 20:28). Supremely, however, we come to know God personally through His fullest revelation, the life of Christ our Lord. "Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Phillip?" (John 14:9).

May I encourage you to study God's precious Word. Take time during the day to study and meditate on the Word; gather with fellow Christians around the Word of God. The idea that Bible study and church school are for children is far outdated. In the Word of God you will find your strength and guidance to walk in His ways.

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