1 Corinthians 8:3
Ps Paul Cheng
~3 min read
Dear Bethelities,
In this topic of “Knowledge alone is not enough (1 Corinthians 8:1-3),” the Apostle Paul said that a knowledge void of love is useless, and (v.1) a proud heart knoweth nothing (v.2). Finally, he went on to say that it was not what you knew but rather who you knew.
III. A love for God
1 Corinthians 8:3, But if any man love God, the same is known of him.
Essentially Paul was saying, “What you need to glory in, is not what you know, but who knows you. It is not about what you know, but that you are known.” The most important thing is that God knows you.
The believer who loves God, is known of him. What does it mean to be known of him? It means to be saved, to have salvation. Jesus said in Matthew 7:22, Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? Do these people have knowledge? Most certainly! They were able to preach in Jesus’ name! But what did Jesus say to them? Verse 23, And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.What is vital is not how much you, or how much knowledge you have, but who knows you!
What characterises the person who is saved? Just because a person has a head full of knowledge, does it mean he is saved? Many years ago, I knew a man who was an unbeliever. But I dare say he knew the Bible more than most ordinary lay church members. He was able to engage himself in theological discussions regarding the doctrines of election, predestination, reformed Calvinistic theology, and so forth. But he was an unbeliever, until the Lord sovereignly called him to be His child.
Knowledge is not the chief mark of the believer. It is not what you know, but whether you love God? If you love God, you are known by Him, in salvation. The question is, “Do you love God?”
Instead of focusing on how much one knows, he should be focusing on how much he loves God? A person may know the Gospel; he may know that Jesus Christ is God and He came into this world almost two thousand years ago. He lived a perfect sinless life, and died on the cross as a substitute for sinners, and was raised from the dead on the third day. A person may know, and profess to believe all these things about God. He has prayed the sinner’s prayer, and was baptised, but does he love Him? If he truly knows and loves God, does he follow Him, pursue Him, obey Him, follow His will, seek Him in prayer, love His people, and has this burden in his heart to tell lost souls about this Jesus whom he says he loves?
The question is not what we know about Jesus, but do we love Him?
This is the amazing truth of salvation. If anyone loves God, a miracle has happened in his or her life because loving God is not natural; it is supernatural. He was not born into this world loving God, but rather he was born an enemy of Him. By nature, he was a God hater and rejecter. But by the grace of God, he was convicted of his sins, turned from his wicked way and received Jesus Christ as his personal Lord and Saviour. All of a sudden, he loves Him! And the Bible says, if any man love God, the same is known of him!
In Christ,
Pastor Paul Cheng
1 CORINTHIANS 8Knowledge Alone is Not Enough (Part 1)Knowledge Alone is Not Enough (Part 1)1 Corinthians 8:1-4, 8
Knowledge Alone is Not Enough (Part 2)Knowledge Alone is Not Enough (Part 2)1 Corinthians 8:2
Knowledge Alone is Not Enough (Part 3)Knowledge Alone is Not Enough (Part 3)1 Corinthians 8:3
Love and Christian Liberty (Part 1)Love and Christian Liberty (Part 1)1 Corinthians 8:4-6
Love and Christian Liberty (Part 2)Love and Christian Liberty (Part 2)1 Corinthians 8:7-13