Close Fellowship
Knowing God personally is the fountain of all saving knowledge and the result of eternal life.
C.H. Spurgeon emphasizes the profound truth that all believers, regardless of their spiritual maturity, have a personal knowledge of God through Christ Jesus. This intimate relationship transforms us from strangers to friends, allowing us to experience close fellowship with our Creator. Spurgeon highlights that this knowledge is not merely intellectual but deeply relational, as we can call God our Father and Friend. He encourages believers to rejoice in this relationship, recognizing it as the source of eternal life and the foundation of all saving knowledge. The sermon calls us to cherish and celebrate our connection with God, which is a gift beyond what nature could reveal.
Text
And they shall teach no more every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the Lord. (Jeremiah 31:34)
Truly, whatever else we do not know, we know the Lord. This day is this promise true in our experience, and it is not a little one. The least believer among us knows God in Christ Jesus. Not as fully as we desire; but yet truly and really we know the Lord. We not only know doctrines about Him, but we know Him. He is our Father and our Friend. We are acquainted with Him personally. We can say, "My Lord, and my God." We are on terms of close fellowship with God, and many a happy season do we spend in His holy company.
We are no more strangers to our God, but the secret of the Lord is with us.
This is more than nature could have taught us. Flesh and blood has not revealed God to us. Christ Jesus had made known the Father to our hearts. If, then, the Lord has made us know Himself, is not this the fountain of all saving knowledge? To know God is eternal life. So soon as we come to acquaintance with God we have the evidence of being quickened into newness of life. O my soul, rejoice in this knowledge, and bless thy God all this day!
Sermon Outline
- Knowing God
- The Source of this Knowledge
- The Result of this Knowledge
- The Response to this Knowledge
- Rejoice in this knowledge
- Bless God for this gift
Key Quotes
“Truly, whatever else we do not know, we know the Lord.” — C.H. Spurgeon
“We are on terms of close fellowship with God, and many a happy season do we spend in His holy company.” — C.H. Spurgeon
“To know God is eternal life.” — C.H. Spurgeon
Application Points
- Make a conscious effort to deepen your personal relationship with God through prayer and Bible study.
- Rejoice in the knowledge that you have a personal acquaintance with God and express gratitude to Him.
- Seek to spend quality time in fellowship with God, enjoying His holy company.