0893. 875. Three “I Knows” of Paul

875. Three “I Knows” of Paul

1. Consciousness of Sin. “I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) dwelleth no good thing” (Rom_7:18). The first step towards being right is to know that we are wrong; not merely that we have done wrong, but that the cause of wrongdoing is in the nature, which is altogether wrong. The fruit of the tree is bad because the tree itself is bad. The stream of the life is polluted because the source of the life—the heart—is defiled—Mat_15:19. To know that we are lost is the initiative to seeking that we may be saved. To see that we are under the curse will urge us to crave the blessings of the Gospel of Christ. Do we know, in the Biblical sense of knowing, that we are sinful, that is, do we not merely know it in the head, but is it a thing we have realised in our heart, so that it has made us cry out, “O wretched man that I am?”

2. Confidence in the Saviour. “I know Him whom I have believed, and I am persuaded that He is able to guard that which I have committed unto Him against that day” (2Ti_1:12, R.V.) There are many who know about Christ, but who do not know Him.

To know Christ as the Saviour, is to trust Him for salvation, and to deposit ourselves in His safe keeping, as the apostle says he had done. To know Christ as our High Priest is to be continually saved from sinning, as we come to Him in faith and prayer—Heb_7:25. To know Christ as our Prophet is to be instructed by Him and to sit at His feet, even as Mary did—Luk_10:39. To know Christ as our Lord is to recognise that we are His property, and to submit ourselves wholly to His rule—Joh_13:13-17. To know Him as the Christ is to receive Him to live and reign in us—Gal_2:20.

3. Conscience Void of Offence. “I know nothing against myself” (1Co_4:4. R.V.). The apostle did not mean to say that he had no faults or failings. As Trapp well says: “Paul a chosen vessel, but yet an earthen vessel, knew well that he had his cracks and his flaws, which God could easily find out.” What the apostle said was that, as far as his conscience went, he knew nothing against himself. To be able to honestly say this there must be (1Co_4:1) implicit obedience to the Word of God, (1Co_4:2) initiation in the ways of God, (1Co_4:3) instruction in the will of God, and (1Co_4:4) intimate fellowship with God alone.

By: DR. F. E. MARSH