“Incomprehensible – but Knowable”

Before beginning to discuss the nature and purposes of God, we
need to recognize our limitations. As Zophar protests to Job, the
task is beyond us: "’Can you fathom the mysteries of God?
Can you probe the limits of the Almighty?’”1
Without revelation, the task is hopeless. However, God has
chosen to reveal himself to us in nature and in Scripture.
As Psalm 19 declares, “The heavens declare the glory of God;…
Day after day they pour forth speech;…their voice goes out into
all the earth.”2 Nature itself reveals the existence of a
purposeful, intelligent Designer. And something of the character
of God is also revealed in the things that he has made.3
However, as we see in the world around us, in its state of
alienation from God, fallen human reason has come to a variety
of conflicting understandings of God based on the testimony of
nature alone.4 Even the Psalmist feels compelled to move from
focusing on God’s revelation in nature to the joy of discovering
more about God in the Old Testament Law.5
God has graciously chosen to show himself to us by a
supernatural act of self-communication: acting in human history,
communicating through the ancient prophets and, most fully,
through the life, teachings and passion of Christ.6 These selfdisclosing
words and deeds have been recorded for us in the
Bible. With the assistance of the Holy Spirit as we read and
study God’s word, we can gain an ever-increasing understanding
of his nature and purposes. So we pray: ‘Lord! Reveal more of
yourself to us!’
1 Job 11:7 (TNIV); see also Isa. 40:18
2 Psalm 19:1-6 (TNIV);
3 Romans 1:19-20
4 Romans
5 Psalm 19:7-14
6 See John 1:18; 17:3; 1 Cor. 2:11; 1 John 5:20

http://www.kortrightchurch.org/pdf/DDD%20-%20Introduction,%20Sept%2013-14,%202007.pdf