What is the difference between knowing about Jesus and actually knowing Him?

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

There is a clear difference between knowing about Jesus and actually being in a personal relationship with Him. Those who truly know Jesus as their personal Savior have eternal life with Him but those who only know of Jesus will be separated from Him for all eternity. While it is true that Jesus is an admirable historical figure, He is so much more than that. As both God incarnate and Savior of the world, He invites His followers to abide in a close relationship with Him). Once we become believers, our identity changes into children of God; this emphasizes the personal nature of Jesus and the kind of relationship He desires to have with us. Thankfully, God has given us all that we need to be in a close relationship with Him right now. Along with the Scriptures, we have the Holy Spirit living inside of us who will be with us forever. Ultimately, if we truly know God, we will have a relationship with Him that can never be taken away from us.

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

• The Old Testament does not explicitly address the distinction between knowing about Jesus and actually knowing Him by name, since Jesus had not yet come in the fullness of His incarnation. However, the Old Testament emphasizes the importance of knowing God personally rather than merely knowing about Him. For example, passages like Jeremiah 9:23–24 and Hosea 6:6 highlight that true knowledge of God involves a heartfelt relationship marked by obedience, love, and humility—not just intellectual awareness or religious ritual. These themes set the foundation for the New Testament revelation that knowing Jesus is not just about information but about a personal, living relationship with God made possible through Christ.

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

• Matthew 7:21–23 clearly distinguishes the difference between knowing about Jesus and actually having a relationship with Him: "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?' And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’”
• When we become believers in Jesus Christ, we are made children of God, a very relational term (John 1:12).
• One of the beautiful blessings in knowing Jesus is that we have a life that is permanently secure in His hands. John 10:27-29 says: “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father 's hand. I and the Father are one."
• Jesus was not a mere teacher for people to imitate; He was and still is God incarnate and Savior of the world. He invites people into an active relationship with Him, and we see this clearly laid out in John 15, in which Jesus talks about what it means to abide in Christ.
• Jesus’ perfect life, death, and resurrection has provided a way for us to be reconciled with God, to be rescued from the penalty and power of sin and to come into a relationship with Him (John 3:16; 14:6).
• God has not left us alone in our efforts to truly know Him. He has given us His Word along with giving all of us who believe in Him the Holy Spirit to indwell us. In John 14:15–17 Jesus says, "If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you."

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

Knowing about someone means having knowledge of certain facts while knowing a person means having a relationship. While it is important to know about Jesus, just as we know about our friends and family members, it is vital that we actually get to know Him on a deep, personal level. This is done by listening to the things He says (reading His Word and listening through prayer), sharing our heart with Him (prayer), doing the things He desires for us to do (obedience), worshipping Him, and spending time with others who also know Him (Christian fellowship). Actually knowing Jesus is crucial because it transforms our identity, secures our eternal life, and empowers us to live with purpose, peace, and joy in this life. It is through this relationship that we experience His love, guidance, and grace personally, making faith not just knowledge but a living connection that shapes every part of who we are. Knowing Jesus is both a great privilege and the great hope of our life. As children of God, we should begin to know Him in this life before we enter into eternal life with Him.

UNDERSTAND

• Knowing about Jesus means having factual or distant knowledge of Him.
• Truly knowing Jesus involves a personal, transforming relationship with Him.
• The Bible teaches that only those who genuinely know and follow Jesus as their Savior receive eternal life and become children of God.

REFLECT

• How does what you know about Jesus differ from how you experience knowing Him personally?
• How are you cultivating your relationship with Jesus?
• What changes in your life show that your relationship with Jesus is transforming you beyond just knowing facts about Him?

ENGAGE

• Why did Jesus warn that some who know about Him won’t enter the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 7:21–23)?
• How does understanding who Jesus is affect the way we pursue a personal relationship with Him?
• What practical steps can we take individually and corporately to move from simply knowing about Jesus to truly knowing Him?