獨一真神 ( The Only True God )

認識你獨一的真神，並認識你所差來的耶穌基督，這就是永生。(約17:3)

(Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.) (NIV)

A.「知道」(know)在先，「認識」(know)在後：

我將這些話寫給你們信奉神兒子之名的人，要叫你們知道自己有永生。我們若照他的旨意求什麼，他就聽我們，這是我們向他所存坦然無懼的心。既然知道他聽我們一切所求的，就知道我們所求於他的，無不得著。…我們知道凡從神生的，必不犯罪，從神生的，必保守自己，那惡者也就無法害他。我們知道，我們是屬神的，全世界都臥在那惡者手下。我們也知道，神的兒子已經來到，且將智慧賜給我們，使我們認識那位真實的，我們也在那位真實的裡面，…這是真神，也是永生。(約壹5:13-20)

(I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us–whatever we ask–we know that we have what we asked of him. …We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin; the one who was born of God keeps him safe, and the evil one cannot harm him. We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one. We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true. He is the true God and eternal life.)

 B. 「認識」(know)之後，「知道」(know)更多：

求我們主耶穌基督的神，榮耀的父，將那賜人智慧和啟示的靈賞給你們，使你們真知道(就是認識)他，並且照明你們心中的眼睛，使你們知道他的恩召有何等指望，他在聖徒中得的基業有何等豐盛的榮耀；並知道他向我們這信的人所顯的能力是何等浩大，就是照他在基督身上所運行的大能大力，使他從死裡復活，叫他在天上坐在自己的右邊，遠超過一切執政的、掌權的、有能的、主治的，和一切有名的；不但是今世的，連來世的也都超過了。又將萬有服在他的腳下，使他為教會作萬有之首。教會是他的身體，是那充滿萬有者所充滿的。(弗1:17-23)

(I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.)

 C. 因著「認識」(knowledge)，才有「關係」(relation)：

1. 清心的人，愛慕神。(詩73:1)

除你以外，在天上我有誰呢？除你以外，在地上我也沒有所愛慕的。(詩73:25)

2. 被贖的人，歸屬神。(出20:2)

除我以外，你不可有別的神。(出20:3)

3. 得救的人，見證神。(徒4:10)

除他以外，別無拯救；因為在天下人間，沒有賜下別的名，我們可以靠著得救。(徒4:12)