God is a mystery for sure! For now we know in part what there is to know about God. Why is this so? Will we ever know God perfectly? These are the questions which I will explore in this blog post from a biblical point of view.

Who is God?

First of all, as we start our exploration of the Bible, let us get a basic grasp of who God is. “God” (Genesis 1:1) is the most common name given in the Bible to a divine Family also called “the Godhead” (Acts 17:29) in the Bible.

Now, the Godhead has three members and, No, there are not three Gods! Why? Because the members of the Godhead never contradict each other at any time, that is, we can say that they speak with one voice. Therefore, we can say, “there is one God.” Mark 12:32.

What are the names of these three Persons in the Godhead? Their names are “the Father” (Matthew 11:27), “the Son” (Psalm 2:12) also called Christ (Matthew 1:1), and “the Holy Spirit” (Psalm 51:11).

Each Person in the Godhead is “without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life.” Hebrews 7:3.

So, what is God like? An important point to grasp about God is that He is “God, that cannot lie” (Titus 1:2) and “God is love.” 1 John 4:8. That is to say, each member of the Godhead has a character of love that is identical to the character of the others, and this love is the only definition of true love in the universe.

OK! With this understanding of who God is, the question arises, Who is Jesus? The name Jesus was given to Christ when He was born as a baby boy on earth over 2,000 years ago.

That’s it! With this foundation, you are ready to understand all that the Bible has to say.

Our Bible Quotation of Focus

Here’s Our Bible quotation of focus for this post: “For now we see through a glass [mirror], darkly [dimly]; but then face to face [with God]: now I know [God] in part; but then shall I know [God] even as also I am known.” 1 Corinthians 13:12.

You may be wondering what is meant by “1 Corinthians 13:12.” It is what is called Bible notation which is a way of referencing the Bible. Now the Bible is a collection of books, where each book in the Bible consists of one or more chapters, and each chapter has numbered sections called verses. The quotation referred to as “1 Corinthians 13:12” is taken from the book titled 1 Corinthians in the Bible, the 13th chapter, and the 12^th verse of that book.

God’s Purpose in Creating Humanity

As it happened, “God said, Let us [God] make man [the human race] in our image [with a character of love like God’s character], after our likeness [with a form like God’s]: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man [the human race] in his own image [with a character of love like God’s character]…male and female created he [God] them.” Genesis 1:26, 27.

This first human pair was a man named Adam and a woman named Eve. “And the LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden [as a home]; and there he put the man [Adam, and the woman, Eve] whom he [God] had formed [created].” Genesis 2:8.

“And the LORD God…put him [and her] into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it [to tend to it].” Genesis 2:15. So, God Adam and Eve pleasant work to occupy their time.

“And God blessed them [Adam and Eve], and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish [fill] the earth.” Genesis 1:28.

Now God created the human race to learn from “the light of the knowledge of the glory [of the character] of God.” 2 Corinthians 4:6. They were to be “taught of God” (John 6:5) Himself and to grow up into “the…image [of God] from glory to glory [from one degree of reflecting God’s character of love to a higher degree].” 2 Corinthians 3:18.

In other words, the human race was to develop a character that more and more was a reflection of God’s own character of love.

Thus, God gave to humanity a model school where the Garden of Eden was the classroom, nature was the textbook, God, “the Creator” (Isaiah 40:28) Himself was the Instructor, and Adam and Eve the students.

So, God’s purpose was that, as the human family increased in numbers, they should establish other homes and schools like the one God had given to Adam and Eve. Thus, in the process of time, for all eternity in the future, the whole earth would be filled with people who studied “the wondrous works of God” (Job 37:14), thereby being fitted to more and more reflect God’s glorious character of love.

Why We Now Know in Part

As we have seen, Adam and Eve were created with a character of love and they were capable of learning more and more about God.

However, a change in character came when both Adam and Eve fell into sin, which is evil and wrongdoing. How could this be?

Well, there was a rebellion against God in heaven among the angels, led by an angel named “Lucifer” (Isaiah 14:12) who had the highest rank among the angels in heaven. And because Lucifer, “that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan” (Revelation 12:9) and his “evil angels” (Psalm 78:49) would not turn away from their sins, God cast them out of heaven.

Satan and his angels then roamed “the worlds” (Hebrews 1:2) in the universe in an effort to get the intelligent created beings there to join them in rebelling against God.

But Satan was unsuccessful in his evil scheme, except on the earth where Adam and Eve both yielded to Satan’s temptations to sin. Thus, Adam and Eve became sinners and, in accordance to God’s great law of heredity, all their descendants have inherited their disposition to sin and have become sinners themselves.

What happened to Adam and Eve, specifically? Both “became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.” Romans 1:21. Thus, Adam and Eve and the entire human race, “they are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge.” Jeremiah 4:22.

Essentially then, every human being in their natural condition, have no knowledge of God’s glorious character of love. Hence, God says, “If any man [person] think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know.” 1 Corinthians 8:2.

This is how humanity came to be such that they only know God in part. But wait, there is good news! It is possible for humanity to regain the original state of Adam and Eve when they were created and come to know God more and more. How? Continue reading and I will explain.

God Does Know Each Person

Now God says to all humanity, “I know the things that come into your mind, every one of them.” Ezekiel 11:5.

Hence, all human beings can say of themselves, “O LORD [God], thou hast searched me, and known me. Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.” Psalm 139:1, 2.

“Thou compassest [examine] my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether.” Psalm 139:3, 4.

So, God does know every human being intimately and thoroughly.

How Humanity Can Know God Now Even If Only in Part

As was said before, every human being can escape their sinful condition of a lack of knowledge of God in which they were born. How?

God says, “I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you [eternal] life and [eternal] death [which is annihilation], blessing and cursing: therefore choose [eternal] life, that…thou…may live [forever].” Deuteronomy 30:19.

Yes, it comes down to a matter of choice! God is willing to give us the gift of a change of character from selfishness to love, but we must be willing to accept this gift. This is where we must yield to the Holy Spirit so that we will be made willing. That’s it! If we refuse God’s gift, we will be annihilated by God because of our sins.

God Enables Us to Know Him: Justification

How do we receive God’s gift? Well, “God…sent him [Christ] to bless you [to bless every human being], in turning away every one of you from his iniquities [his wickedness].” Acts 3:26.

For then you will have “repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.” Acts 20:21. And when this is true of us, “the love of God is shed abroad [poured] in our hearts by the Holy Ghost [Holy Spirit] which is given unto us.” Romans 5:5.

The result is a change of heart from selfishness to love, giving us the capacity to know God who is love. This spiritual milestone is known as “justification” (Romans 4:25) and it includes the forgiveness of our past sins by God.

“Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons [children] of God: therefore the world [of those in their natural sinful condition] knoweth us not [does not know those transformed into a character of love by God, that is, those justified by God], because it knew him [Christ] not.” 1 John 3:1.

“Beloved, now are we [the justified] the sons [children] of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he [Christ] shall appear [whenHe shall return to the earth], we shall be like him [Christ in character]; for we shall see him [Christ] as he is. And every man [every person] that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he [Christ] is pure.” 1 John 3:2, 3.

Notice that we need to purify ourselves even when we have been “justified” (Romans 5:1) by God. Why? Because there is a second and final milestone to reach known as “sanctification.” 1 Corinthians 1:30.

God Perfects Us: Sanctification

The fact is that when we have been justified, God implants in us His divine nature, His gift of love, but He does not immediately take away our natural sinful nature. So, now we have two natures which are in constant conflict with each other. Again, Why?

The reason why is that God’s desire is “that I [God] may prove [test] them [the justified], whether they will walk in [live in accordance with] my law [of love], or no.” Exodus 16:4.

That is, God wants to ensure that the justified will never sin again. For this is the only way that God, “he will make an utter [complete] end [of sin in the universe]: [so that] affliction [sin] shall not rise up the second time [in the universe].” Nahum 1:9.

So then, when we have been “sanctified” (John 10:36), we shall have become sinless with the capacity to know God to the fullest extent possible before we get to heaven. But, even then, we only know God in part.

Sanctification: How God Teaches Us to Know Him

How do we get the victory over every sin and so become sanctified? Well, God says, “Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man [into the heart of any person], the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.” 1 Corinthians 2:9.

“But God hath revealed them unto us [the justified] by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man [person] knoweth the things of a man [person], save the spirit [mind] of man [the person] which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man [person], but the [Holy] Spirit of God.” 1 Corinthians 2:10, 11.

“Now we [the justified] have received, not the spirit of the world [which is the spirit of Satan], but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s [a person’s] wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost [Holy Spirit] teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.” 1 Corinthians 2:12, 13.

“But the natural [sinful] man [person] receiveth not the things of the [Holy] Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” 1 Corinthians 2:14.

So then, God teaches us to know Him through His Holy Spirit.

Sanctification: Satan Wars Against Our Getting to Know God

Now God says, “Finally, [you] my…[justified children], be strong in the Lord [God], and in the power of his might [to give you victory over sin]. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles [trickery] of the devil [Satan].” Ephesians 6:10, 11.

“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood [against human beings], but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the [spiritual] darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” Ephesians 6:12.

Thus, we see that Satan wars against our getting to know God. But if you “resist the devil [Satan]…he [Satan] will flee from you.” James 4:7.

Prayer a Spiritual Weapon

But the question arises, How do you resist Satan’s attempts to cause us not to know God? God gives us an answer.

God says all humanity can say of themselves in truth, “For though we walk in the [human] flesh, we do not war after [according to] the flesh [the physical body]: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal [worldly], but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds).” 2 Corinthians 10:3, 4.

“Casting down imaginations, and every high thing [every demon which are Satan and his evil angels] that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.” 2 Corinthians 10:5.

What does this mean? It means that we must pray sincerely to God for help in overcoming Satan’s temptations to sin. And then “when the enemy [Satan and his evil angels] shall come in like a flood [into our minds], the Spirit of the LORD [God] shall lift up a standard against him [shall chase the demons away from us].” Isaiah 59:19.

We see then that prayer is an effective spiritual weapon, through God, in defeating Satan’s efforts to cause us not to know God for ourselves.

Singing to God a Spiritual Weapon

Now in order to resist Satan, we must also “be filled with the [Holy] Spirit; speaking to yourselves in psalms [sacred songs] and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Ephesians 5:18-20.

Yes, singing spiritual songs to God is an effective spiritual weapon. For such songs fill the mind with holy thoughts and, thereby, casts out, through the power of God, the evil thoughts that Satan and his evil angels have placed in our minds.

Thus, we win the battle with Satan for our minds which should always retain the knowledge of God’s ways of love.

God’s Desire for Humanity to Know Him Face-to-Face

Now God says to every human being, “Having many things to write unto you, I [God] would not write with paper and ink [in the Bible]: but I [God] trust to come unto you, and speak face to face, that our joy may be full.” 2 John 1:12.

“I trust I shall shortly see thee, and we shall speak face to face. Peace be to thee.” 3 John 1:14.

Thus, God’s whole desire is for every human being to know Him face-to-face.

What Humanity Will Know in Eternity in the Future

The question arises, What will it be like to know God face-to-face? Again, God gives us an answer.

“Charity [love] never faileth [never ends]: but whether [where] there be prophecies, they shall fail [end]; whether there be [speaking in] tongues [speaking in other known languages], they shall cease; whether there be [partial] knowledge [of God], it shall vanish away.” 1 Corinthians 13:8.

What is prophecy? It is when someone is a “spokesman” (Exodus 4:16) for God, speaking words received from God which are a revelation of God’s will.

The gift of prophecy was given by God to guide every human being to their heavenly home. So, when the person does, in fact, get to heaven, there will no longer be the need for prophecy.

Likewise, the gift of speaking in tongues, that is, speaking in languages other than that which the speaker already knows, was given to the Christian church to help spread the good news that Jesus Christ saves from eternal death (annihilation), to the people of all languages in the world. But there will be no need of this gift in heaven.

“For we [the justified] know [God] in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect [the perfect revelation of God] is come [when Christ returns to the earth to take the saved among humanity to heaven], then that which is in part shall be done away.” 1 Corinthians 13:9, 10.

In other words, “when I was a child, I spake [spoke] as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man [an adult], I put away childish things.” 1 Corinthians 13:11. Thus, God likens the sanctified on earth as children, and the state of the sanctified in heaven as adulthood.

“For now we [the justified] see through a glass [mirror], darkly [dimly]; but then [when we are sanctified and we get to heaven, we are] face to face [with God]: now I [as one who is justified] know [God] in part; but then shall I [as one who is sanctified and residing in heaven] know [God] even as also I am known.” 1 Corinthians 13:12.

So then, this is what sanctified humanity will know of God in eternity in the future.

How Humanity Will Know God Without the Need of God’s Helping Grace

To all humanity, Thus “saith the LORD [God], I will put my law [of love] in their inward parts [in their minds], and write it in their hearts [if they will consent to this]; and [then I, God,] will be their God, and they shall be my people.” Jeremiah 31:33.

“And they shall teach no more every man [every person] his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD [God]: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD [God]: for I will forgive their iniquity [sins], and I will remember their sin no more.” Jeremiah 31:34.

In other words, the sanctified will be as if God’s law of love is “written with a pen of iron, and with the point of a diamond…graven [engraved] upon the table of their heart.” Jeremiah 17:1. That is, symbolically, “graven [engraved] with an iron pen and lead in the rock [of their hearts] for ever!” Job 19:24.

No longer then will the sanctified need the power of God, that is to say, God’s grace, to keep them from sinning, for they will know God and be settled into God’s way of love.

In the end, before the sanctified are taken to heaven, their sinful nature that is in constant conflict with their divine nature, will be taken away by God. Thus, they will be left with only God’s divine nature in them forever.

Humanity’s Joyful Life in Eternity in the Future

Now, “the ransomed of the LORD [God from Satan] shall…come to Zion [the holy city of God in heaven] with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.” Isaiah 35:10.

And God will move His throne to the earth. Then there on earth, “they shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat: for as the days of a tree are the days of my people, and mine elect [chosen] shall long enjoy the work of their hands.” Isaiah 65:22.

“For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD [God], as the waters cover the sea.” Habakkuk 2:14. And “in thy [God’s] presence is fulness of joy; at thy [God’s] right hand there are pleasures for evermore.” Psalm 16:11.

This then will be the joyful life of all those people saved by God to receive eternal life in eternity in the future.

An Eternity of Getting to Know God Better and Better

Throughout all eternity in the future, those people who receive eternal life from God “they shall be all taught of [by] God.” John 6:45.

For “the path of the just [righteous] is as the shining light, that shineth more and more.” Proverbs 4:18.

Thus, the saved, who are the sanctified, will have an eternity of getting to know God better and better.

Can We Ever Fully Know the Infinite God?

God says, “Canst thou by searching find out God? canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection? It is as high as heaven; what canst thou do? deeper than hell [the lake of fire where all the wicked are burned to ashes and cease to exist]; what canst thou know?” Job 11:7, 8.

“O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!” Romans 11:33.

Thus, while the knowledge of God by saved humanity is progressive, there will always be an infinity beyond to know about God.

In other words, none of God’s created intelligent beings can ever fully know God. There will always be something new to learn about God.

Conclusion

In this post then we have unpacked the meaning of our Bible quotation of focus: “For now we [the justified] see through a glass [mirror], darkly [dimly]; but then [when we are sanctified and we get to heaven, we are] face to face [with God]: now I [as one who is justified] know [God] in part; but then shall I [as one who is sanctified and residing in heaven] know [God] even as also I am known.” 1 Corinthians 13:12.

Praise God, an eternity of joy and getting to know God better and better is in store for the saved among humanity!

Make sure that you do not miss out on this glorious future with God!

The Bible Teaches Us How to Obtain Eternal Life from God

“In the beginning was the Word [Christ], and the Word [Christ] was with God, and the Word [Christ] was God.” John 1:1. “And the Word [Christ] was made flesh [was born as a baby boy named Jesus], and dwelt among us [human beings], (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father).” John 1:14. Thus, Christ, whose “name is called The Word of God” (Revelation 19:13) is the One who gave the whole Bible to humanity, from the Bible’s beginning to its end. Further, “God is love.” (1 John 4:8), which is to say, Christ is love.

And every one of you as a human being are to “lay apart [put away] all filthiness and superfluity [abundance] of naughtiness [of wickedness], and receive with meekness the engrafted [the implanted] word [from God, which is the Bible and], which is able to save your souls [from annihilation by God as the penalty for sin].” James 1:21. For the word of God, the Bible, being implanted in us means that “the love of God is shed abroad [is poured] in our hearts by the Holy Ghost [the Holy Spirit] which is given unto us.” Romans 5:5. So then, “love is of God; and every one [every human being] that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.” 1 John 4:7. This is known as “justification” (Romans 4:25) which is accomplished by our repentance, that is, our deep sorrow for our sins and the gift of faith from God, which when exercised to believe God’s promise of forgiveness of sins and cleansing from sin brings us the gift of love from God. Note that everyone receives the gift of faith from God but without repentance people have a superficial faith and not saving (correct) faith that takes proper hold of God’s truth by the working of the Holy Spirit.

Immediately upon our justification, God tests our character to see if we will successfully resist all temptation to sin. Our success depends on our exercising faith in Christ’s keeping power through the Holy Spirit and, hence, we become sanctified (made holy) and thus receive eternal life from God.

And this is life eternal [everlasting life], that they [as human beings] might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent [to the earth as a Deliverer from sin].” John 17:3. Thus, when the whole Bible makes our character a character of perfect love, it means that we know God and, hence, we will receive eternal life from God.

How This Blog Teaches Bible Study

My blog posts take one or more Bible verses and unpack what is often the hidden meaning in them, to help you to gain in your understanding of the Bible, and to receive insights into how to study it. For God says, “Study [the Bible] to shew [show] thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing [interpreting] the word of truth [the Bible].” 2 Timothy 2:15. There are new blog posts every two weeks on a Monday at 12:01 a.m. in timezone UTC-5 (GMT-5).

Further Reading

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