One of the characteristics of a Godly man is that he is a man of knowledge. Proverbs 14:18 states that the “prudent are crowned with knowledge.” The most important knowledge within the Godly man’s head is the saving knowledge of God. This is not knowledge of God or knowledge about God, but it is an intimate awareness of who God is and what He has done. The regular man does not see the hideous evil within his own heart, and neither does he see the beauty of our savior Christ.

The Godly man, however, is taught directly by God via His Spirit (1 John 2:27). The Godly man knows of God and about God..but in Christ. Through Christ, the Godly man is made aware of the beauties of God. To know God apart from Jesus is to know God as the enemy…to know God in Christ is to know Him as both sweet and delicious. There is a great difference between one who has read of a country, or viewed it on a map, and someone else who has lived in the country and tasted of its fruits and spices. A Godly man’s knowledge has 8 ingredients:

The Godly Man’s Knowledge is Grounded

The knowledge of the Godly man is rooted in both Spirit and Word. The Word is the guide, the Spirit is the witness. What the man reads in the Bible is attested to by the Holy Spirit. A Godly man would die for this knowledge. The martyrs of both past and present times held the knowledge so dearly that they were willing to shed their own blood for it. The godly man is no different.

The Godly Man’s Knowledge is Appreciative

Once the knowledge of God is found within the man, the man values God appropriately. God, once known, is treasured above all other things. To compare other things with God is to debase His deity. It’s like seriously comparing a lightning bug to the sun.

The Godly Man’s Knowledge is Enlivening

The godless man who has knowledge is like a dead man with a torch: useless. Knowledge of Christ animates: it brings men to life. John the Baptist is mentioned in Scripture as a ‘burning and shining lamp’. He shone with the light of God to others, but he also burned white hot with affection and passion for Jesus.

The Godly Man’s Knowledge is Appropriating

The knowledge within a godly man’s skull is comforting. Like Job, we know that the Redeemer lives (Job 19:25)! We are comforted by the surety of Christ. But how do we know that we are applying Christ correctly in our lives? When He is both Jesus and Lord, of course! Many will take Christ as Savior, but refuse Him as Lord. The prophet Zechariah notes that Jesus is a “priest upon His throne”. Jesus can only intercede as priest unless He is also King. He will not intercede for your heart unless your heart is the throne upon which He swings His scepter!

The Godly Man’s Knowledge is Transforming

Just as a street painter who stares at someone’s face paints a likeness of that face, so we looking at Christ through the Gospel are changed to look like Him. The divine knowledge of Jesus transforms. Nothing else on earth does this. No sick man who has looked at a well person has become well. No ugly person has looked upon a pretty person and become beautiful. But just as the face of Moses shone after glancing at the back of God, so we too shall shine as we look upon Jesus through the lens of the Gospel.

The Godly Man’s Knowledge is Self-Emptying

Everyman knowledge brings pride into the mind, but real knowledge brings a man out of love with himself. He realizes that he is far short of where he should be. Instead of being puffed up with pride, the godly man’s knowledge brings more shame as it increases.

The Godly Man’s Knowledge is Growing

True knowledge is like the light of the morning, which increases on the horizon until it fills the atmosphere. True knowledge constantly increases in the godly man (Col 1:10).

The Godly Man’s Knowledge is Practical

Real knowledge is accompanied by obedience. True knowledge does not only improve the believer’s sight, but his pace as well. It is wrong for a man to know how he should live, and act contrary anyway. When knowledge and practice are found together, so too is joy found as well. Many during the flood saw the ark, but did not get into it. Likewise, knowledge that is not applied will only light a man to hell.