Certain knowledge is knowledge based on the revelation of the Word in creation, Scripture and the Spirit interpreted according to the Apostolic Rule of Faith. Certain knowledge is the kind of knowledge that creates kingdomculture. In contrast, the uncertain knowledge of autonomous individuals and collectives that operates on variations of and different combinations of “Solo” Scriptura (in contrast to Sola Scriptura) and Qualified Infallibility always gives rise to subculture and counterculture, respectively. The Fallen World System denies that certain knowledge is even possible just as we can imagine the Prodigal denied that the money in his pocket was from his father. The prodigal, independent quest for knowledge by would-be autonomous man leads to the epistemological pigpen of uncertainty (which leads to social disorder and death) because finite mankind can never know everything exhaustively, which is the only way to know anything certainly. Only God has exhaustive knowledge and therefore He alone is the only source of certain knowledge. While humanity can never be its own source of certainty, God can delegate this sense of certainty to us. He does this by revealing His Word. Since God is the source of exhaustive and therefore certain knowledge, His Word becomes for us, if we receive it, the sure foundation or starting point to humbly and boldly know all things truly and certainly. As the Psalmists says, “In Your light, we see light” (Ps. 36:9). Certain knowledge does away with all political justifications for decision-making that seeks only the will of man by majority vote democratically or the will of man by the dictates of an autocrat. The delegated and derived certain knowledge based on the Word that we may operate in as finite human beings does not make us infallible but it does enable us to be inerrant (i.e., without error) and therefore authoritative, secure, calm and patient in advancing the truth, not by power and might, but by the Spirit of the Lord. Instead of killing imagination like uncertain knowledge does, true certain knowledge, based on God’s revelation from above, is the only sure foundation for imagination, creative wisdom and growth in knowledge. While there is no mystery for God in anything, there is mystery for us in all things. This is exciting. With a true, certain foundation under us based on God’s knowledge, we shall never exhaust discovering new things in this age or in the ages to come.
Also see Cosmic Personalism, Mystery, and One-Source View.