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The Great Doctrines of the BibleMassimo Lorenzini Lesson One: General Revelation Can people know about God and what he requires apart from the Bible?
Instructions:
Print out this page so you can write on it. Look up all the Scripture references in your Bible then summarize in your own words your response to each question under "III. Procedure." Note that it is helpful to jot down a word or two next to each Scripture reference you look up to help you remember everything when doing the summaries. I. Background Christianity is not a record of man's quest for God; it's the product of God's revelation of himself and his purposes to man. We cannot know God through speculation (i.e. guesswork). Everything we know about Christianity has been revealed to us by God. To reveal means "to unveil." It involves removing a cover from something that is concealed or hidden. No one invented Christianity. It is a divinely revealed religion. If we want to know God in truth, we must rely on what he tells us about himself. The Bible teaches that God reveals himself in various ways: -his glory in and through the creation-his moral law through conscience -he revealed himself in ancient times via dreams and visions -his providence is shown in history -he reveals himself in Scripture -ultimately, his revelation is seen in Jesus Christ becoming a human being--incarnation
There are two ways of categorizing God's revelation: 1. General revelation - general in content and revealed to a general audience (all people, everywhere, throughout all of time) 2. Special revelation - specific in content and revealed to a specific audience (only some people, in some places, and during some of the time) Has God revealed himself to all people in general? Or has he only revealed himself to a particular people like Israel and the church? Can people who have never read the Bible and never heard about Jesus know anything at all about God? First, let's take a look at what some thinkers have believed about this issue. A. According to some, nothing whatever may be known of God from nature. God is known only as his living Word, the eternal Christ meets an individual personally. The Bible is a pointer or a witness through which people may come to know God personally (Karl Barth). B. On the opposite extreme are those who hold that no special or direct acts of God are involved. All that may be known of God is obtainable indirectly through a study of man and nature. Everyone has some knowledge of God, but the best theology is found in the highest achievements of human philosophy, science, and psychology of religion. These correct the teachings of Scripture (Liberals). C. Others maintain that all who will reason logically from their observations of nature must conclude that God exists. Apart from faith in Christ or the teachings of the Christian Church, all may see that God is the uncaused cause of the world and its design. This knowledge creates a hunger for more truth about God which is supplied by the authoritative teachings of the one true Church (Thomas Aquinas and the Roman Catholics). D. Although God's existence and glory are plainly revealed to all people by the things that are made, some argue that people do not in fact see this because sin has blinded their minds to all spiritual truth. While there is general revelation of God, there is no way for the unsaved person to understand or even perceive it. Only believers enlightened by the Holy Spirit can see God's glory in nature (Reformed theologians or Calvinists). E. By the light that God gives to all people, everyone may clearly see God's existence, power, and righteousness. In spite of their knowledge of God, however, none of them worship him as God. Instead, they worship and serve his creation. General revelation, like Moses' law, is holy, just, and good, but because of the weakness of man's sinful nature, it results not in man's salvation, but his condemnation. And like the law it should then be a tutor leading all people to the saving grace of Christ (Evangelicals). Illustration: Student needs $1,000 for tuition. A concerned fellow student offers with genuine concern $10 to help, which is all that he has. It's rejected. The student suddenly gets enough money to offer the full $1,000, but is he not fair if he gives it to another student? Accepting the $10 gift will not "save" the person who needed $1,000; but rejecting it will condemn him. Most people have rejected the revelation of God through nature and in doing so they have condemned themselves. God is just in rejecting them. II. Problem Which of the views on general revelation is most faithful to the biblical evidence? III. Procedure In your own words state the teaching of relevant Scripture on the disputed issues. A. Does God reveal himself at all in nature and man? Ps 19:1-6; Acts 14:15-17; Rom 2:14-15; Rom 1:19-20 Summarize
B. What may be known about God from the things he has made? What characteristics of God are revealed in nature? Ps 8; Ps 19:1; Ps 29:4; Ps 93:1-4; Ps 104:24; Ps 148:13; Matt 5:45; Acts 14:17; Acts 17:24-29; Rom 1:20; Rom 1:32; Rom 2:14-15 Summarize C. Who perceives these characteristics of God in nature? All men? Or believers only? Ps 19:2-4; Rom 1:18; Rom 1:19; Rom 1:20; Rom 1:21; Rom 1:25; Rom 1:28; Rom 1:32; Rom 2:14-15 Summarize D. What is the result of general revelation? Is it sufficient for salvation? Is it sufficient for condemnation? Rom 1:18; Rom 1:20; Rom 2:11-12; Rom 3:10-11; Rom 3:19-20; Rom 3:23; Acts 17:27; Ps 14:1 Summarize E. Write out and memorize Rom 1:20. IV. Your Conclusion State your doctrine of general revelation, incorporating and relating your answers to each question in III and clearly differentiating your view from others in I. V. Significance Think through the practical application of your study by answering the following questions. A. Is any human being without some knowledge of God? Because of such knowledge is each man responsible? Are the references to Jews and Gentiles (Rom 1:18--3:20) inclusive of the whole human race? B. Does anyone always live up to the light he has? C. Are all who have not heard the gospel lost? Are Jn 3:18, 36 a description of sinful man's continuing plight apart from Christ? D. Are those who have not heard the gospel lost on the basis of not believing the gospel, or on the basis of rejecting light they do have (Rom 2:12; Mt 11:22)? E. How can you make use of your conclusion on general revelation in witnessing to the unsaved? Consider Paul's approach (Acts 14:8-18; 17:16-34). Next lesson, Special Revelation: How may people know God's redemptive love and saving grace?
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