Knowing Jesus Christ is the absolute fundamental of the Gospel message. Surprisingly, something so essential as knowing Jesus, is surrounded by a lot of debate, various opinions, and confusion.
For some, knowing Jesus amounts to simply attending a church building, listening to a sermon, and performing other regular Christian rituals. For others, knowing Jesus involves extensive bible reading and study plans.
I understand each of these positions; I’ve lived them for a number of years. As good as gathering together with believers and scripture reading is though, neither captures the essence of knowing Jesus.
What I want to share with you today, is how Jesus describes knowing himself, and how we can truly grow in our relationship with him.
A New and Living Way
Picture what it was like for the ancient Israelites under the Old Covenant. The Law of Moses was in effect, and every day was equal parts wonder regarding what God was doing, and fear of disastrous consequences for even the smallest disobedience.
While the lifestyle of the Israelites all those years ago is shrouded in a degree of mystery, I know the daily feelings which I have described quite well; I lived with the same awe and trepidation for a long time— and I’m not alone. In fact, a lot of believers are familiar with the struggle of walking the line between trying to rejoice over the sacrifice of Jesus while still feeling the terror of the Law of Moses.
The lifestyle and emotions outlined above were completely normal and natural for those living under the Old Covenant— and that’s one of the critical points: this was the old covenant. The attitude, fears, and rituals that these people lived with during this time, was the ‘old way.’
In contrast, Jesus Christ introduced us to a new and living way through his sacrifice on the cross. Let’s begin today by examining Hebrews 10:16-20:
“ 16 This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, said the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;
17 And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.
18 Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.
19 Having therefore, brothers, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,
20 By a new and living way, which he has consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;”
These verses contain a lot of information. First, look at the details of the covenant that God makes with those who believe in Christ. God places his laws in our hearts and minds, and then look at what God says in verses 17 and 18:
And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.
Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.
Think about these amazing words. The information presented here is the foundation of knowing Jesus, by knowing what He has done for you, and what His sacrifice accomplished in your life.
God says here that He will not remember your sins and iniquities any more! This is not me saying these words, this is God speaking these words. Then He continues by saying that where your sins and iniquities are remitted (in Christ) there is no more offering for sin. There’s no reason or possibility to continually offer sacrifices, when the perfect and complete sacrifice of Jesus Christ has already been made.
No other sacrifice could accomplish what His sacrifice accomplished. No other sacrifice could make you righteous, but Jesus did make you righteous, so other sacrifices are obsolete in light of Him.
Now, do you accept that? Do you accept that Jesus has made you clean and righteous for all time through His sacrifice? Or do you think that the efficacy of His sacrifice is dependent on your current performance level?
The new and living way of Christ is one of accepting what He has done; it is accepting that you are righteous because of Him, and not because of you. This is the foundation and basis for knowing Jesus.
The Forest From the Trees
Sometimes it can be very easy to get so caught up in religious activity that we miss Jesus entirely, and again, this is something that I have extensive experience with. Even something as innocuous and necessary as scripture reading, if used improperly can be turned into a work where we entirely miss Jesus.
The pharisees were experts in the Law of Moses and the scriptures, yet Jesus informed them that they were failing to obtain life, and he warned them in a specific way., and John 5:39-40:
“ 39 You search the scriptures; for in them you think you have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.
40 And you will not come to me, that you might have life.”
As before, this is not something that I am saying, Jesus spoke these words. Notice what He says here: Life does not come from scripture text. You may think that life comes by reading and studying scriptures, but it does not. You may have believed your entire life that the scriptures give eternal life, just as the pharisees believed. But scripture apart from Jesus gives you nothing!
As Jesus says here, life comes from Him! For some people, your world just exploded and got turned upside-down, but it is a wonderful thing that it did because this truth will change your entire life and really set you free. This piece of information will start your journey to truly knowing Jesus, because it sets the stage for the real, meaningful role of scripture— not to give you life, but to speak of the One who does give life, as Jesus says in the second-half of verse 39 and into 40.
Knowing Jesus in Truth
To know Jesus Christ involves understanding who He is, what He has accomplished, and our new identity in Him— the very essence of faith. This is described for us perfectly in Ephesians 1:17-20:
“ 17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:
18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,
19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,
20 Which he worked in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places.”
Now, take some time and meditate on these verses with me, because there is great power here. Your Heavenly Father wants to show you some vital truths; He wants to give you spiritual information.
Now, some may assume that God wants to teach you about the Old Covenant Laws of Moses, or rituals and regulations, but no. Look closely at what the verses are saying. You Heavenly Father grants you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him (Jesus Christ)
Verse 18 continues, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened, not to rules, rituals, or regulations, but to know the hope of his calling, the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, and the exceeding greatness of his power to us who believe.
These three items are what’s missing in the lives of so many. The hope [confidence] of His calling. Knowing that you are saved, not a guess, maybe, or fearful uncertainty.
Second, the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints. A staggering number of people within the church body are lacking in the knowledge of their inheritance in Christ. I’ve published various studies on that freely available on this website.
Then, third, the exceeding greatness of his power to us who believe. In Christ, you are not weak or helpless any longer. You have the very power of God on the inside of you. The Holy Spirit indwells you, and he is not an impotent spirit.
Knowing these things, is knowing what Jesus has accomplished. This is the information that the Father wants you to know about Jesus, and about your new identity in Him, and the scriptures are overflowing, with this information.
As Jesus said, the scriptures ultimately speak of Him, and as you see Jesus in the scripture, you see His glory, His righteousness, His perfection, His power, His mercy, His grace, and His perfect judgment and justice. You also see what He has done for you.
So I encourage you today, don’t spend another second with dead Christian ritual, start spending time with Jesus and getting to know Him, and you will find everything you’re looking for.