Cognisance
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Definition and Meaning:
Cognisance, in a biblical context, refers to awareness, knowledge, or recognition of something, particularly in relation to God's omniscience and human understanding of divine truths. It encompasses the idea of being aware of God's presence, His laws, and His workings in the world.

Biblical References:

1. God's Omniscience:
The concept of cognisance is closely tied to the understanding of God's omniscience. Scripture affirms that God possesses complete and perfect knowledge of all things. In Psalm 139:1-4 , David acknowledges God's intimate knowledge of him: "O LORD, You have searched me and known me. You know when I sit and when I rise; You understand my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down; You are aware of all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, You know all about it, O LORD."

2. Human Awareness of God:
The Bible encourages believers to grow in their cognisance of God and His will. Proverbs 3:5-6 advises, "Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight." This passage highlights the importance of recognizing God's sovereignty and guidance in one's life.

3. Spiritual Discernment:
Cognisance also involves spiritual discernment, the ability to perceive and understand spiritual truths. In 1 Corinthians 2:14 , Paul writes, "The natural man does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God. For they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned." This verse underscores the necessity of the Holy Spirit in granting believers the cognisance of spiritual matters.

4. Moral and Ethical Awareness:
The Bible calls for a cognisance of moral and ethical standards as set by God. In Micah 6:8 , the prophet declares, "He has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you but to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?" This passage emphasizes the need for awareness and adherence to God's moral requirements.

5. Awareness of Sin and Repentance:
Cognisance of one's sinfulness and the need for repentance is a recurring theme in Scripture. In Psalm 51:3-4 , David expresses his awareness of sin: "For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. Against You, You only, have I sinned and done what is evil in Your sight." This acknowledgment is crucial for seeking God's forgiveness and restoration.

Theological Implications:

Cognisance in the biblical sense is not merely intellectual knowledge but involves a deep, relational understanding of God and His purposes. It requires humility, openness to the Holy Spirit, and a commitment to living according to God's revealed truth. Believers are called to cultivate a continual awareness of God's presence and to align their lives with His will, growing in wisdom and understanding as they walk in faith.
Library

A Sufficient Cause for the Resurrection of the Flesh Occurs in the ...
... the Future Judgment of Man. It Will Take Cognisance of the Works of the Body
No Less Than of the Soul. Such, then, being the outlines ...
/.../on the resurrection of the flesh/chapter xiv a sufficient cause for.htm

Third Tractate. The Knowing Hypostases and the Transcendent.
... and entire bodily organism by sense-perception: such knowing does not cover the
whole field; the knowing element has not had the required cognisance at once of ...
/.../plotinus/the six enneads/third tractate the knowing hypostases.htm

The Secular Clergy
... The clergy also sought freedom from the jurisdiction of the secular courts; in other
words, the Church claimed exclusive cognisance in her own tribunals of all ...
/.../medley/the church and the empire/chapter iv the secular clergy.htm

Of the Jurisdiction of the Church, and the Abuses of It, as ...
... To this end, there were established in the Church from the first, tribunals which
might take cognisance of morals, animadvert on vices, and exercise the office ...
/.../the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 11 of the jurisdiction.htm

On the Resurrection of the Flesh
... the Future Judgment of Man. It Will Take Cognisance of the Works of the
Body No Less Than of the Soul. Chapter XV.--As the Flesh ...
//christianbookshelf.org/tertullian/on the resurrection of the flesh/

To the Reader.
... possessed the name Klero`s, the Clergy and of the Church, appropriated to themselves;
so answerably all manner of interest in power or cognisance of matters of ...
/.../cotton/the keyes of the kingdom of heaven and power thereof/to the reader.htm

The Tongue.
... speaking now of that species of slander against which the law of libel provides
a remedy, but of that of which the Gospel alone takes cognisance; for the worst ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/robertson/sermons preached at brighton/i the tongue.htm

Second Causes.
... Is the departure of the immortal soul to the spirit-world so trivial a matter
that the life-giving God takes no cognisance of it? No! ...
//christianbookshelf.org/macduff/memories of bethany/xi second causes.htm

Concerning Persecution
... staves. Put the cross in your creed. For the amplification of this, there
are several things we are to take cognisance of. 1 What ...
/.../the beatitudes an exposition of matthew 51-12/21 concerning persecution.htm

The Seed Growing Secretly.
... The point in the centre already fixed, on which the two extremities depend, is the
growth of the seed without the aid, and even beyond the cognisance, of the ...
/.../arnot/the parables of our lord/xv the seed growing secretly.htm

Thesaurus
Cognisance (1 Occurrence)
... Multi-Version Concordance Cognisance (1 Occurrence). Acts 25:21 But Paul
having appealed to be kept for the cognisance of Augustus ...
/c/cognisance.htm - 6k

Cognizance (5 Occurrences)

/c/cognizance.htm - 8k

Cogitations (1 Occurrence)

/c/cogitations.htm - 6k

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