How God Reveals Himself
by: Darrell G. Young (Focus on the Bible)
The Bible is a unique and special form of revelation, a highly detailed record pertaining to everything concerning mankind; and unparalleled in history because it is the literal word of God.
But before the Bible as we know it was available, God used many means to reveal Himself and His will to mankind. It is amazing to think that God did not use just one form, but many.
The Bible tells us that no one has ever seen God except the Lord Jesus Christ, who, at the appointed time came to earth and gave us a direct witness of God.
John 1:18 No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.
Some 1400 years earlier, before Jesus was manifested as “God in the flesh,” in Exodus 33:20; God declared to Moses, “You cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live.”
Jesus was literally God in the flesh (John 1:1-14) so when people saw Him, they were in a sense, seeing God. So, in a veiled way, God can be “seen” and many people have “seen” God by seeing and hearing him through the lens and words of Jesus Christ!
Yet, at the same time, no one has ever seen God revealed in all His glory. In our fallen human condition, if God were to fully reveal Himself to us, we would be consumed and destroyed. Therefore, God veils Himself and appears only in a variety of forms in which we can “see” evidence of Him. However, this is different than seeing God with all His glory and holiness displayed.
So how can we know that there really is a God, if nobody has ever seen him? If God is real, then it stands to reason that he would have surely chosen some way to introduce himself, or reveal himself to mankind.
We know that God is real because He has revealed Himself to us in at least seven ways: in creation, in His Word, in His Son, Jesus Christ, via his Spirit, in his law, through his promises, and finally, in history and prophecy.
While there has not always been a Bible, there have always been means for man to receive and understand God’s revelation. There are two categories of revelation, general and special.
General revelation deals with that revelation from God universally to all mankind. The external aspect of general revelation are those things which God must be the cause or source of. Because these things exist, God must also exist in order to have put them into existence.1. God Reveals Himself Through His Creation
The most basic proof of God's existence is simply by observing what He has made. "For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities"his eternal power and divine nature"have been clearly observed.
The OT Bible (Psalms 19:1) clearly says that there is a God and that the heavens openly declare his handiwork. The NT further adds that God reveals enough about Himself and his righteousness in the world for people to know plenty about Him.
Romans 1:20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
Whom else can create such wondrous things? Can any evolutionary theory really explain the complex and intricate details of the universe, not to mention the existence of mankind, and all the components for life itself?
Psalms 96:4-5 For the LORD is great, and greatly to be praised: he is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the nations are idols: but the LORD made the heavens.
2. God Reveals Himself Through His Word
God has also revealed Himself to us through His Word, the Bible. Throughout Scripture, the existence of God is treated as a self-evident fact.
In an America court of law, one must swear on the Bible that he will tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth!
Thats exactly what the Bible represents! It is the absolute Truth, as conveyed by God to holy men of God. Gods Word contains the truth about everything, from how the world was made, to how it became corrupt, to explaining the reason of death, and the way to eternal life.
I John 5:7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the “Word,” and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.
Hebrews 11:3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the “word” of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.
The “Word of God” reveals things that no one else could possibly have any knowledge of.
Psalms 33:4 For the word of the LORD is right; and all his works are done in truth.
3. God Reveals Himself Through His Son
The third way in which God revealed Himself is through His Son, Jesus Christ (John 14:6-11). "In the beginning was the Word: the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 2:1,9)
In the gospel of John, Jesus point blank confirms that he and his Father (God) are one and the same!
John 14:8-9 Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us. 9. Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?
4. God Reveals Himself Through His Law
The purpose of the Mosaic Law was to accomplish the following:
(1) Reveal the holy character of the eternal God to the nation of Israel and to counsel them about how to attain to the same holy character.
(2) Reveal the sinfulness of mankind and his absolute need of the seed of saving Grace effected only by the perfect Son of God.
Galations 3:19 Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.
The Levitical Law did its job well, pointing out the sinfulness of mankind and condemning us for it. The laws of God were designed to prick the conscience of sinful man in order to force him to recognize his sinful nature, and that man could not possibly merit Gods favor on his own power.
Psalms 19:7 The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD issure, making wise the simple.
5. God Reveals Himself Via his Holy Spirit.6. God Reveals Himself Through Prophecy
God has also revealed himself by declaring what he will do in the future: The prophet Isaiah records of God: “I am God, and there is none like me. I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say: My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please” (Isaiah 46:9-10).
Only a being outside of earthly time could foretell of future things that would come to pass in our process of time.
Only God the Creator could possibly possess such knowledge! And only God would dare forecast something in the course of events in world history, for such detailed revelation would run the risk of exposure as a fraud.
Isaiah 42:9 Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them.
7. God Reveals Himself Through Fulfilled Promises
If the first six methods of how God reveals himself to mankind we’re not convincing enough to verify Gods existence, surely the fulfillment of promises made by God in his Word would be conclusive.
God promised Abraham a nation. He framed it.
God promised a Son to Abraham. He formed him.
God promised mankind a Savior. He sent his Son!
God promised to recover Israel. He has done so!
God promised to call Gentiles unto him. He is doing so!
God promised his people eternal life. He provided it!
God promised to return Jesus someday. He soon will!
When we consider all the promises God pledged unto Abraham, to the prophets, to the nation of Israel, and to those who accept Jesus Christ as their Savior; we have an abundance of Divine promises to review and research for assessing the reality of the existence of God; and the credibility of Gods Word.
Romans 15:8 Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers:
How God Reveals Himself
by: Darrell G. Young
December, 2020
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