Expert: Rev. Frank Ricketts - 4/18/2009

Question
Dear Rev. Ricketts,

I am a recovering addict. In group recently, another member was sharing, and, in his opinion, began pontificating on the mind of God. Many sentences began with "God wants us to do this" and "God's plan for us is that.." and so on and so on. I felt obligated to interject that no one can know the mind of God with complete certainty, except, perhaps, for Jesus. However, even He asked "why has Thou forsaken me?"

I have been active in Christian belief since the age of 13 (now 42). I realize that Revelation describes the final battles of good and evil. So, we can draw conclusions, with reasonable certainty on what may come according to the Bible. But to understand details of why we are here and for what reason can be guessed at, at best.

Q1: Can we truly know the "mind" of God? Is it within our comprehension?

Q2: Are there key passages regarding one way or the other the endeavor of interpreting God's mind.

Q3: Was I fundamentally wrong in challenging the fellow for his belief in group? I later apologized as he obviously felt a little angered with my rebuttal. Perhaps, I should have held my tongue and spoke to him off line. What ever gets you through the night is probably a more effective perspective in understanding someone's point of view in such a setting. I mean, this isn't Bible study.

Your comments and thought are eagerly awaited.
Thanks and God bless - Ken

Answer
What you are actually asking is – how do I know what the mind of God is? Well, we can only go to the Word for our answers.
Jesus said:
Matthew 22:37  Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
So God has to have everything – our heart, our soul, and our mind.
In other words we have to become one with God through love.
2 John 1:6 And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it.
So, we cannot walk in love unless we walk in His commandments. That is all commandments. So, Jesus issued specific commandments:
Luke 24:44-47  And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
So, they did go to Jerusalem and received power from on high.
Then and only then did they start to understand the mind of God (Jesus).

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