1403 God, revelation of

God graciously makes himself known to humanity since people cannot discover him on their own. He achieves this in many ways, but supremely through his Son Jesus Christ.

The necessity of revelation

God is hidden from human view because of sin Isa 59:2 See also Dt 31:18; Isa 1:15; Isa 45:15; Isa 64:7; Eze 39:23; Mic 3:4

People are ignorant of God Ac 17:23 See also Ex 5:2; Jdg 2:10; Jer 4:22; Jn 4:22; Jn 15:21; Gal 4:8; Eph 4:18; 1Th 4:5

People cannot know God unaided Mt 11:25-27 pp Lk 10:21-22 See also Job 34:29; 1Co 1:21

The means by which God reveals himself

In the Scriptures Ps 119:105 See also Ps 19:7-10; Ps 119:130; Ps 147:19; Pr 6:23; 2Ti 3:16; 2Pe 1:19-21

By the Holy Spirit Eph 1:17 See also Ne 9:20; Lk 2:26; Lk 12:12; Jn 14:26; 1Co 2:10,12; 1Jn 2:27

Supremely in Jesus Christ Heb 1:1-2 See also Jn 1:18; Jn 8:26; Jn 12:49; Jn 14:10; Jn 17:6

In the creation Ps 19:1 See also Ps 97:6; Ac 14:17; Ac 17:26-27

Through the prophets Am 3:7 See also Nu 12:6; 2Sa 7:17 pp 1Ch 17:15; 2Sa 7:27 pp 1Ch 17:25; Isa 22:14; 1Pe 1:12

In visions and dreams Da 1:17 See also Ge 15:1; Isa 1:1; Eze 11:24; Da 8:1; Na 1:1; Mt 1:20; Mt 2:12,22; Ac 9:10; Ac 16:9; Ac 22:17-18

Face to face Nu 12:8 See also Ge 32:30; Ex 24:9-10; Jdg 13:22; Job 42:5; Isa 6:5

In the exodus Ex 7:5 See also Ex 14:4; 1Sa 2:27; Eze 20:5,9

In special signs Jdg 6:36-40 Gideon’s fleece; 1Ki 13:3-5 an altar split apart; 2Ki 20:9-11 pp Isa 38:7-8 a shadow moving backwards

The nature of God’s self-revelation in Jesus Christ

God reveals Jesus Christ’s true identity Mt 16:17 See also Mt 3:17 pp Mk 1:11 pp Lk 3:22; Mt 17:5 pp Mk 9:7 pp Lk 9:35; Jn 1:31; Gal 1:15-16; 2Pe 1:17-18

Jesus Christ is the visible image of God Col 1:15 See also 2Co 4:4; Php 2:6; Heb 1:3

Jesus Christ’s glory is still to be fully revealed Lk 17:30; 1Co 1:7; 2Th 1:7; 1Pe 1:7,13; 1Pe 4:13

Things that God reveals

Hidden mysteries Da 2:22 See also Ge 41:16; Job 12:22; Da 2:28-30,47

Future events Ge 41:25 See also 1Sa 9:15-16; 2Ki 8:10; Jer 11:18; Jer 38:21; Mt 2:13; Ac 18:9-10; Ac 27:22-24

His righteousness Ro 1:17 See also Isa 56:1; Ro 3:21; Rev 15:4

His wrath Ro 1:18 See also Nu 11:1; 2Sa 6:7 pp 1Ch 13:10; Ps 7:11; Ro 2:5

His salvation Ps 98:2 See also Isa 52:10; Lk 2:30-32; Lk 3:6; Tit 2:11

His glory Isa 40:5 The pillar of cloud and fire in the wilderness: Ex 16:10; Ex 33:9; Nu 12:5; Dt 1:33; Ne 9:12; Ps 78:14; Ps 105:39
Ex 33:18-23 the Lord shows his glory to Moses The cloud of glory in the tabernacle and the temple: Ex 40:34; Lev 16:2; Dt 31:15; Eze 9:3; Eze 10:4
Dt 5:24; Ps 97:6; Ps 102:16; Isa 35:2; Isa 44:23; Isa 60:2; Ac 7:55

The mystery of the gospel Eph 3:2-3 “mystery” in the NT means “something previously hidden, undiscoverable by human means but now revealed by God”. See also Mt 13:11 pp Mk 4:11 pp Lk 8:10; Ro 16:25-26; Gal 3:23; Eph 3:5-6; Col 1:26-27; 2Ti 1:10

The revelation of God’s will

Physical means by which God reveals his will By the Urim and Thummim: Ex 28:30; Nu 27:21 By casting lots: Jos 18:6-10; Jnh 1:7; Ac 1:26

God’s self-revelation makes his will plain Ro 1:20 See also Zec 7:11-12; Jn 9:41; Jn 16:8; Ro 7:7

God’s self-revelation is according to his own sovereign purpose

Isa 65:1 See also Da 2:30; Ro 10:20; Gal 1:11-12

See also