168. Spirit, Holy, In Revelation

168. Spirit, Holy, In Revelation

168 HOLY SPIRIT IN REVELATION

INTRODUCTION Difference between Inspiration and Revelation.

Need to make this distinction.

I. WHAT IS REVELATION?

1. "Revelation" means "unveiling, " "making known ," "declaring."

2. Divine revelation is God’s revealing truth regarding himself to man .

3. Hence all divine revelation proceeds from God, and centers around him.

II . KINDS OF REVELATION 1. General or natural.

(a) God revealed through nature. (Psalms 19:1.) (b) "Heavens " reveal glory of God, not his will. (c) Laws of nature, laws of God. (d) Bible assumes this kind. (Psa. 99:89-91; Isaiah 40:12-14; Isaiah 40:26;

Acts 14:15-17; Romans 1:19-20.) (e) Limits of natural revelation.

2. Special or supernatural.

(a) God chose to reveal himself in person to man. (b) This can not be learned through nature. (c) Christ the Great Revealer of God.

II. NEEDS OF REVELATION 1. Man cannot know God without divine revelation .

(1 Corinthians 1:20-21; 1 Corinthians 2:11.) 2. Man sank in depth s of sin without knowledge of God. (Romans 1:18.) 3. Revelation for man needs to be in language of man.

4. Language best medium of communicating thought.

5. It is not a perfect medium.

6. Needs divine assistance; hence the Holy Spirit.

IV. MODES OF REVELATION 1. God speaking directly to man. (Matthew 3:17; Matthew 17:5.) 2. Directly to Moses. (Numbers 12:7-8.) 3. Divisions and dreams. (Numbers 12:6.) 4. Through the prophets. (Numbers 22:35; Numbers 23:5; Numbers 23:12; Numbers 23:16;

Deuteronomy 34:10; Isaiah 51:15; Isaiah 59:21; Jeremiah 1:9; Ezekiel 3:4.) 5. By inspiration. (1 Corinthians 2:13; 1 Corinthians 14:37; 2 Peter 1:20.)