He Knows
A bite-sized lesson in doctrine: 1 Concept, 2 Definitions, 3 Passages...
Here is your bite-sized lesson in orthodox Biblical doctrine in 3 simple steps:
ONE concept explained
TWO concise definitions that must be kept distinct
THREE Scripture passages to meditate on
Concept: God is Omniscient
God is all-knowing. He intimately knows His own essence, a knowledge only He possesses. His understanding is infinite and unsearchable. He is unlike a man who consumes stacks of books to learn all He knows. His knowledge of creation is intimate and comprehensive since He wrote and executed His creative decree. His knowledge extends from the stars’ most profound secrets to the sea’s deepest mysteries. He knows all past events and every present development belongs to Him. Even future events, words, and deeds we have not dreamed of taking place are written in His book. Therefore, His knowledge extends from the good and evil actions of men to all of their hidden thoughts and emotions. Before words were ever on their tongue, He knew them altogether; He is acquainted with all of their ways. Knowing that God knows everything brings immeasurable assurance to His people. If we are burdened with spiritual or physical needs, our Father knows what we need before we even ask. Thus, we’re moved to pour out our needs to Him, not so we can inform Him, but so we can know that He knows. A book I often read to my children puts it this way: “If your mind is full of secrets, twisted up like spaghetti, just tell them to God, He knows them already.”
Definitions/Distinctions:
Archetypal Knowledge: Infinite knowledge that only God possesses and has access to. Often, this is defined as the knowledge of God’s essence that only God has.
Ectypal Knowledge: A finite and creaturely knowledge that God’s children possess. It is a real but limited knowledge of the divine.
Passages:
“O Lord, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether.”
Psalm 139:1–4
“By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him; for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything.”
1 John 3:19–20
“And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.”
Matthew 6:7–8