Not all knowledge is equal. During the “Dark Ages”, which was not actually a time of ignorance, theology was the highest study and the study of theology led to the advancements in society such as grammar and writing. The Bible was the source of all truth and influenced every aspect of life. Then history moved away from God’s word. The point is that not all knowledge is equal, and there is a certain knowledge that is most necessary and most significant, the knowledge of salvation. Without the knowledge of salvation a man is doomed. (Mt 16:26)
The knowledge of found is found in Jesus Christ and has three attributes.
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Personal meaning it is a relational knowledge of Jesus Christ, intimate and specific.
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Experiential which means salvation is experienced and practical, leading to the sharing with others (Jn 15:21,24; 1 Peter 1:8)
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Privileged because Jesus Christ, the Lord of Lords, the Most High, the Righteous One dwells in every single Christian. (Jn 17:23, Gal 2:20) We carry treasure in clay jars. What a privilege!
The necessity of the knowledge of salvation
In Hebrews 9:27 it says that the fate of every person is to die and face judgement. One day, you and I will face judgement and so we must know the gospel of Jesus Christ, the free gift of God (Rom 6:23). We mistakenly associate free with cheap. Salvation is not cheap, it is priceless and unattainable outside the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Jesus is the only way one to escape judgement and most necessary.
If you don’t have the realization of your need of Christ and have not yet truly experienced the grace of salvation, then you must pray! This is your most urgent and dire need! Do not casually pass by the words of God in these verses without being convicted. Jesus must be Lord in your life, which is the receiving and evidence of salvation. (Col 2:6-7)
How can you obtain the knowledge of salvation? We learn this from John the Baptist, who is the herald of Jesus the Messiah. This was John’s purpose in life, to prepare the way and give the knowledge of salvation. (Lk 1:76-77, Mt 3:11) The knowledge of salvation is in John’s message. First, you are a sinner in need of saving (Lk 3:4-9), therefore repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand (Mt 3:2)
Repentance
There is no salvation without repentance. However, the act of repentance itself is not important. Many people repent, that is to say they do the actions of repentance, but repentance itself is not salvation. What turns repentance into salvation is the recognition and receiving by God. Many people claim to repent but their lives have not changed. True repentance is God’s gift.
Our filthiness (Is 64:6) is the reason we should fervently repent. Yet we see no change of life, no transformation, no newness because we fail to repent as God intended. The king of Nineveh forsook his royal robes and repented in sackcloth and ashes (Jonah 3:5-6). He gave up his lofty title to become as nothing. True repentance is ready to be humiliated, to be despised, to rid yourself of self (Is 1:16). The wicked king of Israel, Manasseh, humbled himself and repented and his prayers reached the Lord. The Lord received Manasseh’s repentance and Manasseh was changed (2 Chr 33:12-16).
Repentance is complete change of mind, a conversion in understanding. Sin that was once desired is now hated. Pride becomes humility. There might be happiness or victory everyday, but repentance means we know how to turn back to Jesus our salvation. This is what repentance looks like, receiving the Lord’s correction and being humbled.
Conclusion
By God’s supernatural power repentance results in saving faith. A person is changed when God shows pours His loving grace upon a repenting sinner. In Acts 2, the apostle Peter accuses the people of intentionally murdering Jesus the Son of God. God’s word pierced their hearts and they responded, “What shall we do?” The people asked this question, because they were hopeless. They realized everything that they had put their faith had led them to their doom. Their religion had failed, they were doomed. “Repent and be baptized” is the solution given by Peter. In other words, turn away from your sin, humble yourself before the Lord and believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior for eternal life. Agreeing with the Bible does not mean salvation! To repent and believe is not mere words, but to trust and depend on God.
BIBLE COMMUNITY CHURCH 
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