Has God Spoken? The Doctrine Of Revelation

Has God Spoken?
The Doctrine of Revelation

Yet we do speak wisdom among those who are mature; a wisdom, however, not of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are passing away; 7 but we speak God's wisdom in a mystery, the hidden wisdom, which God predestined before the ages to our glory; 8 the wisdom which none of the rulers of this age has understood; for if they had understood it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory; 9 but just as it is written, “Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, And which have not entered the heart of man, All that God has prepared for those who love Him.” (1 Corinthians 2:6-9).

Men typically gain information in one of three ways: Empiricism is the means that appeals to man's senses, rationalism is the means that appeals to his logic, and faith involves the trusting in the information provided by another.

Paul tells us that there are certain things that have never been seen or heard by mortal man. Such things have not entered any realm of human observation. He goes on to say that these things have not entered the heart of man; that is, they cannot be deduced through a process of empiricism, rationalization or introspection.

What are these things that cannot be discovered through observation or rationalization or meditation? They are things in the spiritual realm. They are spiritual truths. They are the blessings that God has promised to those who are His people.

If these things cannot be perceived by the five senses and they cannot be discovered through a process of reasoning or through meditation and reflection, then how can we know about them? Paul answers this question in the next verse. For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God. (1 Corinthians 2:10).

God has revealed to men certain things that could not otherwise be known. This process is known as revelation. Man could never know anything about God except for the act that God revealed Himself to man. This is not only because of sin, although that also has its blinding ramifications. Man cannot know God apart from revelation because there is by nature an infinite gulf between God and His creation.

God|f Infinite Gulf g|Creation|

Revelation is a part of God's plan for man. Mankind was originally created to have fellowship with God. This set man apart from the rest of creation. As we read the Genesis 1:1-31 account of all of the creative works of God, we see that man was the only member of all of the created beings who mentioned in that chapter who could communicate with God. This sets mankind apart from the rest of creation. He alone could communicate with God. He could enjoy fellowship with God.

Fellowship|No Fellowship|
God n Man|Rest of creation|

Man is unique in all of God's creation in that only he has a God-consciousness. You have never seen a rooster pray. A tiger does not ask a blessing for the food he is about to eat. Even the so-called praying mantis makes no intercession toward God. Only man is designed to receive and understand the revelation of God.

Man's fall into sin broke the lines of communication between God and man. Man could do nothing to repair the situation. This is important to understand. Man on his own is completely powerless to learn anything about God, both because of his finiteness as well as because of his sinfulness.

Fellowship|SIN|No Fellowship|
God||Man & Rest of creation| This means it is God who must take the initiative in restoring fellowship with man. Therefore revelation is of necessity an act of God.