I.
Introduction to the Doctrine of Revelation
A. Who has authority to speak about matters of God and
our relationship to him? God does as supreme ruler and creator; all other
authority is derivative from Him.
B. What does authority mean? The power or right to give orders, make decisions, and
enforce obedience. I
think we can add the power or right to demand belief as well. As we said
before, God is the ultimate authority and every other authority derives from
Him.
C. How do we come to know what God thinks about
Himself and our relationship to him? Revelation.
D. What is revelation? apokalypsis: laying bare, making naked; a disclosure of truth
concerning things before unknown
II.
2 kinds of revelation
A. General revelation: available to
everyone; general knowledge about God
1. Acts 14:16, 17: In past generations he allowed all
the nations to walk in their own ways. Yet he did not leave himself without
witness, for he did good by giving you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons,
satisfying your hearts with food and gladness.
B. 3 types of general revelation
1. nature
a. Romans 1:18-20: For the wrath of God is revealed
from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their
unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to
them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely,
his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since
the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are
without excuse.
2. conscience
a. Romans 2:14-16: For
when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires,
they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. They show
that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience
also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them
on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by
Christ Jesus.
3. providence
a. God is continually involved with all created things
in such a way that he (1) keeps them existing and maintaining the properties
with which he created them; (2) cooperates with created things in every action,
directing their distinctive properties to cause them to act as they do; and (3)
directs them to fulfill his purposes. (Systematic
Theology, Wayne Grudem, page 315)
i. The Triune God of Creation is the God also of Providence.
This term, in its widest meaning, signifies the Divine presence in the world as
sustaining, controlling, and guiding to their destination all things that are
made. (A Compendium of Christian Theology,
William Burt Pope, volume 1, page 437)
b. Preservation (sustaining; conservation, Pope, page
446)
i. Job 34: 14-15: If he should set his heart to it and
gather to himself his spirit and his breath, all flesh would perish together, and
man would return to dust.
c.
Concurrence (guiding; care, Pope, page 449)
i. Acts 2:23:
this Jesus, delivered up according to the
definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands
of lawless men.
d.
Government (controlling; government, Pope, page 452)
i. Psalm 103:19: The Lord has established his throne
in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all.
C. Functions of general revelation
1. To show forth God’s
glory
a. Psalm 19:1: The heavens declare the glory of God,
and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.
2. To render people
morally culpable before God
a. Romans 1:19: For what can be known about God is
plain to them, because God has shown it to them.
b. Romans 2:15, 16: They show that the work of the law
is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and
their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them on that day when,
according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus.
No comments:
Post a Comment