Tonight’s lesson: Knowing God Part Two: Special Revelation

Tonight’s Song “He Is” Aaron Jeoffrey

Brief Review Week 1: What is Theology Theology is an integral part of religion and what it means to be a Christian. Theology helps gives us a framework to reflect on our reasons for doing things (e.g., why we worship, why we pray).

The Purpose of this Series to introduce key doctrines of the historic Christian faith while encouraging a deeper personal study of systematic theology.

Two Assumptions 1. The Bible is true and that it is our only absolute standard of truth. 2.The God who is spoken of in the Bible exists, and that he is who the Bible says He is.

Our Working Definition Systematic theology is any study that answers the questions, “What does the whole Bible teach us today?” about any given topic.

Week 2: Knowing God General Revelation Human Perspective: Job’s Example: Job 23:3New Living Translation (NLT) 3 If only I knew where to find God, I would go to his court. Phillip’s Example: John 14:8New Living Translation (NLT) 8 Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.”

1. God is infinite and man is finite. 2. Man is Sinful, God is Holy Two Problems Must Be Addressed:

The Solution God Chose to Reveal Himself to Humanity in both a general and special way.

General Revelation Examined Definition: God’s communication of Himself to all persons at all times and in all places. (i.e., Knowledge of God that is generally available to humanity at all times and all places.)

The Location of General Revelation General Revelation is found in three primary locations: Nature, Providence, and Human Beings (conscience).

Key Scriptures Psalm 19:1-4a (NIV) 1 The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. 2 Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge. 3 They have no speech, they use no words; no sound is heard from them. 4 Yet their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.

Key Scriptures Romans 2:14-15 (NIV) 14 (Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law. 15 They show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts sometimes accusing them and at other times even defending them.)

Key Scriptures Matthew 5:45 (NIV) 45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.

Key Scriptures Daniel 2:21 (NIV) 21 He changes times and seasons; he deposes kings and raises up others. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning.

Key Scriptures Romans 1:18-21 (NIV) 18 The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, 19 since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. 20 For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse. 21 For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.

Special Revelation Examined Special Revelation is God’s manifestation of Himself to particular persons at definite times and places, enabling those persons to enter into a redemptive relationship with Him

Special Revelation: It’s Character 1. It’s Particular. Deuteronomy 7:6 (NIV) 6 For you are a people holy to the L ORD your God. The L ORD your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession. 1 Peter 2:9 (NIV) 9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

Special Revelation: It’s Character 2. It’s Progressive Not a movement from untruth to truth, but from a lesser to a fuller disclosure.

Special Revelation: It’s Character 3. It’s Saving Romans 3: (NIV) 21 But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. 22 This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. 25 God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— 26 he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus..

Special Revelation: It’s Character 4. It’s Verbal Language is the primary way God chooses to communicate with humanity.

Special Revelation: It’s Character 5. It’s Personal John 14:9 (NIV) 9 Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?

Special Revelation: It’s Medium 1.The OT Prophets 2.The Person of Jesus Christ 3.The Apostles

Special Revelation: It’s Content 1.God Himself 2.Revealed Truth 3.God’s Ultimate Purposes Ephesians 1:9-10 (NIV) 9 he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, 10 to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.

Conclusion Special Revelation must be received by Faith. This means, ultimately, that we must make a decision of faith regarding Jesus Christ (God’s self-revelation.)