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and the path to this goal is pointed out as a result of knowing the exceeding greatness of
resurrection power to us-ward who believe, and of the comprehension with all saints of
that which really passes all knowledge--the love of Christ. This same knowledge is to
enable us to
"approve things that are excellent (try the things that differ), so that ye may be sincere
and without offence till the day of Christ" (Phil. 1: 10).
This is a goal that must commend itself to every renewed mind, and if "knowledge"
can help towards it, it is indeed of supreme value. The acquisition of knowledge for its
own sake is nowhere taught in Scripture. The Colossian prayer seeks knowledge: "That
ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing" (Col. 1: 10). What Paul thought of
this glorious knowledge is seen in Phil. 3: 8: "Yea doubtless, and I count all things but
loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord", and the prayer of the
Colossian epistle leads on to "increasing in the knowledge of God".
Sin entered into the world in connection with the tree of knowledge, and the new man
"is renewed in knowledge after the image of Him that created him" (Col. 3: 10). The
light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ is the very "gospel
of the glory of Christ" that the god of this age seeks to veil.
The climax and crown of the perfect man is expressed in the words: "Then shall I
know even as also I am known" (I Cor. 13: 12). The sophistry and the intolerance of the
Pharisees could not stand before the simple testimony of the man born blind: "One thing
I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see" (John 9: 25). How much service will fail to
stand the test of that day, because the deep lesson learned by Paul and expressed in the
words of Rom. 7: 18 has never been learned: "For I know that in me (that is, in my
flesh) dwelleth no good thing."
What a comfort resides in the blessed words: "We know that all things work together
for good to them that love God" (Rom. 8: 28). Think of the repeated phrase--"we
know"--in John's epistle with its blessed assurance:--
"We know that when He shall appear we shall be like Him."
"We know that He was manifested to take away our sins."
"We know that we have passed from death unto life."
"We know that the Son of God is come",
Think, too, upon the wealth of doctrine, practice and consolation that is hung upon the
one word "knowing": "knowing that tribulation worketh patience" (Rom. 5: 3). Without
this knowledge glorying in tribulations would be impossible.
"Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with Christ" (Rom. 6: 6).
"Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more" (Rom. 6: 9).
Without this knowledge who would contemplate the reckoning of self as dead without
shrinking back with dread? So Rom. 13: 11; II Cor. 4: 14; Gal. 2: 16; Eph. 6: 8, 9;