Many people, when they hear the word "revelation," associate it with the last book of the Bible by that name. This article deals with the doctrine of revelation not the book of revelation. The doctrine of revelation deals with a fundamental question at the heart of the Bible and Christianity. The question is, How do we know God?
There are two basic views that endeavor to set forth an answer to this question. One of these is that man discovers God through nature or natural phenomena by using his own mind. This view denies that any supernatural self-revelation of God has ever occurred. Everything that has been learned about God has been learned by man's own ability to discover it.
The second view teaches that what mankind knows of God has been revealed to him. This is called “theism” or “revealed religion.” The idea behind this understanding of revelation is that God is immortal and infinite, whereas man is mortal and finite. God is utterly transcendent. He is above and beyond man. In Isaiah 55:8, 9 we read, "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts." The mind of man, as wonderful as it is in many ways, can never reach the mind of God. Man, in his depraved and sinful nature, will never be able to find God. Therefore an understanding and knowledge of God is only possible by means of a self-revelation of God to mankind.
Historic Christianity believes that indeed God has revealed himself to mankind. What we believe and know about God is not a result of our own discovery but based upon a self-revelation by God. Jesus asserted that Simon Peter's understanding that Jesus was the Christ was only possible because it was revealed to him by the Father in heaven (Matt 16:17). Paul said that some things were "not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto His holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit."
God has revealed himself in two ways. First, God reveals himself through his mighty works (Psalm 71:17). God also reveals himself through his word (Heb 1:1). God reveals his person through his mighty works and he reveals his truth through his word. Therefore mankind does not know God through human discovery but through the divinely revealed Word of God. Have a great week and remember that God loves you and so does First Baptist Church.