The quick answer is yes...then the question becomes how much of God can we know? Dr. Rogers would frequently say that you have as much of God as you want...the problem is you don't want God, we don't love God, we love our sin. I believe that Paul confirms this in Romans 1:18-19 when he teachers that, "the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. 19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them." In creation God has revealed HIMSELF to HIS creatures, those HE created in HIS own image. He continues in Romans 1:21, "although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened." How were their foolish hearts darkened? Paul tells us in Romans 1:25 "they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen."
If you continue reading Romans chapter 2 we witness something that grieves the heart. After we learn that "they exchanged the truth about God for a lie," we see that three times it is stated that "therefore God gave them up, God gave them up, God gave them up! Immediate judgement for sin is more sin!
Rom 1:24 Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves,
Rom 1:26 For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature;
Rom 1:28 And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done.
So when I sin it's God's fault! NO! When you and I sin we are responsible and the wages of sin is death! Remember James chapter one?
James 1:12-18 Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. 13 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. 14 But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. 15 Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death. 16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. 17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. 18 Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
Can we really know God? Absolutely, we can know God. HE has revealed HIMSELF to us through HIS CREATION, you can see HIS finger prints all over creation...the unsearchable design in the human eye alone is astonishing...how does the eye work, is the light that is needed to see waves or particles...the answer is yes. HIS creation is astonishing...you see unsearchable design everywhere you go.
Consider this quote from Robert Zastro...you have to love it!
“The details differ, but the essential elements in the astronomical and biblical accounts of Genesis are the same... This is an exceedingly strange development, unexpected by all but the theologians. They have always believed the word of the Bible. But we scientists did not expect to find evidence for an abrupt beginning because we have had, until recently, such extraordinary success in tracing the chain of cause and effect backward in time... At this moment it seems as though science will never be able to raise the curtain on the mystery of creation. For the scientist who has lived by his faith in the power of reason, the story ends like a bad dream. He has scaled the mountains of ignorance; he is about to conquer the highest peak; as he pulls himself over the final rock, he is greeted by a band of theologians who have been sitting there for centuries.” —Robert Zastrow (One-time Director of NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies)
HIS divine power and eternal nature are clearly visible for all who have eyes to see and ears to hear...taste and see that the LORD IS GOOD!
HE has spoken to us through creation, but most powerfully HE HAS SPOKEN TO US BY HIS SON! We see this in Heb 1:2..."in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world." In Romans 8:15 Paul teaches us that we, God's children, "did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” Do you see it? We received the Spirit of adoption as sons...we received the Spirit! What do we know about the Spirit of God? How does the Spirit of God we received impact our ability to KNOW HIM?
1 Co 1:21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe.
1 Co 2:14 The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.
2 Co 4:3-4 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled only to those who are perishing. 4 In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
John 1:18 No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.
Jesus has made HIM known, the Spirit of God dwelling within us has made HIM known
Matt 11:25-30 At that time Jesus declared, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; 26 yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. 27 All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. 28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
Pressing on to know HIM and make HIM known!
love,
m