The Revelation of God (Part 2)

Review

Turn to Genesis 20:3.

Since the creation of mankind, God has chosen to reveal truth about Himself to mankind. He has revealed His glory through creation, through His providential control down in history, and through the moral conscience that He has put in every human being.

Introduction

General revelation about God reveals general truths about God - such as His glory, His goodness, His order, His wisdom, and His greatness. General revelation reveals enough about God to mankind to make him accountable to the Creator, but it cannot save man’s soul. This brings us to the subject of tonight’s study: special revelation.

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Special revelation: God's revelation of specific truth about Himself to specific people and at a specific time

Down through history, there are a number of ways that God has revealed specific truth to mankind. For the next few minutes, we’re going to identify these. As we do, I want you to be thinking of how you would answer this question:

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If you could choose a way for God to reveal truth about Himself to you, what would you pick?

I’ll be asking you for your feedback on that towards the end of tonight’s message.

Let’s consider the ways that God has spoken to mankind:

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Dreams - Genesis 20:3.

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Christophany/Theophany - Genesis 16:7-14.

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Miracles - Exodus 3:2.

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Visions - Isaiah 1:1.

Dreams happen while asleep, often symbolic, the one dreaming is often just an observer of something.

Visions happen while awake or in a trance, often direct or interactive (Peter, Acts 10)

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Angels - Luke 1:10-12.

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The Lot - Acts 1:21-26.

The Bible doesn’t describe the exact mechanism, but lots may have been marked stones or pieces of wood drawn from a container, or objects tossed with different outcomes depending on how they landed. - ChatGPT

Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary Lots

We do know that people of the OT and NT believed God (or gods in the case of non-Israelites or non-Christians) influenced the fall or outcome of the lots (

Proverbs 16:33 KJV 1900

The lot is cast into the lap; But the whole disposing thereof is of the Lord.

Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary Lots

Thus, casting lots was a way of determining God’s will.

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Urim and Thummim - Exodus 28:30.

Purpose: To receive divine guidance or judgment in matters of national or spiritual importance. Think of it as a sacred decision-making tool.

Urim = possibly “lights”

Thummim = possibly “perfections” or “truth”

Together, they might mean “lights and perfections” or “perfect truth.”

In short, the Urim and Thummim were mysterious but sacred tools for divine decision-making, probably functioning like a binary or yes/no oracle under strict religious use.

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Communication through prophets and apostles - 2 Kings 7:1, Ephesians 3:5.

2 Kings 7:1 KJV 1900

Then Elisha said, Hear ye the word of the Lord; Thus saith the Lord, To morrow about this time shall a measure of fine flour be sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, in the gate of Samaria.

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The Scriptures - 2 Timothy 3:16.

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The earthly ministry of Jesus Christ - Hebrews 1:1-2.

Ask question:

There’s approximately ten options. If you could choose a way for God to reveal truth about Himself to you, what would you pick? Why?

I have no doubt that each of these means of revelation were memorable in their own way.

Joseph never forgot his dreams.

Moses learned his life’s work and purpose at the miracle of the burning bush.

Peter was forever changed by walking alongside the Savior.

Those men were greatly moved by the revelation that they received, but the next generation that came behind them could only hear their stories of the past. Their experiences could not be relived by their children. Powerful as their experiences were, they were not as authoritative as another means of revelation. Peter himself testified of this.

Turn to and read 2 Peter 1:14-21.

When Peter wrote this letter, he acknowledged in verse 14 that he would soon be dying. Jesus had revealed this to him. Peter determined to help the believers remember the doctrine that he had taught them. He reminded the believers that they did not follow ancient myths or stories about Jesus Christ. No, Peter was an eyewitness of everything that Christ did and experienced, including Christ’s transfiguration on the Mount of Olives. There, Peter saw his glory. But in his plea to the brethren, Peter appealed to a higher authority. He did not say, “remember the stories that I have told you! Don’t forget what it was like at the feeding of the 5000!”

He did not point the believers to his experiences; he pointed them to the written Word.

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Sure: stable, fast, firm, trusty, unshaken, constant

The written Word of God is the only sure, enduring, trustworthy, authoritative means of revelation that God has given us today.

God's revelation was progressive. Beginning with Adam, certain amounts of light were given to different people at different times in different ways while gradually accumulating until being completed with the book of Revelation. Supernaturally, this progressive revelation never contradicted any part at any time. It did embellish and illuminate, but never altered the truth of [prior] revelation. - Pastor Frank Camp

In Matthew 5:17–18 “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.”

End of revelation, will begin inspiration next week.