There are mysteries that God, in His infinite wisdom, has chosen not to reveal to mankind. Yet, there are also truths He has made clear through Scripture. By reflecting on both the things we cannot know and the things God has revealed, we can develop a deeper trust in His plan and a greater commitment to living according to His will. This article examines both categories to distinguish between what we cannot know and what Scripture teaches us with certainty.
What We Cannot Know
1. The Length of Life
No man knows how long he will live on this earth. Life is fleeting and unpredictable. James reminds us of the brevity of life: “Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. For you are just a vapor that appears for a little while, and then vanishes away” (James 4:14, NASB).
Jesus urged His followers to always be ready for His return, comparing life to a master who leaves his house: “Therefore, stay alert—for you do not know when the master of the house is coming, whether in the evening, at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning” (Mark 13:35, NASB).
God, in His mercy, does not reveal how much time we have. Instead, He calls us to live each day in faithfulness, recognizing that “now is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:2, NASB).
2. When Jesus Will Return
The timing of Christ’s return is another mystery that no man can know. Jesus made this explicitly clear: “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone” (Mark 13:32, NASB).
Paul emphasized the hope of Christ’s return, saying, “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first” (1 Thessalonians 4:16, NASB). While the exact timing remains unknown, believers are called to live faithfully and be prepared for His coming.
What We Do Know
3. There Is No Second Chance After Death
The Bible makes it clear that after this life, there are no second chances. Hebrews 9:27 states, “And just as it is destined for people to die once, and after this comes judgment.”
Jesus illustrated this in the story of the rich man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31). After death, the rich man found himself in torment, begging for relief, but it was too late. Jesus warned, “Do not be amazed at this; for a time is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear His voice, and will come out: those who did the good deeds to a resurrection of life, those who committed the bad deeds to a resurrection of judgment” (John 5:28-29, NASB).
When Christ returns, it will not be to offer a second chance but to bring final judgment. Paul describes this event as one of divine justice: “For after all it is only right for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you, and to give relief to you who are afflicted, along with us, when the Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire” (2 Thessalonians 1:6-7, NASB).
4. Salvation Requires Baptism
Some claim that baptism is unnecessary for salvation, but Scripture clearly teaches otherwise. Jesus said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless someone is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God” (John 3:5, NASB).
Peter reinforced this truth on the Day of Pentecost, saying, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins” (Acts 2:38, NASB). Paul also explained, “Therefore, we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too may walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:4, NASB).
5. Sprinkling and Pouring Are Not Substitutes for Baptism
The practice of sprinkling or pouring water as substitutes for baptism is not found in Scripture. Baptism, as described in the Bible, involves immersion. Paul explains, “Therefore, we have been buried with Him through baptism into death” (Romans 6:4, NASB). Sprinkling or pouring fails to reflect this imagery of burial and resurrection.
The writer of Hebrews emphasizes the cleansing associated with baptism: “Let’s approach God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water” (Hebrews 10:22, NASB). True baptism involves immersion, as demonstrated by the examples in the New Testament.
6. Instrumental Music in Worship Is Unauthorized
The New Testament provides no authority for the use of instrumental music in Christian worship. Early Christians sang praises to God without instruments, as instructed by Paul: “Speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your hearts to the Lord” (Ephesians 5:19, NASB).
Similarly, Colossians 3:16 focuses on singing: “Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.” For centuries, the early church worshipped without instruments, relying solely on their voices to glorify God.
7. Salvation Is Found Only in the Church
The church is described as the body of Christ, and salvation is found only within it. Paul writes, “And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and made Him head over all things to the church, which is His body” (Ephesians 1:22-23, NASB).
There is only one body, and Christ is its Savior. Paul explains, “For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body” (Ephesians 5:23, NASB). Those who are saved are added to the church by the Lord Himself: “And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved” (Acts 2:47, NASB).
Conclusion: Trust God’s Wisdom
There are things God has chosen not to reveal, such as the length of life and the timing of Christ’s return. These unknowns remind us to live faithfully and be prepared for eternity. At the same time, God has revealed essential truths in His Word, including the necessity of baptism, the nature of true worship, and the role of the church in salvation.
Let us trust in God’s wisdom, obey His commands, and live each day ready for His return. While some things remain unknown, God has provided everything we need for life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3, NASB). May we hold fast to His Word and live in a way that honors Him.
The Simple Gospel 