Summary: No, man’s reasoning cannot apprehend the mysteries of God. (1 Corinthians 2:10)
Discussion: Our ability to reason is a most important aspect of being made in God’s image. We are thus capable of communion with God and capable of knowing, loving, and serving him. “Come, let us reason together, says the LORD” (Isaiah 1:18).
Unfortunately, the majority of fallen humanity has lost their ability to reason properly about God, and have become “vain in their reasonings and their hearts have been darkened,” even though they are surrounded by his amazing creation and evidences of his existence. (Ephesians 1:20-21).
Human perceptions have their limitations and are vastly inferior in scope and power to God’s reasoning abilities. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:9).
“The truth of God, when clearly understood, is seen to be in accord with the highest development of human reason; but human reason cannot attain full development except under divine instruction.”
Beyond what human reasoning reveals to us about God, Christian believers are aided in their understanding by an indwelling of God’s holy Spirit, enabling them to know the hidden mysteries of God (Ephesians 1:17,18).
Being filled with this spirit is an ongoing process and can only be attained through the dedication of one’s all to God’s service. Then we maintain our spirit-filled condition by humble effort, prayer, and continual study of God’s word. “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, handling accurately the word of truth,” (2 Timothy 2:15).
The Apostle Paul reaffirmed this when he said, “For to us God revealed them through the spirit; for the spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God…But a natural man does not accept the things of the spirit of God; for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned…But he who is spiritual appraises all things…For who has known the mind of the LORD, that he should instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ” (I Corinthians 2:7,10-16).
