Want to know God?

It is often stated that there are two basic ideas with which everyone must come to terms. First “there is a God.” Second “you are not Him.” If these two ideas are indeed true (and they are), then there are two crucial questions everyone must answer. First “what kind of god is this God?” Second “what does this God require of me?” The Bible answers both questions with great clarity. 

The Bible reveals to us that the one true and living God is the God who has created everything, rules over His creation and has most clearly revealed Himself in His Son, Jesus Christ. This is all good news.

Now comes the bad news and it’s really bad. God requires absolute perfection from each of us. Jesus said, “Be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect” (Matt. 5:48). I may not think that I am really bad, but I know with absolute certainty that I am not perfect. The awful reality is that I have not loved God with all my heart and do not love my fellow man as much as I love myself. Beyond that, I have said things that are not true, had impure thoughts, taken things that did not belong to me and my list of failings goes on and on. The Bible allows for no exceptions to the universal indictment “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23).

Thankfully it is our understanding of the bad news that prepares us for the greatest news of all. This good, loving and powerful God has provided everything that He requires of me through Jesus. He has forgiven my failings (my sin) through the blood of Jesus. Not only that, God gives to me the perfect record of Jesus. The good news is that through Jesus, I meet God’s requirement of perfection. The great transaction of the gospel is that on the cross of Calvary, Jesus received the punishment I deserve. Therefore, by faith, I can receive the blessings of His obedience.

There is a God and His requirement is that you trust in His crucified Son.

Would you trust Him as your Lord and Savior today? Would you turn from your sin and, by faith, claim the accomplishments of the life and death of Jesus?