THE natural man. knows neither the Son nor the Father, as we read, "no man (i.e., no one) knoweth the Son, but the Father, neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son." (Matt. 11:2727All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him. (Matthew 11:27).) They (the Father and the Son) of course know each other, while the unregenerate world knows neither the one nor the other.
The believer, on the other hand, knows both the Son and the Father, as we read,, "no man knoweth _ the Son, but the Father, neither knoweth any man the Father save the Son and he to whom the Son will reveal him." Now here the Son is presented as revealing the Father to us, and in so doing, 'revealing Himself to us at the same time, inasmuch as it is only through, Christ that the Father is known. If this then be so, why should we, as is frequently done, in controverting the Newtonian heresy, say, in reference to ourselves, "NO MAN KNOWETH THE SON"?, This is detaching these words from. the context, and, in so doing, giving a false meaning to them. To be a Christian at all, I must know the Son, not of course as they seek to know Him, who profanely rushing in where angels fear to tread,' would seek to dissect His blessed person in a way that they would deem it folly, and presumption to do with regard to themselves, and their own being, as mere creatures occupying a place altogether below the level of Him before whom it is our wisdom to bow with adoring wonder and gratitude, Owning that we know nothing whatever of Him in the way that they think to know Him.
We should surely be jealous in maintaining the truth in opposition to those profane and presumptuous statements which have of late years been broached on this subject. In every way we should resist that reckless intrusion into the deep mysteries of the person of Christ which has so deeply dishonored Him; but in doing so, we should be careful not to press into the service,, a passage which in no way bears on the subject, but which, when isolated from the context; sounds as though it meant what we here, say it does not.
As Christians we of course know the Son; if not, what mean the whole Gospel and the three epistles of John? And what the words, "he that hath seen me, hath seen the Father"? (John 14:99Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Show us the Father? (John 14:9).) And again what does the following passage imply? "We know that the Son of God is come and hath given us an understanding that, we know Him that is true, and we are in Him that is true even in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the 'true God and eternal life." (1 John 5:2020And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life. (1 John 5:20).)