1 Corinthians 15:34 Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame. How deplorable would be our condition if universal knowledge were necessary in order to our happiness! For, alas! how very little do the wisest know! There is, however, a certain kind of knowledge essentially necessary to our happiness, viz., "the knowledge of God." If we would enjoy peace, and secure future good, we must be "acquainted with Him" (Job 22:21). This knowledge infallibly leads to eternal life, and is, in fact, an anticipation of it (John 17:3), whereas they who are destitute of it remain in spiritual death (2 Thessalonians 1:7, 8). And quite agreeable to Scripture is the testimony of reason. As creatures who are dependent continually upon God for all we have or hope for, we owe to Him our worship and service. But to worship and serve Him in an acceptable manner is impossible if we do not know Him. Consider — I. THE NATURE AND ORIGIN OF THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD. He is infinite and incomprehensible to our limited faculties. He is a Spirit, and invisible to our bodily eyes. If therefore He do not reveal Himself to us, we can never know Him. But He does reveal Himself in the works of creation and providence, in the Bible, in His Son, and by the illumination of His Spirit. II. THE FRUITS OF THIS KNOWLEDGE. 1. Humility. 2. Confidence attended with inward peace (Psalm 9:10; Isaiah 26:3). 3. Love (1 John 4:8). (J. Benson.) Parallel Verses KJV: Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.WEB: Wake up righteously, and don't sin, for some have no knowledge of God. I say this to your shame. |
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