Can God be Known?

I have a written a series of five articles on various philosophical arguments for the existence of God entitled "Is There a God?" To read them, click these article number links: 12345.

Another question that has been debated since time immemorial is "Can God be known?" The agnostics argue that God cannot be known. It does not matter whether or not God exist, because He cannot be known; but the Holy Scripture declares otherwise.

• "And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent." (John 17:3)
• "Thus says the Lord: "Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord."" (Jeremiah 9:23,24)

How can we know God, unless He reveals Himself to us, and this He did.

Through Nature

God has revealed Himself to us through nature. We cannot deny the fact that the incredible universe we are a part of clearly displays order and design, which logically suggests an intelligent orderer and designer, who framed it. This intelligence also logically implies a personality who made our universe a reality, and not some impersonal force. The world obviously could not have formed itself into being by accident. In Psalms 19:1, David acknowledged that "The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork." (See article "Is There a God? 3")

Paul even states his case against pagans regarding idolatrous worship of other gods/objects that "what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For His invisible attributes, namely, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse." (Romans 1:19-20)

Considering this particular argument, we can only arrive at some incomplete conclusions. We may infer that the Being who created the world is both intelligent and powerful. But from these facts, though, we can learn nothing of the His character, or of His plan for mankind. The revelation of nature is only partial.

Now, let us look at how God reveals Himself to us in other ways.

Through the Conscience

God has revealed Himself to us through our conscience. Man has a conscience and therefore, is aware of what is right and what is wrong. If someone has done something wrong, their conscience, generally speaking, would somehow bother them; on the other hand, when they do right, it would feel at peace. "Their conscience ... bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them" (Romans 2:15). This moral law must have its source from God, our moral lawgiver, who formed in us a conscience, for man would not be able to formulate such thought system by himself. (See article "Is There a God? 4")

To rely on the general revelations of God through the conscience or through the intellect is not altogether reliable, for it is subject to man's faulty reasoning, which has been tainted by sin.

In fact, God has revealed Himself in diverse ways during biblical times, as follows:

1. Through vocal communication (e.g.: Samuel, 1 Samuel 3:1-14; Abraham, Genesis 12:1-3; and Moses, Exodus 20:1-17);
2. Through dreams (e.g.: Nebuchadnezzar, Daniel 2:1-2; and Joseph, Matthew 1:20; 2:13,19,22);
3. Through visions (e.g.: Jacob, Genesis 46:2; Cornelius and Peter, Acts 10:3-16; and John, Revelation 1:1);
4. Through inner communication (e.g.: the workmen that were moved to work on the tabernacle recorded in Exodus 35:25-35);
5. Through appearances (e.g.: Exodus 2:1 - 4:17 where Moses records the incident of the burning bush);
6. Through events (e.g.: when the people heard a very clear warning when Ananias and Sapphira died, as well as when Herod was eaten by worms, recorded in Acts 5 and12:20 respectively)
7. Through theophanies or appearances of God to man, either in the form of man or angel (e.g.: Isaac, Genesis 26:2; Gideon, Judges 6:12, 14-18 and Elijah, I Kings 19:7);
8. Through angels (e.g.: when the angel Gabriel sent greetings to Mary from God in Luke 1:26-37);
9. Through miracles (e.g.: parting of the Red Sea in Exodus 14:21-22; raising the dead to life as in the case of Lazarus in John 11); and
10. Through other ways such as the use of the Urim and Thummin to determine God's will in Old Testament times