The Bible says that man's first sin involved eating the fruit of a tree that would give man certain knowledge (Genesis 2:9,17; 3:1-7). Knowledge comes from God (1 Samuel 2:3; 2 Chronicles 1:10-12; Proverbs 2:6; Colossians 2:3; Romans 11:33). Knowledge brings responsibility (Ecclesiastes 1:18; James 4: 17; Hebrews 10:26).

The Bible says that we sin when we deliberately exclude God from that which we choose to know (Romans 1:28; 10:1-2). Knowledge that is devoid of God causes us to be conceited and arrogant (1 Corinthians 8:1). When we grow in our knowledge of God we have a greater opportunity to be acceptable to Him (2 Corinthians 8:7; 2 Peter 3:18; Colossians 1:9-12; Philippians 1:9-11).

The Bible says that knowing the truth will set us free from the ignorance that often leads mankind to sin (John 8:32; 2 Corinthians 10:5). God wants mankind to know the truth (1 Timothy 2:4; Colossians 3:10). In 2 Peter 1:5-8 the Bible says, "But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, " {6} "to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, " {7} "to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. " {8} "For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. "

The Bible says that we grow in the knowledge of God by careful study of His Word (2 Timothy 2:15; 3:16-17; Acts 17:10-11; Hebrews 5:12-14, Acts 8:26-20). The miraculous knowledge that inspired writers of the Bible were given is no longer active among christians (1 Corinthians 13:8). A lack of knowledge of the Word of God keeps us from growing close to Him and from being pleasing to Him (Matthew 22:29). God will not fill us with this knowledge in a miraculous way. As Paul told Timothy so we must, "give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine... Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them.. Continue in them, for in doing this