WHAT IS GENERAL
REVELATION?
Scripture ....
• ... takes the existence of God as a given
• Gen 1:1- In the beginning, God created the
heavens and the earth.
• ... highlights a God who reveals Himself to human
beings
• Heb 1:1-2 1 Long ago, at many times and in
many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the
prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken
to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of
all things, through whom also he created the
world.
Definition: General revelation
• The universal disclosure of God in nature,
in providential history and in moral law
within the heart (conscience), whereby all
persons at all times and places gain a
rudimentary understanding of the Creator
and his moral demands. (Romans 1:18-20).
•
(www.monergism.com)
Simpler
Definition: General revelation
• General revelation is the knowledge of
God, as well as the knowledge of right and
wrong, that can be obtained through
nature.
•
(https://carm.org/questions/about-bible/what-general-andspecial-revelation)
A: Why do we need God to
reveal Himself?
1. We have a finite mind (which cannot
fully grasp the infinite)
• Isaiah 55:8-9 For my thoughts are not
your thoughts, neither are your ways
my ways, declares 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.
A: Why do we need God to
reveal Himself?
2. We have a fallen mind (which results in a
distorted understanding of God).
• Rom 1:22-23 For although they knew God,
they did not honor him as God or give thanks
to him, but they became futile in their thinking,
and their foolish hearts were
darkened. 22 Claiming to be wise, they became
fools, 23 and exchanged the glory of the
immortal God for images resembling mortal
man and birds and animals and creeping
things.
A: Why do we need God to
reveal Himself?
• Bottom line: Both our finite and fallen
mind can never arrive at a true and
accurate understanding of God.
• Application: Do we humble ourselves
before God and ask him to show who he
is to us?
B: How does God reveal
Himself to human beings?
1. The created order
• Romans 1:19-20 19 For what can be known
about God is plain to them, because God
has shown it to them. 20 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.
B: How does God reveal
Himself to human beings?
The existence of creation not only points
to a Creator, but also tells us of His
eternal power and divine nature.
Creation functions as an EXTERNAL
witness to a powerful and creative God.
B: How does God reveal
Himself to human beings?
2. The human conscience
Romans 2:14-16 14 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. 15 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 16 on that day when, according to my gospel,
God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus.
B: How does God reveal
Himself to human beings?
Our human conscience serves as an
INTERNAL witness to a moral God.
Application: How much do you and I
heed the voice of our conscience?
B: How does God reveal
Himself to human beings?
• Bottom line: With these 2 witnesses,
human beings are left with no excuse
regarding the existence of God.
• Application: What are you and I doing to
do with the general revelation of God to
us through creation and conscience?
C: What are the limitations to
general revelation?
1. Unable to provide a deeper knowledge of
God’s personal attributes
• E.g. Is God loving or compassionate?
2. Does not provide any understanding of
how we can be saved from our sins
• Does not show us how we can be reconciled
to God.
D: How does special revelation
complement general revelation?
Apart from general revelation, God also
reveals Himself through special
revelation.
D: How does special revelation
complement general revelation?
1. Holy Scriptures
Verbal or propositional revelation
- through words or statements.
2 Tim 3:16-17 16 All Scripture is God-breathed and
is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and
training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant
of God may be thoroughly equipped for every
good work.
D: How does special revelation
complement general revelation?
1. Holy Scriptures
2 Tim 3:16-17 16 All Scripture is God-breathed and
is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and
training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant
of God may be thoroughly equipped for every
good work.
 Not a mechanical dictation, as in the case of
the Qur’an
 But Bible is divinely inspired…
 The Bible is the ‘Word of God in the words of
men’
D: How does special revelation
complement general revelation?
1. Holy Scriptures
Enables us to have a grasp of God’s plan and
purpose for the entire human race.
* The divine manufacturer’s handbook
D: How does special revelation
complement general revelation?
2. Jesus Christ
Personal or incarnational revelation.
• John 1:14 The Word became flesh and made
his dwelling among us. We have seen his
glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who
came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
• God became a real human being in the
Person of Jesus Christ.
D: How does special revelation
complement general revelation?
2. Jesus Christ
Personal or incarnational revelation.
•John 14:6-7 6Jesus answered, “I am the
way and the truth and the life. No one comes to
the Father except through me.
7 If you really know me, you will know my
Father as well. From now on, you do know
him and have seen him.”
D: How does special revelation
complement general revelation?
2. Jesus Christ
-Enables us to have a clearer and deeper
understanding of God’s character.
-Special revelation informs us about God’s
sacrificial love:
•John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he
gave his one and only Son, that whoever
believes in him shall not perish but have eternal
life.
D: How does special revelation
complement general revelation?
• Bottom line: God holds every human
being accountable for what they already
know through his general revelation.
• Application: Are you and I aware that
general revelation is not comprehensive
in itself but that it also requires special
revelation to complete the spiritual
picture?
• ANY QUESTIONS?
Conclusion:
Key lessons about general revelation?
•2 action steps to take:
a) To honour God as our Almighty Creator
•Rom 1:21 21 For although they knew God,
they did not honor him as God or give thanks
to him
Do you and I worship, submit and obey our
Creator God?
Conclusion:
Key lessons about general revelation?
•2 action steps to take:
b) To thank God for being our faithful
provider
•Rom 1:21
21 For
although they knew God,
they did not honor him as God or give thanks
to him
How often do we thank God for all His
providential blessings?