Scripture Reading: Psalm 119:97-104

Companions of Knowledge

Intro.

1. Without knowledge of God and His truth we will be destroyed by sin, Hosea 4:6.

a. Fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, Prov. 1:7; knowledge of the Holy One is understanding, Prov. 9:10.

b. John the forerunner gave "knowledge of salvation to Israel by the remission of sins", Lk. 1:77.

c. Jesus exalted knowledge…of truth, Jno. 8:31-32 (His word).

2. Knowledge (gnōsis) is more than the accumulation of information.

a. Knowledge and wisdom of the world brings death, 1 Cor. 1:20-21.

b. By itself, even knowledge of the Bible is of no particular advantage, and potentially dangerous, 1 Tim. 6:20-21.

c. We must "learn Christ", not the wisdom of men (Matt. 11:29; Eph. 4:20).

3. Numerous companions of knowledge presented in God's word, without which knowledge becomes useless and even detrimental.

I. COMPANIONS OF KNOWLEDGE.

A. Truth, 1 Tim. 2:3-4.

1. The will (determination) to know is crucial to knowing truth, cf. Jno. 7:16-17.

2. Knowing the truth is essential for salvation, Jno. 8:32.

3. The gospel, Mk. 16:15-16; Rom. 1:16.

4. cf. Ethiopian: Understood through teaching, Acts 8:28-34.

5. Escape corruption in the world, 2 Pet. 2:20 (1:3-4).

6. We must be committed to ability to know truth, Eph. 3:3-5.

B. Grace, 2 Pet. 3:18.

1. “Increase in the image and favor of God” (Adam Clarke).

2. Knowledge of Christ is essential for growth in grace, 2 Pet. 1:2; 1 Pet. 2:2-3.

3. God's grace teaches us to obey, thus increasing in God's grace toward us, Tit. 2:11-12.

4. Grace abounds through knowing and obeying the gospel of Christ.

C. Wisdom and Understanding, Col. 1:9 (Prov. 13:16).

1. "Wisdom is the principal thing; Therefore get wisdom. and in all your getting, get understanding." (Prov. 4:7)

2. Knowledge and spiritual discernment, Phil. 1:9-10.

a. The discernment that makes information useful and beneficial.

b. Skill using the Scriptures to know good and evil, Heb. 5:11-14.

3. Knowledge and good works, Col. 1:10.

a. Must know the will of the Father to do His good works, Matt. 7:21-23.

b. Without knowledge of truth we could not walk in good works, Eph. 2:10.

c. Cf. the darkness of ignorance v. renewal of learning gospel, Eph.4:17-24.

D. Zeal, Rom. 10:2.

1. Zeal becomes a caricature of godliness (hypocritical) without knowledge of truth, Luke 11:42.

2. Knowledge void of zeal is intellectual but not transformative, Rom. 12:2.

E. Love, 1 Cor. 8:1-3.

1. Without love, knowledge leads to arrogance and disregard of others (context).

a. Possessing knowledge without being shaped by love means we are still ignorant! 8:2

b. What we know does not always translate into what we should do! How will it affect others? 8:4, 7, 9, 10-13

c. Love directs our use of knowledge to put the needs of others before ourselves.

2. Knowledge without love leads to fruitless accumulation of "insight" and "opinions" while generating doubt instead of guarding the word of truth, Acts 17:19-21, 32 (1 Tim. 6:20-21).

Conclusion

1. Knowledge + doing = God's blessing, Jno. 13:17 (Jas. 1:25).

2. Couple your knowledge of the truth with grace, wisdom (understanding and discernment), zeal and love.

3. Live by faith and know the love of Christ, Eph. 3:17-19.

By: Joe R. Price

Posted: March 3, 2015