Lesson 2: To Know God Photo: Pexels

Q2 2026 - Growing in a Relationship With God
Study for Sabbath: April 11, 2026

Memory Text

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

Central Theme

This lesson explores the foundational importance of knowing God’s character as the basis for a deepening relationship with Him. The lesson presents three critical attributes—holiness, love, and immanence—as revealed through Scripture and supremely manifested in Jesus Christ. Understanding who God truly is becomes the antidote to Satan’s ancient strategy of misrepresenting God’s character, which began in Eden and continues today.

The lesson moves from the transcendent God of Genesis 1 (Elohim, the almighty Creator) to the immanent God of Genesis 2 (Yahweh, who breathes life into Adam), culminating in Immanuel—God with us (Matthew 1:23; 28:20). This progression reveals that knowing God is not merely intellectual assent but relational encounter that transforms how we live.

Key Passages

Primary Texts

  • Genesis 3:1-5 — Satan’s strategy to misrepresent God’s character
  • Leviticus 20:26; 1 Samuel 2:2; Isaiah 57:15 — God’s holiness
  • 1 John 4:7-19 — God is love
  • Genesis 1:1 & 2:7 — God’s transcendence and immanence
  • Matthew 1:23; 28:20; John 14:9 — Jesus reveals God

Supporting Texts

  • Job 36:24–39:30 — Elihu and God’s declaration of omnipotence
  • Hebrews 1:3 — Christ as the exact imprint of God’s nature
  • John 12:32 — The cross draws all people to God
  • Acts 17:27-28 — God is not far from each one of us

Deep Discussion Questions

I. The Character Crisis: Satan’s Misrepresentation Strategy

  1. Genesis 3:1-5 reveals Satan’s core strategy: questioning God’s goodness and truthfulness. How does this primal lie (“God is withholding something good from you”) manifest in contemporary Western culture’s rejection of biblical authority? In what ways do modern Christians subtly embrace this lie while maintaining orthodox doctrine?

  2. Ellen White states: “It is Satan’s constant study to keep the minds of men occupied with those things which will prevent them from obtaining the knowledge of God.” What are the most effective distractions Satan uses in 2026 to prevent believers from truly knowing God? How do busyness, entertainment, and even religious activity become barriers to genuine knowledge of God?

  3. The lesson emphasizes that Satan “doesn’t care what kind of picture of God we have (pantheism, deism, polytheism, etc.), as long as it’s not an accurate one.” How do even well-meaning Christian traditions sometimes propagate distorted pictures of God? What systematic safeguards can we employ to ensure our theology remains grounded in Scripture rather than culture or tradition?

  4. Paul says Satan has “blinded the minds of unbelievers” (2 Cor. 4:4), yet believers can also have distorted views of God. What are the practical differences between knowing about God (intellectual knowledge) and knowing God (experiential relationship)? How does the great controversy narrative help us understand why accurate knowledge of God’s character is so crucial?

II. God’s Holiness: The Central Attribute

  1. The lesson states that “holiness is perhaps the most important characteristic to understand about God’s character.” Why is holiness foundational to all other divine attributes? How does God’s holiness make His love trustworthy, His omnipotence safe, and His omniscience comforting rather than terrifying?

  2. When Moses, Isaiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, and John encountered God’s holiness, they removed shoes, hid faces, or fell as dead. Yet Hebrews 4:16 invites us to “come boldly to the throne of grace.” How do we reconcile the terror of God’s holiness with the invitation to intimate relationship? What role does Christ’s mediation play in this paradox?

  3. The lesson defines holiness as being “completely void of and completely separated from evil and sin.” In practical terms, what does it mean for finite, fallen humans to be called to holiness (Lev. 20:26; 1 Pet. 1:13-16; Heb. 12:14)? Is progressive sanctification about becoming more like God’s holiness, or about increasingly reflecting the holiness we already possess in Christ?

  4. Revelation 4:8 shows the four living creatures continuously declaring “Holy, holy, holy.” The threefold repetition (Hebrew superlative) emphasizes the absolute nature of God’s holiness. How should contemplation of God’s holiness shape our approach to worship, prayer, Sabbath observance, and ethical decision-making?

III. God is Love: The Revealed Essence

  1. 1 John 4:8 doesn’t say “God is loving” but “God is love.” What is the theological significance of this distinction? How does understanding love as God’s essential nature (rather than merely one attribute among many) reshape our understanding of the atonement, judgment, and eternal punishment?

  2. The lesson warns that many people form their picture of God from “their human definition of love, which is always distorted and imperfect.” How have modern cultural redefinitions of love (sentimentalism, tolerance without truth, affirmation without transformation) distorted the church’s understanding of God’s character? How do we recalibrate our definition of love to be shaped by Scripture rather than culture?

  3. Hebrew hesed describes God’s covenant love encompassing “loyalty, protectiveness, steadfastness, and tenderness.” How does this covenantal framework challenge contemporary Western Christianity’s emphasis on individual choice and personal fulfillment? What does covenant love demand of us that sentimental love does not?

  4. The lesson suggests replacing “love” with “God” in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8. When we do this exercise honestly, it reveals how far we fall short of embodying God’s love. How does Romans 5:5 (“God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit”) provide hope for actually reflecting divine love rather than merely admiring it from a distance?

IV. Creation: Transcendence and Immanence

  1. Genesis 1:1 uses Elohim (almighty Creator), while Genesis 2:7 uses Yahweh Elohim (covenant God who kneels to form Adam). How does this dual presentation of God’s transcendence and immanence guard against both deism (distant God) and pantheism (God absorbed into creation)? Why do we tend to emphasize one aspect at the expense of the other?

  2. “The LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life” (Gen. 2:7). This intimate, personal act contrasts with the spoken-word creation of Genesis 1. What does this tell us about God’s valuation of humanity? How should this shape our anthropology and our approach to bioethics, social justice, and human dignity?

  3. Job 36–39 presents God’s overwhelming declaration of His power, wisdom, and sovereignty over creation. Yet this comes in the context of Job’s suffering and unanswered questions. How does God’s self-revelation through creation function as an answer to theodicy? Is it sufficient? What does it reveal about the relationship between knowing God and understanding suffering?

V. Jesus: The Clearest Revelation

  1. John 14:9: “He who has seen Me has seen the Father.” This is arguably the most profound Christological statement in Scripture. How does the incarnation function as the ultimate answer to humanity’s quest to know God? What specific aspects of Jesus’ life, teachings, death, and resurrection reveal God’s character most clearly?

  2. The lesson notes that “Immanuel” (Matt. 1:23) and “I am with you always” (Matt. 28:20) frame Matthew’s Gospel. How does the promise of God’s abiding presence transform our understanding of discipleship, suffering, mission, and hope? In what practical ways should “God with us” reshape how we approach daily anxieties, major decisions, and corporate worship?

  3. Ellen White writes: “All the paternal love which has come down from generation to generation through the channel of human hearts… are but as a tiny rill to the boundless ocean when compared with the infinite, exhaustless love of God.” If this is true, why do we so often settle for superficial knowledge of God? What spiritual disciplines most effectively lead to deeper experiential knowledge of God’s character?

VI. Practical Application and Transformation

  1. The lesson states: “The more we know about God and what He is like, the more we will love Him and desire a close and abiding relationship with Him.” Yet many Christians with extensive biblical knowledge lack vibrant relationship with God. What is the missing link? How do we move from cognitive knowledge to affective love and behavioral transformation?

  2. Paul says in Acts 17:27-28 that God “is not far from each one of us; for in Him we live and move and have our being.” How can we cultivate awareness of God’s constant presence throughout our daily routines? What practical habits or spiritual disciplines help us “practice the presence of God” in the midst of work, family, and recreation?

Ellen White Integration

Quote 1: The Great Need (Lesson Introduction)

“It is the darkness of misapprehension of God that is enshrouding the world. Men are losing their knowledge of His character. It has been misunderstood and misinterpreted. At this time a message from God is to be proclaimed, a message illuminating in its influence and saving in its power. His character is to be made known. Into the darkness of the world is to be shed the light of His glory, the light of His goodness, mercy, and truth…. The last message of mercy to be given to the world, is a revelation of His character of love.”
— Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 415

Application: This quote positions the Seventh-day Adventist message within the great controversy narrative. Our primary mission is not merely doctrinal correction but character revelation—making known who God truly is. This should shape our evangelism, Sabbath School teaching, and personal witness. We are ambassadors of God’s character, not merely defenders of doctrine.

Quote 2: Satan’s Strategy (Sunday)

“From the opening of the great controversy it has been Satan’s purpose to misrepresent God’s character and to excite rebellion against His law.”
— Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 338

Application: This reminds us that theological clarity about God’s character is not an academic luxury but spiritual warfare. Every distortion of God’s character—whether legalism that makes Him harsh, sentimentalism that makes Him permissive, or deism that makes Him distant—serves Satan’s agenda. Our study of Scripture must intentionally combat these misrepresentations.

Quote 3: The Inexhaustible Love (Friday)

“You may meditate upon it every day of your life; you may search the Scriptures diligently in order to understand it; you may summon every power and capability that God has given you, in the endeavor to comprehend the love and compassion of the heavenly Father; and yet there is an infinity beyond. You may study that love for ages; yet you can never fully comprehend the length and the breadth, the depth and the height, of the love of God in giving His Son to die for the world. Eternity itself can never fully reveal it.”
— Testimonies for the Church, vol. 5, p. 740

Application: This quote should simultaneously humble and inspire us. We will never “master” the knowledge of God; we are perpetual students. Yet this infinite depth means we will never exhaust the wonder, never reach boredom, never outgrow our need for fresh encounter with God’s character. This makes the Christian life an endless adventure of discovery.

Theological Depth

Hermeneutical Considerations

  1. Progressive Revelation: The lesson demonstrates how God reveals Himself progressively—from creation (natural revelation) to Scripture (special revelation) to the incarnation (ultimate revelation). Each stage builds upon and clarifies the previous. This informs how we read the Old Testament through the lens of Christ while honoring the integrity of each text.

  2. The Analogy of Faith: We interpret individual texts about God’s character in light of the whole counsel of Scripture. God’s wrath must be understood through the lens of His love; His justice through His mercy. Scripture interprets Scripture.

  3. The Centrality of Christ: Christology determines theology proper. Every doctrine about God must be filtered through what Jesus reveals. This is why Adventist theology properly emphasizes Christ as both Creator (John 1:3; Col. 1:16) and Redeemer—the same God who formed Adam now redeems humanity.

Systematic Theology Connections

Theology Proper (Doctrine of God):

  • The lesson balances God’s transcendence (otherness) and immanence (nearness)
  • Avoids both extreme transcendence (deism) and extreme immanence (pantheism)
  • Emphasizes both God’s absolute holiness and His self-giving love

Christology:

  • Jesus as the eikon (image) of God—not a copy but the exact representation
  • The incarnation as epistemology—we know God through Jesus
  • The dual nature of Christ reflects the dual revelation of God (Elohim/Yahweh)

Hamartiology (Doctrine of Sin):

  • Sin begins as epistemological crisis—false knowledge of God’s character
  • Rebellion stems from distorted view of God (He’s withholding good)
  • Salvation includes epistemic healing—restored knowledge of God

Soteriology:

  • Knowing God is eternal life (John 17:3)—not just intellectual knowledge but experiential relationship
  • The cross reveals God’s character most clearly (John 12:32)
  • Sanctification involves growing conformity to God’s character (2 Cor. 3:18)

Practical Application for Modern Context

For Personal Spiritual Life

  1. Daily Practice: Begin each day by reading a passage that reveals God’s character. Instead of rushing to prayer requests, spend time contemplating who you’re praying to. Let knowledge of God’s character shape your prayers.

  2. Character Journal: Keep a journal tracking what you’re learning about God’s character. When you encounter difficulty, return to what you know about God’s holiness, love, and presence.

  3. Worship Realignment: Evaluate your worship habits. Does your worship primarily focus on what God does for you (utilitarian) or on who God is (doxological)? Let knowledge of God’s character lead to authentic praise.

For Family Worship

  1. Sabbath Conversations: Use Sabbath meals to discuss “What did we learn about God’s character this week?” Make it concrete and age-appropriate. Help children see God’s love, holiness, and presence in everyday experiences.

  2. Correcting Distortions: When children express wrong ideas about God (often picked up from culture), gently correct them with Scripture. “That’s an interesting idea, but let’s see what the Bible actually says about God…”

For Church Ministry

  1. Preaching Focus: Sermons should consistently reveal God’s character. Avoid reducing God to a problem-solver or life-coach. Present the God of Scripture in all His holiness and love.

  2. Evangelism Strategy: Non-Christians often reject caricatures of God, not the God of Scripture. Ask seekers, “What is your picture of God?” Address their misconceptions with biblical revelation, especially through Jesus.

  3. Sabbath School Teaching: Model deep engagement with God’s character. Avoid merely covering lesson content; lead class to encounter God through the text. Ask character-revealing questions: “What does this passage show us about who God is?”

For Cultural Engagement

  1. Apologetics: When engaging skeptics, often their issue is not with the God of the Bible but with distorted versions they’ve encountered. Present God’s true character as revealed in Christ. Address the problem of evil not by defending God but by revealing Him.

  2. Social Media Witness: In an age of outrage and division, model God’s character. Let your online presence reflect God’s love, truth-speaking, justice-pursuing, and grace-extending character. Be quick to listen, slow to anger (James 1:19).

Conclusion: Eternal Life = Knowing God

John 17:3 defines eternal life not as endless existence but as knowing “the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.” This is revolutionary:

  • Eternal life is relational, not merely temporal. It begins now, in this life, through growing knowledge of God.
  • Quality over quantity. Knowing God transforms the nature of existence, not just its duration.
  • Christological focus. We know God through Jesus. Any attempt to know the Father apart from the Son is doomed to distortion.

The great controversy will end when God’s character is fully vindicated—when the universe sees clearly who He truly is. Our mission is to participate in that vindication by living lives that accurately reflect His holiness, love, and faithfulness. We do this not through our own effort but by beholding Him and being transformed into His image (2 Cor. 3:18).

Final Challenge: This week, commit to one specific practice that will deepen your knowledge of God’s character. Perhaps it’s reading through one Gospel to see Jesus more clearly. Perhaps it’s memorizing passages that reveal God’s attributes. Perhaps it’s spending extended time in worship, rehearsing who God is. Whatever you choose, make it concrete, measurable, and Spirit-dependent.

Additional Resources

For Further Study

  • Steps to Christ, Chapter 1 — “God’s Love for Man” (Ellen G. White)
  • The Knowledge of the Holy by A.W. Tozer — Classic work on God’s attributes
  • Knowing God by J.I. Packer — Systematic exploration of knowing God personally
  • The Desire of Ages by Ellen G. White — The most complete revelation of God’s character through Christ

Discussion Group Questions (Simplified)

  1. Which attribute of God (holiness, love, immanence) is hardest for you to grasp? Why?
  2. How has your picture of God changed over your Christian life?
  3. What practices help you know God more deeply (not just know about Him)?
  4. How can we better represent God’s character to a watching world?

Study prepared for Jonathan | April 4, 2026
Next week: Lesson 3 - [Title TBD]