"The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our sons forever, that we may observe all the words of this law." Deuteronomy 29:29 NASB
Often I hear people in the context of discussing GOD's sovereignty and man's will, claim that the way the two fit together and how they relate is a mystery. To this I say, "Rubbish!" Before I go further I must say that I am not here making the case for either a reformed or arminian perspective on GOD's sovereignty and mans will. I freely admit that I am reformed and believe that is the only biblical and consistent view of GOD's sovereignty and mans will. What I am saying is that those who say that we really can't know the truth on some subjects in Scripture is wrong, sinful, and holding a mean view of God communicating with us.
To support this claim I quote Deuteronomy 29:29(see above) and 1 Corinthians 2:10 NASB "For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God." We find the biblical text stating that the things God has revealed to us by His spirit in His word. If he has revealed these things to us then does it not follow that we can know what he has revealed? If not then what is the point of divine revelation? In other places in the Bible we find where GOD speaks of giving us(His people) a mind and heart to understand, ears to hear, and eyes to see.
To deny that we can understand EVERYTHING in the divine text is silly, pernicious, and dangerous. If we are not able to understand the things God has revealed to us on things like eschatology, mode of baptism, the relationship between GOD's sovereignty and mans will, then what makes us think that we can understand the Gospel? In saying that there are things revealed in Scripture that we just can't know people start down the slippery slope of what I would call scriptural agnosticism. I believe that by denying you can understand what is revealed in GOD's word you make a path for people to become emergent postmodernists or to go Roman Catholic. Neither of these directions is some place we want anyone to go, because of the heresies present in those places.
I am not damning people who say such things to hell, but I am trying to uphold GOD's glory and LOVINGLY rebuke those who say we can't understand everything in Scripture or slap the mystery label onto hard truths.
In Christ, Aaron
