I'm going to go ahead and get
started. I have no text to start out with this morning, but I
will be going to some text. My title is this. What must I
know to be saved? When this kind of question comes
up, and a lot of the answers that people usually give when
you give a question like this, it reminds me of these passages.
Proverbs 18, 13, he that answereth a matter before he hears it,
it is folly and shame unto him. And then of course in the New
Testament we have swift to hear, slow to speak. But let me ask
this question a little bit different way. What must I know for God
to save me? That sounds a little bit different,
don't it? We can answer this question from the preponderate
testimony of Scripture. But let's look at this today,
and may God, by His grace, enable us to see Jesus Christ in this.
Now, the question I ask is, what must I know? There's a difference
between saying what I know as opposed to saying who I know,
as others have pointed out. But think about the question
as it is asked. What or who must I know for God
to save me? That makes us think a little
bit more on this. I do want to be clear. There
are things that God's people know. We'll look at that to some
extent this morning. We have some examples in scripture
where Christ met them and it is clear what and who they knew. And we will take a look at a
couple of scriptures for that. There's nothing new here. We've
looked at them before, but let's look at them again in light of
this question. We have examples in scripture where Jesus Christ
did something for some, and let's see what they have said. Then
we have what God does, and the knowledge he possesses, and see
how that has a relationship to us. Joe just kind of went through
it. Then we'll wrap it up with how
do we know anything? Then from that, we can draw our
conclusion from what God says in his word. So first, things
God's people know. Let's go through some of these.
Just a few that I've come, went through in scripture and found,
but Romans 7, 8 says, for I know that in me that is in my flesh
dwelleth no good thing. For to will is present with me,
but how to perform that which is good I find not. So we see
here that the believer knows that their flesh has nothing
good to boast in and will never have anything to boast in. We
are not to boast in this flesh because this flesh can produce
nothing good. How can a good thing come from
a bad thing? It cannot happen and it does
not happen. But this is something we know.
We know these things as believers who have been taught of God.
Because of what God has taught us, we know that there is nothing
in this flesh that we can boast in. We find this out or we learn
or we know this more and more every day, don't we? So what
about this next one, Romans 3.19? Now we know that what thing soever
the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law, that every
mouth may be stopped and all the world may become guilty before
God. It is said right here that we
know that the law speaks to those who are under the law. We learn
this or we know this for the purpose of shutting our mouth.
God puts his law before our eyes and it tells us in this flesh
that we are guilty before him. So it causes us to shut our mouth
knowing that there is no boasting in ourselves. We are guilty before God. But
this says that because the law says what it says, we become
guilty before him. This is something we know when
we are taught of God. One more I will use. John 17,
3 says, and this is life eternal, that they might know thee the
only true God and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent. This says
that they might know. To know Jesus Christ is life
eternal because that's what it says right there. But we have
not always had eternal life. We are born dead in trespasses
and in sin. But as we have seen from the
scripture, there are some things that believers know, and I've
just covered a few, and there are more. I know we say sometimes,
and it's true, and I'm not disputing that it is, but it is not what
you know, but who you know. What I am looking at specifically,
though, is what must I know to be saved, or what must I know
for God to save me? Well, we've read it here several
times before, what man is by nature. What are we as we're
born from Adam? Man and his knowledge by nature,
Romans 3.11. There is none that understandeth.
There is none that seeketh after God. We by nature do not understand
God and we do not understand ourselves. We do not know how
God does what he does, nor do we understand who God is, both,
both of those. We do not know that we should
seek God, nor are we seeking God as we are born from it. We
in our natural state cannot know God. Natural man cannot know
God. Joseph already said it this morning.
1 Corinthians 2 14 says, but the natural man receiveth not
the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness unto
him. Neither can he know them, because they are spiritually
discerned. So by nature, I can neither know anything about God
nor know God at all. What do you think is encompassed
in the things of the Spirit of God? I would say it encompasses
God and all those things pertaining to God. We cannot know them. So what do we know? And yes,
even who do we know as we're born in Adam? We know nothing. And we know no one, not even
ourselves. Our problem is we cannot know
God nor the things of God, save by His Spirit. So really the
question we ought to ask is this, does God know me? He does know some, but not all. Because we've read that before,
that there will be some who will say unto Him, Lord, Lord, in
that day. He will profess to them, depart
from me ye that work iniquity. I never knew you. I'm concerned
about what I know and who I know. But it is more important that
he knows me. I pray God Almighty knows me.
So what does God know and what does Christ know? Just one place
I'm gonna give you here from John 7 verses 28 and 29. Then
cried Jesus in the temple as he tall, saying, you both know
me and you know whence I am, and I am not come of myself,
but he that sent me is true, whom ye know not. But I know
him, for I am from him, and he hath sent me. Jesus Christ is
the Son of God. Simply put, that means Jesus
Christ is God. But Jesus Christ knows God the
Father and he has always known God. But he has also known his
own. Those to whom God the Father
gave him from before the foundation of the world. In fact, he has
loved them with an everlasting love and proved it by redeeming
them on that tree. I am more concerned with what
God knows than what I know. As Joe has said before, we forget,
God remembers. So even if I do know something
in this flesh, I may forget what I know. Listen how this is said
in 2 Peter 1.12, and this is not the only place that we read
something like this, but 2 Peter 1.12 we read, Wherefore, I will
not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things,
though ye know them. and be established in the present
truth. We might know some things, but
it's always a good thing to be reminded of these things because
the fact is we do forget. God has meant it for us to be
reminded of all these things constantly. But what about this? Not only may I forget, but I
may know, I may deny what I know or who I know. So turn with me
to Matthew 26. I'm sure you all are very familiar
with this, Matthew 26. And I'm gonna read 69 through 74, Matthew
26. Matthew 26 verse 69. Now Peter
sat without in the palace. Now this is after Christ was
talking to him and he said, you're going to deny me three times.
Now Peter sat without in the palace and a damsel came unto
him saying, thou also wast with Jesus of Galilee. But he denied
before them all saying, I know not what thou sayest. And when
he was gone out into the porch, another maid saw him and said
unto them that were there, this fellow was also with Jesus of
Nazareth. And again, he denied with an
oath, I do not know the man. And after a while came unto him
they that stood by and said to Peter, surely thou also art one
of them for thy speech bereath thee. Then began he to curse
and to swear, saying, I know not the man, and immediately
the cock crewed. Amen. We do know some things. Yes, sir. But we are not to think
too highly of ourselves. Exactly. We may be shown that we will
deny Him if we are left to ourselves. Knowing things is important because
we are told that the Scripture is profitable. So it's profitable
for us to know what His Word says. In 2 Timothy 3.16 we read,
All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for
doctrine, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness.
Knowing Jesus Christ is important. We must know Him. If we do not
know Him, we will not see eternal life. Because as we've already
read, to know Him is eternal life. But even when we do know
some things, we know nothing yet as we ought to know it. 1
Corinthians 8, 2. And if any man think he knoweth
anything, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know it. How
many times in Scripture, and this is very well said of me,
I am discovering over and over again, but how many times do
we read in Scripture, do ye not know? You can look that up in
Scripture. It's in there quite a few times.
I would venture to say it's said more times than we know. I didn't
check, so I could be wrong about that. The fact remains that we
really, even as believers who have been around for some time,
do not know much. And what we do know, we don't
know as we ought. And we forget what we know and
may even deny what we know at times. But we know God knows all things
and in fact has purposed all things. 1 Corinthians 2.12, now
we have received not the spirit of the world, but the spirit
which is of God, that we might know the things that are freely
given to us, O God. If we know anything in part,
and the scripture is clear that we do know some things, we know
by the spirit of God. If we know anything in part,
it's by the spirit of God. His Spirit confirming to His
people what God has said in His Word. We know it because God
said it and He recorded it in His Word and His Spirit seals
that to our hearts. But we know that even God can
withhold things from us so that we do not know them. So that
tells me we must be given it by Jesus Christ to know both
things and Him. Luke 24, 15, and 16 we read,
and it come to pass that while they were communed together and
reasoned, Jesus himself drew near and went with them, but
their eyes were holding that they should not know him. Then
in verses 25 through 31, we read this of that same account. It
says, then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to
believe all that the prophets have spoken. Ought not Christ
to have suffered these things and to enter into his glory? And beginning at Moses and all
the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the
things concerning himself. And they drew nigh unto the village,
whither they went, and he made as though he would have gone
further. But they constrained him, saying, Abide with us, for
it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And he went
in to tarry with them. And it came to pass, as he sat
at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and break, and
gave to them. And their eyes were opened, and
they knew him, and he vanished out of their sight. If Jesus Christ is pleased to
withhold something from our eyes, from a brother or sister's eyes,
and he will do as he pleases. We have to do with him and we
pray for his will to be done. We must pray to him to give us
understanding. What is the reason or a reason
why Christ would withhold something from our seeing or our understanding?
What do we read in Luke about these two men in verse 32? And
they said one to another, did not our heart burn within us
while he talked with us by the way and while he opened to us
the scriptures? So that when we hear God's word
proclaimed, it will cause us to burn to know him. We will learn when Christ opens
the scripture to us. But let's get back to this question.
What must someone know to be saved? What must someone know
for God to save them? And I could have made this really
short, and I think I've already given the answer. But the answer
is nothing, and no one, not even themselves. It is only because
of who God knows that anyone will ever be saved. If God can
only save us once we know something or someone, then we will never
be saved. Thinking that I must know some
things or know him before he can save me is like saying God
has done all he can do and now it's up to you. But we know the scripture is
clear, that salvation is of the Lord and it is up to him. and
whether he has been pleased to know us, and because of that,
if he does know us, and that's what determines whether or not
we will know him, what do we read? We love him, and we do. We love him because he first
loved us. We know him, yes, we do know
him, but we only know him because he first knew us. When He comes
to us in power, then we begin to know Him and ourselves. And I did say we begin to know.
But what about some examples of those who Christ did something
for in Scripture? What kind of things did they
know? And I'm talking about those that He did something for them
spiritually. These examples are where Christ
did something physical to them, but the scripture is clear that
he did something for these spiritually. The man bore blind, so turn with
me to John nine, John nine. John nine and verses one through
seven for right now. And as Jesus passed by, he saw
a man which was blind from his birth. And his disciples asked
him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man or his parents,
that he was born blind? Jesus answered, Neither hath
this man sin, nor his parents, but that the works of God should
be made manifest in him. I must work the works of him
that sent me while it is day. The night cometh when no man
can work. As long as I am in the world,
I am the light of the world." When he had thus spoken, he spat
on the ground and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed
the eyes of the blind man with the clay, and said unto him,
Go wash in the pool of Siloam, which is by interpretation sent. He went his way therefore, and
washed, and came to see. We have here a man that was,
from what I can tell, was not seeking Christ at all. It was
Jesus Christ who came to this one. And Christ even tells us
that he was like this so that God's works might be made manifest. And I know something physical
was done to this man, but it was also spiritual because Christ
said, but that the works of God should be made manifest in him. But let's read further, verses
11 and 12. Verses 11 and 12. He answered
and said, a man that is called Jesus made clay and anointed
mine eyes and said unto me, go to the pool of Siloam and wash.
And I went and washed, and I received sight. Then said they unto him,
where is he? He said, I know not. He tells
of what was done and who it was by name that did this to him. But read verse 17. They say unto
the blind man again, and these are the Pharisees in the temple.
They say unto the blind man again, what sayest thou of him that
he hath opened thine eyes? He said, he is a prophet. This
man who was born blind but was one who could now see by the
power and working of Jesus Christ, this caused him to say, this
blind man said to them, he is a prophet. Verse 24 through 27. Then again called they the man
that was blind and said unto him, give God the praise. We know that this man is a sinner.
He answered and said, whether he be a sinner or no, I know
not. One thing I know, that whereas
I was blind, now I see. Then said they to him again,
what did he to thee? How opened he thine eyes? He answered them, I have told
you already and you did not hear, wherefore would ye hear it again?
Will ye also be his disciples? He answered these Pharisees and
told them that he did not know whether Jesus Christ was a sinner
or not. He was not lying necessarily,
but I do think he was being a little bit smart aleck with them, these
Pharisees, because of what we read next. Did he know some things
now? He did know some things, read
29 through 33. We know that God spake unto Moses, as for this
fellow, we know not from whence he is. The man answered and said
unto them, Why, herein is a marvellous thing, that ye know not from
whence he is, and yet he hath opened mine eyes. Now we know
that God heareth not sinners, but if any man be a worshipper
of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth. Since the world began,
was it not heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was
born blind? If this man were not of God,
he could do nothing. This man knew, and he knew this
because of what Jesus Christ did to him. But this man knew
that Jesus Christ was of God. I don't think he knew all there
was to know, nor do we know all there is to know. Although he
has given up most of us sight for years. But there's one thing
that all those Jesus Christ does something in that they will be
brought to know, and that by Jesus Christ through his gospel,
verses 35 through 38. Jesus heard that they had cast
him out, and when he had found him, he said unto him, Dost thou
believe on the Son of God? He answered and said, who is
he, Lord, that I might believe on him? And Jesus said unto him,
thou hast both seen him, and it is he that talketh with thee. And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshiped him. Amen. Christ will come to us, and he
will teach us of himself. Yes, sir. One may know more than
another one does. at any given time, but it will
be Jesus Christ through his gospel and by his spirit that will teach
us of himself. We will begin to know some things
when God begins his work. Let's look at one more, and this
is very familiar to you, so turn with me to Acts 9. Acts 9. Acts 9, verses 1 through 6. Acts 9 verses 1-6, And Saul,
yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples
of the Lord, went unto the high priest, and desired of him letters
to Damascus, to the synagogues, that if any be found this way,
whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto
Jerusalem. And as he journeyed, he came
near Damascus. And suddenly there shined round
about him a light from heaven. And he fell to the earth and
heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou
me? And he said, who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus
whom thou persecutest. It is hard for thee to kick against
the pricks. And he, trembling and astonished,
said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto
him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what
thou must do. Saul, who Jesus Christ called
by the name given him of Jesus Christ, which is the apostle
Paul, is made so by the will of God. But this Saul, when Jesus
Christ was doing something in him, did not know who it was
that was Lord. And he had been persecuting this
one for a long time. But when Christ asked him, why
persecutest thou me? He said to Christ, who art thou
Lord? You mean the apostle Paul saw
at this time, did not know who Christ was when Christ did something
for him? Not at first. Now the whole point
of Jesus Christ doing something in us is for the purpose that
we might know Him. But by nature we do not know
anything that is of God and we cannot know anything unless Christ
does something in us. When Christ calls someone, they
will hear his voice and they will respond. Some may know more
than others, but they will know the voice of their master. John 10, 14, 14. I am the good shepherd and know
my sheep, Joe, and am known of mine. And then John 10, 27. My sheep hear my voice and I
know them and they follow me. When Christ does something for
an individual, then they are made to desire to know some things. What did this one who was Saul,
now named Paul, say to us in 1 Corinthians 2, 2? For I determined
not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ and Him crucified. We do not know all there is to
know about Jesus Christ and Him crucified, but it is the only
thing worth knowing, and it is the one thing that we desire
to know. Anything else He might teach
us is only because of who He is and what He has done. Any
doctrine we know will be glorious and helpful to us because we
know it is the Lord who is the doctrine. You heard some say,
and it's true, you can believe in election, but not believe
in the God who elected. What does it say about those
who are not one of His? What is it that they do? Titus
1.16, they profess that they know God, but in works they deny
Him, being abominable and disobedient unto every good work, reprobate. But once God has done something
for us, we do begin to know some things. He must reveal it, and
he does this in the gospel. But we are not proud in what
we do know. We're not to be proud in what
we do know. We can be, because if we know anything, it has been
given to us to know these things. We still know nothing as we ought
to know it. But what are some things that we do begin to know?
So let's go through some more here of things that we do begin
to know. John 8, 32, and I'm gonna read a lot so you don't
need to turn to him. John 8, 32, and ye shall know
the truth, and the truth shall make you free. Romans 8, 28. And we know that all things work
together for good to them that love God, to them who are the
called according to his purpose. 1 Corinthians 13, nine, for we
know in part and we prophesy in part. Verse 12 of 1 Corinthians
13, for now we see through a glass darkly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then
shall I know even also as I am known. Philippians 3.10, I got
a lot of them. So, that I may know him and the
power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings
being made conformable unto his death. Second Timothy 1.12, for
the which cause I also suffer these things, nevertheless I
am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded
that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him
against that day. First John 2.20. But ye have
an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things. 21 I have not written unto you,
because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that
no lie is of the truth. 1 John 3 2 Beloved, now are we
the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall
be. But we know that when he shall appear, we shall be like
him, for we shall see him like he is. 1 John 3, 14, We know
that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the
brethren. He that loveth not his brother
abideth in death. 1 John 4, 2, Hereby know ye the
Spirit of God. Every spirit that confesses that
Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God. Verse John 4, 6, we
are of God. He that knoweth God, heareth
us. He that is not of God, heareth
not us. Hereby know we the spirit of
truth and the spirit of error. And last one, verse John 5, 13.
These things have I written unto you that ye believe on the name
of the Son of God, that ye may know that ye have eternal life,
and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. What
must I know to be saved? What must I know for God to save
me? There is no doubt that we must
know Jesus Christ and believe on him. And we also know we cannot
believe on him of whom we have not heard. We must have the gospel
sent to us by a preacher for us to know him. But before God
saves us, before he works a work in us, we know nothing. But God is to be thanked that
although we are born dead in trespasses and in sin, knowing
nothing, we shall by His power come to know and to see who Jesus
Christ is and what He has done. Thank God above that He knows
us. Amen. Dear old God, may these
words comfort us, dear Lord, of you, dear Lord. Be with all
of your people, dear Lord, out there, and comfort them with
your word of yourself, dear Lord. May it be that we all are gathered
around to hear of you in all these things we ask in Christ's
name, amen.