How can we KNOW God personally?
Q: A couple yrs ago asked my pastor "how I can get that two way relationship with God that he is always talking about". He prayed for me.
I went back to him about a year later, and told him I needed prayer because all weekend I felt the need to go to the alter (after attending an event).
This month, an old friend of the family (who also used to be the pastor of the church) was there and came up and talked to me after the service. He told me that about 2 yrs ago he felt I was about "this close" to getting what it was I was looking for.
I was still doing everything the same, reading my Bible, praising, praying, everything I had been doing. Still trying really hard to KNOW God so I could have a true relationship with Him, instead of just saying I'm a Christian.
Anyway, I called the friend of the family off and on through the next week to try to get some insight from him and his wife. They'd ask questions, I'd answer truthfully. The last time I talked with them, they asked how old I was when I got saved, if I remembered where it happened, what was prayed, who prayed, all the little details. I told them all I could remember and the fact that there's been countless times since then that I've resaid the salvation prayer, out of concern & to reassure myself that I am saved, I rededicated my life to Christ in high school.
My friend asked if I had ever helped someone else get saved. I have, only one person, but I have. But him and his wife both told me after discussing other things noted that "based on your age at the time when you say you got saved, you probably didn't fully understand....and I honestly don't think you got saved then."
I let that sink in for the rest of the week and went back to my pastor last Sunday morning after service. I told him I'm saved, but I don't KNOW God." We had an almost 10 minute discussion.... and he told me the exact same thing the friends of the family told me several nights before. He asked me questions about if I wanted to give my life to Christ, I answered and told him yes, but that I had already done all this 30 years ago, etc. I feel my whole life, I have confessed and believed that I was saved, so I haven't said a word to any family members (other than my husband, our oldest son, and my in laws) about my troubling situation. But my question is, should I? If that day was the day that I truly got saved, should I get over the embarrassment and tell my family, or should I keep this where it is now?
A: That relationship begins at the Cross, by you're embracing the Gospel.
Many professing believers have a concern that they arent saved, it is typically fear based and has a connection to not trusting God. We either believe the Gospel and live it out, or we dont. That's the area you seem stuck in like a perpetual fear and a distrust as if something relies on you for your salvation. That's not biblical. We are called to peace and joy when we obey & embrace the Gospel, knowing that Jesus did all what God required to save us... and that salvation is permanent, but our growth is ongoing. We grow to know God more, over time. Ofc None of us are worthy, and all are undeserved of this redemption, which is why it is Grace (as is the free gift from God). We just need to be grateful and thankful He saved us.... and let that show and shine in our life (faithful obedient servants/adopted children). Living it out by showing our love and gratitude.
However, there is a thing called false conversion. It's where someone embraces a false gospel or comes to Jesus for wrong reasons, [*those saved are radically transformed by God into a new creation, unlike false converts who are still spiritually dead]. Many unsaved/false converts are in idolatry as they made up a god, Jesus and gospel, and have false views of God and life; typically one that's ok with their sins. They pray to a false god, hold false beliefs, do religious stuff, but arent saved.
A lot of young folk walk away from Christianity once puberty hits or they move out at 18... and get entangled in this world, cuz they never heard, understood nor were taught through essentials of the Faith & true Gospel. They had since youth (all along) [then & now] remained unsaved but (back then) had ideas of their view of Heaven and whatever they think God is like, or Jesus and its not correct. They didn't want to miss out & just followed others into baptism or false faith to please parents or pastor, not God.
I recommend going through this to self examine, and make sure youre right with God. He converts, he gives spiritual life. Many previous man made attempts at salvation likely weren't of God, but just you trying to saved yourself. Big difference from biblical salvation. If you did get saved rightly, good, focus on trust and growing closer to God.
These others can help too, on help knowing if your saved.
Then once youre showing fruit of salvation and persevere (not wither or walk away).... get baptized. Invite family & others. Give your testimony there, and profess in it that you were a false convert, but now you are genuinely saved. They'll know from that.
The pastor will counsel you, to ensure your more than likely actually saved, & likely have you go through a baptism class which includes building your 3 min testimony. Before the date is set.
So from now on just live for Christ, following Him, & Scripture (as your guide to holy living, examine examples to follow, & of truth about God and how he loves us, works in our lives has plans for us all, leads, guides, teaches, corrects, grows us, and to know Him more, and be more closely to him).
By the Gospel, you know this about God already, so "rest in" these truths as you grow closer to Him...
1. God is holy and just — because sin had to be punished (Romans 6:23).
2. God is sovereign — because even the cross happened by His definite plan and foreknowledge (Acts 2:23; Acts 4:27–28).
3. God is wise — because He planned salvation in a way that upholds both His justice and His mercy (Romans 3:26).
4. God is merciful and loving — because He sent His Son to save sinners (John 3:16; Romans 5:8, 1 John 4:9–10 ).
5. God is gracious and forgiving — because in Christ we have redemption and the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace (Ephesians 1:7; Colossians 2:13–14).
6. God is near — because through Christ we are adopted as His children and can call Him Father (Galatians 4:6).
7. God is faithful — because He keeps His promises and saves all who trust in Christ.
He promised to save, make us right, and give eternal life. By the radical transformation in our lives, He has done exactly that, showing that He always keeps His word. (Numbers 23:19, Romans 5:1–2, 2 Timothy 2:13, Titus 1:2, Hebrews 10:23 , Psalm 89:3 ).
Every aspect of salvation — forgiveness, reconciliation, adoption, eternal life — is God keeping His promises (2 Corinthians 1:20).
The cross and resurrection show that God faithfully accomplished what He promised: sin punished, sinners saved, and eternal life given to all who trust in Christ (Romans 5:1–2, 2 Timothy 2:13).
[Further, the Believers’ transformation and growth in holiness also show His promise at work: He said He would sanctify and preserve His people, and He does (Philippians 1:6, 1 Thessalonians 5:23–24), And will perfect us in Christ, & lead us into eternity to finally evermore be with our Savior, (Philippians 1:6, 1 Corinthians 1:8–9, 1 John 3:2, Matthew 25:21, John 17:24, Philippians 3:20–21, Revelation 21:1–4 ).]
To be saved IS to be reconciled to God (2 Corinthians 5:18) and to KNOW Him (John 17:3).
Salvation is not just being rescued from hell, but being reconciled to God through Christ. To be saved is to know God. While not perfectly or fully, but truly and personally. Jesus said, "This is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent" (John 17.3).
Salvation and knowing God go hand-in-hand.
• You can't have Christ as Savior without having Him as Lord.
• If you've truly been saved, the Spirit gives you a heart that begins to know, love, and trust God.
• That knowledge may start small and grow slowly, but it's always present.
To be saved is to know God. If you don't know Him at all, you aren't yet saved-but you may be being drawn to Him. That's why you need to examine it all. And true assurance is tied to that trust you placed in God.
Beyond the Gospel, we grow to know who God is (his character & nature), how he looks out for us, looks after us, lives and cares for us, is always with us, and always walks with us through hard times (that he uses for good to mature us/sanctified us as we walk in the Faith). This comes through reading and studying the Bible.
It should be a daily practice, since we need to daily have that light to our path, to lead us into holiness, renew our mind and be washed by the Word, so we stay close to God and grow.
The key is to be in the Word. Prayer follows in connection. This is how we have connection with God, beyond the Gospel call.
This study on God can help you come to know God better, and you grow closer to Him by reading & living life by the Word. So, when your life encounters struggles, suffering or joy... God is with you, grows you to endure and persevere and by it you mature. When times of glorifying God comes through being faithful, praise reports or thankfulness it strengthens your faith more, and shows your relationship to your Heavenly Father is growing closer and stronger.
The more you grow in understanding Scripture, the more you get to know God. But the key is trust.
The difference between knowing of God and personally knowing Him:
Knowing of God is like knowing facts about a person you’ve never met. You might know their name, their work, even their reputation — but there’s no relationship. Scripture says even demons know of God (James 2:19), but that’s not salvation/a personal relationship.
Personally knowing God is like being brought into His family. It’s relational, not just informational. Jesus defined eternal life this way: “that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent” (John 17:3). To know Him is to trust Him, love Him, and walk with Him as Father through Christ.
Jesus is God. He's not seperate. Yes he is both God, and now also man. He is the God man. He is of the Holy Trinity, our One God.
Colossians 1:15 – [Jesus] He is the image of the invisible God
John 14:7–9
If you know me, you know my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him. Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.”
Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father.” (same character, nature, essense).
John 1:18 – No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known. [Jesus]
John 10:14 – “I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me.”
John 10:27–28 – “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.”
God/Jesus doesn’t just know about His people; He personally knows all those whom He has redeemed.
His people don’t just know about Him. They know Him; they hear His voice and follow Him.
Eternal life flows out of this personal relationship — being known by Him, and knowing Him in return.
If you are saved, you KNOW God. You moved from knowing of Him to actually knowing Him, and are in a personal eternal relationship with Him.
You "getting to know Him more and more" comes from daily time in the Word. And from that comes greater trust, and following, and maturing.
As to sharing your Faith and growing, this will help with that.
You can live out that personal relationship day by day, more and more...and tell others about our wonderful Creator God & Savior.
Just do it. 😊✨️
God bless
