Under the New Covenant, as prophesied in Jeremiah 31:33-34, God declares that He will put His law into the inward parts of His people and write it in their hearts. He promises that they shall all know Him, from the least to the greatest, for He will forgive their iniquity and remember their sins no more. This marks a significant shift from the Old Covenant, where the Israelites perceived God as distant and unapproachable, symbolized by the veil in the tabernacle and temple that hid Him from view, restricting access to Him. In contrast, the New Covenant opens access to God, allowing His people to move beyond merely knowing about Him to knowing Him intimately. This intimacy is vital, as Jesus states in John 17:3 that eternal life is to know the only true God and Jesus Christ, Whom He has sent. However, this relationship is reciprocal; as shown in Matthew 7:21-23, Jesus warns that not everyone who calls Him Lord will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only those who do the will of His Father. To those who claim to have done works in His name yet are workers of iniquity, He will say, "I never knew you. Depart from Me." God desires not just for us to know about Him, but to be on speaking terms with Him, to have a familiar acquaintance, and to be in loving communion with Him. This is echoed in Psalm 34:8, where David invites us to taste and see that the Lord is good, emphasizing that experiencing life in communion with Him—through study, prayer, meditation, and obedience—is the path to truly knowing Him. Without sharing His standards and experiencing life as He does, one cannot come to know Him, as obedience is essential to this intimate relationship.

Many people claim to know God, but the more pressing question is whether God knows them. In the parables of Jesus, as seen in Matthew 7:21, Luke 13, Matthew 25, and Luke 6:46, He repeatedly says to some, "I do not know you" or "I never knew you," despite their claims of familiarity with Him. These individuals call out "Lord, Lord," yet face rejection because they practice lawlessness, iniquity, and unrighteousness. God knows everything, including their names and deeds, yet His declaration of not knowing them signifies a lack of intimate relationship. The word for "know" in these contexts, such as the Greek "ginosko," implies deep intimacy, akin to the closeness between a husband and wife, a recurring image of God's bond with His people in both the Old and New Testaments. Jesus, as the bridegroom, seeks a bride who truly knows Him through obedience and love, not merely through outward claims. To know God means to experience Him intimately, to understand His character, and to live in alignment with His standards. In Jeremiah 9:23, God reveals Himself as one who exercises lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, delighting in these traits. He is loving, kind, just, and unwavering in His standards, never compromising His laws. Those who truly know Him must reflect these qualities, practicing righteousness and demonstrating love through obedience to His commandments. Without this, there can be no true relationship, and He will say, "I do not know you," to those who fail to live according to His will. Thus, knowing God and being known by Him requires a life of striving, of growing in His love and righteousness, and of never giving up on the narrow path He has set.