1. Revelation in General.
The discussion of religion naturally leads on to that of revelation as its origin. If God had not revealed Himself, religion would have been impossible. Man could not possibly have had any knowledge of God, if God had not made Himself known. Left to himself, he would never have discovered God. We distinguish between God's revelation in nature and His revelation in Scripture.
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| Nature Show the existence of God |
Atheists and Agnostics, of course, do not believer in revelation. Pantheists sometimes speak of it , though there is really no place for it in their system of thought. And Deists admit the revelation of God in nature, but deny the necessity, the reality, and even the possibility of any special revelation such as we have in Scripture. We believe in both general and special revelation.
2. General Revelation.
The general revelation of God is prior to His special revelation in point of time. It does not come to man in the form of verbal communications, but in the facts, the forces, and the laws of nature, in the constitution and operation of the human mind, and in the facts of experience and history. The Bible refers to it in such passages as Psalms 19:1-2; Romans 1:19-20; Romans 2:14-15.
a. Insufficiency of general revelation.
While Pelagians, Rationalists, and Deists regard this revelation as adequate for our present needs, Roman Catholics and Protestants are agreed that it is not sufficient. It was obscured by blight of sin resting on God's beautiful creation. The handwriting of the Creator was not entirely erased, but became hazy reliable knowledge of God and spiritual things, and therefore does not furnish us a trustworthy foundation on which we can build for our eternal future. The present religious confusion of those who would base their religion on a purely natural basis clearly proves its insufficiency. It does not even afford an adequate basis for religion in general, much less for true religion. Even Gentile nations appeal to some supposed special revelation. While it conveys some knowledge of the goodness, the wisdom, and the power of God, it conveys no knowledge whatever of Christ as the only way of salvation.
b. value of general revelation.
This does not mean, however, that general revelation has no value at all. It accounts for the true elements that are still found in heathen religions. Due to this revelation Gentiles feel themselves to be the offspring of God, Acts 17:28, seek after God if haply they might find Him, Acts 17:27, see in nature God's everlasting power and divinity, Romans 1:19-20, and do by nature the things of the law, Roman 2:14. Though they live in the darkness of sin and ignorance, and pervert the truth of God, they still share in illumination of the Word, John 1:9, and in the general operations of the Holy Spirit, Genesis 6:3. Moreover, the general revelation of God also forms the background for His special revelation. Science and history do not fail to illumine the pages of the Bible.
More Scripture Reference. General Revelaion.
Psalms 8:1; Romans 1:20; Romans 2:14-15.
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Typing Paragraph by : Sin Keu
Source: Christian Doctrine (Louis Berkhof)
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