“In the beginning God…” (Genesis 1:1)

The Bible opens with God as Eternal, or One who has always been God. Therefore, before creation, even before time, there was God. The Bible does not give any details or history before creation concerning God, but begins with God as the Creator of heaven and earth.

Beginning with Genesis, God is defined in the different Hebrew words: El, Elah, or Elohim; Jehovah; Adon or Adonai.

God describes Himself, as the Scriptures reveal, in the use of these Hebrew words and compound words used with Jehovah. In the use of these words, God reveals His Attributes; which are fulfilled in Jesus Christ, God in the Flesh.

“For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” (2 Corinthians 4:6)

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” (John 1:1)

“The same was in the beginning with God.” (John 1:2)

“All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.” (John 1:3)

“And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14)

Therefore, to know who God is, you must know who Christ is. To know who Christ is, it must be revealed to you by God.

“John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven.” (John 3:27)

“He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?” (Matthew 16:15)

“And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.” (Matthew 16:16)

“And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.” (Matthew 16:17)

“But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.” (1 Corinthians 2:9)

“But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.  (1 Corinthians 2:10)

“For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.” (1 Corinthians 2:11)

“Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.” (1 Corinthians 2:12)

“Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.” (1 Corinthians 2:13)

“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)

“For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.” (1 Corinthians 2:16)

Therefore, the natural man must be given the mind of Christ, which only comes in Regeneration by the Spirit of God. You are born physically in sin (Ephesians 2:1-3; Romans 5:12) and therefore are dead (spiritually) in sins and trespasses. You are spiritually blind and follow the ways of the flesh; which are the lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. While in this dead condition, you are void of spiritual eyesight and of the love of God, and you are controlled by the flesh. (See John 9:1-; 3:3-8; 1 John 2:15-17; Romans 8:2-8.)

The only way out of this condition is Regeneration by the Spirit of God (Ephesians 2:1; Romans 8:2, 9-16; Galatians 4:5-6; John 3:3-8). This process is the work of the Holy Spirit and is by Him alone (John 3:3-8; 1 Corinthians 12:13). You are dead (spiritually) until you are quickened (or made alive).

This process is not effected by the Preacher, by the written Word of God, or by your believing; but it is by the Living Word, Jesus Christ (John 1:4; 5:21, 26; 6:63; 1 Peter 1:21-25).

“It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.” (John 6:63)

Until quickening by God, the sinner is dead in trespasses and sins. He has no ability to see, trust, and believe Christ and His Office Work as Substitute, Sacrifice, and Savior for the sinner (Romans 3:24-25; 5:1-2).

Therefore, the mass confusion of Who is God, in the world today. There is no way to know who God is without Regeneration.

God is a Spirit.

“But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.” (John 4:23)

“God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.” (John 4:24)

Jesus Christ, God in the Flesh, is The Truth (John 14:6). Therefore, unless the sinner be “in Christ” and Christ in him, there is no ability or power to “see” or perceive who God is.

To know God, you must know Him by experience. This experience is described in Romans:

“For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.” (Romans 8:14)

“For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.” (Romans 8:15)

“The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:” (Romans 8:16)

Without this internal witness of the Spirit of God, the so-called “believer” is really in a great deception. Knowing certain facts is not a fruit to prove Regeneration; you must know (ginōsko) by experience, and then your fruit will prove your position “in Christ” (Galatian 5:22-23). Jesus said “Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them” (Matthew 7:20; read verses 15-20); meaning you will know whether they are false prophets or true prophets.

Every professor of Christ must know if he is a possessor of Christ. If he is not, he is living in a lie.

“Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?” (2 Corinthians 13:5)

When you do this (examine and prove yourself), then you will understand why you treat God and His Word as you do. You either know “about” Him (facts about Him); or you know Him (by experience).

To know Him (by experience), you must know Jesus Christ (read John 9:8-39; especially verses 25, 35-38); which is only by the Action of Christ in Regeneration and Revelation.