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“ Summary, Part 3 (final) ” C. WE ARE PROMISED THE BLESSING OF THE FUTURE RESURRECTION. Paul had verse 2 in mind at 1 CORINTHIANS 15:4. CLOSING OBSERVATIONS: 1. THE GREAT GOAL OF THE CHRISTIAN LIFE MAY BE SUMMED UP AS GROWING IN THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD. JEREMIAH 31:34: “Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of the, saith the LORD.” PHILIPPIANS 3:10: Paul’s goal. 2. GOD DESIRES US TO KNOW HIM BETTER AND HAS PROVIDED US THE MEANS TO THAT END. a) bible reading: careful reading and meditation; b) public preaching: to be received in prayer, with the intent of receiving a blessing; c) public worship: to hold our understanding; d) catechisms and confessions: to hold our doctrine; e) the brethren: for fellowship and edification. 3. LET US VIEW TRIALS AS A MEANS BY WHICH GOD TEACHES US MORE ABOUT HIMSELF. God’s end to our trials is to return to Him; not to merely turn from sin, but toward Him. In darkness, hold to the promise of light and it will be sen. But we must press on to know the Lord.
Ian Migala (1/9/2014)
from Minneapolis, Minnesota
“ Summary, Part 2 ” A. THOSE WHO STRIVE TO GROW IN THEIR KNOWLEDGE OF THE LORD SEEK HIM EARNESTLY. We want to be like Him, not just know things about Him. We should give ourselves as completely as we would to a desired spouse. B. THOSE WHO STRIVE TO GROW IN THEIR KNOWLEDGE OF THE LORD SEEK HIM PENITENTLY. Remember the context of the source text: as we know Him, we know ourselves, and we should know our fallen state. The Hebrews looked to Assyria for help, but only God’s affliction by them could give them what they needed (cf. HOSEA 5:15). C. THOSE WHO STRIVE TO GROW IN THEIR KNOWLEDGE OF THE LORD SEEK HIM EXPECTANTLY. Seekers are finders (HOSEA 6:1-2). The bold Christian confesses his sins and savors the cleanness of God’s forgiveness. III. WE ARE PROMISED SPECIAL BLESSINGS IF WE STRIVE TO BETTER KNOW THE LORD. A. WE ARE PROMISED THE BLESSING OF GOD’S GRACIOUS PRESENCE. ISAIAH 57:15: God dwells with the humble and contrite. MATTHEW 5:4: Holy mourning brings divine comfort. Cf. PSALM 34:18. B. WE ARE PROMISED THE BLESSING OF CONTINUAL SPIRITUAL RENEWAL (verses 2-3). Repentance is a means to an end, turning us from sin to Christ. Though it saps our strength, the result is spiritual nourishment. Otherwise, we will be stuck in a desert and wonder why we aren’t going anywhere.
Ian Migala (1/9/2014)
from Minneapolis, Minnesota
“ Summary, Part 1 ” God created us so that we might know Him. The message of the Bible is that of a reconciling God Who seeks the lost. Our needs have always been the same, and the answer to them has always been in the same place. But as we see in God’s dispatch of the Assyrians to rebellious Israel, His patience is not eternal. “Hosea” means “salvation”. HOSEA 5:15-6:3: I. WE MUST KNOW THE LORD. This is not unimportant. We all have knowledge of God by nature (ROMANS 1:18-21), both our own and in the external world. We know God by our conscience: we have a judicial faculty of knowing right and wrong. But the elect have specific revelation, which is God’s disclosure of grace. JEREMIAH 4:22: an indictment of Old Testament Hebrews who did not know God. JOHN 8:19: Jesus’ own indictment of the priests. 1 CORINTHIANS 1:21: belief begets knowledge. This knowledge is not just theoretical, but experiential. It grows out of us as we are sanctified. Not the agricultural imagery in HOSEA 6:3. PSALM 63:1: David’s righteous discontent with his lack of knowledge of God. Let us not be content until our knowledge of Christ is fully formed in us. II. We should strive to grow in our knowledge of the Lord.
