How can we know God?

"Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:" - Jeremiah 31:31 KJV

This is a prophecy of Jeremiah speaking of the new covenant. This covenant would not be the covenant of the Law, written on tables of stone.

"Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD:" - Jeremiah 31:32 KJV

This new covenant would be the LORD’s law written in their hearts.

"But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people." - Jeremiah 31:33 KJV

This new covenant would be like the covenant of the Law in that it would also be a marriage covenant. While the covenant of the Law was a covenant of Divine Justice, this new covenant would be a covenant of Divine Mercy. It would bring forgiveness of sin, and for the first time since the Garden, the LORD would fill man with His Spirit. This new covenant would be an intimate relationship between God and His people.

"And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more." - Jeremiah 31:34 KJV

The word “know” in this verse is the Hebrew word “yada.” One meaning of “yada” is, “dedicating ourselves to a person so we can engage them with our love and affection.”

Because baptism in Jesus name is a marriage covenant with the LORD, and because Jesus gives us the gift of His Spirit as a promise for entering this covenant with Him, we can see how this is an intimate relationship between Jesus and His people. Those that are part of this new covenant truly know the LORD.

This new covenant began on the Day of Pentecost. The LORD poured out His Spirit on the believers that were gathered in the upper room in Jerusalem.

"And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance." - Acts 2:1-4 KJV

The Jews that were gathered from every nation for Pentecost, when they heard the preaching of the gospel by Peter, asked Peter and the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Peter preached to them how to enter the new covenant.

"Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call." - Acts 2:38-39 KJV

"And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers." - Acts 2:40-42 KJV