Dictionary of Bible Themes  »  8000 The life of the believer  »  8100 The life of faith  »  8134 knowing God  »  8136 knowing God, effects of

Knowing God has a transforming effect on a person spiritually and morally and makes that person bold in actions for God. Not knowing God in the present will result in dissatisfaction and degeneration into wickedness and in the future will bring eternal alienation from him.

The effects of knowing God

Spiritual transformation: from death to life

Colossians 1:9 See also John 17:3; Galatians 4:8-9; Ephesians 1:17; Ephesians 3:19; Colossians 2:2

Moral transformation: from evil to good

Proverbs 2:1-6; 2 Corinthians 10:5; 1 Thessalonians 4:3-5 See also Romans 16:26; Ephesians 4:17-24; Philippians 1:9-11; Colossians 1:10; 1 John 3:10; John 4:8

Boldness of action for God

Jeremiah 32:38-39; Daniel 11:32 See also Psalm 138:3; Proverbs 28:1; Acts 6:8-10; 2 Corinthians 3:12; 1 Peter 1:13

Biblical images of knowing God

Like parent and child

2 Samuel 7:14 pp 1 Chronicles 17:13 1 John 3:1

God disciplines like a parent:

Hebrews 12:6; Proverbs 3:12; Deuteronomy 8:5 Psalm 2:7; Psalm 27:10; Psalm 68:5; Psalm 89:26; Psalm 103:13; Isaiah 49:15; Isaiah 66:12-13; Hosea 11:1; Matthew 5:45,48; Matthew 6:6-9,18,32; Luke 15:11-32 the parable of the lost son; John 14:21; 1 Corinthians 1:3

Like husband and wife

Isaiah 62:5; Jeremiah 3:14 See also Isaiah 54:5; Jeremiah 2:2; Jeremiah 3:20; Jeremiah 31:32; Hosea 2:16; Ephesians 5:25; Revelation 19:7; Revelation 21:2

Like king and subject

Psalm 97:1 See also 1 Samuel 8:7; Psalm 5:2; Psalm 10:16; Psalm 29:10; Psalm 44:4; Psalm 84:3; Psalm 95:3; Psalm 99:1; Psalm 145:1; Matthew 6:33 pp Luke 12:31 Jesus Christ's teaching on seeking first his kingdom; 1 Timothy 1:17; Timothy 6:15

Like shepherd and sheep

Genesis 48:15; Psalm 23:1-2; Isaiah 40:11 See also Psalm 28:9; Psalm 80:1; Ezekiel 34:16; Micah 7:14; John 10:11; Revelation 7:17

The peril of not knowing God

Lack of satisfaction and degeneration in the present

Romans 1:21-32; Titus 1:15-16 See also Exodus 5:2; Jeremiah 4:22; Romans 10:2-3; 1 Thessalonians 4:3-5

Eternal punishment in the future

Matthew 7:22-23; Romans 1:18-19 See also Romans 2:5; 2 Thessalonians 1:8

See also

1040  God, fatherhood
1210  God, human descriptions
1215  God, feminine descriptions
1220  God as shepherd
2312  Christ as king
6020  sin
7115  children of God
8202  boldness
8347  spiritual growth
9210  judgment, God's