Revelation of God – Part 3

Psalm 139:1-4 “O Lord, You have searched me and known me. You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thought afar off. You comprehend my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word on my tongue, but behold, O Lord, You know it altogether.”

Although natural, or general, revelation manifests the goodness, wisdom, and power of God, it is insufficient to give knowledge of God, and of His will, which is necessary unto salvation. Natural revelation leads us to the reality and knowledge of the existence of eternal sovereign Creator Father God and that we have sinned against Him and His perfect commandments. We can hide behind a façade with mankind, but such strategies never work with God. We stand utterly exposed before the Creator of heaven and earth. However, our loving Almighty God did not leave us without revelation that teaches us now we can be saved. The article explains that “Special Revelation” is that revelation from God that tells us the way to salvation and what it means to live in a manner that pleases Him.

Matthew 4:4 “But He (Jesus) answered (Satan) and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’”

We could give multiple examples of the different forms in which special revelation once came. The most important of these, however, is the form of the Holy Scriptures; the living Word of God. 2 Timothy 3:16 tells us, “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.” This is a clear way of saying that Scripture is the very speech of God. It is His Word. The Greek word translated as “breathed out” here is “theopneustos”, and Scripture is the only thing described as such by the Apostles. Thus, the Holy Scripture of the Bible has a unique character as the voice and words of the living Lord God. It uniquely serves as God’s special revelation, as His inspired and revealed will for his people. Nothing else today is “theopneustos”, so we can point to nothing but the Holy Bible as the Word of God.

John 17:17 “Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.”

 When we speak of Scripture as “theopneustos’, we are pointing to its divine inspiration. The Word of God written is identical to God’s speech. IT is exactly what He intended us to have as revelation of His will and how to please Him. God breathed out His Word, but He did so through the instrumentality of His prophets and Apostles. It is God’s Word, given by Him. Verbal inspiration means that inspiration pertains to the very words themselves, not just the meaning that the words convey. Plenary inspiration means that all words of Holy Scripture are given by God, not just some of them. No, God spoke it all, using the distinct style of each human author to give us His sacred Word for all of life.

Let’s continue this message on revelation of God in the next post.

In Christ, Brian