The Benefits of the Son of God to us no. 10

Hath Given Us an Understanding

Wednesday, August 18, 2004

Rev. Brian Kocourek

This Evening we will study the eighth benefit or promise of God to us concerning our believing in His Son, and that is that we are given an understanding or the ability to understand. We will take our text for this promise from 1 John Chapter 5 again and verse 20.

1 John 5:20 And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.

This is the one Scripture that is used by the Oneness people to try to justify their doctrine, but if we read it slowly and clearly and read what is written by John without trying to add our own thoughts, you will see that it perfectly runs in continuity with the doctrine of Christ.

1 John 5:20 And we know that the Son of God is come, (so we se here that he is speaking of the Son of God. And he’s telling us there’s something this coming we should know.) and this coming hath given us an understanding, (in this thought John is telling us there is something that the Son of God did for us in his coming, and that is to give us understanding. And the understanding was given for the purpose) that we may know him that is true, (so we must ask ourselves this question. Was the coming of the Son of God to give us an understanding of the Son, Himself? Or did He come that we might know “HIM THAT IS TRUE” which is God!

And who do you think this one is that John is speaking of here? He said the Son of God came that we might have understanding of “HIM THAT IS TRUE”. Now, scripture tells us that Jesus did not come to declare Himself, but He came to declare the Father.)

JOHN 1:18 No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared [him].

JOHN 8:19 Then said they unto him, Where is thy Father? Jesus answered, Ye neither know me, nor my Father: if ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also.

JOHN 8:54 Jesus answered, If I honour myself, my honour is nothing: it is my Father that honoureth me; of whom ye say, that he is your God: 55 Yet ye have not known him; but I know him: and if I should say, I know him not, I shall be a liar like unto you (because you say you know Him when you don’t know him, making yourself a liar) but I know him, and keep his saying.

Now, in getting back to 1 John 5:20 And we know that the Son of God is come, and (His coming) hath given us an understanding, that we may know Him that is true, (so we see that the coming of the Son of God was to give us an understanding of the One that s True which is God and notice as John continues), and we are in Him that is true, even (the word even means in the same manner or in the same way we are) in his Son Jesus Christ. This (One that is True is) is the true God, and eternal life.

Now, that is how you read that verse of scripture. It speaks of the coming of the Son of God to make manifest or declare the Father to us in such a way that we might know and understand the Father as never known and understood prior to this coming.

Now, brother Branham taught us that God interprets His Word by bringing it to pass. Therefore it takes manifestation of the Word to bring to us full understanding of that Word.

So we see that one of the benefits of the Son of God to us is that it has brought to us an understanding of Who God our Father is. For without seeing the Son of God playing out His role with the Father, we would not truly understand who the Father is nor our role that we must play as sons, and thus we would not understand “Him that is True, the only God.”

So this evening and tomorrow morning we will examine this understanding that we have been given concerning our relationship with the One that IS True, Which is God our Father.

Now, although the Son of God came to give us understanding, Paul told us that now we see through a glass darkly, but at the Parousia we shall see Face to Face which is Presence to Presence. He said, now we know in part, then shall we know even as we are known.

Now, we find in 1 Peter 1: 13 that speaks of the unveiling of Christ that it is a time of a certain grace upon the church.

I PETER 1:13 ¶ Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

And we also find in 1 Corinthians 1 Paul speaking of this same thing.

I CORINTHIANS 1:4 I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ; 5 That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and [in] all knowledge; 6 Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you: 7 So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ: 8 Who shall also confirm you unto the end, [that ye may be] blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God [is] faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord. 10 ¶ Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and [that] there be no divisions among you; but [that] ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.

I JOHN 2:19They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would [no doubt] have continued with us: but [they went out], that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us. 20 ¶ But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things. 21 I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth. 22 Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son. 23 Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: [(but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also]. 24 Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father. 25 And this is the promise that he hath promised us, [even] eternal life. 26 These [things] have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you. 27 But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him. 28 ¶ And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming. 29 If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him.

Ephesians 1:18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,

Hebrews 10:16 This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;

Hebrews 8:10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:

Is it because the believer is more intelligent than the unbeliever? Is it because we are so much better than the rest? I don't think it has anything to do with us, but it has all to do with God's choice. 1 Cor. 4:7 "Who maketh thee to differ from another? And what hast thou that thou didst not receive? Now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?". Then. it is God himself who makes the elect to differ from the non-elect. How is it that we might understand while others, try that they might, never seem to come to a knowledge of the truth?

Without understanding the Godhood of God we will never understand His Sovereignty, and without understanding His Godhood we will never understand God. Who He is and Why He does what He does. Our conception then of God becomes only one that is made up in the minds of men. The God of our imagination.

Notice that the carnal man can never understand God. I CORINTHIANS 2:9 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. 10 But God hath revealed [them] unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. 11 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. 12 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.

Now, the carnal man, will not even come to the Light which means he will not come to gain understanding, but rather he flees from the light. JOHN 3:19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.

PROVERBS 14:12 There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof [are] the ways of death. PROVERBS 16:9 A man's heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps. You see, we don't even understand God's ways, or his thoughts, therefore how could we ever on our own choose the way that would be pleasing to Him.

That's why we read in 1 Corinthians 2 that we need God's own Spirit in us if we are to understand His Word. 10 But God hath revealed [them] unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. 11 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.

MARK 4:11 And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all [these] things are done in parables: 12 That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and [their] sins should be forgiven them.

1 Cor. 4:7 "Who maketh thee to differ from another? And what hast thou that thou didst not receive? Now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?". It is God himself who makes the elect to differ from the non-elect. How is it that we might understand while others, try that they might, never seem to come to a knowledge of the truth?

MATTHEW 13:11 He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.1 John 5:20 "And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true"

I CORINTHIANS 1:18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. 20 Where [is] the wise? where [is] the scribe? where [is] the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? 21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. 22 For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: 23 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; 24 But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. 25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men. 26 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, [are called]: 27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; 28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, [yea], and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: 29 That no flesh should glory in his presence. 30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: 31 That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

Now in getting back to Matthew 13:13 Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. 14 And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive: 15 For this people's heart is waxed gross, ( remember the heart always refers to their understanding, and therefore if their heart has waxed gross it means their understanding has hardened or thickened, or crystallized and they can not learn anything more than what they already know, like Lot's wife who also crystallized and stopped right in her footsteps and could go no further. And when you stop learning, you become stupid, and that is exactly what the Greek definition says. 1) to make thick, to make fat, fatten; metaph. to make stupid (to render the soul dull or callous) And Jesus continues by saying, and [their] ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; (hey close them, therefore this ignorance is a willful ignorance) lest at any time they should see with [their] eyes, and hear with [their] ears, and should understand with [their] heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. 16 But blessed [are] your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.17 For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous [men] have desired to see [those things] which ye see, and have not seen [them]; and to hear [those things] which ye hear, and have not heard [them].

JOB 32:8 But [there is] a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding.

MARK 4:1 And he began again to teach by the sea side: and there was gathered unto him a great multitude, so that he entered into a ship, and sat in the sea; and the whole multitude was by the sea on the land. 2 And he taught them many things by parables, and said unto them in his doctrine, 3 Hearken; Behold, there went out a sower to sow: 4 And it came to pass, as he sowed, some fell by the way side, and the fowls of the air came and devoured it up. 5 And some fell on stony ground, where it had not much earth; and immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth of earth: 6 But when the sun was up, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away. 7 And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choked it, and it yielded no fruit. 8 And other fell on good ground, and did yield fruit that sprang up and increased; and brought forth, some thirty, and some sixty, and some an hundred. 9 And he said unto them, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear. 10 And when he was alone, they that were about him with the twelve asked of him the parable. 11 And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all [these] things are done in parables: 12 That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and [their] sins should be forgiven them. 13 And he said unto them, Know ye not this parable? and how then will ye know all parables? 14 The sower soweth the word. 15 And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts. 16 And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness; 17 And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word's sake, immediately they are offended. 18 And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word, 19 And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful. 20 And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as #1) hear the word, and #2) receive [the word], and #3) bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred.

#1) Must hear it, means to understand it

.#2) Must receive it, the word used is paradechomai and means to acknowledge as one's own. This word is made up of two words, para meaning beside, with, or near, and the word dechomai which means - receive -- accept -- take up as your own... 1) to take with the hand 2) to take up, receive2b) to receive or grant access to, a visitor, not to refuse intercourse or friendship; to receive hospitality; to receive into one's family to bring up or educate2c) of the thing offered in speaking, teaching, instructing; to receive favourably, give ear to, embrace, make one's own, approve, not to reject2d) to receive. i.e. to take upon one's self, sustain, bear, endure3) to receive, get, to learn

JOHN 8:37 I know that ye are Abraham's seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you 38 I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father. 39 They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham's children, ye would do the works of Abraham. 40 But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham. 41 Ye do the deeds of your father. Then said they to him, We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, [even] God. 42 Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me. 43 Why do ye not understand my speech? [even] because ye cannot hear my word. 44 Ye are of [your] father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. 45 And because I tell [you] the truth, ye believe me not. 46 Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me? 47 He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear [them] not, because ye are not of God.

Here we see three characteristics of the natural man, or the man who has not been born again. These three characteristics are found in every man that is not born again. And they are... #1) He can not receive the things of God.#2) Because the things of God are foolishness to him.#3) because he just can not understand them.

PSALMS 1:1 Blessed [is] the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. 2 But his delight [is] in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. 3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. 4 The ungodly [are] not so: but [are] like the chaff which the wind driveth away. 5 Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. 6 For the LORD knoweth the way (That Greek word is Derek, and means the course of Life) of the righteous: but the way (the course of Life) of the ungodly shall perish. Knoweth = yada' 1b1) to be made known, be/become known, be revealed to make oneself known: to be perceived : to be instructed, to cause to know to make oneself known, reveal oneself... Therefore we see that the Lord actively works in the Life of the righteous, to make sure that the Righteous understands the True Revelation and disclosure of God. In other words, God purposes in His heart to make sure that His kids know Him. Now that sounds like a real dad, doesn't it? But with the ungodly it is not so. Notice what is said about the ungodly... : but the way (the course of Life) of the ungodly shall perish ( 'abad = be lost, strayed to give up (as lost)

16 Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, (When what shall turn to the Lord?, notice he is speaking about the heart, which is the understanding, then what happens?) the veil shall be taken away.( The blindness shall be taken away... )

I CORINTHIANS 13: 9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. 10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. And there is no one perfect but God... Then this speaks of when He, God comes... 11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child,(why did I understand like a child?) I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face, (Face to face? That word is personal presence. Therefore, there is coming a time when I will see Him Presence to Presence. ) now I know in part; but then ( When? At that time that He is personally here,) then shall I know even as also I am known. Know = epiginosko , to become thoroughly acquainted with, to know thoroughly; to know accurately, know well... to recognize; by sight, hearing, of certain signs, to perceive who a person is...then will I understand...

ISAIAH 28:8 For all tables are full of vomit [and] filthiness, [so that there is] no place [clean]. 9 Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? That's the message! [them that are] weaned from the milk, [and] drawn from the breasts. 10 For precept [must be] upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, [and] there a little: 11 For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people. 12 To whom he said, This [is] the rest [wherewith] ye may cause the weary to rest; and this [is] the refreshing: yet they would not hear. 13 But the word of the LORD was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, [and] there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken.

Because the knowledge of ourselves comes from the knowledge we receive in Knowing God. In Colossians 3:4 When Christ, [who is] our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. This tells us that When Christ Manifests in His true character we shall do the same. Again we see in 1 John 3: 1-2 the same thing. 1b therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. The world can never know themselves because they can never know Him. If you do not see the correct understanding of the Godhead, you will never really know who you are, you can't know who you are. 2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

Notice the little things Jesus kept doing to help these two come to an understanding. Every thing He did was with the purpose in mind to show them the light of what had just taken place in their day and He took everything to the Word, and by the Word revealed the day and it's condition. 32 And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures? Look at the reaction of these men. Their hearts begin to burn within them, and when this began to burn up inside it isn't long before you want to go and tell others what has happened. 33 And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them, 34 Saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon. 35 And they told what things [were done] in the way, and how he was known of them in breaking of bread. Notice the first reaction was to go and share this wonderful thing to others.

42 And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb. 43 And he took [it], and did eat before them. 44 And he said unto them, These [are] the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and [in] the prophets, and [in] the psalms, concerning me. 45 Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, Now, by this time they had known Him and followed him for 3 -1/2 years and yet they still had not their eyes opened to what was happening in their day. 46 And He said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: 47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 And ye are witnesses of these things. 49 And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high. 50 And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them. 51 And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven. 52 And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy: 53 And were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen.

Now, with this in mind, then what ought our attitude be towards others who are struggling to understand. Jesus never just wrote them off, but he went after them, not with a whip, that was for the unbelievers who hated the Light. What Jesus did was to give them example after example of resurrection presence, resurrection evidence, showing resurrection life.

Book of Exodus 1 55-1005 P:8 Jesus said, "Except a man be born again, he cannot understand the Kingdom of heaven." There's no way of understanding it until you are born again, and then God reveals Himself to you, and then you know that you've passed from death unto Life, because no man can call Jesus the Christ, only by the Holy Spirit. See? The only way that you'll ever know that Jesus is the Christ, is when the Holy Spirit personally witnesses to you that He is the resurrected Lord Jesus. No matter what He would do, what kind of signs, what kind of miracles, you'll never know it until your personal experience with God. You say, "Well, I believe it because the Bible said so." Well, that's good. The Bible, it's true. It knows it. "Well, the preacher said so." Perhaps, he knows it. "Mother said so." She knows it. But what do you know about it? You'll never know it until it's revealed to you individually by the Holy Spirit. And then, by accepting it, you become a new creature in Christ Jesus, born a second time.