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The Nature of Divine Revelation. Revelation. “laying bear, making naked…a disclosure of truth , instruction…concerning things before unknown” ( Thayer ), Rev. 1:1 Unknown without God telling us , Eph . 3:3 Necessary to know the mind of God , 1 Cor. 2:7-12
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Revelation • “laying bear, making naked…a disclosure of truth, instruction…concerning things before unknown” (Thayer), Rev. 1:1 • Unknown withoutGodtellingus, Eph. 3:3 • Necessary to know the mind of God, 1 Cor. 2:7-12 • Nature of revelationassuresourfaith in God’s word is sound, 1 Ths. 2:13
Revelation is Truth(John 16:13) • Power to sanctify sinners, Jno. 17:17 • “to separate from profane things and dedicate to God” (Thayer) • Not “cunningly devised fables”, 2 Pet. 1:16 • Not the wisdom/will of men, Gal. 1:11-12 The word of the truth of the gospel teaches heaven’s hope, Col. 1:5
Revelation is Verbally Inspired (2 Peter 1:20-21) • Holy Spirit gave the apostles words to speak, Matt. 10:16-20 • Scripture given by inspiration, 2 Tim. 3:16 • God-breathed – Breathed out by God • Holy Spirit combined spiritual things with spiritual words, 1 Cor. 2:12-13
Revelation is Miraculously Confirmed(1 Cor. 2:4-5; Heb. 2:3-4; Mk. 16:17-20) • Validated, certified genuine, Gal. 1:11-12 • Example of this confirmation, Acts 14:3 • Assures our faith, giving us confidence that our faith is in a word that came from God and not man
Revelation is Adequate(2 Timothy 3:16-17) • Sufficient, fully meets our needs • All things concerning life and godliness, 2 Pet. 1:3-4 • All truth, Jno. 16:13-15
Revelation is Incorruptible(Matthew 24:35) • Always reliable and relevant, 1 Pet. 1:22-25 • Truth abides with us forever, 2 Jno. 2 • Truth continues on, even though some have/will depart from it, 1 Tim. 4:1
Revelation was Delivered Once(Jude 3) • “Once for all” (hapax), Heb. 7:27; 9:27; 10:10 • That which is perfect has come, 1 Cor. 13:8-10 • Completely revealed, competently confirmed to be genuine and inspired in its communication to the world (Jas. 1:25) • No new, ongoing, as yet undiscovered revelation
Revelation is Authoritative(Matthew 28:18) • Apostolic teaching is heaven’s authority, Jno. 13:20 (Matt. 18:18) • Scripture has binding authority, Jno. 10:35 • The apostles’ teaching must never be minimized, 1 Cor. 14:37 • Paul had the Spirit of God, 1 Cor. 7:40
Revelation is Understandable (Hebrews 1:1-2) • God has communicated to us, Eph. 3:3-4 • Christ expects us to know and abide in His word, Jno. 8:31-32 • Full assurance of understanding… knowledge…in Christ are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, Col. 2:1-4
Our Faith is Secure When it is Built Upon God’s Revelation Rom. 10:17; 1 Thess. 2:13
Revelation is Powerful to Accomplish God’s Purposes(Isa. 55:11; Heb. 4:12) • Power to convict of sin, Jno. 16:8; Acts 2:37 • Power to convert the heart, Rom. 6:17-18 • Power to save the soul, Rom. 1:16
God’s Revelation of Truth • Restrains us from sin, Prov. 29:18 • Strengthens us in our obedience to the faith, Rom. 16:25-26