Okay, I want to read one verse from Galatians chapter four for this morning, verse nine, where Paul writing to the churches of Galatia and of course to us as well says, he is of course continuing, but he says, but now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, How turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire to be in bondage?

Now I plan on speaking from this verse for a few Sundays, but for this morning, my title is this, and it is my subject. Being known of God supersedes knowing God. Now that is true, clearly from our text when Paul says, after that ye have known God, and then the wording is, or rather. The wording is not and, but, along that line. It is, or rather, are known of God.

Now, in this verse, Paul clearly emphasizes that being known of God supersedes knowing God. But having said that, and knowing the propensity of our human flesh to take God's holy word and twist it to its own design, no matter how noble that design may seem to the flesh. I want to deal with this truth, but I have to say a couple things.

First of all, we must be careful because that being known of God since knowing God, I'm sorry, since being known of God supersedes knowing God, let us never think that knowing God is not vital. Okay? There is at least one denomination, and not all of them, but one denomination that has fallen into that pit of, since there is the election and the predestination, since there is this superseding of God knowing us, that it supersedes our knowing God, that it really doesn't matter whether we know God in this life or not, and such is just not the case.

This, I want us to deal with this truth. Now I realize it is unknown and it's disregarded by many in professed Christianity. All they can talk about is what men do for God. Whether it's proper thing, that is believe in Christ, repentance toward God, faith toward the Lord Jesus Christ, that they do not seem to comprehend, to be able to lay hold of the fact that being known of God supersedes all things. It's not what we do for God that matters. It is what God does for us that matters. All that we do for God is based upon the fact of what he has done, and I can say is doing for us.

But knowing God, or rather, as Paul says, being known of God, both are vital and well dealt with throughout the scriptures. This passage cannot be and should not be isolated from all other scripture. First of all, I'll just deal with those two things, knowing God, but rather being known of God.

First of all, knowing God is vital, according to our Lord Jesus Christ himself. And if he says it in one place, that makes it so. Any other scripture that you and I read that we seem to think, that we think seems to contradict what I'm about to read from the very lips of our Lord Jesus Christ himself, then we've got it wrong. He states these words in John 17 verse three. And this is life eternal, that they, who's this they? Those that the father gave to him to give eternal life to. Gave him power over all flesh that he should give eternal life to the ones God gave him. And he prayed these words to the father. And this is life eternal, that they might know thee. It is vital, he said so, that they might know thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. So we see there are two things in here, or rather, more appropriately, two persons here that are to be known in eternal life. That's the only true God, and Jesus Christ. That is, we cannot know God apart from Christ, and if we know Christ as he truly is, then we know God, the one true God. So first of all, again, knowing God is vital. It's vital by Christ's own words.

This knowing God is vital and it is distinct from our flesh knowledge, where the apostle, you remember the apostle Paul wrote these words, it's recorded in 2 Corinthians 5 verse 16, and he said, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more. This is a, as I said, a distinct knowledge. It is distinct from our flesh knowledge of Christ. I could spend hours on that.

Here's the third thing. This God wrought, and I say it because of our last point, this God wrought as opposed to a flesh wrought. Let me stop for a moment. How many thousands of people have been deceived by lying preachers that they come forward and make some profession of faith and it's all an act of the flesh and not an act of God? They don't know the difference. They don't know the difference. I'm sure they are sincere, well-meaning individuals, but they have been misled by lying preachers.

This God-wrought, as opposed to a flesh-wrought, this God-wrought knowledge is not in us as we are born. And you know this, but I wanna read it, 1 Corinthians chapter two, and listen to what Paul wrote to the church at Corinth, and let me find just the one verse for the sake of time. 2 Corinthians chapter two and verse 14. But the natural man, receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God. This lets me know that before any man or woman ever knows anything that is of any true spiritual import, God Almighty must make them into something they are not by nature. You see it? But the natural man, and I do like, he didn't say it yesterday, but he said it before, Darwin Pruitt one time said this, he said, we are natural men. Adam was not a natural man. He was created upright, and God called him good, but he fell. We didn't fall. We fell in him. Our fall took place then. It's natural for us. Do you see that? It wasn't natural for Adam. He fell into this natural state. We're conceived and born in it. That's us.

But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness unto him, neither can he, see it right there, know them. See it? Neither can he know them. Why? Because they are spiritually laid hold of, discerned. understood, comprehended. This scripture's clear. If God don't work for me first, I'll never do anything truly spiritual toward Him.

So remember, knowing God is vital because Christ said so. Knowing God is vital and it is distinct from our flesh knowledge. Knowing God is a God-wrought knowledge. It's something that doesn't well up in us. We don't work it up in us. It must be wrought in us by the power of the Spirit of God.

And here's the third thing. Turn to Jeremiah. Give you just a moment if you're following along. Give myself a moment to find it, Jeremiah chapter nine. There's just a couple verses there I want to read. Jeremiah chapter nine. Think of this, this knowing God, don't you all, our knowing God now. This knowing God is vital because this knowledge, this knowledge of God is God's delight. That's why it's necessary. That's why it's vital. Not because God was under some rule or law that he must engage in. It delights God. Look at what God told Jeremiah, Jeremiah 9, verses 23 and 24. Thus saith God. the Lord, let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches, but let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me.

You see that? You see that? It's all right to praise God for knowing him. for understanding at least to some degree who he is, is it? But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the Lord which exercise, not offers, not appropriates, not makes available, but that which exercise loving kindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth. He exercised it. God's never tried to do anything when it comes to spiritual things for his people. Never. Look, in righteousness, in the earth, look.

Now here's what I mentioned. For in these things I delight, saith the Lord. Now Joe, if it makes God happy, It ought to make me happy too. In other words, let me put it this way. Since it does delight God, I ought to be glad about it. Glad about it. So we see that.

As I said, let us never give place to any thought that since being known of God supersedes knowing God. Let us never give place to the thought that our knowing God is unnecessary. Banish the thought. Some say, well, at least the elect will know him in glory. If you don't know him now, you'll never make it to glory. That glory to come. You never will. You never will.

Someone says, what about unborn children? God will do for them, or I will say, God will have to do for them. I'm of the opinion he does, but that's my opinion. God will have to do for them exactly what he did for John the Baptist, even in their mother's womb. Give them the spirit of God. to whereby they could even jump with rejoicing in their mother's womb at the declaration of Jesus Christ. Isn't that what happened to John the Baptist?

So again, let us never give place to any thought that since being known of God supersedes knowing God. And it does. But that does not mean knowing God is not vital. It's not just an extra for some of God's people, it is vital for all of God's people. Christ declared it so. He declared that knowing God, knowing him, and remember to know what? This is life eternal. That they might know thee, the only true God, and, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

Okay, now here, in this passage that we're in, Galatians chapter four, verse nine, nevertheless, even though what I have just said to you is absolutely true and vital, right? We've seen that just, Tommy, just in these few passages in these past few moments. Knowing God is vital. Yet Paul says, but now, after that ye have known God, or rather, are known of God. Here in this passage, the superseding glory of God knowing me, of God knowing you, is at the forefront.

Now Paul doesn't deal with it here other than one statement. And his statement is this. I am afraid of you, lest I bestow labor upon you in vain. Now here's where this thing matters. If all I do is I know God, if that's all there is, if this is my work, my effort, my mustering this up, then it may well be that God did not know me. And I may perish. Did not our Lord himself say to some folks, and I'm jumping ahead a little bit, to some folks he said this, I never knew you. Now they knew him. Did they not? They knew him. They preached in his name. They cast out devils in his name. They did many wonderful works in his name. What was the problem? Not their knowing or that they didn't know correctly. Nowhere does it say they didn't know him correctly. God did not know them. Is that not what he said? He never criticized what they said they knew or did. He said, I did not know you. Now again, so I say, here's the second thing. Being known of God supersedes all.

Here's number one, turn to second, Timothy chapter two. If you're following along, and I want to read these words. Now, I'm not trying to, Joe, I'm not trying to take this from the doctrinal stance of start from the beginning and work my way to the end. I'm just gonna give you some verses here about God's knowing us and how it supersedes everything else. Being known of God supersedes all. God knows his people, his elect, his loved ones, in spite of what we might see about them.

Now, what Paul says that to Timothy, 2 Timothy chapter two, verse 14. just for some context. Of these things, put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers. So what we say does matter. Isn't that what that says? What we say does matter. Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth, but shun profane and vain babblings. And how much of that do you hear if you listen to a lot of men preach today? For they, now here's the problem with it, for they will increase unto more ungodliness. What you hear and pay heed to will affect how you conduct yourself. Okay? And their word will eat as doth a cancer. The old English word here is canker. Of whom, and now Paul names a couple of them that he knew were causing this trouble. Of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus, who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already, and overthrow the faith of some. And my first question when I read that, it still is today, and overthrow the faith of some, then what about these poor folk? Right? If my faith is over, what about me, Joe?

Nevertheless, the foundation of God standeth sure. Having this seal, the Lord knoweth them that are his. And some of them say, that sounds like we have to leave it all in God's hands. That's the only place to leave it. Do you see what I try to make sure you're saved? I will ignore myself. My responsibility is not to get up here to preach in a way that makes you sure that you're saved. I'm preaching to myself first. Do I really believe God? Look, nevertheless, the foundation of God stand assured, having this seal, the Lord knoweth them that are his. So what is our instruction in this? and let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from such kind of doctrine as Hymenaeus and Philetus tricked you into. Do you see that? Turn from it. Just turn from it. Being known of God supersedes all because he's the only one that really knows. He's the only one that really knows.

Now here's a second thought. And I've mentioned it, but turn to Matthew chapter seven, and you're aware of this. I'm just reminding us of what's been in the word for hundreds of years. God does not know all people. Now, that very statement, and I've mentioned it, as I said, And then, Matthew 7, verse 23, this is Christ speaking about something that he will say in the future, at the judgment, I take it, Joe, that that's what this is here, at the judgment. And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you. That lets me know a couple things. One thing, that this knowledge is more than just precise. It's more than just comprehension or recognition. He knew who these people were, but he did not know them. that lets me know that this word no here is much deeper than just physical knowledge. God, even Joe God the son, is omniscient. He knows all things. He knows all people. He knows all events in that sense, but he does not know everyone. Both are true at the same time, do you see it?

And then will I profess unto them, not depart from me, ye that work iniquity, I never knew you. Let's get the order right, because being known of God supersedes all else. I never knew you. Depart from me, ye that work iniquity. Someone says that scares me. It ought to. It ought to. It ought to. Somebody says, what's the answer? Simply put, by our Lord, and I will just sum it all up. There's two foundations. You better make sure you're on the right one. That's what he says, verses 24 all the way through verse 29. There's two foundations. Both of these men that he speaks of understood a need. built a house toward that need, but their problem was one built his house on what? Sand. Another one built his house on what? A rock. That's the difference. Everything else looked the same, Joe. It didn't say the one guy's house on the sand was a bad house. It was probably a fine house, but its foundation was shifting sand.

Now, I don't have to say let that seek in. If that ain't already sunk in, you don't know God. But if that seeks in, if that makes sense to you, then just maybe, Joe, just maybe I know God. Just maybe we know God. So remember, God does not know all people.

Now turn to Romans chapter eight. Again, all familiar to you. I'm not trying to wax theologically The word would be confounding because when some men preach, I realize that most folks don't understand what they're saying. Now listen, I'm not trying to be mean, and believe you me, I've been there, I've found myself being the preacher doing what I'm right now about to point my finger at, Joe. But trying to use big theological words, most people don't understand them, Ellen. And it's not helping them at all. The only thing it does is look at me. You get me?

Okay, listen to me. Here's the third thing. Remember, being known of God supersedes all. Why? Because God's the only one that really knows. Remember, he's the one that wrote the book in the life, wrote our names in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. Mac, he don't let us look at that book. He says, you're forced by my own purpose of will to look at this book. and find the manifestations of whose names are written in that book. That's what he says. Remember, God knows his people. God does not know all people. And God knows those that God does know. Let me state that correctly. Those God knows in that special, distinct relationship of knowledge, right? Because remember, he said, I never knew some people, right? So men can argue all day long about the word no. We know that means something special, right? Something distinct. Those God knows in that special, distinct relationship in Christ. God has always thus known them and blessed them.

Romans 8, 28, and we know that all things work together for good. We know it. We don't always understand it. and we don't always conduct ourselves in light of it. But we know it, don't we? Now come on, those of us who know him, we know it. And we know that all things work together for good to them that, here's that specific people, Joe, that distinct relationship to them that love God. But who in the world is that? to them who are the called according to his purpose, for whom he did foreknow. You see that? So if God ever does know me in this sense, he had to have always known me in that sense, because the people that he knows in that sense, he foreknew them in that sense. Do you see that? You see that?

For whom he did for, no, he also did predestinate for what purpose? Not to go to heaven. No, no. He did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his son. You see, the reason people really hate predestination is because they really don't want to be like Christ. They won't say it, but that's why. because they know if they read the Bible, predestination, the book never says some are predestinated to heaven, some are predestinated to hell. Those that are under God's wrath are fitted to destruction. Those who are going to glory are aforeprepared unto glory.

Predestination is God's purpose to make those he foreknew like his son. And if you don't wanna be like Jesus, don't get mad that God did not foreknow and predestinate you. That's what it says, Joe. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his son, that he, that is the son, might be the firstborn among many brethren. And it's brethren. And we'll say it in a natural way. We're all of the same bloodline. His blood shed on Calvary line. You see it? That he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

And I think Joe's already mentioned it this morning. That's the amazing, he's not ashamed to call us blood kin. Brethren, right? Blood kin. Not through physical generation, but through cross satisfaction. through Him bleeding out on that tree, dying under the judgment of God.

Look, moreover, whom He did predestinate, them He also called. Called. So that's why I'm saying that knowing God, because He calls us to what? To know Him. This is life eternal, that God gives life eternal for what reason? Not just to go to heaven, you see? But to know the true and living God. And Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent, moreover, whom he did predestinate, them he also called, and whom he called, them he also justified, and them he also justified, he glorified.

So if I ever want the glory, it had to start with God foreknowing me. Doesn't it? Because this is, as some have said, a chain that cannot be broken. Take any link out of the chain and you don't have anything. anything. Again, as I said, God knows his people, his elect, his loved ones, and he's the only one that truly knows them in that way. God does not know all people. And those that God does know, God always, always brings them to this blessing because he foreknew them and predestinated them. Therefore he will call them and he will glorify them.

What shall we say to these things? I'll put it this way. Praise God Almighty. Praise God Almighty.

Jeremiah even knew this. Jeremiah chapter one, back to Jeremiah again. And if I get there before you do, I'll read it. If I don't, you wait on me. Jeremiah chapter one, two verses. Verse four, then the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, before I formed thee in the belly, I knew thee. Do you see that? Somebody says, I don't know about that, preacher, but I do. If you believe God, you know that. That's what it says. whether you can make sense of it and put it all in its proper A, B, C form. If you believe God, Mac, you'll believe what God told Jeremiah. Before I formed thee in the belly, I knew thee, and before thou camest forth out of the womb, I, whoa, sanctified thee. So when did my sanctification really begin? When I was still in the belly. Even yea, in God's mind, before I even was in the belly. Do you see that? Now how more sanctified can you get than that? Everything else that flows is not adding sanctification, it is the outflowing of the sanctification God already wrought in Christ before the world was.

Now when these people say they believe about God's sovereignty in the election, no they don't really. If they talk about any other sanctification than that right there. I sanctify thee and I ordain thee a prophet unto the nations. And then we usually are just like Isaiah, Lord, I can't even speak right. It ain't up to us, right? It don't depend upon us. It depends upon him who knew us even before we ever were formed in the womb.

Now if that, as one preacher said, if that don't make you a shouting Baptist at all too. This knowledge, this God knowledge, and let me clarify, remember what we're talking about here, God's knowledge of us, that's what we're talking, because it supersedes everything else. I know I'm going over a little, but look at, turn to John 10. Sometimes, you see, when we read these passages, we know what it's saying, but we don't always see some of the depth that's in these passages. This knowledge of God, of his elect, connects Christ's death for us and our knowing him. It came first because it's what decreed the rest of it.

Look at what our Lord himself said. John 10 verse 11 for context. I am the good shepherd, the good shepherd, wait a minute, giveth his life for the sheep. Do you see it? But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth, and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. And how many of us were under false religion before God ever saved us? Now maybe not everybody, but some of us were, and the wolf caught us, didn't he? We got scattered everywhere, but aren't you glad it don't depend upon the wolf or the sheep? That's the whole point of what Christ says here.

Look, the hiring fleeth because he isn't hiring, and careth not for the sheep. I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep. Do you see it? Then, he says, and am known of mine. We cannot switch that order. Any knowledge of Christ I don't wanna put it this way, but bear with me. Any knowledge of Christ that preceded Christ's knowledge of you means he never knew you, and then you're back to Matthew chapter seven. Can you see that? Any knowledge of Christ that preceded his knowledge of you, you're right back to chapter of Matthew where he said, I never knew you because no one ever knows him unless he first knows them. He said so, and he goes on, remember I told you. This God knowledge of his elect connects Christ's death for us and our knowing him.

I am the good shepherd and know my sheep and am known of mine. As the father knoweth me, even so I know the father. And notice he didn't say, and I know the sheep. He said, and I laid down my life for the sheep. See that? That's what connected our, God's knowing him, him knowing the Father, him knowing us, thus he laid down his life for the sheep. You see it? For other sheep I have which are not of this fold, them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice, and there shall be one fold and one shepherd, therefore doth my Father love me. Now here it is. Look at, because I laid down my life. Who did he do that for? The sheep, he said. That I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my father.

So somewhere along the line, and that's probably not the best way to even say it. I'm just trying to use human language. Somewhere along the line, in eternity, we know the psalmist speaks of it, and I'll summarize, that'll be the best way to explain it. Ask of me, the father said to the son, ask of me and I will give you the heathen for thine inheritance. He evidently did. Didn't he? Because here we are. Here we are. You see it? This is the way it always be when you preach this message.

There was a division therefore among the Jews for these things. Not everybody's gonna get it. Are they? Not everybody's gonna get it. So then, let's just go on. So then, who's knowing who comes first? Which really matters? His knowing me. Because if he does not and did not ever foreknow me, it don't matter how much I know him. I will hear him say, I never knew you. That's frightening.

Who's knowing who determines the blessing? Religion turns it right around, do they not? I'm not building a straw man. They say God's done all he can do and now it's up to you. I don't care if they're talking about the death of Christ or the election. They're just taking the truth of God and switching it right around. They would have rather have Paul saying, but after that ye are known of God, or rather that ye knew God. Mm-mm, that's not what he said, is it? You gotta get the order correct. God is the one who determines the blessing. If I, if you know him, then that means all praise and honor has to go to who? Him. because just as the book says we love him because he first loved us, I can say this, I know him because he first knew me. Amen.

Heavenly Father, we are so forgetful of these things. These things encourage us when we hear them, but we're soon thinking about something else, but Lord, remind us of them. in your good time when it's needed, in those times when we begin to see the wrong thing or the wrong person. Lord, remind us of, not my words, but your truth, your word, in Christ's name, amen.