Series: GROWING IN A RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD with Pastor Mark Finley
🌿 Lesson 2: To Know God
✨ Knowing God – the key to a true relationship
Introduction:
Our relationship with God depends greatly on how we see and understand Him. Many people have an incomplete or even incorrect picture of God, which affects their closeness to Him. That is why this lesson invites us to know God as He reveals Himself—through the Bible and through Jesus Christ. It shows that God is not only powerful and holy, but also full of love and personal care. This correct understanding not only transforms our thinking, but also our trust and our lives. For the better we know God, the deeper our relationship with Him becomes.
Content:
🔎 2.1 A Clearer Picture of God
Knowing God – truth instead of a distorted image
The Bible presents us with a clear and reliable picture of God—not vague or contradictory, but consistent from beginning to end. Through it and through Jesus, we learn who God truly is: just, merciful, patient, and full of love. The more we come to know Him, the more our trust grows and our desire for a relationship with Him deepens. At the same time, the lesson makes it clear that from the very beginning there has been a conflict over God’s character. Satan seeks to spread a false image of God in order to create distrust and distance. Therefore, it is essential that we understand God’s nature directly from the Bible—and also reflect Him correctly to others.
🔥 2.2 God is holy
God’s holiness – the foundation of His being
God’s holiness means that He is completely pure and free from every form of evil. It is not just one attribute among many, but the foundation of His entire being. Everything God does—His love, His justice, and His power—is shaped by this perfect purity. That is precisely why we can trust Him, because His power is never abusive, but always good. At the same time, His holiness shows us how great the difference is between God and us as human beings. It invites us to approach Him with reverence and to examine our own lives in the light of His purity.
❤️ 2.3 God is love
God’s nature – love in its purest form
The Bible does not only describe God as loving, but as love itself—that is His deepest nature. This love is not limited or changeable like human love, but perfect, faithful, and selfless. It is especially revealed in the fact that God loved us first and actively seeks a relationship with us. This truth is most clearly seen in the sacrifice of Jesus, who died for us out of pure devotion. God’s love is an inviting love—it does not force, but calls for a response. The more we understand this love, the more it transforms our hearts and our behavior toward others.
🌍 2.4 God in creation
The great God – powerful and yet very close
Creation reveals two impressive aspects of God: His infinite power and His personal closeness. As Elohim, He is the almighty Creator who brings the universe into existence by His word. Yet as Yahweh, He meets us personally—a God who forms humanity and breathes life into it. This combination of greatness and closeness makes God’s nature unique. He is not distant or unreachable, but at the same time ruler over all and a loving companion to each individual. The more we understand this balanced picture, the deeper our relationship with Him grows.
🤍 2.5 Immanuel, God with us
Immanuel – God’s closeness made visible
Jesus is the clearest and most complete revelation of God, because in Him God’s nature becomes visible and tangible. Whoever sees Jesus sees not only a teacher or prophet, but the Father Himself in His character and actions. Through His life, His words, and especially His death, Jesus shows how deep God’s love truly is. The name “Immanuel – God with us” makes it clear that God is not distant, but lives and works among us. This closeness does not end with Jesus’ life on earth, but continues, as He Himself promises: “I am with you always.” In Jesus we recognize that God is not only great—He is personally present.
🔑 2.6 Summary
Knowing God – a clear and living picture
Lesson 2 shows us how important it is to know God as He reveals Himself in the Bible. It makes clear that false ideas about God can strongly affect our relationship with Him. We discover that God is holy, just, and at the same time full of love—qualities that reflect His perfect nature. In creation, we see both His infinite power and His personal closeness to us. However, God’s character is revealed most clearly in Jesus Christ, who shows us what God is truly like. The better we know God, the deeper our trust, our love, and our relationship with Him will grow.
