Want to know God?

Director of Missions
Carey Baptist Association

Do you really want to know God? If you have never had a personal experience with the cross, then you are alienated from your Creator, almighty God. You have two major problems that separate you from Him.

First, because you were “in Adam” at the time of your conception (1 Cor. 15:22a), you are without the life of God. Because you were born without the life of God, this deadness has permeated your whole being and experience.

Second, as a sinner, you have committed sins. Since you did not know that God alone could meet your needs, you began to live your life out of your deadness to God. You tried to get your needs met apart from God, which involved sinning.

Both of these problems were taken care of, in love, by God through the finished work of the cross. Your dead unrighteous identity as a sinner in Adam can be exchanged at the cross for a new identity. Your old man can be crucified with Christ (Rom. 6:6). Death can die at the cross.

At the same time, you can be united with Christ in His resurrection (Rom. 6:4b–5), and your new spirit will be birthed by the Holy Spirit (John 3:6). Your new spirit — the new man — will be filled with the life of Christ. So it will be said rightly that He is your life and is living His life in you (Phil. 1:21).

To know God in this real, personal way, simply admit you were born “in Adam,” are dead to God, are separated from Him and do not have Him in your life. Say that to God. Acknowledge you are a sinner and have sinned against your Creator, Holy God.

Ask God to forgive you of your sins because Jesus Christ died in your place and for your sins. Ask Jesus to come into your heart to give you His eternal life. Say that to God. When you do, the Holy Spirit will unite your spirit with Christ and you will forever be in union with Jesus.