I guess, my new question is… if God is God, Jesus is God and the Holy Spirit is God as well then, isn’t knowing one the same as knowing them all.
As a monotheistic religion, God is God. Sure, there are different facets of God, different experiences of God so that he can reach people where they are at in whatever they need, but ultimately, to know one would be to know all. Sure, not understanding all of God would lead to you missing out on aspects of God’s love… but, if God is one, then knowing some of God is still knowing God.
Otherwise, the idea of Christianity being a monotheistic religion would be wrong because they would be 3 separate entities and therefore 3 different Gods.
Answer:
- God exists in three persons. So, while they all are the one God in essence, they are individuals. That would mean that they each have individual personalities, while having the same character. Yet Jesus said there was a link between knowing Him and knowing the Father.
Matthew 11:27
All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal 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 14:7
If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.
John 14:9-10
Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works.
I’ve just started reading a book entitled, “Beautiful Outlaw” by John Eldredge. It was recommended to me by my son, and he has found the concept presented life transforming. It’s all about knowing Jesus, but not just conceptually. Rather, it’s knowing him as a three dimensional person – with real, individual personality. His humanity really brings that out. Knowing more about the individual personality of the Father and of the Holy Spirit is more difficult. But, as you read especially about Jesus’ interaction with them, you can get a bit of an idea about their personalities as well.
The key thing is John 14:6 “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” If you want to really know the Father, you need to come to know the Son.