The Revelation of God
The Bible Stands: A Study Of The Authoritative Word Of God • Sermon • Submitted • Presented • 39:09
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Notes
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Review
Review
Turn to Job 11:7.
Last time we were together for this series, we saw the big picture of how we received the New Testament Scriptures.
In 1 Timothy 3:14-15, Paul told Timothy that the local church is the foundation and the supporter of the truth. The early local churches, planted by the apostles and followers of Jesus Christ, were the organizations that the Holy Spirit guided to know which letters should be part of the New Testament and which letters should not.
It wasn’t the exclusive work of a church council of apostles or pastors
It wasn’t the work of the Roman Catholic church or any other specific church.
It wasn’t the work of the church fathers.
It was Spirit-led local churches that God used to determine which letters were of God and which were not.
One Bible - one book that is a compilation of many books, all with one Divine author
Two testaments - two covenants - the old covenant was superseded by the new covenant that Jesus ratified with His blood.
The books of the Bible are arranged topically. They progressively reveal Jesus Christ as the theme of the Bible.
Introduction
Introduction
As we resume this series, I want to give you the roadmap for where we are headed. We have defined what the word “Bible” means. We have considered the structure and the divisions of our Bible. Now we’re going to study the process whereby God gave us the Bible. This is the heart of our series. There are several important terms that we will slowly cover.
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Revelation
Inspiration
Preservation
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Canonization
Illumination
Interpretation
Revelation
The English word “revelation” is derived from a Latin word that means, “to reveal.” You can almost hear the word “reveal” in the English term, “revelation.”
You find the word “revelation” is also used in the Bible.
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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:
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How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,
The Greek word that is translated “revelation” means, “a disclosure” or “an unveiling.”
And that’s exactly what God has chosen to do since the creation of man. He has chosen to communicate truth about himself to mankind.
A General Introduction to the Bible, Revised and Expanded Interpretation Focuses on the Apprehension and Understanding of Truth (1 Cor. 2:14–16)
revelation is the fact of divine communication
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Revelation: the divine act of God revealing Himself to man
Read Job 11:7.
Job’s friend may not have had the right motive in asking this question, but his point was true nonetheless.
If you go on a long journey, will you be able to search out the God of Heaven? No.
Are you wise enough to comprehend who God is and where He lives? No!
That’s the point: finite man cannot search out an infinite God! Unless God chose to reveal Himself, we wouldn’t know Him. Unless God gave us the Scriptures, we wouldn’t know how to approach Him.
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O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!
“Without a revelation from God concerning Himself, any study of theology would be reduced to speculative guesswork.” - Pastor Frank Camp
Application: God has chosen to reveal Himself to mankind. Thank God that He has chosen to reveal Himself to us!
This leads us to a question: how has God chosen to reveal Himself to us?
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General revelation
Special revelation
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General revelation: The knowledge of God available to all mankind at all times in all places by use of the God-given senses and intellectual reason.
Turn to Psalm 19:1-3.
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God has revealed himself through creation
During the French revolution Jean Bon St. André, the Vendean revolutionist, said to a peasant, “I will have all your steeples pulled down, that you may no longer have any object by which you may be reminded of your old superstitions.”
“But,” replied the peasant, “you cannot help leaving us the stars.”
- John Bate, The Treasury of David, Volume One, Part One, pg 279
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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:
Much more than mere existence, the heavens give us a small, fleeting glimpse at God’s majesty, honor, and glory. When the entire night time sky is in unrestricted view, one cannot help but think of the awesomeness of the One who painted such a beautiful scene.
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God has revealed Himself through providential control
Turn to and read Acts 14:15-17.
Paul pointed to creation and to circumstances as direct witnesses to the goodness of God.
Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: For wisdom and might are his: And he changeth the times and the seasons: He removeth kings, and setteth up kings: He giveth wisdom unto the wise, And knowledge to them that know understanding: He revealeth the deep and secret things: He knoweth what is in the darkness, And the light dwelleth with him.
You read enough history books with an open mind and you cannot help but conclude that God has providentially involved Himself in the affairs of men. History records God’s intervention. God’s chosen people, the Jews, have seen God intervene on their behalf many times. No dictator has been successful in destroying them. Besides this, you could read the writings of our Founding Fathers. They spoke of God’s intervention in specific battles of the American War for Independence and they saw His blessing upon the whole experiment as they founded a new nation.
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God has revealed himself through the conscience of man
Turn to and read Romans 2:14-15.
Every single human being, whether they are an atheist in 21st century America, or whether they are a devil worshipper in the remote Amazon, has this thing called a conscience. They cannot explain it, but they have some idea of right and wrong. They know that it’s wrong to murder or to steal what is not theirs. It’s just wrong. Why? Because God has written that moral law on every heart and it cannot be erased.
The Revelation of God.
Application: Thank God that He has chosen to reveal Himself to us!
What are you doing with what He has already revealed to you? In other words, what are you doing with what you know to be true? Don’t expect God to communicate more truth to you through His Word if you’re not willing to apply the truth that He has already shown you.
