Many things are above finite comprehension. Truths are to be received that are not within the reach of our reason, and not for us to explain. 10LtMs, Lt 8, 1895, par. 21
Question
What truth are to be received but cannot be explained nor reasoned out?
This question is important to rule out false positive mysteries. The false positive mysteries are deceptions.
- Divinity, incarnation of Christ
The mightiest created intelligence cannot grasp divinity. The principalities and powers of heaven are overwhelmed with the vastness of the theme of Christ’s character and the mystery of the union of divinity and humanity. ST June 27, 1895, par. 4
- The nature of God
“‘The secret things belong unto the Lord our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children forever.’ Deuteronomy 29:29. The revelation of Himself that God has given in His word is for our study. This we may seek to understand. But beyond this we are not to penetrate. The highest intellect may tax itself until it is wearied out in conjectures regarding the nature of God, but the effort will be fruitless. This problem has not been given us to solve. No human mind can comprehend God. None are to indulge in speculation regarding His nature. Here silence is eloquence. The Omniscient One is above discussion.” {EGW, MH 429.3; 1905}
- God Himself
No human mind can comprehend God. No man hath seen Him at any time. We are as ignorant of God as little children. But as little children we may love and obey Him. Had this been understood, such sentiments as are in this book would never have been expressed. {Lt214-1903}
- How long God has existence, where evil first entered into our world
And although we may try to reason in regard to our Creator how long He has had existence, where evil first entered into our world, and all these things, we may begin to reason about them until we fall down faint and exhausted with the research when there is yet an infinity beyond. We cannot grasp it, so what man is there that dares to take that Bible and say this part is inspired and that part is not inspired? I would have both my arms taken off at my shoulders before I would ever make the statement or set my judgment upon the Word of God as to what is inspired and what is not inspired. [5LtMs, Ms 13, 1888, par. 16](https://egwwritings.org/read?panels=p14055.4628020(14055.4628021)
- The love of God in giving His Son
Science is too limited to comprehend the atonement; the mysterious and wonderful plan of redemption is so far-reaching that philosophy cannot explain it; it will ever remain a mystery that the most profound reason can not fathom. If it could be explained by finite wisdom, it would lose its sacredness and dignity. It is a mystery that One equal with the eternal Father should so abase Himself as to suffer the cruel death of the cross to ransom man; and it is a mystery that God so loved the world as to permit His Son to make this great sacrifice.—The Signs of the Times, October 24, 1906. {7ABC 459.4}
This is a great mystery, a mystery that will not be fully, completely understood in all its greatness until the translation of the redeemed shall take place. Then the power and greatness and efficacy of the gift of God to man will be understood. But the enemy is determined that this gift shall be so mystified that it will become as nothingness. (Letter 280, 1904). {5BC 1113.3}
- the entrance of sin into the world
- the incarnation of Christ,
- regeneration
- the resurrection
“The entrance of sin into the world, the incarnation of Christ, regeneration, the resurrection, and many other subjects presented in the Bible, are mysteries too deep for the human mind to explain or even to fully comprehend. But God has given us in the Scriptures sufficient evidence of their divine character, and we are not to doubt His word because we cannot understand all the mysteries of His providence.” {EGW, 5T 699.3; 1889}
The portions of Holy Writ presenting these great themes are not to be passed by as of no use to man. All that God has seen fit to make known we are to accept upon the authority of His word. Only a bare statement of facts may be given, with no explanation as to why or how; but though we cannot comprehend it we should rest content that it is true, because God has said it. All the difficulty lies in the weakness and narrowness of the human mind.” {EGW, 5T 699.4; 1889}
Important
Although we cannot understand the given mysteries, because there are no ‘hows’ or ‘whys’ which are explaining them, we are to accept them based on the authority of the Word of God.
Observation
In order to be a mystery, the truth must be mentioned in the Scriptures. False positive mysteries are not mentioned in the Scriptures, rather they are assumed to be biblical
Q: What can we know of God, if we cannot comprehend Him?
A: All we can know is from what Christ has revealed.
“Human talent and human conjecture have tried by searching to find out God. Many have trodden this pathway. The highest intellect may tax itself until it is wearied out in conjectures regarding God; but the effort will be fruitless, and the fact will remain that man by searching cannot find out God. This problem has not been given us to solve. All that man needs to know and can know of God has been revealed in the life and character of His Son, the great Teacher. As we learn more and more of what man is, of what we ourselves are, in God’s sight, we shall fear and tremble before Him.” {EGW, Lt240-1903.16; 1903}
Christ withheld no truths essential to our salvation. Those things that are revealed are for us and our children, but we are not to allow our imagination to frame doctrines concerning things not revealed. 19LtMs, Ms 28, 1904, par. 11
Important
We are not allow to frame doctrines concerning things not revealed. This guidance will prevent us to produce false positive mysteries,
False positive mysteries are tools of Lucifer
It was his (Satan’s) policy to perplex the angels with subtle arguments concerning the purposes of God. Everything that was simple he shrouded in mystery, and by artful perversion cast doubt upon the plainest statements of Jehovah. GC88 496.1
Insufficient abilities of the mind to grasp the truth
So you may put your imagination to the stretch, you may try to the very best of your abilities to take in and consider the eternal weight of glory, and yet your finite senses, faint and weary with the effort, cannot grasp it, for there is an infinity beyond. It takes all of eternity to unfold the glories and bring out the precious treasures of the Word of God 6BC 1107.4 - sermon
He will unfold to us mysteries that we cannot now grasp. In the school above we shall obtain the higher education. Till then we must be content to leave with God the mysteries that we cannot comprehend. 18LtMs, Ms 17, 1903, par. 6 - talk
Mystery of the Sonship of Christ
“The Lord Jesus Christ, the divine Son of God, existed from eternity, a distinct person, yet one with the Father. He was the surpassing glory of heaven. He was the commander of the heavenly intelligences, and the adoring homage of the angels was received by him as his right. This was no robbery of God. ‘The Lord possessed me in the beginning of his way,’ he declares, ‘before his works of old. I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was. When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water. Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth; while as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world. When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth.‘” {EGW, RH April 5, 1906, par. 7; 1906}
“There are light and glory in the truth that Christ was one with the Father before the foundation of the world was laid. This is the light shining in a dark place, making it resplendent with divine, original glory. This truth, infinitely mysterious in itself, explains other mysterious and otherwise unexplainable truths, while it is enshrined in light, unapproachable and incomprehensible.” {EGW, RH April 5, 1906, par. 8; 1906}
Important
What truth is infinitely mysterious and incomprehensible? It is the truth of the divine Son of God’s eternal oneness with the Father. “Eternal sonship” is an oxymoron. If Christ is eternal, how can He be a Son? The answer “is enshrined in light, unapproachable and incomprehensible”.
Conclusion on the Sonship
We cannot logically reconcile two mutual concepts of having a beginning and being everlasting - “I was set up from everlasting, from beginning” Proverbs 8:23. But we accept this testimony, by the authority of the Word of God. It is a mystery. See From All Eternity paradox, in regards to the Plan of Salvation and Christ’s relation to it in regards to time.
