Can you Know God

God’s revelation of Himself

Natural Revelation

Natural Revelation discloses that it refers to God’s self-manifestation through nature, history, and the inner being of the human person.

In what areas of humanity do we find God’s general revelation?

Psalm 19:1 “The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork.”

Creation and nature points to God in his created work.

Psalm 47:7–8 “For God is the King of all the earth; Sing praises with understanding. God reigns over the nations; God sits on His holy throne.”

God is over the course of history and decision.

Romans 2:11–16 “For there is no partiality with God. For as many as have sinned without law will also perish without law, and as many as have sinned in the law will be judged by the law (for not the hearers of the law are just in the sight of God, but the doers of the law will be justified; for when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do the things in the law, these, although not having the law, are a law to themselves, who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them) in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel.”

God has given every person a general sense of what is right and wrong. It is part of our nature, but it also can be suppressed or denied in our free will. God also has created humanity to worship. Every culture believes in some kind of higher being. In an atheistic or agnostic culture it is generally human beings that worship as the higher being.

Special Revelation

Special Revelation is God’s manifestation of himself to particular persons at definite times and places, enabling those persons to enter into a redemptive relationship with Him.

God has revealed himself specifically in Scripture, by the biblical prophets, and through Jesus Christ.

Hebrews 1:1–2 “God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds;”

2 Timothy 3:16–17 “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

John 1:1–5 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shined in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.”

Can we know God

Yes, we can know God. He has revealed himself in creation and He has revealed himself in Scripture.

1 John 1:1–7 “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life—the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us—that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. And these things we write to you that your joy may be full. This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.”

How does that fact that I can know God impact my life?