Theology, Part 2 – God’s General Revelation

From Yesterday’s Post

Why should we bother learning theology when we are already saved? Let me answer that question with a theological question: Since the Apostle Paul, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, wrote in Romans 10:9, “…if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” So, why do I need to be baptized?

The preeminent answer is that Jesus established baptism as an ordinance of the Church. The word “ordinance” means decree or command. Jesus gave His Church ordinances before His ascension. Here are two ordinances:

Eucharist/Communion/The Lord’s Supper ordinance: We know this is an ordinance because in both 1 Corinthians 11:24 & 25, Jesus says, “Do this in remembrance of me.” v26, “For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.“

Baptism ordinance: Matthew 28:18 (ESV) Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. 

Today’s Study – God’s General Revelation

As you may remember, the “possibility” of theology comes from two things: the revelation of God and the endowments of man. 

There are two forms of the revelation of God. We find the general forms of the revelation of God in nature, history, and conscience.

God’s General Revelation

God’s general revelation is communicated to all people and is accessible to all people. God’s purpose for general revelation is for supplying the natural needs of people and the persuasion of the souls of people to seek after the one true God. As examples:

Nature Example

Job 12:7-9 (ESV)
7 But now ask the beasts, and let them teach you;
         And the birds of the heavens, and let them tell you.
8 “Or speak to the earth, and let it teach you;
         And let the fish of the sea declare to you.
9 “Who among all these does not know
         That the hand of the LORD has done this,

History Example

Acts 17:26 (ESV), From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands.

Conscience Example

Romans 2:14-16 (ESV), 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.

So?

Theology is called the queen of the sciences because it ties all of the other sciences together upon the foundation of the Bible.

What we see in God’s general revelation is that God uses things that are common to everyone as the media to communicate His message. His message is that there is one true God, that God has designed and created everything that exists, and that He expects people to do what is right.

Next time we will look at God’s special revelation.

Photo by Greg Rakozy on Unsplash

You may like:
https://rockexcavationservice.org/2019/08/01/do-you-remember/