Power to Give Knowledge
“That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;” (Colossians 1:10)
The Bible has power to work in people’s hearts and lives as no other book ever has or will have. People wrote it, but God inspired it, so it is God’s word. It has the power to give us knowledge of God.
As our verse says, Paul told his readers he wanted them to please the Lord in their daily lives, abound in good works, and increase in knowledge of Him. These qualities were not just what Paul wanted, but what God wanted. In an even greater sense, these qualities were not just what God wanted for people long ago, but for all of us who know Jesus as Saviour. That is why these words are in the Bible.
There are things we can know about God without reading the Bible. Psalm 19:1says, “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handiwork.” Look at the things God created; stars, trees, plants, flowers. We see from these things that God is glorious and powerful. We can also see He loves us. Why else would He give us pretty flowers, delicious fruit, or stunningly beautiful scenery?
Yet we need to know more, which is why God inspired Scripture and why the Bible is as big as it is: so we could be “increasing in the knowledge of God:” We will never know everything about God this side of eternity, but in heaven we will: “…now [on earth] I know in part; but then [in heaven] shall I know even as also I am known.” (1 Corinthians 13:12) Meanwhile, the Bible does not tell us everything there is to know about God, but it does tell us what we need to know.
We need to know how to be forgiven for sins and live pleasing to God; how we can spend the afterlife in happy fellowship with God, not painful separation from Him in hell. The Bible tells us these things and more. It tells of Adam and Eve: how they had fellowship with God, but lost it by their sin. It tells how God promised a Redeemer who would save man from his sin and bring man into fellowship with God. It tells how sin spread like cancer, leaving grief and heartache in its wake, which it still does.
Most importantly, it tells of Jesus, God the Son. He was born of a virgin and never sinned. He taught truths about God and did miracles. He allowed Himself to be falsely arrested, tried, convicted, brutalized, and executed on a cross. He did that to pay our sin-debt. He was buried, then rose again. This is the best news man can ever have. As the angel told the shepherds the first Christmas night, “…I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to ALL PEOPLE.” (Luke 2:10, capitals added)
God wants us not only to know about Him, but to know Him. Knowing about someone is not the same as knowing him. You may know facts about some well-known person, but if you have never met that person, you cannot say that you know him. You may also know things about God but not know Him.
The most wonderful possession we can have is a personal relationship with God and to know Him:
“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: 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.” (Jeremiah 9:23-24)
The Bible says we can have this relationship by receiving Jesus as our personal Saviour. To learn more, please go to www.clevelandbaptist.org, click “Helpful Links,” then “How Do I Go to Heaven?”
Brian Miller 10/29/2026