Know Him
Who God Is
Jesus did not leave us guessing about who God is. In John 10 He tells us plainly: He is the Gate we come in through, and He is the Shepherd who watches over us after we come in. That means you are not alone. Every believer has Someone who is loving and kind and just, holy and righteous, faithful even when we are not. God is a treasure we seek all our lives, and a presence we rejoice in. Here is what the Bible teaches about the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit: one God, three Persons, and all of Him for you.
“I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture.”
“I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep.”
The Father
The Father who never stops loving
From its first page the Bible shows us a God who creates and provides, and Jesus taught us to pray to Him as “Our Father in heaven” (Matthew 6:9).
He is holy
“And they were calling to one another: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.””
The word. Qadosh (Hebrew, Strong’s H6918) means set apart: wholly different, wholly pure. The angels say it three times. In Hebrew, saying a word three times makes it as strong as language can make it.
- What it meant then
- Isaiah saw the Lord on His throne, and the first thing he felt was how unclean he was beside Him (Isaiah 6:5). Then one of the seraphim touched his lips with a coal from the altar, and his guilt was taken away (Isaiah 6:6-7).
- What it means now
- God’s holiness is not a wall to keep you out. It is the reason His love can be trusted: there is nothing in Him that is false, selfish or cruel.
- How to live it
- Come to Him honestly. You do not have to be clean to come. He is the One who makes you clean.
He is compassionate and slow to anger
And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness…
The word. “Slow to anger” is erek appayim (Hebrew), literally “long of nostrils”: the picture of someone who takes a long, slow breath instead of flaring up. “Love” here is chesed (Strong’s H2617), loyal, covenant love that keeps its promises.
- What it meant then
- God spoke these words about Himself to Moses right after Israel had worshiped a golden calf. He described Himself this way to people who had just failed Him.
- What it means now
- This is how God chose to introduce Himself. Not first as angry, but as compassionate, gracious and full of faithful love.
- How to live it
- When you fall, run toward Him, not away. His patience with you is longer than your failure.
He is the righteous Judge
“God is a righteous judge, a God who displays his wrath every day.”
The word. Tsaddiq (Hebrew, Strong’s H6662) means righteous: always right, always fair. He never takes a bribe, never misses the truth, never forgets the person who was wronged.
- What it meant then
- David wrote this psalm while he was being falsely accused. He took his case to the only Judge who could see the whole truth.
- What it means now
- Because God is just, evil will not have the last word. Because He is also merciful, He provided a way for guilty people to be forgiven: Jesus took our judgment on the cross.
- How to live it
- Leave your revenge with God (Romans 12:19). And rest in this: in Christ, the Judge is also your Father.
He is a Father who runs to us
So he got up and went to his father. “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.
The word. “Filled with compassion” is splanchnizomai (Greek, Strong’s G4697), a love felt deep in the gut. It is the same word used of Jesus when He saw the crowds and the hurting.
- What it meant then
- In Jesus’ story, the son had wasted everything and hoped only to be a hired servant (Luke 15:19). While he was still a long way off, the father ran, embraced him, and threw a feast.
- What it means now
- Jesus told this story so we would know what the Father is like toward everyone who comes home.
- How to live it
- Whatever you have done, turn around and start walking home. He is already looking down the road.
He is faithful when we are not
“…if we are faithless, he remains faithful, for he cannot disown himself.”
The word. Pistos (Greek, Strong’s G4103) means faithful, trustworthy: someone whose word can be leaned on with your whole weight.
- What it meant then
- Paul wrote this from prison near the end of his life, to encourage a young pastor, Timothy, who was facing hard days.
- What it means now
- God’s faithfulness does not rise and fall with ours. He keeps His promises because of who He is.
- How to live it
- On the days your faith feels weak, lean on His faithfulness, not on your feelings.
The Son
Jesus, the Gate and the Good Shepherd
Jesus is God come near. He did not only tell us the way to the Father; He said He is the way. In John 10 He gives us two pictures: the Gate and the Shepherd.
He is the Gate
“I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture.”
The word. Thura (Greek, Strong’s G2374) means door or gate. Jesus said anyone who climbs in some other way is a thief (John 10:1). One way in.
- What it meant then
- Jesus said the shepherd enters by the gate, and anyone who climbs in another way is a thief and a robber (John 10:1-2). He said He is that gate. No one comes to the Father except through Him (John 14:6).
- What it means now
- Salvation is not a ladder we climb. It is a door Jesus opened, and it is open today.
- How to live it
- If you have not come in, come today. If you have, “come in and go out”: live free, and find your pasture in Him.
He is the Good Shepherd
“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”
The word. “Good” here is kalos (Greek, Strong’s G2570): not just good in quality, but noble, beautiful, good all the way through.
- What it meant then
- Hired hands ran when wolves came. Jesus said a good shepherd stays, and He stayed all the way to the cross.
- What it means now
- The One who watches over you has already proved how far He will go for you.
- How to live it
- When you are afraid, remember who is standing between you and the wolf.
He knows you by name
“I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep.”
The word. Ginōskō (Greek, Strong’s G1097) means to know personally, by relationship and experience, not just to know about.
- What it meant then
- Jesus said the shepherd calls his own sheep by name and leads them out (John 10:3). The sheep know his voice and will never follow a stranger (John 10:5).
- What it means now
- You are not a number to God. Jesus knows your name, your story and your needs.
- How to live it
- Learn His voice by reading His words. The more you know His voice, the less other voices will lead you away.
No one can snatch you away
“I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand.”
The word. “Snatch” is harpazō (Greek, Strong’s G726): to seize by force, the way a wolf grabs a lamb.
- What it meant then
- Jesus spoke these words at the Festival of Dedication (John 10:22), moments before some picked up stones to stone Him (John 10:31).
- What it means now
- Your safety does not depend on how tightly you hold on to Him. It depends on how tightly He holds on to you, and no one can snatch you out of the Father’s hand either (John 10:29).
- How to live it
- Stop living in fear of falling out of His hand. Rest, and follow Him.
He shows us the Father
Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?
The word. “Seen” is horaō (Greek, Strong’s G3708): to see with the eyes, and to perceive and understand.
- What it meant then
- On the night before the cross, Philip asked Jesus to show them the Father. Jesus answered that they had been looking at Him all along.
- What it means now
- If you want to know what God is like, look at Jesus: how He welcomed children, touched lepers, forgave sinners and wept with friends.
- How to live it
- Read one of the Gospels this month. Watch Jesus closely; you are watching the Father.
The Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit, God with you
Jesus promised that when He returned to the Father He would not leave us as orphans (John 14:18). He sent the Holy Spirit: God Himself, living in everyone who believes.
He is with you forever
“And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.”
The word. “Advocate” is paraklētos (Greek, Strong’s G3875): one called to stand alongside you. It means helper, counselor, comforter and defender.
- What it meant then
- Jesus said this at the Last Supper to frightened friends who were about to lose Him.
- What it means now
- This is what “you are not alone” means. The Spirit does not visit you now and then. He stays forever.
- How to live it
- Talk to God through the day, not only at meals and bedtime. He is right there.
He teaches and reminds
“But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.”
The word. “Remind” is hupomimnēskō (Greek, Strong’s G5279): to bring back to mind, to cause to remember.
- What it meant then
- The disciples did not understand much of what Jesus said until later. The Spirit brought His words back to them, and their witness was written down for us.
- What it means now
- The same Spirit helps you understand the Bible and brings God’s Word to mind when you need it.
- How to live it
- Ask the Spirit to teach you before you read. Then expect Him to remind you when it matters.
He helps when you don’t know what to pray
“In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.”
The word. “Helps” is sunantilambanomai (Greek, Strong’s G4878): to take hold together with, like someone grabbing the other end of a heavy load.
- What it meant then
- Paul wrote to Christians in Rome about their present sufferings (Romans 8:18).
- What it means now
- When grief or pain leaves you without words, the Spirit is still praying for you.
- How to live it
- Pray even when all you can say is “Help.” He carries the rest.
He grows His fruit in you
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”
The word. “Fruit” is karpos (Greek, Strong’s G2590), and the word is singular: one fruit with nine flavors. It is grown, not manufactured.
- What it meant then
- Paul set the fruit of the Spirit against the works of the flesh. One is what we make on our own; the other is what God grows in us.
- What it means now
- Christian character is not a self-improvement project. It is the life of the Spirit showing through you.
- How to live it
- Stay connected to Jesus (John 15:5) and give the Spirit room to work. Fruit takes seasons, not minutes.
He is God’s seal on you
“And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit…”
The word. “Seal” is sphragizō (Greek, Strong’s G4972): to stamp with a seal that marks ownership.
- What it meant then
- Paul says the Spirit is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession (Ephesians 1:14).
- What it means now
- If you have believed in Jesus, the Holy Spirit is God’s mark that you are His.
- How to live it
- When you doubt you belong, remember the seal. Your security rests on God’s promise, not your performance.
Seek Him
A treasure worth everything
Jesus said the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. A man found it, and with joy he sold everything to have it. Knowing God is that treasure. It is worth seeking all our lives, and in His presence He fills us with joy (Psalm 16:11).
“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.”
“You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.”
Come in through the Gate
If you have not yet come in through the Gate, you can today. And visit a local church that teaches the Bible; the pastors there will be glad to welcome you and show you how to follow Jesus.
Scripture quotations taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Text via YouVersion.