I KNOW WHOM
2 Timothy 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. 8 Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God; 9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, 10 But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel: 11 Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles. 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.
The Apostle Paul is writing this second and final recorded letter to his spiritual son Timothy. He is investing his own spiritual and experiential knowledge in these encouraging instructions in order to equip Timothy for the upcoming spiritual warfare of his own ministry. Therefore he is acquainting Timothy with a persuading knowledge that shall not fail him. For he does not state, “I know WHAT I have believed.” But he emphatically states, “I know WHOM I have believed!”
That Greek word, here translated “am persuaded,” is the same word translated, “I trust” in Philippians 2:24. And we see it in Philemon 21 as “having confidence.” And also in 1 John 3:19 it is seen as “shall assure.” Therefore we see this, most assuredly as both a persuading and an assuring knowledge. It is not just a bare assent to factual, religious information. Listen to the very words of the Eternal Son of God as he speaks to the Eternal Father: John 17:1 These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: 2 As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. 3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. To know Him is eternal life!
Therefore this is the only knowledge in which a soul can boast! Jeremiah 9:23 Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: 24 But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD.
Also that Greek word, here translated “am persuaded,” is also the same word translated as “obey” in Hebrews 13:17. And it is seen as “we trust” in Hebrews 13:18. Therefore it has, not only a revelation of the Person of God to the soul, but it, without fail, always includes the manifestation of trusting obedience from those who receive this soul-saving knowledge! For the Apostle Peter even states that the doing of “these things” even gives sure evidence of one’s election!
2 Peter 1:10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: 11 For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. 12 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.
For it is not only persons who are elected in Christ from the foundation of the world, but also the very pattern of their works, their practiced lifestyles, are also ordained. Ephesians 1:4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
The Bridegroom instructs the Bride to always follow the ordained footsteps of the flock of God in order to find Him. Song 1:7 Tell me, O thou whom my soul loveth, where thou feedest, where thou makest thy flock to rest at noon: for why should I be as one that turneth aside by the flocks of thy companions?8 If thou know not, O thou fairest among women, go thy way forth by the footsteps of the flock, and feed thy kids beside the shepherds’ tents.
And the Lord Jesus states that he has given to his true flock both hearing ears and following feet! John 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: Revelation 14:4 These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.
As has been stated, the manifestation of these ordained works are true evidences of the life of God within the soul of man. For as the believer works out this godly lifestyle, he is assured that it is God who worked it in him. Philippians 2:12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. 13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
Consider these verses: Psalm 15:5 He that putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent. He that doeth these things shall never be moved.
Matthew 7:24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: 25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.
1 John 3:18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. 19 And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.
That is why the true believer continuously comes to the light of the gospel. For it assures his heart that what is being lived out from him is really those good works that are actually “wrought in God!” And that is also the reason why those who are not doing these good works hate the light of the gospel, as it manifests that they are not of God! John 3:19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. 21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
Isaiah 26:12 LORD, thou wilt ordain peace for us: for thou also hast wrought all our works in us. John 15:4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. 5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
We are carefully cautioned as to how we should approach the written word in order for it to be used to bring us to the Living Word. John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
John 5:39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. 2 Corinthians 3:6 Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.
Depending upon religious knowledge will cause you great and eternal harm! It will raise the soul up in pride, which the Lord hates! Proverbs 6:16 These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: 17 A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,
And bare mental religious knowledge always bring pride! 1 Corinthians 8:1 Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth. 2 And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know. 3 But if any man love God, the same is known of him.
Isaiah 47:10 For thou hast trusted in thy wickedness: thou hast said, None seeth me. Thy wisdom and thy knowledge, it hath perverted thee; and thou hast said in thine heart, I am, and none else beside me. 11 Therefore shall evil come upon thee; thou shalt not know from whence it riseth: and mischief shall fall upon thee; thou shalt not be able to put it off: and desolation shall come upon thee suddenly, which thou shalt not know.
And we cannot know God the Father except through the mediation of God the Son. John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. 7 If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.
But it is only by experiential knowledge that we can say, “I know WHOM,” and not just “I know WHAT I have believed!” Philippians 3:8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, 9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: 10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; 11 If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.
It was said of Saul of Tarsus, in order for his transition to Paul the Apostle, that the Lord God would show him how much he should suffer. (Acts 9:16) And here in his letter to the Philippians he writes that it was only by the fellowship of his sufferings that he had any hope of truly knowing Christ! For even mutual suffering of physical maladies between humans brings them together in such a way as others, without those particular experiences cannot know. For those unrelated by blood in a support group are closer to one another in such mutual afflictions than even family members without such experiences can know!
And those who share in the patterns and like experiences of Jesus’ cross are those who can truly state, “I know WHOM I have believed!” Romans 8:17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. 2 Timothy 2:12 If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:
“I must needs go home by the way of the cross,
There’s no other way but this;
I shall ne’er get sight of the gates of light,
If the way of the cross I miss.”
Jessie B. Pounds 1906
The one thing that the Harlot Church has missed, which shall be to her utter ruin, is the recovery of the glory! For sin is coming short of the glory. And every soul in the entire human race has come short of it! Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
And there is but one Being in the entire universe who can recover the glory for us. – The Eternal Son, the Lord Jesus Christ! Zechariah 6:12 And speak unto him, saying, Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, Behold the man whose name is The BRANCH; and he shall grow up out of his place, and he shall build the temple of the LORD: 13 Even he shall build the temple of the LORD; and he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon his throne; and he shall be a priest upon his throne: and the counsel of peace shall be between them both.
John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
2 Corinthians 3:18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.4:6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
O soul, are you weary and troubled?
No light in the darkness you see?
There’s light for a look at the Savior,
And life more abundant and free!
Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.
Helen H. Lemmel 1922
John 11:40 Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God? 6:40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.
Pastor Gene Breed
August 14, 2020