What is the Best Way to Know God?
The quest for a true and saving knowledge of the Almighty is the most vital pursuit of any human soul. Many in the modern age seek to know God through fleeting feelings, subjective experiences, or worldly philosophies. However, Scripture reveals that the path to a genuine, saving relationship is fixed, singular, and dependent entirely upon God’s gracious revelation.
Question 1: Where does God reveal Himself to mankind?
Answer: God reveals Himself primarily in two ways: through General Revelation (nature and conscience) and through Special Revelation (the Scripture and His Son, Jesus Christ).
- General Revelation: God’s power and divinity are made evident to all men through the created order, leaving no man without excuse.”For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:” (Romans 1:20, KJV)
- Special Revelation (The Scripture): God has given His infallible, preserved Word (the King James Version) as the written, definitive guide to His character, will, and plan of salvation. It is here that we learn the truth about His holiness and our need for a Saviour.”All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:” (2 Timothy 3:16, KJV)
- Special Revelation (Jesus Christ): The ultimate and perfect revelation of God is found in the person of His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the express image of the Father and the sole mediator between God and man.”God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;” (Hebrews 1:1-2, KJV)
Question 2: Can a person know God purely through general revelation (nature or feelings)?
Answer: No. While nature reveals God’s existence and power, it does not reveal His plan of redemption. A person may recognize a divine Creator by looking at the stars, but they cannot know the way of salvation without the light of the Gospel found only in Special Revelation.
The Apostle Paul makes it clear that the mind of the natural man is darkened by sin:
“But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” (1 Corinthians 2:14, KJV)
True knowledge of God is therefore not an intellectual or emotional discovery, but a spiritual gift imparted by the Holy Spirit through the truth of the Word.
Question 3: What is the single, best way to know God and enter into a relationship with Him?
Answer: The absolute best and only efficacious way to know God is to know Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour. All true knowledge of the Father proceeds through the Son. This relationship is initiated by the costly grace of God and requires unwavering faith and obedience from the individual.
Jesus Himself declared the exclusive nature of this relationship:
“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6, KJV)
The best way to know God is therefore to:
- Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, recognizing His finished work on the cross for your sin.
- Repent of sin and yield to His sovereignty.
- Study His Word (the KJV Bible) daily, as it is the only true reflection of His mind and will.
- Obey His commands, for obedience is the evidence and fruit of true faith.
“And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.” (1 John 5:20, KJV)