At some time in your life as a Christian someone will ask the question, ‘What is God like’?
The average non-believer has little or no idea who God is or what he is like. The sort of ideas people have about God include for example, an old man up there in the clouds who throws the odd lightning bolt when you upset him, or someone up there who is looking after me, or a God who lives in a boring place with only harps and angels and has no fun. Yes, the Lord gets a bad press from the world and yet God does reveal himself in different ways to mankind. This morning we are going to consider how God reveals himself to mankind. This is important for two reasons. First, an understanding of the doctrine of revelation is important to each believer so that we know where to look. Second, and just as important, we the followers of Jesus can point the unbelievers to the various ways that God is revealing himself, by his nature, his will, his plan, and purposes for man, to every person who is willing to seek him.
Definition
Revelation is an an unveiling, a disclosure, to make something hidden or secret to be known. In the biblical sense revelation is the act of God revealing himself to mankind usually through information which man could not discover many other ways i.e., unless God reveals a truth to you there is no other way you can receive it.
Caution
Revelation knowledge: this expression has sometimes been misused an occultic way meaning knowledge gained without aid of the human mind and does not conform to scripture.
Why do we need revelation?
The fall of man in the garden of Eden brought a curse that affected Adam (and Eve’s) whole being i.e. spirit, soul, and body. The fall caused human minds and hence intelligence to become darkened (see Romans 1), so that we cannot naturally receive the things of God.
Main text
1 Corinthians 2:10-14
v12 The Spirit of God is given to us so we can appreciate the things that God has provided for us.
John 14:26
The Holy Spirit is our counsellor teaches us all things and reminds us of Jesus’ words.
How does God reveal himself to us?
The beauty of Creation
We see intelligent design because he is the Intelligent Designer. Design, beauty, order, and numerical structure in all his creation. He is a wise creator. We can gaze into the starry sky with wonder and awe.
See Psalm 19:1-4.
Romans 1:19-20
God’s invisible attributes are clearly demonstrated in the Creation which leaves the unbelieving without an excuse, for there clearly is a God.
The Conscience
Adam and Eve were guilty, so they hid from God. The conscience of each man or woman points to an absolute moral law or standard given by God. Our conscience therefore demonstrates that there is a God.
The Person of Jesus Christ
Jesus Christ is the sum in total of all that God has revealed of himself to man. To look at the life of Jesus Christ the Son of God is to look at Father God himself. This is a very personal revelation of God to man.
John 1:18
Colossians 1:15
Hebrews 1:13
So, what is God like?
Well, look to the person of Jesus Christ, what he was and is, that is exactly what God is like.
So, what is Jesus Christ like then?
Where/ How do we find him?
Jesus Christ is revealed in at least three ways.
By the word of God, as we read the bible. The Holy Spirit gives us revelation of God’s character and truth. Ephesians 6:17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word (rhema) of God: The word of God here is known as the rhema word or you could say the living word. The written word in the bible is the logos. The rhema or living word is spoken by the Holy Spirit to you and brings revelation or power into the specific situation. The rhema word is alive and powerful is what causes us to receive the revelation of what the scripture means. Amen
Jesus Christ can be known personally, when be become born again and we develop our relationship with God communicating in prayer.
Colossians 1:27 To whom God would make known what the riches of the glory of this mystery is among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:
Christ is in each believer. God reveals himself and his glory through the lives of his church. What a tremendous privilege and responsibility!
Conclusion
God is revealed in creation, in our conscience and in an intimate personal way through the life and person of Jesus Christ. God is revealed as the life of Christ shows in you. May the Lord teach us to guide others to know him.
Prayer
Lord reveal yourself here to us each day, through your word. Speak a rhema living word to us today from your logos. Reveal yourself in Jesus Christ more intimately through creation and conscience.
Lord God, reveal yourself to the lost, the blind, the unbelieving through each one of us today and every day. Be revealing Jesus in each one of us, more and more each day, reveal his abundant life and love, his obedience, his heart for the lost, and his compassion.
Reveal Christ in me to the world today.
Amen.