Do I Know God?

QUESTION:

ANSWER:

Knowing about God is not enough—eternal life depends on personally knowing God through a surrendered relationship with Jesus Christ.

“There is a world of difference between knowing about God and actually knowing God.”
This powerful statement is often raised and thoughtfully discussed by my good friend, Pastor Renel Cabral of Abide Christian Fellowship—and he’s absolutely right.

This is not just a clever phrase—it’s a truth that separates religious routine from real relationship. Many people today can quote Bible verses, recite theological facts, or even teach others about God’s love, power, and mercy. But when life shakes them, when trials come, or when temptation knocks, it becomes evident: knowing about God is not the same as knowing God personally.

So how can you tell the difference? And more importantly, how can you truly know God?

Let’s explore this life-defining question.

1. What Does It Mean to Know About God?

Knowing about God means you have intellectual awareness of who He is. You might believe He exists, you might admire His character, and you may even agree with what the Bible says about Him. You may know that:

God is the Creator of heaven and earth.
God is holy, just, and all-powerful.
God is loving, merciful, and full of grace.
Jesus died on the cross and rose again.

And still—not know God.

You can read books about a historical figure, watch documentaries, and even visit places they walked. But until you meet them face to face, walk with them, talk with them, and experience life with them, you don’t truly know them. That’s the difference.

Many people know about God the way they know about a celebrity—familiar with the facts but far from fellowship. This kind of knowledge doesn’t transform your heart. It doesn’t bring intimacy. And it won’t save you.

As James 2:19 says, “You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble!” Knowing about God is not enough. Even the devil knows Scripture. Even demons know who Jesus is. But they don’t love Him. They are not surrendered to Him and they rejected Him.

2. What Is the Meaning of Actually Knowing God?

To know God means you have entered into a personal, life-changing relationship with Him. It is not just belief—it is intimacy, fellowship, and surrender.

Knowing God means:

You have been born again, meaning spiritually reborn (See also: “What Does it Mean to be Born Again?”).
You have turned away from a life in rejection of God and returned to Him through Jesus Christ. (See also:“How Can I Return to God?”)
You have entrusted your life to Jesus, not just agreed with facts about Him. (See also: “What Does it Mean to Believe in Jesus?”).
You talk to God and hear Him speak through His Word. (See also: “What is Prayer?”).
You love Him, not out of fear or duty, but because He first loved you.
You seek to live in obedience, not just as a command, but as a response to relationship.
You walk in the Spirit, choosing to follow His lead rather than the desires of your flesh (see Galatians 5:16).

This kind of knowledge comes from the heart, not just the head. It’s not achieved through education, church attendance, or spiritual performance. It is a gift, given to those who repent and believe.

The apostle Paul, who had great knowledge of Scripture even before becoming a Christian, wrote this after knowing Jesus:

“Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord… that I may know Him…” (Philippians 3:8,10)

To know about God is to study facts.
To know God is to walk with Him.

Final Thought: The Eternal Weight of Knowing God

The Lord Jesus Himself made it crystal clear:

“And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.” (John 17:3)

Your eternal future does not depend on your knowledge about God—but on your relationship with Him. You can read every theology book, attend every Bible study, and quote every verse—yet still miss the very heart of Christianity: knowing God personally through Jesus Christ.

So let me ask you again: Do you know God?
Not do you know about Him, but do you truly know Him?

If not, today is the day to begin that relationship. Not through religious efforts, but by coming to Him in repentance and faith.

If you want to know God, He is not hiding. He’s waiting.
Come back to Him today.

Click here to learn how: “How Can I Return to God?”

A Personal Testimony: I Thought I Knew God

I grew up as a devout Catholic—and I sincerely thought I knew God.

I dreamed of becoming a priest. I knew all the sacraments, faithfully prayed the rosary, and was a passionate defender of Mary. Nobody could outmatch my church attendance. I would go to Mass even before heading to school, and I spent most of my free time in the adoration chapel, seeking God in the only way I knew how. I also knew how to receive Jesus through the Eucharist, and because of that, I was certain I knew Jesus.

But here’s the truth: I only knew about God.

Everything changed when, while spending quiet hours in the adoration chapel, I began reading the Bible. The more I immersed myself in the Word of God, the more I began to see that there was more to Him than religious rituals and doctrines.

Then one summer afternoon, while praying through the window of my room, I felt something different—I was no longer just reading about God; I was encountering Him.

Right there, without anyone telling me what to say or do, I made a decision:
I surrendered my life to the Lord Jesus Christ.
That moment changed me forever!

I realized that what I had before were religious practices—man-made teachings that gave me structure but not relationship. But when I encountered Jesus personally, I began to walk with Him, understand His will, and experience the sweet fellowship of the Holy Spirit.

To you who are reading this: it is possible to truly know God.
Jesus is Immanuel—God with us. He is standing at the door of your heart and knocking. If you hear His voice and open your heart, He will come in and dwell with you.

Jesus is calling you to repent. Are you listening? Will you respond?

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