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The Two Books

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The Two Books
The Two Books
Anthony B. Mitchell
Grand Canyon University
January 28, 2015

The Two Books The Two Books, this paper will address the intertwining role of general revelation and special revelation, observing and experiences of history, and of the world.
Mankind has learned a great deal about God and who He is. Through this process man’s understanding has been sharpened and clarified, also known as special revelation. In the book of Job 23:3, Job being the main character from which the title of the book is named, is seeking answers to his sudden demise and misery. Job cried out in much displeasure, “Oh that I knew where to find Him” (God), not that God was missing or in hiding, but Job was facing a time in his life that caused him to question whether or not God was really with him or really cared about what he was going through. This statement was brought about through Job’s extreme suffering and search for one of the most theological fundamental question that plagues theologians all over the world, “Where is God?” other questions that often arise are, “What is God?” and “Who is God?” These questions are one of epistemology, dealing with the issues of revelation of how does one really know about God, bringing one to the theological doctrine of revelation (HTH 505 Lecture 2).
The first is general revelation; this is the source of knowing God through the world, through human experience, and through nature (Lecture 2). The second deals with the source of knowing God through reflections and event contained in the Scriptures know as special revelation, (Lecture 3). Through this process mankind has learned about God and God’s knowledge (his general purposes and nature). Stevens (1967) purports, “God has bought to many the possibility of life in Him.” This is known as “spiritual transformation” (p. 24) a transformation that comes by way of God’s redeeming action to mankind. The Bible says, “Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom he has redeemed from the hand of the enemy” (Psalms 107:2). This is a matter of conveying what God has done for His people and how God is so loving, and how He has dealt with them in Psalms 107. God is merciful and gracious.
Taking a broader definition of revelation, general revelation plays an important part in the process of both God’s revealing knowledge of himself and His established relationship with His people. There is certainly one more dimension to this process that should be considered. The actions of God’s redemption must be seen, not only individually, but also corporately, meaning God’s revelation of himself has not been given to secluded individuals but sanctioned within the context of a community of believers. Stevens (1967) states, “Revelation is broader than the Bible as the life of a nation, it is more than the literature.” Actually, he calls the Bible “The witness of the revelation.” What was impressive about this is how he stated, “In itself, the Bible is not the revelation, but the literary vehicle for transmitting the revelation to all men” (p. 29). It is the Bible that gives to mankind an understanding of who God is and what His role is in man’s life. Bible says, “Let Us make man in Our image” (Gen. 1:26). The image of man is to reflect the likeness of his creator. We need only reflect on out contemporary experience of illumination for a clue to this historical process (Grenz, 2000, p.387).
The second is that of special revelation. Special revelation has a specific who, when, what dimension, and where, in making possible a renewed life in God. God has completed this through his own actions in the history of humans to bring about redemption to mankind. History is progressive in the special revelation of God, and seen between the Old Testament record and the New Testament record. What is seen is God working in history in the Old Testament and toward the climax in the New Testament. It is interesting to note that one can see through the pages of the Bible how the Old Testament prepares the way for the New Testament and it eloquently displays the coming of the Christ and his redemptive power through his death, burial, and resurrection.
The study of revelation gives a very vigorous perspective on finding God in nature, and this includes the sciences and other rational endeavors (Lecture 2). History is also a testimony to the detailed purposes of God and observations, mankind is given an insight into the purposes and nature of God (Grenz, 2000). Perhaps the most insightful point about special revelation is that the goal and crown of all redemptive activity and revelation is Christ Jesus, being the actualization for salvation in one’s messianic hope. By far Jesus is the perfect and final sacrifice for the sin of mankind. “No other name under heaven is given among me whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). How ironic of the Sanhedrin to think that it was Peter, John, and the beggar that were on trial for what was done, when in fact, Christ Jesus was on trial yet again because He was the source of power behind the paralyzed man’s healing. In knowing God one has to know the true source of power in one’s life.
The general revelation doctrine and the special revelation doctrine helps to distinguish more visibly the method by which mankind has come to his cognizance of God, his purposes and his nature (general revelation). As perceived in the world, that God has created, by His sagacious design and in His own doppelgänger, is Himself. However, God’s revelation of Himself (the whole story) has not yet been communicated to mankind. Through his activity, what is revealed is God Himself, in the world as provider and creator. What is considered the activity of God (special revelation) is how God acted in very specific tangible ways in the history of humans to afford the possibility for mankind to communicate to Him in an individual way.
God has chosen to reveal Himself two ways to humanity, that being general revelation (nature) and special revelation (the supernatural). The importance here is in the revealing of God from start to finish within His Word, the Bible. The authors of Scriptures were miraculously guided to correctly record His message to humanity while yet using their own personalities and styles. Hebrew 4:12 shares that God is living and active through His Word. 2 Timothy 3:16, 17 exclaim that His Word is profitable, sufficient, and inspired. Because of the unreliability and inaccuracy through verbal traditions of man God determined to have His truth documented, regarding Himself, in written form. The form of special revelation is ultimately in the person of Christ Jesus. The Word (Jesus Christ, the Messiah) became flesh as recorded in John 1:1, 14. Jesus is the saving grace of mankind. General revelation may be viewed as a universal call for mankind to acknowledge His Fathers existence. But it cannot, by itself, lead anyone to salvation in Jesus. The only means of salvation is through the faith one has in the good news of Jesus Christ (John 3:16).
Both general revelation and special revelation have a vital role to play in observing, knowing and experiencing God in the world today. It is vital that the good news of Jesus continue to be spread throughout the world. Daily God’s power is seen in the world and His love is shown by His grace and mercy to all, and He is revealed (His physical appearance) through visions, dreams, and within the pages of His Word, the Bible.

References

Bible Hub. http://biblehub.com/psalms/107-2.htm

Grand Canyon University HTH 505 Lecture 2. The Doctrine of Revelation.

Grand Canyon University HTH 505 Lecture 3. The Doctrine of Revelation – Special Revelation

Grenz, S. (2000) Theology for the community of God. Grands Rapids, MI: Eerdman’s

Stevens, W. (1967). Doctrines of the Christian religion. Nashville, TN: Broadman Press.

References: Bible Hub. http://biblehub.com/psalms/107-2.htm Grand Canyon University HTH 505 Lecture 2. The Doctrine of Revelation. Grand Canyon University HTH 505 Lecture 3. The Doctrine of Revelation – Special Revelation Grenz, S. (2000) Theology for the community of God. Grands Rapids, MI: Eerdman’s Stevens, W. (1967). Doctrines of the Christian religion. Nashville, TN: Broadman Press.

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