Certainty Of Knowledge

by Pastor Mark
December 02, 2021

The challenge to have certainty of knowledge

As we seek to be that much more confident in our faith, we need to develop a greater depth of knowledge. Our knowledge forms the basis of our understanding and faith. If we lack knowledge, it would be detrimental to our faith and our walk with the Lord. It would affect our confidence in our understanding and faith. The challenge is for us to go deeper in knowledge. We cannot remain stagnant in our understanding. With deeper knowledge, we would be able to have greater certainty in our faith. There are three Greek words that reveal the kind of knowledge that we must develop.

Developing a deeper knowledge

1. “ginosko”

  1. It means “to know something in a general way”.
  2. It is to know things at their basic level.
  3. There is a growing understanding of the fundamentals of our faith and salvation.
  4. The evangelist Philip’s use of “ginosko”. When Philip was running next to an Ethiopian eunuch who was riding on a chariot and reading the book of Isaiah, Philip asked whether he had understood what he was reading. The word “understood” is “ginosko”. Philip sought to explain and to help the eunuch to know more about the Lord (Acts 8).

Let us ensure that we have grown from “ginosko” to the next level of knowledge.

2. “epiginosko”

  1. It means “to know something in a far deeper way”.
  2. There is a deeper level of knowledge concerning our faith.
  3. The gospel writer Luke used “epiginosko” to challenge his reader, Theophilus
  4. to “know” the certainty of those things which he was taught (Luke 1:4), and
  5. with greater depth of knowledge, to come to a greater certainty of faith.
  6. At this stage, we are no longer looking at the basics.
  7. But we also have not arrived at the deepest knowledge.

Let us be challenged to grow deeper in our knowledge and faith.

3. “oida”

  1. It means “to know something at its deepest level”.
  2. There comes full and complete knowledge.
  3. The Apostle Paul wrote, “for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.” (2 Tim 1:12)
  4. The word “know” here is “oida”.
  5. The knowledge that is gained is deep, strong and intimate.
  6. Paul’s depth of knowledge brought great clarity and certainty of faith.
  7. It is also a knowledge that has clear ramifications.

Let us be inspired by the example of Paul in having a deep and complete knowledge of the Lord.

Checking the depth of our knowledge

Let us be wise by checking the depth of our knowledge. Are we still having only shallow knowledge? Have we moved on to a deeper level of knowledge? It is never easy to move from one level of knowledge to the next, but let us be challenged to grow deeper…to the next level of knowledge that we may be that much more certain of our faith.

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