How We Received the Bible, pt. 1
What We Believe, and Why We Believe It! • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Important Words:
Important Words:
Revelation
Inspiration
Interpretation
Illumination
Preservation
What is Revelation?
What is Revelation?
Revelation means - ‘unveiling’
The unveiling of truth regarding God
Hence the book of Revelation is the unveiling of what is yet to come.
Revelation is the divine act of God, “making Himself known to man”
Two Kinds of Revelation
Two Kinds of Revelation
General Revelation
Special Revelation
General Revelation
General Revelation
AKA - “Natural” revelation
The truth of God passed to man in general
General revelation involves all people
45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
17 Nevertheless he left not himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.
It is universally known Psalm 19:2
2 Day unto day uttereth speech, And night unto night sheweth knowledge.
It is discerned in nature Romans 1:20
20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
It is made known in the mind of man Romans 2:14-15
14 For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: 15 Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;)
General revelation takes away man’s excuses
By general revelation men can known of:
God’s existence and power in creation Psalm 19:1, as well as his intelligence and personality, and control.
1 The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament sheweth his handywork.
19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. 20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
What is General Revelation Good For?
What is General Revelation Good For?
GR is insufficient to save anyone.
GR - is sufficient to bring light or knowledge of God so that, if it is accepted, it will lead to more revelation of God
GR is enough to render the heathen inexcusable for his sin and condemn him if he rejects such revelation of God. (Romans 1:20 again points this out).
When I worked at KFI, a man I worked with would occasionally ask me (accuse God of being unloving) how God could justify sending someone to hell who had never heard the gospel. I would remind him that everyone of us, including him, were without excuse before a holy God.
Special Revelation
Special Revelation
Special Revelation is the truth of God communicated in His Word and through several avenues as recorded in His Word.
In other words…the Bible is special revelation.
SR is limited to what God has revealed in His Word
It is Progressive Hebrews 1:1
1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,
It is Purposeful 2 Timothy 3:15-17
15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
It is Powerful, in that it addresses man’s sin and need of a Savior John 20:31
31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.
Various Ways God’s Will was/has Been Determined
Various Ways God’s Will was/has Been Determined
The lot Proverbs 16:33
33 The lot is cast into the lap; But the whole disposing thereof is of the Lord.
21 Wherefore of these men which have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, 22 Beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection. 23 And they appointed two, Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias. 24 And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen, 25 That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place. 26 And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.
The Urim and Thummin
30 And thou shalt put in the breastplate of judgment the Urim and the Thummim; and they shall be upon Aaron’s heart, when he goeth in before the Lord: and Aaron shall bear the judgment of the children of Israel upon his heart before the Lord continually.
21 And he shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who shall ask counsel for him after the judgment of Urim before the Lord: at his word shall they go out, and at his word they shall come in, both he, and all the children of Israel with him, even all the congregation.
Dreams (when a prophet was asleep)
12 And when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and, lo, an horror of great darkness fell upon him.
11 And he lighted upon a certain place, and tarried there all night, because the sun was set; and he took of the stones of that place, and put them for his pillows, and lay down in that place to sleep. 12 And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it.
Visions (when a prophet was awake)
1 After these things the word of the Lord came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.
2 And God spake unto Israel in the visions of the night, and said, Jacob, Jacob. And he said, Here am I.
9 On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour: 10 And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance,
Theophanies - appearances of Christ in the OT
Gen. 18.
13 And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and, behold, there stood a man over against him with his sword drawn in his hand: and Joshua went unto him, and said unto him, Art thou for us, or for our adversaries? 14 And he said, Nay; but as captain of the host of the Lord am I now come. And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship, and said unto him, What saith my lord unto his servant? 15 And the captain of the Lord’s host said unto Joshua, Loose thy shoe from off thy foot; for the place whereon thou standest is holy. And Joshua did so.
1 And an angel of the Lord came up from Gilgal to Bochim, and said, I made you to go up out of Egypt, and have brought you unto the land which I sware unto your fathers; and I said, I will never break my covenant with you. 2 And ye shall make no league with the inhabitants of this land; ye shall throw down their altars: but ye have not obeyed my voice: why have ye done this? 3 Wherefore I also said, I will not drive them out from before you; but they shall be as thorns in your sides, and their gods shall be a snare unto you. 4 And it came to pass, when the angel of the Lord spake these words unto all the children of Israel, that the people lifted up their voice, and wept. 5 And they called the name of that place Bochim: and they sacrificed there unto the Lord.
Angels
20 And whiles I was speaking, and praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before the Lord my God for the holy mountain of my God; 21 Yea, whiles I was speaking in prayer, even the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, touched me about the time of the evening oblation.
10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:
Prophets
2 The Spirit of the Lord spake by me, And his word was in my tongue.
1 In the eighth month, in the second year of Darius, came the word of the Lord unto Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo the prophet, saying,
Special Events - Ex. Israel’s delivery, and the incarnation
5 O my people, remember now what Balak king of Moab consulted, And what Balaam the son of Beor answered him From Shittim unto Gilgal; That ye may know the righteousness of the Lord.
14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
Jesus Christ
Christ revealed God’s nature
9 Jesus 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, Shew us the Father?
God’s glory John 1:14
14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
God’s love
8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
God’s power and wisdom
2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.
46 The officers answered, Never man spake like this man.
The Bible
Reveals God’s person, works, and plan for man’s salvation
The Purpose of Special Revelation
The Purpose of Special Revelation
Special revelation is needed for men to be saved.
It is only by the Word of God that men can know the love and grace of God in the person of Christ and by knowing this exercise faith in Him (Romans 10:17
17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Special revelation is therefore, “Soteriological”
Take Away
Take Away
How did we receiver our Bible? Step one is through special revelation. Step two is “Inspiration”, which we will discuss after VBS.
For tonight know that this book we hold dear is special because it reveals to us the nature, love, grace, and plan of God for all ages. It reveals to us our need, and God’s sufficiency to meet that need. It confronts us with our weaknesses to demonstrate God’s strength, and it offers the only light in this dark world we live in.
If you take nothing else away from tonight’s study, take away the truth that you can trust this Book!