How Do I Know That I'm Truly Known by Jesus?
When I Thought I Knew God… But I Didn’t Know Him Personally
When I look back on my life, I can see something clearly now that I couldn’t see then:
I was walking in the dark… and didn’t even realize it.
For a long time, I thought, “I’ve got this.”
But I didn’t see the stronghold the enemy had on me.
I didn’t understand what Jesus had truly done for me on the cross.
And honestly, there were moments I even wondered if I was losing my mind.
But the truth was this:
I didn’t know Jesus the way I thought I did.
God Was Reaching Me Before I Even Realized It
Slowly, something started to change.
I began listening to Word FM.I started reading the Bible.
And little by little… something clicked.
The same God I thought was distant had actually been speaking to me all along.
Even my confusion…even my pain…even the path I thought was “off”…
God was using it to draw me closer to Him.
And I realized something that changed everything:
I had known of God… but now I was beginning to know Him.
What Jesus Says About Being “Known”
Then I came to Matthew 7:21–23, and it stopped me:
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom…”
That’s a heavy truth.
Because Jesus is saying:
You can say the right things.
Do spiritual things.
Even look like a believer...
…and still not truly belong to Him.
Why?
Because the difference isn’t performance—
It’s relationship.
Being known by Jesus means you actually walk with Him.
So How Do You Know If You’re Truly Known by Jesus?
This is the question that changed everything for me.
And here’s what I’ve learned—not perfectly, but personally:
1. You begin to respond to Him—not ignore Him
Before, I ignored conviction.
Now, when God nudges me, I notice it.
Sometimes I still miss it—like the time I felt prompted to wait for a student at work… and didn’t.
It seemed small, but I felt it afterward.
That’s when I realized:
Being known by Jesus means you recognize His voice and begin to respond.
2. You talk to Him—and it’s real, not routine
Prayer stopped being something I “should do”…
and became something I needed.
Not perfect words.
Not structured.
Just honest.
Being known by Jesus means you actually talk to Him—and want to.
3. You start to change from the inside out
This was one of the biggest signs for me.
Things I used to justify…started to bother me.
Things I used to chase…lost their grip.
God began producing something new in me:
more patience
more love
less attachment to old habits
a desire to read His Word
That’s not self-improvement—that’s transformation.
And only God can do that.
4. You begin to trust Him—even when it’s hard
Following Jesus doesn’t mean everything becomes clear.
It means you keep walking—even when it isn’t.
I’ve had moments where I didn’t understand what God was doing…
but I chose to trust Him anyway.
Being known by Jesus means you follow Him—even in the unknown.
5. You stay connected—not perfectly, but consistently
This is important.
It’s not about being perfect.
It’s about staying connected.
For me, that looks like:
going back to Him when I mess up
staying in His Word
learning, growing, adjusting
Being known by Jesus means you remain in relationship—not just visit it.
What “Knowing Jesus” Really Means
Jesus says in John 17:3:
“This is eternal life: that they know You…”
Knowing Him isn’t:
just knowing Scripture
just going to church
just doing good things
It’s experiencing Him.
For me, that looks like:
feeling conviction when I’m off
choosing love when it costs me
seeing my heart change over time
It’s lived.
It's real.
It's personal.
A Final Truth
Here’s what I’ve learned through all of this:
You don’t have to have it all figured out.
You don’t have to be perfect.
But you do have to be willing to:
trust Him
talk to Him
listen to Him
follow Him
Because in the end—
Being known by Jesus isn’t about what you do for Him…it’s about whether you actually walk with Him.
A Question for You
Take a moment and ask yourself:
Do I just know about Jesus—or do I actually know Him?
Am I responding when He speaks to me?
Is my life being changed by Him over time?
This is what I’ve come to understand:
Christianity isn’t about getting everything right.
It's about being in a real relationship with the One who makes you new.
And when you walk with Him—
He doesn’t just know your name…
He knows your heart.
I look back on my life, I realized that for a long time, I walked in the dark.
For two years, I thought, "I got this."
I didn't see the stronghold the enemy had on me.
I ignored Jesus' sacrifice on the cross, even though He suffered for me personally.
I didn't understand it - I thought maybe I was going crazy.
But slowly, God began to reach me.
I started listening to Word FM, reading the Bible, and then, something clicked...
The same God I had felt distant from had been speaking to me the whole time.
I began to understand that my crooked path, my pain, even the confusions I felt - it was all Him calling me closer.
I realized something profound:
I had known God all along; I just didn't know it yet.
This, I believe, is the heart of true Christianity.
In Matthew 7:21-23, Jesus warns that not everyone who calls Him "Lord" or does spiritual works is truly in the kingdom.
Miracles, gifts, even sacrifices don't guarantee we belong to Him.
They key reality is that
Jesus must know us personally, and our lives must reflect obedience to God's will.
Jesus' warning in Matthew 7:21-23 is simple but powerful:
doing spiritual things doesn't prove you belong to Him - being known by Jesus does.
True Christianity is relational, not performative.
So, how do we build a personal relationship with Jesus?
Here's how to live it out in real life:
Trust, Talk, Listen, Follow
A relationship with Jesus is just that - a relationship. It goes when we:
Trust Him for forgiveness and guidance
Talk to Him through honest, daily prayer
Listen to Him through Scripture and conviction.
Follow Him by obeying, even in small things
Remain in Him consistently, not perfectly.
For me, this looked like paying attention when God convicted me, even when I didn't fully understand it.
Sometimes I got it wrong - like the time I ignored His prompting to wait for a student at work.
A small decision, but I saw the impact.
The lesson?
When I listen, I align myself with His will.
Knowing God's Will
You don't have to be perfect to follow God's will. God's will is revealed through:
Scripture: love, faith, obedience, holiness
Prayer and reflection: being still to hear him.
Conviction of the Holy Spirit: nudges that guide your actions.
Wise Counsel and reflection on fruit: seeing the outcome of your choices
Even when I stumble, like ignoring a nudge at work, the process of conviction and learning keeps me moving closer to Him. Once you know better, you do better.
Being Known by Jesus is Experiential
John 17:3 says, "This is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent."
Philippians 3:8-9 reminds us to count all things as loss compared to knowing Christ.
"Knowing" God is not just knowing about Him.
It is experiencing Him in your life - through conviction, transformation, and guidance.
For me, that looks like:
Feeling the Holy Spirit convict me to love and forgive others
Choosing to sacrifice my comfort so someone else can have peace
Seeing my heart change over time: more patience, less attachment to old habits, eagerness to read God's Word daily.
It's experiential because it's lived.
It's not about perfect behavior - it's about a heart being molded by His presence.
Transformation Through Relationship
True Christianity transforms the heart. Things I once loved- cutting corners for money, rushing through life - no longer have the same hold on me. God has given me:
Patience with family and others
Desire to talk to Him throughout the day
Willingness to suffer for the sake of others' peace
Even when I fail, God's grace meets me. Like the deals I've cut in the past for personal gain, I've been convicted and forgiven. Knowing Him means I have the opportunity to choose differently next time, because relationship with Him changes my choices from the inside out.
Takeaway
Jesus' main point in Matthew 7:21-23 is clear, external works don't prove you belong to Him; relationship with Him does.
Obedience flows out of love, not obligation.
Being known by Jesus is the ultimate evidence of salvation.
Knowing Him is experiential - it's lived, felt and transformative.
You don't have to be perfect.
You don't have to have it all figured out.
You simply need to start walking with Him, listening, trusting and letting His presence shape your heart.
This is Christianity: a life defined by being personally known by Jesus, where His love transforms you from the inside out.
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