Knowing God Through the Doctrine of Revelation
"Yet we do speak wisdom among those who are mature; a wisdom, however not of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are passing away; but we speak God’s wisdom in a mystery, the hidden wisdom, which God predestined before the ages to our glory; the wisdom which none of the rulers of this age has understood; for if they had understood it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory; but just as it is written, “Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, and which have not entered the heart of man, all that God has prepared for those who love Him.” (1 Corinthians 1:6-9, NIV)
The Doctrine of Revelation points to mans greatest dilemma. How can God be known? How can man come to know God and have relationship with Him? In light of this thought, revelation can be defined as a supernatural (mystical) disclosure of God to His creatures who would not have been otherwise aware of or capable of discovering on their own. Has God chosen to make Himself known only in and through the Bible or through Jesus Christ?
Have there been other methods that He has chosen to reveal Himself to us? If revelation can be defined as the uncovering, revealing, or disclosure thereof, how can this be applied to the ability to inherently know God?
Through Divine Revelation, God will allow Himself to be known to those He has created in His creation. Throughout history, providence, and conscious law, there are two aspects that are worthy of exploration--the Doctrine of General Revelation (in that it is equally available to all of mankind at all times), and the Doctrine of Special Revelation (in that God will attain through signs, wonders and miracles), His special acts to mankind.
General Revelation Reveals His Creation
“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands,
Day after day, they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge.”
(Psalm 19:1-2, NIV)
As the heavens declare of the glory of God, King David is inspired by the expanse of God’s creation. This creation as referenced in (Psalm 19:1), reveals the firmament of His handiwork to mankind.
This is not the spiritual heaven where the throne of God resides, but the heaven that God created for all of mankind to behold through nature. He acknowledges the heavens and clearly sees that the glory of God has been declared. Hoffmeier (2000) states, “From these observations, I conclude that the Revelation of God that is apprehended by looking at the expanse of the heavens, or any part of God’s creation, is limited to providing veiled information about God, but not what is necessary to know God in any intimate or Salvific sense” (p. 20).
With contemplation of Christian doctrine, the great question lies, “How can God be known?” As Job cried out to God in (Job 23:3), often times we can take for granted what we distinguish as having a sense of God. Although some may say they do not believe in God, there is something within the heart of man that tells them what God is and that they need to on some level or another come to terms with what that might mean. Whether the sense of God either blesses mankind or torments him is something that every human must contemplate. For those that are anxious to find God they must begin a quest to know
God by going deeply inside themselves and discovering the inner light of Christ which will ultimately lead to God. Through the use of reason and wisdom, people may start with exploring their relationship with nature and creation. Howard (2010) says, “Agreement also exists that the knowledge revealed consists of particular attributes of God or a “broad outline of what He is like.” The attributes of God that are considered to be revealed are those described in passages such as (Psalms 19:1, Romans 1:18-32, and Acts 14:17). (Psalms 19:1-8), according to Demarest, indicates that God as Elohim, the eternal, omnipotent, wise and good Creator and Sustainer of all that is, is revealed via General Revelation” (p. 55).
The Christian answer to finding God is not through reasoning. As Paul expresses in (1 Corinthians 1:21, NIV), “The world by wisdom knew not God.” In spite of this, humans still rely on their own ideas and reasoning in an effort to find God. The human mind is simply far too small to grasp God and realize Him. Once this concept is accepted and the fall of man understood, knowledge of God in human terms becomes completely impossible.
The very nature of God is immeasurable. His character and qualities are absolute and He is utterly and completely Holy. This in and of itself makes it virtually impossible for man to have any knowledge of God through reason or intuition. When the issue of man’s ability to distinguish between God’s will and his own circumstances, his conscience mind is influenced by his fallen state.
As Job cried out in His agony, “Oh that I knew where to find Him!" (Job 23:3), illustrates how Job has given into the devastation of his circumstances. Through the character and nature of man in the fallen state and natural enmity, knowledge of God through human efforts again becomes completely impossible. At this point, man is completely reliant upon God revealing Himself. How would this be possible and has He done so already? The answer of course is that we know He has. He has done so through the written Word of God. Mankind must be clear about the fact that revelation is the act by which God will communicate with His creatures in His creation concerning revealing the truth of who He really is. (Romans 1:19-20, NIV) says, “Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them for God hath showed it unto them. For the invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse.”
Special Revelation
“The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul; The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.” (Psalm 19:7-8, NIV)
As the character of God is revealed through the Law of the Lord, David changes from acknowledging God through the beauty of His creation to praising the same God for revealing Himself through His Word. As King David glanced at the starry heavens above and beheld God’s glorious creation, he is now beholding the same God through the moral law within.
The Word of God tells us much more about Him. Here God is revealed as a covenant keeping God, a God of love as He is reflected in the structure of (Psalm 19). The word of God is perfect. “As we know Jesus better, His divine power gives us everything we need for living a godly life” (2 Peter 1:3, NIV). While God’s Word doesn’t give the believer all knowledge, what it does give is true and perfect. God’s Word is always completely accurate and is not ever wrong either in science or history or understanding of human nature. The perfection of God’s Word is that it is completely 100% effective. It does that which God meant it to accomplish and does the work of converting the soul. The power of God goes beyond reading, hearing or studying and beyond intellectual benefit. God’s word converts the soul. The Special Revelation of God has a succinct purpose. This purpose is the object to reveal
to us the character of God, His nature and His character especially in that they are revealed to us through His saving grace. We want to be concerned about how to know God, be loved by Him and to also be truly blessed by Him. The Bible claims more than the fact that it is the record of His Special Revelation of Himself and His gracious and saving purposes in our lives. The Bible from the beginning of the book to the end is the greatest revelation of all time--it is God revealing Himself to mankind.
Berkhof (1989), discusses how General Revelation is different from Special Revelation in that it “Rests on the basis of creation, is addressed to all intelligent creatures as such, and is therefore accessible to all men, though as the result of sin they are no more able to read and interpret it aright. Special Revelation on the other hand rests on the basis of re-creation, has addressed men as sinners with a view of their redemption, and can be properly understood only by the spiritual man” (p.360). The message from the beginning of scripture to the very end is that God is revealing Himself by drawing back the veil and allowing us to have insights into His glorious purposes. Scripture tells us that God has been delighted to reveal Himself to mankind through manifestations. One important example of this is in (Exodus 33), where God tells Moses to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt.
“Moses said to the Lord, ‘You have been telling me,’ take these people up to the Promised Land” (Exodus 33:17, NIV). Then, the Lord replies to Moses “I will indeed do what you have asked, for you have found favor with me, and you are my friend. Moses asks, “Please let me see your glorious presence” (Exodus 33:18, NIV). The Lord replied, “I will make all my goodness pass before you and I will call out my name ‘the LORD to you.’ I will show kindness to anyone I choose, and I will show mercy to anyone I choose. But you may not look directly at my face, for no one may see me and live." The Lord continued, "Stand here
on this rock beside me. As my glorious presence passes by, I will put you in the cleft of the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed” (Exodus 33:19-22, NIV). God has also been known to reveal Himself through means of direct speech. He spoke to Adam and He spoke to Cain. God spoke to Noah. He spoke in a special way to Abraham who was the friend of God. God gave great promises to Abraham and said to him, “Abraham, says our Lord, rejoice to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad” (John 8:56, NIV) was the voice of God heard audibly in this world.
Exploring the Doctrine of General Revelation, one is able to come to a universal sense of God, which produces within humanity the proof that God exists and is embedded deeply within the psyche or consciousness of our being. It makes one clear that God does exist and can produce within man the understanding of right and wrong. General Revelation is possessed by all, even to those who have no understanding of God’s plan for Salvation. Special Revelation allows man to come to a fuller understanding of God and His laws, dictates and purposes; particularly His plan of Salvation. This comes through the hearing of the Word and also through the history of scripture manifest through the prophets of God.
God’s testimony of creation has no distance or barrier. It is freely given to all. The voice of creation flows out into all of the earth, and His words to the ends of the world. As in (Psalm 139), there is no place you can go that you will not be confronted with God’s testimony of Himself through creation. It is an eternal and everlasting testimony that knows no end.
References
Berkhof, L. (1989). General revelation in its relation to special revelation. Westminster
Theological Journal. WTJ 51:359-368.
Demarest, B. (1982). General revelation: Historical views and contemporary issues. Zondervan
Publishing House: Grand Rapids, MI.
Hoffmeier, J. (2000). The heavens declare the glory of god: the limits of general revelation.
Trinity Journal. TRINJ:21NS:17-24.
Howard, D. (2010). A critical analysis of general revelation. Criswell Theological Review.
CTR: n.s 8/1:53-75.
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