1. An adequate knowledge of God cannot be obtained through the unaided intellect of man. Job 11:7-9 (read RV, margin); Job 23:8, 9; 1 Corinthians 2:7-12; Romans 11:33; Ecclesiastes 8:17; Job 36:26; 37:23. Ephesians 4:18. TDOC 5.1
2. Man must search, but God gives the knowledge. Proverbs 2:1-6. TDOC 5.2
3. This knowledge is imparted by revelation from God. Daniel 2:22, 28; Deuteronomy 29:29; Ephesians 3:3-5; Romans 1:17; Matthew 11:25; John 17:8; Romans 16:25, 26. TDOC 5.3
4. This revelation has been preserved for us in the Bible. Revelation 1:1, 2; Psalm 119:105. TDOC 5.4
We can only know what the mind of God is toward a sinful creature by a revelation of that mind. ‘For who hath known the mind of the Lord?’ Romans 11:34. In fact, to know God at all, we must have a revelation. ‘For who by searching can find out God?’ Job 11:7. ‘No man knows the Father save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son shall reveal him.’ Matthew 11:27. We can only know whether there be forgiveness with God by revelation. Psalm 130:4; Exodus 34:7; Daniel 9:9; 1 John 1:9. TDOC 5.5
“Only by revelation can we know the method of the divine grace. Romans 1:17. Indeed, all the unseen and eternal things which most deeply concern us are matters of pure revelation. 1 Corinthians 11:9, 10. But for the revelation which God has given us by his Son Jesus Christ, what could we know of heaven or hell, of the state of the dead, of life and immortality, or of any of the things that ‘must shortly come to pass’ Revelation 1:1; 22:6 TDOC 5.6
“It is well to remember that the current and popular opinions held and advanced by men on all these great questions are modified imaginings, drawn from the revelation God has made in his word. Therefore, instead of listening to what man may say, or caring for what may be any man’s opinion, let us go direct to the word of God and get knowledge that is able to make us wise unto salvation. 2 Timothy 3:16.” TDOC 5.7