What does it truly mean to know God? Many believers assume eternal life simply means living forever in heaven, but Jesus defined eternal life differently. In John 17:3, He said eternal life is knowing the only true God and Jesus Christ whom He sent. In this Light on Life podcast, we explore the book of First John to discover what it really means to know God, why that relationship is available to every believer, and how it grows through obedience, holiness, and love. If you desire a deeper walk with God and want to understand how eternal life begins now—not just in heaven—this teaching will help you pursue a life of growing fellowship with Him. Why John’s Viewpoint on Knowing God Stimulates Heart Growth. That’s our focus on this week’s Light on Life.

This Week: Discover what it really means to know God and why eternal life begins the moment you walk in fellowship with Him.

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You can view a basic transcript of this podcast at the bottom of this section.

Accept the Challenge

Each week’s podcast contains a call to action. The Word of God will not produce in your life unless you put into operation.
This weeks call is:

Know Him. Walk With Him. Grow

This week, take intentional steps to grow in knowing God.

Set aside time each day to open your Bible, talk with Him in prayer, and respond to what He shows you. Don’t settle for simply knowing facts about God—pursue a living relationship with Him.

Remember: Eternal life is not just something waiting in heaven. It begins right now as you learn to know the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ.

Join the Conversation

Each week’s podcast also contains a question designed to encourage testimony. Testimony is vital to a believers life. We overcome by it (Rev. 12:11).

This week’s question is:

When you think about your relationship with God, do you find yourself mainly knowing facts about Him—or walking with Him daily?

Share: What is one practical step you can take this week to deepen your relationship with God?

Remember: Knowing God is not a one-time moment—it is a lifelong journey that grows deeper every day.

About Emery

Emery committed his life to the Lord Jesus Christ over 49 years ago and has served as both a full-time pastor and an itinerant minister. Both he and his wife Sharon of 44 years emphasize personal growth and development through the Word of God. The ministry of the Holy Spirit is both the focus and the hallmark of their mission. Read more about them here.

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Podcast Notes:

• Well again, welcome.
• Let’s talk to God.

Father God, we call you Father because that’s who you are to us. Help us today. Grant unto us a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of you. We ask this in Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Knowing God: Introductory Matters

• In our previous teaching, we saw that walking with God is not a once-a-week experience — it is a moment-to-moment life of constant contact.
• We learned that responsiveness requires real-time connection: leaning our mind on the Lord for perfect peace, staying prayerfully engaged, and choosing Him over distraction.
• We saw that constant contact increases awareness of His Presence, turns wells into rivers, and protects spiritual progress.
• And here was the key: contact doesn’t drift into your life — you choose it.
• Now, with that foundation laid, we take the next step.
• Because constant contact leads somewhere.
• It leads to knowing God better.
• And here is the great truth of the Christian life: eternal life is learning to know God.
• And that’s our focus today:

Knowing God Via First John: John Knew God

• We are in the book of First John.
• And if anyone understood what it meant to know God — it was John.
• John was the beloved disciple.
• He leaned on Jesus’ chest at the Last Supper.
• He stood at the cross.
• He saw the empty tomb.
• He handled the resurrected Jesus.

1 John 1:1 (NASB 2020) — 1 What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the Word of Life

• Now listen closely.
• John wrote this letter of First John late in the first century — nearly sixty years after the resurrection.
• He was not a young minister anymore.
• He was an elder statesman.
• A spiritual father.
• While living in Ephesus — and caring for Mary, the mother of Jesus — he wrote this letter as a circular message to believers throughout Asia Minor.
• Why?
• Because the Church was under attack.
• False teachers had infiltrated the region.
• Their name? Gnostics.
• Secret knowledge was their calling card.
• Gnostics denied the true humanity of Jesus.
• They dismantled His deity.
• All the while living morally bankrupt lives.
• In other words — the Gnostics redefined what it meant to “know” God.
• So John writes to set the record straight.
• He writes to anchor believers in eternal life.
• He writes to define what knowing God really is.
• And here’s what is notable.
• Today, gnosticism is insignificant to the ‘Jesus Is Lord’ gospel.
• But, Jesus followers are still reading John, two billion believers strong.
• Why?
• Because as Peter said,

1 Peter 1:24–25 (NASB 2020) — 24 For, “ALL FLESH IS LIKE GRASS, AND ALL ITS GLORY IS LIKE THE FLOWER OF GRASS. THE GRASS WITHERS, AND THE FLOWER FALLS OFF, 25 BUT THE WORD OF THE LORD ENDURES FOREVER.” And this is the word which was preached to you.

• False systems rise and fall.
• But, the Word remains.
• So the real question becomes:
• What did John understand about knowing God that error could not erase?
• And how does his viewpoint stimulate heart growth in us today?

Knowing God Via First John: Available to All

• Let’s take a dive.
• John presents knowing God as available to all.

1 John 1:3 (NASB 2020) — 3 what we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ.

• You too may have fellowship with God.
• The Greek word fellowship is the one we want to look at and with that thought, here is the Definition of the Day.
• Fellowship is partnership.
• It is the act of sharing in the activities or privileges of an intimate association with God.
• This association is available to all.

Hebrews 8:8–12 (NASB 2020) — 8 For in finding fault with the people, He says, “BEHOLD, DAYS ARE COMING, SAYS THE LORD, WHEN I WILL BRING ABOUT A NEW COVENANT WITH THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL AND THE HOUSE OF JUDAH, 9 NOT LIKE THE COVENANT WHICH I MADE WITH THEIR FATHERS ON THE DAY I TOOK THEM BY THE HAND TO BRING THEM OUT OF THE LAND OF EGYPT; FOR THEY DID NOT CONTINUE IN MY COVENANT, AND I DID NOT CARE ABOUT THEM, SAYS THE LORD. 10 “FOR THIS IS THE COVENANT WHICH I WILL MAKE WITH THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL AFTER THOSE DAYS, DECLARES THE LORD: I WILL PUT MY LAWS INTO THEIR MINDS, AND WRITE THEM ON THEIR HEARTS. AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE. 11 “AND THEY WILL NOT TEACH, EACH ONE HIS FELLOW CITIZEN, AND EACH ONE HIS BROTHER, SAYING, ‘KNOW THE LORD,’ FOR THEY WILL ALL KNOW ME, FROM THE LEAST TO THE GREATEST OF THEM. 12 “FOR I WILL BE MERCIFUL TOWARD THEIR WRONGDOINGS, AND THEIR SINS I WILL NO LONGER REMEMBER.”

• Did you hear this?
• ALL shall know me (emphasis on ALL).
• Knowing God is every child of God’s Covenant right.
• Jesus died to purchase it.
• Since ALL shall know me, there is no part of ALL that does not include you.

1 John 2:13 (NASB 2020) — 13 I am writing to you, fathers, because you know Him who has been from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I have written to you, children, because you know the Father.

• Young and old can know God.
• It’s available to all.

Knowing God Via First John: What Knowing God Is

• John left us no doubt as to what knowing God is.

1 John 1:2 (NASB 2020) — 2 and the life was revealed, and we have seen and testify and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was revealed to us—

• Two things about this life.
• First, the life was revealed.
• The word revealed means something brought out into the open so it can be both seen and understood by the brain.¹
• Second, the life and eternal life mentioned in verse is the same life.
• Eternal life can be seen.
• In verse one, John said, we saw and we handled the Word of life.
• Eternal life can be seen.
• John handled the life — now let’s hear Jesus define what this life is.

John 17:3 (NASB 2020) — 3 And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.

• Eternal life is not length of life, it’s quality of life.
• People get hung up on the word eternal equating it with eternity.
• Eternal life is not length of life, it’s knowing God.
• This knowing, you come to possess, goes with you to heaven forever.
• You never lose this knowledge of Him because it is not a one-time discovery.
• It’s a life of increasing understanding.

Mark 4:24–25 (NASB 2020) — 24 And He was saying to them, “Take care what you listen to. By your standard of measure it will be measured to you; and more will be given you besides. 25 For whoever has, to him more will be given; and whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.”

• Hear the increase.
• More is added to the person who has.
• If you know God a little, more is added as you walk with Him.
• Walking this journey of discovery is eternal life.
• How does this work in my every day life?
• You’re reading your Bible with Him and you say, “Lord give me a spirit of wisdom and of revelation so I can know You.”
• In response, your spirit wells up in you during the course of time because the Holy Spirit, the Master teacher, uncovers something of God to you.
• He’s elevating your thinking to think like God thinks.
• This is life.
• Have you ever watched the show, ‘This Is Your Life?’
• Well, this is yours: know God and tell others about Him.
• As you do, He adds more to you.
• This continuous increase continues when we leave Planet Earth.

Ephesians 2:4–7 (NASB 2020) — 4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our wrongdoings, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the ages to come He might show the boundless riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

• ‘In the ages to come’ means we get to learn about Him here on Planet Earth and later, on Planet Heaven.
• God will show you the riches of His grace.
• Get dressed for the show!
• Knowing God is an epic journey that takes you right through eternity.
• John so wanted believers to have confidence about eternal life in this life.

1 John 5:13 (NASB 2020) — 13 These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.

• You must KNOW you have access to eternal life, to knowing God.
• The Greek word ‘know’ used here means to be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about.
• ‘Those of you, who believe in Jesus, understand this piece of info, you know God.’
• You see, believing in Jesus is the gateway to knowing God.
• The Blood of Jesus made this possible.
• His sacrifice paved the WAY for ALL to know God.
• Now that we know what knowing God is, we must also understand what it is not.

Knowing God Via First John: What Knowing God Isn’t

It’s Not Experiences

1 John 1:1–2 (NASB 2020) — 1 What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the Word of Life—2 and the life was revealed, and we have seen and testify and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was revealed to us—

• What was from the beginning? — This eternal life.
• There are several huge paint brush strokes that make the picture clear.
• The first stroke is in John chapter one.

John 1:1 (NASB 2020) — 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

• The second is in John six.

John 6:63 (NASB 2020) — 63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh provides no benefit; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit, and are life.

• Here it is as bold as midnight.
• Jesus is the Word — His Words are spirit and life — given by the Holy Spirit.
• The result? — A quality of life called eternal.
• So, knowing God is not just individual experiences with God.
• Now some contradict this by saying that it’s really hard to know God, because “God moves in mysterious ways, His wonders to perform.”
• Actually as you gain Holy Spirit Word of God insight into Him, you will find that His ways are not so mysterious.
• Part of the confusion comes in not separating God’s ways from His acts.

Psalm 103:7 (NASB 2020) — 7 He made known His ways to Moses, His deeds to the sons of Israel.

• God showed both His ways and His deeds to Moses.
• Deeds and ways are not the same.
• The children of Israel witnessed God’s mighty deeds.
• What did they do with those experiences?
• They proved they didn’t know God by worshipping a cow!
• People have experiences with God and not know Him.
• They prove it by becoming shrine-builders.
• They set up base camp at the experience and sell tickets to the event.
• The New Testament story bears the same message.
• There is a differential between God’s Ways and His deeds.

Philippians 3:8–11 (NASB 2020) — 8 More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them mere rubbish, so that I may gain Christ, 9 and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, 10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; 11 if somehow I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.

• Philippians was feather-penned by Paul over two decades after he met Jesus.
• He is still striving to know God, yet the man had a supernatural blinding experience on the Damascus road.
• Paul’s response to that experience? — “Who are you Lord?”
• God knocked Paul flat and he didn’t know who it was that hit him!
• This once in a life-time experience left Paul longing to know the Mighty God that crossed his path.
• Experience alone is a flopping failure.
• Yet we see people bungee-jumping from one experience to another.
• Their so intent about it that they build shrines around experiences.
• People get stuck because miracles do not propel partnership.
• What they do is open the opportunity for one.
• You see God will sometimes block a man’s way ‘Paul-style’ and then, stepping to his side, will reach out His hand and say ‘Let’s walk together.’
• In that walking, comes the knowing.
• In that knowing is life.

It’s Not the Saying the Sinner’s Prayer

• Knowing God doesn’t come by saying the sinner’s prayer.
• People drive by the Cross all the time, bow, and say a ten second “i sorry, please forgive me’ prayer and no more know God than you’re an elephant.

2 Timothy 1:12 (NASB 2020) — 12 For this reason I also suffer these things; but I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that He is able to protect what I have entrusted to Him until that day.

• Paul said I know whom I have believed.
• You can believe God and not know God.
• How sad?
• Has your knowing God journey taken off?
• Why wait until you get to heaven to begin the journey?
• Redeem the time today.
• Increase the depth of your relationship with God.

Knowing God Via First John: Are You Increasing?

• Increase is the language of heaven.
• God is never stagnant.
• He is always moving forward.
• Match His momentum.

Colossians 1:9–10 (NASB 2020) — 9 For this reason we also, since the day we heard about it, have not ceased praying for you and asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10 so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;

• Listen to these last words.
• Paul prayed for the Colossian church that they might increase in the knowledge of God.
• Increase means grow bigger, greater, and larger.
• This is the phenomenon that propels.

Knowing God Via First John: Areas To Increase In Knowing of God

• With that thought, here is the Question of the Day.
• “If I am to truly know God, where should that knowledge grow and show?”

Not In the Storage of Facts

• Knowing God should not show in the storage of facts.

During Abraham Lincoln’s presidency, countless Americans knew facts about him. They knew he had been a lawyer in Illinois. They knew he had failed countless times. They knew he delivered the Gettysburg Address. They knew his policies and speeches. But Lincoln’s closest friends said something different. They said if you truly wanted to know Lincoln, you had to walk with him, hear him think out loud, and watch how he carried the burdens of the nation. Many Americans knew Lincoln the president. Only a few knew Lincoln the man.

• The same thing is true in this Jesus walk.
• People may know facts about God, quote scriptures about Him, and discuss doctrines about Him — yet never actually know Him.
• If want to truly know God, walk with Him, hear Him think out loud in your spirit, and watch how He runs the universe.
• He will give you a ring-side seat.

Keeping God’s Commandments

• Knowing God should show in the keeping of His commandments.
• John blasts this message in this letter.

1 John 2:3–4 (NASB 2020) — 3 By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments. 4 The one who says, “I have come to know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him;

• Knowing God and being disobedient to God is a slippery slope to nowhere.
• Liar is the strongest of terms.
• It’s a hell-bound word.

Revelation 21:8 (NASB 2020) — 8 But for the cowardly, and unbelieving, and abominable, and murderers, and sexually immoral persons, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”

• Keeping His commandments is an indicator.
• It means truth reigns here.
• Jesus said, ‘God’s Word is truth.’ [John 17:17]
• You get the picture.
• To know God, you must have the reality of His Word in your heart and commit to acting on the same.
• Your outside actions then telegraph the inside work.
• Continual inaction where God’s Word is concerned is a huge red flag.

John 14:15 (NASB 2020) — 15 “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.

• That’s as clear as can be.
• ‘I will’ is the strongest assertion in the English language.
• I will do the Word.
• Word doers are God lovers and God lovers are God knowers.
• If you say you know God but have no interest in obeying Him, there is something powerfully wrong with that claim.

Separating from Sin

• Knowing God should show in the separation from sin.

1 John 1:4–6 (NASB 2020) — 4 These things we write, so that our joy may be made complete. 5 This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth;

• You have to love verse four.
• “These things I podcast to you that your joy may be full.”
• What things.
• God is Light and in Him is NO darkness at all.
• One hundred percent light, zero darkness is the mark.
• Mark this down.
• When you know God, your relationship with darkness, must be severed.
• Sin is darkness and it is never comfortable for the man of light.
• It’s an irreconcilable relationship.
• There must be a divorce.
• You will hear that message multiple times as we go through this series, line upon line.
• Take note of this repetition by the Spirit of God.
• It always means importance.
• The wise man will get a clue.

Loving the Brethren

• Knowing God should show in the loving of your fellow brother in Christ.

1 John 3:14–16 (NASB 2020) — 14 We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers and sisters. The one who does not love remains in death. 15 Everyone who hates his brother or sister is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life remaining in him. 16 We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers and sisters.

• Hatred is not the eternal life of God.
• The word should never pass the roof of your mouth.
• Saying you hate someone raises eyebrows in heaven.
• The devil and his works are fair game.
• You can hate darkness once you see who it’s marred mankind who are made in the image of God.

James 3:7–10 (NASB 2020) — 7 For every species of beasts and birds, of reptiles and creatures of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by the human race. 8 But no one among mankind can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people, who have been made in the likeness of God; 10 from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brothers and sisters, these things should not be this way.

• A lover and knower of God should never allow blessing AND cursing to come out of the same mouth.
• Even using the word ‘hate’ in connection with the material world is not great practice.
• “I hate spinach.”
• No, you don’t.
• You dislike spinach.
• Isn’t this much better?
• Why even use the word hate at all?
• Stay on solid ground.
• Cut the word hate straight out of your life.
• If you know God, you will love people who are made in the image of God.
• Because when you truly know God, His character begins to shape your life.

Knowing God Via First John: Putting the Word Into Action

• Knowing God is not reserved for a select few spiritual giants.
• It is the daily privilege of every believer who walks with Him.
• Every believer means you.
• John shows us that eternal life is not simply something waiting for us in heaven—it BEGINS the moment we enter a living relationship with God through the Lord Jesus Christ.
• Knowing God continues to grow the same way every relationship grows: through time, attention, and response.
• You grow in knowing God when you open His Word and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal Him to you.
• You grow in knowing God when you obey what He reveals to you, even when it challenges your habits or thinking.
• You grow in knowing God when you turn away from sin.
• Increased relationship occurs by loving fellow believers.
• And, by putting away sin allowing His character to shape your life.
• The question is not whether God desires to be known.
• He already proved His desire by making the way for you through the Resurrection of Jesus.
• The real question is whether we will pursue this relationship.
• The invitation is simple: walk with Him today.
• Because the more you walk with God, the more you will know Him—and the more you will experience eternal life.
• If this teaching helped you understand what it truly means to know God, share this episode with someone who is hungry to grow deeper in their relationship with Him.
• And if you want to continue growing in your walk with God, explore more verse-by-verse Bible teaching at Light on Life.
• Visit: www.emeryhorvath.com.
• There you will find hundreds of podcast episodes, study resources, and Bible teaching designed to help you walk with God every day.

Now Father God, thank you for making the way for us to get to know You. It’s the greatest thing in our life. Nothing beats knowing you. It’s of infinite value to us. It is the pearl of great price. We’re excited and honored to be able to encounter you. We give you all the praise and glory for this in Jesus’ Name, Amen.

• Why John’s Viewpoint on Knowing God Stimulates Heart Growth.
• You guys have a great God week and we will see you next time for another edition of Light on Life.

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