KnowledgeThe broad range of information held by a person; an attribute of God (Romans 11:33); what we need to know about God (Hosea 4:6). not built upon God's Word - the BibleThe books (Greek, "biblia" ) that are acknowledged as canonical (authoritative) by the early Christian Church. It includes both the books of the ancient Hebrew prophets and those of the apostolic witnesses to Jesus Christ. - will ultimately fail and disappear.
Who is the source of all right knowledge?
"For the LORD gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding" (Proverbs 2:6, New International Version).
God is the great Educator! In a real sense salvation is largely a matter of education. The world is filled with false values, so there is an obvious need to recapture biblical values. Reliable knowledge of these true values comes from only one source—God's Word, the Holy BibleThe books (Greek, "biblia" ) that are acknowledged as canonical (authoritative) by the early Christian Church. It includes both the books of the ancient Hebrew prophets and those of the apostolic witnesses to Jesus Christ.. God communicates His standards to us through the ScripturesThe divinely inspired writings of both the Old and New Testaments. The term Scripture is used in the New Testament to refer to both the Hebrew Bible (Luke 24:44-45) and the new apostolic writings accepted as inspired (2 Peter 3:16; 1 Timothy 5:18)..
Yet it must be said here that, although God's RevelationThe disclosure of God's Word and plan to mankind. In the Bible this refers to making obscure things clear; bringing hidden matters to light; causing especially called individuals to see, hear, perceive, know and understand the things of God; the unveiling of biblical mysteries (Romans 16:25)., the Holy BibleThe books (Greek, "biblia" ) that are acknowledged as canonical (authoritative) by the early Christian Church. It includes both the books of the ancient Hebrew prophets and those of the apostolic witnesses to Jesus Christ., is the foundation of all right knowledge, it does not contain all knowledge. Other useful fields of human knowledge may be built upon that sure and sound foundation.
All deceptive knowledge—knowledge not built upon God's Word—will ultimately fail and disappear.
What is one vital key to obtaining the knowledge of God?
"My son, if you receive my words, and treasure my commands within you, so that you incline your ear to wisdom, and apply your heart to understanding; yes, if you cry out for discernment, and lift up your voice for understanding, if you seek her as silver, and search for her as for hidden treasures; then you will understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God" (verses 1-5).
To treasure and earnestly seek God's way sums up the essence of this passage. Jesus Christ echoed this sublime principle in the Sermon on the Mount: "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled" (Matthew 5:6). The New TestamentThe 27 authoritative books of the apostolic writings: the four Gospels of Christ, Acts (a history), 21 apostolic letters and the book of Revelation. is built on the Old TestamentThose books that make up the Hebrew Bible generally accepted by Christians, Jews and to some extent Muslims. It contains a threefold division: the Law (the five books of Moses), the Prophets and the Writings., which in turn points forward to the New. The one is incomplete and inadequate without the other. King DavidKing of Israel, killed the giant Goliath with a sling and stones, a man after God's own heart, only turned from God in the matter of Uriah the Hittite (1 Kings 15:5), had an affair with Bathsheba, Messiah would come from line of David, main author of Psalms and highly musical. wrote that "all Your commandments are righteousness" (Psalm 119:172). Obedience and righteousness complement each other.
To obey God, what other quality do we desperately need?
"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge . . ." (Proverbs 1:7).
The fear of God is not the fear of the world or the fear of man, which "brings a snare" (Proverbs 29:25).
A major aspect of the fear of God is to trust and place your confidence in Him.
So often our fears are unnecessary. God tells us: "I, even I, am He who comforts you. Who are you that you should be afraid of a man who will die, and of the son of a man who will be made like grass? And you forget the LORD your Maker, who stretched out the heavens and laid the foundations of the earth" (Isaiah 51:12-13).
God is our Creator. He made us and our environment. We owe our very existence to Him. We should fear the consequences of ignoring His teachings, instructions and commandments revealed through His Word.
What group of people especially needs the fear of God?
"The proverbs of Solomon the son of DavidKing of Israel, killed the giant Goliath with a sling and stones, a man after God's own heart, only turned from God in the matter of Uriah the Hittite (1 Kings 15:5), had an affair with Bathsheba, Messiah would come from line of David, main author of Psalms and highly musical., king of Israel: To know wisdom and instruction, to perceive the words of understanding, to receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, judgment, and equity; to give prudence to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion" (Proverbs 1:1-4).
Our young men and women—the next generation—will soon shape the future. Only the sure knowledge of the BibleThe books (Greek, "biblia" ) that are acknowledged as canonical (authoritative) by the early Christian Church. It includes both the books of the ancient Hebrew prophets and those of the apostolic witnesses to Jesus Christ. can help them cope with the challenges of the new millennium. How thankful we should be that we and they have a reliable spiritual guide that was "written down for future generations" (Psalm 102:18, Revised English BibleThe books (Greek, "biblia" ) that are acknowledged as canonical (authoritative) by the early Christian Church. It includes both the books of the ancient Hebrew prophets and those of the apostolic witnesses to Jesus Christ.).
