Theology - Special Revelation, Continued
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Allow me to remind you that God’s revelation of Himself to mankind can be divided into two “books:” God’s Outdoor Book - Creation, History, Conscience (General Revelation) and God’s Indoor Book (Special Revelation) - The Bible and Jesus Christ.
Last week we looked at the truth that God has revealed Himself through Jesus Christ.
For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
Tonight, we’re going to pick right up from there...
God has revealed Himself through Scripture.
God has revealed Himself through Scripture.
I will not spend long on this point. Turn to and read John 5:39-47.
Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.
The Bible isn’t simple an academic exercise so that we can have a list of “Do’s and Don’t’s.” The Bible has been given to us that we might know God.
However, we must be cautious. The very act of “knowing God” can become purely academic as well.
Ryrie’s Basic Theology B. Its Content
God has revealed many facts about Himself, all of which are important in making our personal relationship with Him close, intelligent, and useful. Had He only revealed facts without making it possible to know Him personally, such factual knowledge would have little, certainly not eternal, usefulness.
I remind you of what Jesus said to Philip in John 14:9:
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?
I wonder if Philip was ashamed when Christ asked that question? In essence, Christ was saying, “Philip, you don’t really know Me!”
Ryrie’s Basic Theology B. Its Content
a knowledge about God should deepen our relationship with Him, which in turn increases our desire to know more about Him.
Have we been “walking with God” for such a long period of time that it has simply become a “fact gathering” journey instead of a “walk of faith?”
These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God.
On Monday afternoon, I took a walk along the greenway. At about the 1 mile mark I spotted a herd of 16 deer just off of the path in the woods. I just stood there watching them while they stood there watching me. As I stood there, a number of people passed by seemingly oblivious to the deer. As one man passed by, I felt impressed to point him to the deer. He didn’t slow down but merely responded, “Oh Ya! See them all time.” Perhaps he could sense my disappointment because, as he continued without missing a beat, he said, “But that’s cool.”
Is that how our “walk with God” has become?
Now, please remember that, while general revelation will point an individual in the right direction, special revelation is necessary for an individual to be saved.
The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament sheweth his handywork.
The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.
“One of the primary purposes of special revelation is to tell us how to be reconciled with God despite our moral failures.” - Shaun Doyle
Shaun has a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science with first class honours, specializing in Soil Science, and a Graduate Diploma in Natural Resource Studies—both from the University of Queensland, Brisbane. He currently serves with Creation Ministries International. What I find encouraging is that he became a creationist before he became a Christian. In other words, his study of creation pointed him in the direction of Jesus Christ! Someone then pointed him to Christ through the pages of Scripture. Just as I pointed out earlier, God revealed Himself to Moses so that Moses could then reveal God to the Israelites, who were in bondage, and lead them to the Promised Land. The Word of God contains the gospel, which is all that is necessary for a person to be saved. The great concern is that so many have not heard the gospel story. Even if a person has accepted general revelation, he must be presented with the claims of the gospel before he can be saved.
For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
This is why we need to be involved in sharing the gospel. There are individuals whose hearts have been opened and who now need to hear the “gospel of peace.”This is why projects such as our Scripture Assembly Projects and BIMI’s PNG Bible Project are so important
605,000 – Bibles in country at this time
550,000 – Bibles that have been distributed
165,000 – Bibles ordered and on the way to PNG
770,000 – Bibles in country by June 2019
344 – Secondary schools completed (all done that can be done at this time)
3,700 – Total primary schools in country
240 – Primary schools completed (more being done every day)
(+ 16 Universities/Colleges receiving Bibles)
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
We now turn our attention to the...
Attributes of God
Attributes of God
What is God like?
Attributes are qualities or characteristics of a person or thing.
Although general revelation is able to give us a glimpse of God’s attributes (surely the Creator of the universe is omnipotent), it is not until we have come to God in salvation and to God’s Word that we are truly able to get somewhat of an understanding of the character of God as He has revealed it to us.
We can kind of understand this when unsaved ask questions like:
If God is so good, why do bad things happen?
If God is so powerful, why do bad things happen?
Or a thousand variations of the same questions!
However, if we, as Christians, were honest, we would admit that, at times, it is difficult for us reconcile, in our minds, what we see and what we know to be truth.
For example, I sometimes find it difficult to reconcile man’s free will with God’s sovereignty. When we think about it too long it would seem that if man has a free will than God is not truly sovereign but if God is truly sovereign, than man does not have a free will! However, we know that both are true. The Bible teaches that man has a free will. But, the Bible also teaches that God sovereign!
First of all we need to understand...
Because we are finite, it is difficult for us to fully comprehend God’s character, which is infinite!
Because we are finite, it is difficult for us to fully comprehend God’s character, which is infinite!
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, Neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.
For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are my ways higher than your ways, And my thoughts than your thoughts.
Charles Spurgeon, called by many the Prince of Preachers, once said when asked to reconcile two paradoxical truths of Scripture: “They need no reconciliation, for they never fell out. Why should I reconcile two friends? Prove to me that they two truths do not agree. These two facts are parallel lines; I cannot make them unite, but you cannot make them cross each other. Permit me als to add that I have long ago given up the idea of making all my beliefs into a system. I believe, but I cannot explain. I fall before the majesty of revelation, and adore the infinite Lord.”
Because we are finite, as long as we are in this sin-cursed, we will never be able to fully comprehend the character of God.
Because we are finite, as long as we are in this sin-cursed, we will never be able to fully comprehend the character of God.
Canst thou by searching find out God? Canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection?
Ryrie’s Basic Theology I. The Possibility of the Knowledge of God
Unquestionably the knowledge of God is desirable; the religious yearnings of mankind testify to that. But is it possible?
The Scriptures attest to two facts: the incomprehensibility of God and the knowability of God. To say that He is incomprehensible is to assert that the mind cannot grasp the knowledge of Him. To say that He is knowable is to claim that He can be known. Both are true, though neither in an absolute sense. To say that God is incomprehensible is to assert that man cannot know everything about Him. To say that He is knowable is not to assert that man can know everything about Him.
The knowledge of God is a well that is so deep that we will never reach the bottom nor exhaust its supply.
The knowledge of God is a well that is so pure that in it we can find truth an life.
The knowledge of God is a well so refreshing that it will strengthen and renew us in this dry and dusty world.
The knowledge of God is a well that is accessible to all; rich and poor, young and old, educated and simple, sophisticated and plane.
But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.