Revelation of God

If God is Spirit and Transcendent, then He is beyond finding out!!!

UNLESS: there is Revelation!

Two types of revelation: I. Natural revelation – within the universe (cosmos) and perceivable by the 5 senses.

2. Additional revelation. From outside the cosmos. It is supernatural. God is bigger than His creation, and He gives us more information than can be discovered in the natural world.

God does reveal Himself adequately to reach His people.

NATURAL REVELATION

God has revealed Himself in:

#1. His creation. Psalm 19:1-4 – “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork….”

#2. The laws of His creation. Science. Scientific laws – things function in a very dependable relationship.

#3, Man’s conscience. Rom. 2:14 & 15 – “….who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness….”

Moral law has to have a moral lawgiver. It is written into us.

#4. Man’s reasoning & logic. The fact that we have reason and logic is a natural revelation of God.

NOTE: These 4 natural revelations of God come from within the cosmos. These are very limited and non-specific. Job 26:14 – “Indeed these are the mere edges of His ways, and how small a whisper we hear of Him! But the thunder of His power who can understand?”

SO, we have Additional Revelation from without the cosmos.

Christians believe that God has revealed Himself more fully in and through:

#1. The prophets – “This saith the Lord”. Easy to say, but what the prophets said was from the Lord, happened!!!

#2. His mighty deeds and acts, when He intervened in natural processes. Ie: the 10 plagues, Red Sea crossing, manna from heaven, conquest of the Promised Land,

Also the Exile – God told them this was going to happen if they continued in their sin, and especially “the Cross”.

#3. His names. God’s names are a description of Himself.

El Shaddai – God Almighty

El Elyon – Most High God

Adonai – Lord

Jehovah Jireh – provider

Jehovah Rapha – healer

YHWH – “I Am”

#4. His Son. John 1:18, Heb. 1:1-3A, John 14:5-11

Question: How would God act toward a leper? Prostitute? Hypocrite? Or in our time, a homosexual?

Answer: Look at how Jesus acted toward these.

#5. His Word. Numbers 1 – 4 are recorded in God’s Word.

God’s Word is more than just history. 2 Tim. 3:16 “All scripture is given by inspiration of God…..”, 2 Pet. 1:20 & 21, Heb. 4:12

His words speak to our hearts.

In addition:

#6. His Holy Spirit John 16:12-15, I Cor. 2:9-12

The Holy Spirit enlightens us AS He makes use of His Word, object lessons (ex. Jeremiah & the potter), situations, dreams and visions

#7. His people.

A. Corporately 1. Then – He manifested Himself through the nation of Israel.

2. Now – He manifests Himself through the church Eph. 3:10- “…..the manifold wisdom of God might be made know by the church …..”

B. Individually – as He did with Christ, now He wants to do with us. 2 Cor. 5:20 – “Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us; ….”

Wrap up verse: Deut. 4:29 – “But from there you will seek the LORD your God, and you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul.”