Group 1

2. general revelation
accordingtoGeisler

3. General Revelation - Geisler
• Godhas,sincethebeginningoftime,revealedHimselftoall
generations,asidefromthespecialrevelationofHisWord.
Romans1:19-20
“BecausewhatmaybeknownofGodismanifestinthem,forGodhasshownit
tothem.ForsincethecreationoftheworldHisinvisibleattributesareclearlysee,
beingunderstoodbythethingsthataremade,evenHiseternalpowerandGodhead,so
thattheyarewithoutexcuse,”

4. General Revelation
• Throughnature,humans,andhistoryGodhasgivenhumanity
insighttosomeofHisattributes.
• AproperworkingknowledgeofHisgeneralrevelationis
criticaltoknowthepurposeitservesintheplanofGodto
redeemmankind.

5. • IncontrasttotheBible,generalrevelationservestocomplimentall
truthscontainedinScriptureaswellaseverytruthfoundoutsideofit.
“Whilethe Bibleisalltrue,GodhasnotrevealedalltruthintheBible”
-NormanL.Geisler
• Inthisregardgeneralrevelationisimportantintheareasofhuman
thought,government,andChristianapologetics.
General Revelation

6. Importanttohumanthought
• ManwascreatedintheimageofGod.(Gen1:27)
• Asaresult,humanshavebeengiventhecapacitytobecreativeandthink
rationally.
– ThoughnotspecificallyaddressedintheBible,thishumanattributeiscommonto
allandisthereforepartofGod’sgeneralrevelation.
General Revelation

7. Importantforgovernment
• Voidofanylawbywayofspecialrevelation,Gentilesareboundtothelaw
writtenupontheirheart.
• Romans2:8-11clearlystatesGod’simpartialandrighteousjudgmentuponall
whoareinviolation.
General Revelation

8. Importantforapologetics
• HadGodnotmadeHisgeneralrevelationapparenttomankind,there
wouldbenostartingpointforthebelievertoengagethelost.
– Noevidenceorthoughtofdesign,causation,ormorality
General Revelation

9. • Althoughgeneralrevelationislimitedandunabletosolelybringonetosalvation,itdoes
providetheindividualwithafoundationalframeworkfromwhichtobegin.
• Sincethefallofmanallwhoareborn,arebornintosinandthereforethelensbywhich
theyviewtheworldisskewed.
• Paulstatedthatevennatureitselfiseagerlyawaitingitsownredemptionfromthe
effectsofsin–(Romans8:19-21)
• WhilesindoesnotnegatethegeneralrevelationofGod,itdoeseffectone’scognizance
ofHim.
General Revelation

10. • Thatsaid,thosewhosuppressGod’struthtoliveaccordingtotheirownfleshly
impulseshavenoexcuse.AsPaulstatedinRomans1,theyknowthetruthandwill
enduretheconsequencesofignoringit.
• Atthesametime,thisdoesnotrelieveChristiansoftheirdutytotakeownershipofthe
GreatCommissiongivenbyChrist.
• TheworldstillneedstohearaboutJesusandhow,throughhimtheycanreceive
forgivenessofsinandhaveapersonalrelationshipwithGod.
General Revelation

11. Romans10:14-15
“HowthenshalltheycallonHiminwhomtheyhavenot
believed?AndhowshalltheybelieveinHimofwhomtheyhave
notheard?Andhowshalltheyhearwithoutapreacher?And
howshalltheypreachunlesstheyaresent?“
General Revelation

12. general revelation
accordingtoErickson

13. “GeneralrevelationisGod’scommunicationofhimselftoall
personsatalltimesinallplaces.”
The Nature of Revelation

14. 1. It’suniversallyavailable.
2. Thecontentofthemessage.
General in two senses:

15. 1. Nature-Theuniverseiscreativeandimpressive,pointingtoan
impressiveCreator.
2. History-IfGodisatworkintheworldandismovingtowardcertaingoals,
thetrendshouldbeevidentinhistory(Ex.PeopleofIsrael)
3. Constitutionofthehumanbeing-Thephysicalstructureandmental
capacitiesofhumans,aswellasmoralandspiritualqualitiespointto
God’scharacter.
Three Loci of General Revelation

16. “It[naturaltheology]maintainsnotonlythatthereisavalid,
objectiverevelationofGodinsuchspheresasnature,history,and
humanpersonality,butthatitisactuallypossibletogainsometrue
knowledgeofGodfromthesespheres—inotherwords,toconstructa
naturaltheologyapartfromtheBible.”–pg.180-181
Natural Theology

17. 1. Thereisanobjective,valid,andrationalgeneralrevelation.
2. Theintegrityofthepersonperceivingandlearningfromthecreation.
3. Thereisacongruitybetweenthehumanmindandthecreationabout
us.
Assumptions of Natural Theology

18. Itispossible,withoutapriorcommitmentoffaithtothebeliefs
ofChristianity,andwithoutrelyingonanyspecialauthoritysuchas
aninstitution(theChurch)oradocument(theBible),tocometoa
genuineknowledgeofGod.
The Core of Natural theology:

19. Grace
Nature
Thomas Aquinas

20. • Cosmologicalproof
• Teleologicalargument
• Anthropologicalargument
• Ontologicalargument
Arguments for God’s Existence

21. Karl Barth
1. God’srevelationisexclusivelyinJesusChrist.
2. Genuinerevelationisalwaysrespondedto
positivelyratherthanbeingignoredorrejected.
3. KnowledgeofGodisalwaysredemptiveorsalvific
innature.

22. • Godhasgivenusanobjective,valid,rationalgeneralrevelationof
himself.
• HumansdonotclearlyperceiveGodinthegeneralrevelation.
• Generalrevelationevidentlydoesnotenabletheunbelievertocometo
theknowledgeofGod.
General Revelation and Human
Responsibility

23. • Thereisacommongroundorapointofcontactbetweenthebeliever
andthenonbeliever.
• Thereisapossibilityofsomeknowledgeofdivinetruthoutsidethe
specialrevelation.
• Godisjustincondemningthosewhohaveneverheardthegospelin
thefullandformalsense.
Implications of General Revelation

24. • Generalrevelationservestoexplaintheworldwidephenomenonof
religionandreligions.
• Sincebothcreationandthegospelareintelligibleandcoherent
revelationsofGod,thereisharmonybetweenthetwo
• Genuineknowledgeandgenuinemoralityinhumansarenottheirown
accomplishments
Implications of General Revelation Cont.

25. Howdoesthedoctrineofgeneral revelation
shapeyourunderstandingofunbelieversand
salvation?

26. Two Scenarios
• GeneralRevelationisenoughforapersontobesaved.
• ApersoncanonlybesavedthroughSpecialRevelation
(TheGospel).

27. 3 Assumptions
• WemustoperateundertheassumptionthatallpeopleKNOWGod.
(Romans1:19-20)
19 SincewhatmaybeknownaboutGodisplaintothem,becauseGodhasmadeit
plaintothem.20 ForsincethecreationoftheworldGod’sinvisiblequalities—his
eternalpoweranddivinenature—havebeenclearlyseen,beingunderstoodfrom
whathasbeenmade,sothatpeoplearewithoutexcuse.

28. 3 Assumptions
• Wemustalsooperateundertheassumptionthatallpeoplehave
REJECTEDGod. (Romans1:21-23)
21 ForalthoughtheyknewGod,theyneitherglorifiedhimasGodnorgavethankstohim,
buttheirthinkingbecamefutileandtheirfoolishheartsweredarkened.22 Althoughthey
claimedtobewise,theybecamefools23 andexchangedthegloryoftheimmortalGodfor
imagesmadetolooklikeamortalhumanbeingandbirdsandanimalsandreptiles.

29. 3 Assumptions
• WemustfinallyoperateundertheassumptionthatweareallGUILTYofsin.
(Romans3:9-12)
9 Whatshallweconcludethen?Dowehaveanyadvantage?Notatall!Forwehavealready
madethechargethatJewsandGentilesalikeareallunderthepowerofsin.10 Asitiswritten:
“Thereisnoonerighteous,notevenone;11 thereisnoonewhounderstands;thereisnoone
whoseeksGod.12 Allhaveturnedaway,theyhavetogetherbecomeworthless;
thereisnoonewhodoesgood,notevenone.

30. Salvation Through General Revelation
• Thenumberonequestion: Whataboutpeoplewhohave"never
heard?”

31. Salvation Through General Revelation
• Thenumberonequestion: Whataboutpeoplewhohave"never
heard?”
• InbothRomans1andPsalm19weseehowGodrevealshimselfto
ALLpeoplethroughcreation…sothat“wearewithoutexcuse.”

32. Salvation Through General Revelation
• Thenumberonequestion: Whataboutpeoplewhohave"never
heard?”
• InbothRomans1andPsalm19weseehowGodrevealshimselfto
ALLpeoplethroughcreation…sothat“wearewithoutexcuse.”
• YoucanknowABOUTGodandnotKNOWGod.

34. Salvation Through Special Revelation
• Jesussaid,“Iamtheway,thetruth,andthelifeandnobodywill
cometotheFatherexceptthroughHim.”(John14:6)

35. Salvation Through Special Revelation
• Jesussaid,“Iamtheway,thetruth,andthelifeandnobodywill
cometotheFatherexceptthroughHim.”(John14:6)
• It’ssosadthatpeoplewhohaveneverbeengivenachanceto
respondtotheGospelbecausetheyhaveneverhearditwilldie.
SurelyGodwillhavemercyonthem.

36. Salvation Through Special Revelation
• Jesussaid,“Iamtheway,thetruth,andthelifeandnobodywill
cometotheFatherexceptthroughHim.”(John14:6)
• It’ssosadthatpeoplewhohaveneverbeengivenachanceto
respondtotheGospelbecausetheyhaveneverhearditwilldie.
SurelyGodwillhavemercyonthem.
• Narrowisthepaththatleadstoeternalandonlyfewwillfindit.
Matthew7:13-14

37. Howdoesgeneral revelation
shapeourunderstandingofMISSIONS?

38. Why do we do missions?
• WeAreCommandedbyChrist:
– “Thereforegoandmakedisciplesofallnations,baptizingtheminthe
nameoftheFatherandoftheSonandoftheHolySpirit,”
(Matthew28:19-20)

39. Why do we do missions?
• NoJustificationinGeneralRevelationortheLaw:
– Paulmakesitclearthatnoonecansatisfytherequirementsofthelaw
(Romans3)
– Thepurposeofthelawisnottojustifyus,buttomakeusawareofour
sin.
– “Thusineffectthegeneralrevelationserves,asdoesthelaw,merelyto
makeguilty,nottomakerighteous” (Ericksonp.198)

40. Why do we do missions?
• ThosewithoutChristarehopelesslylost:
– “Salvationisfoundinnooneelse,forthereisnoothernameunder
heavengiventomankindbywhichwemustbesaved.”(Acts4:12)

41. Why do we do missions?
• Becausesomanyhavenotheard:
– 2,986UUPG’s
(noknownwitness)
*190millionpeople
– 2,986UPG’s
(lessthan2%Christian)
*3.9billionpeople

42. Why do we do missions?
• Theymusthear,inordertobesaved:(Romans10:14-15,17)
“EveryonewhocallsonthenameoftheLordwillbesaved.”
How,then,cantheycallontheonetheyhavenotbelievedin?Andhowcan
theybelieveintheoneofwhomtheyhavenotheard?Andhowcanthey
hearwithoutsomeonepreachingtothem?Andhowcananyonepreach
unlesstheyaresent?
Consequently,faithcomesfromhearingthemessage,andthemessageis
heardthroughthewordaboutChrist.”

43. Southern Baptists & General Revelation
• “BeitfurtherRESOLVED,ThatweopposethefalseteachingthatChristisso
evidentinworldreligions,humanconsciousnessorthenaturalprocessthat
onecanencounterHimandfindsalvationwithoutthedirectmeansofthe
gospel…
• BeitfinallyRESOLVED,ThatweconfessJesusChristastheWay,theTruth,and
theLife,andthatwecommitourselvestoproclaimthegoodnewsofeternallife
throughJesusChristtoeveryoneeverywhere” SBC-June1993

44. General Revelation & Inclusivism
“Thosealsocanattaintoeverlastingsalvationwhothroughnofaultof
theirowndonotknowthegospelofChristorhischurch,yetsincerely
seekGodand,movedbygrace,strivebytheirdeedstodohiswillasitis
knowntothemthroughthedictatesofconscience”
• SecondVaticanCouncil (1962-1965)

45. General Revelation & Inclusivism
"Wedoknowthatnopersoncanbe
savedexceptthroughChrist;wedonot
knowthatonlythosewhoknowHimcanbe
savedbyHim.”
• C.S.Lewis,MereChristianity

46. General Revelation & Inclusivism
“IthinkeverybodywhoknowsChrist,whether
they'reconsciousofitornot,they'remembersoftheBody
ofChrist...TheymaynotevenknowthenameofJesusbut
theyknowintheirheartsthattheyneedsomethingthat
theydon'thave,andtheyturntotheonlylightthatthey
have,andIthinkthattheyaresaved,andthatthey're
goingtobewithusinheaven.”
• BillyGraham,InterviewbyRaySchuller,1997

47. General Revelation & Inclusivism
“Missionsthenislessaboutthe
transportationofGodfromoneplacetoanother
andmoreabouttheidentificationofaGodwhois
alreadythere[...]Sotheissueisn'tsomuch
takingJesustopeoplewhodon'thavehim,but
goingtoaplaceandpointingouttothepeople
thecreative,life-givingGodwhoisalready
presentintheirmidst”
• RobBell

48. It’s IMPORTANT that we understand the truth of what
scripture says about the lost, and our responsibility
and urgency in proclaiming the gospel to them.

49. Howdoesthedoctrineofgeneral revelation
assistinsharingtheGospelwithanonbeliever?

50. 1. ItDoes:
a. DeclareTheGloryofGod(Ps.19:1)
b. ProclaimthemessageofGod’s
existencetotheentireworld (Ps.19:2-4)
c. RevealGod’swrathagainstman’s
unrighteousness (Rom.1:18)
WHAT GENERAL REVELATION DOES Do

51. 1. ItDoes:
d.ShowHispoweranddivinenature
(Rom.1:20)
e.Declarethejustcondemnationofmankind
(Rom.1:20)
WHAT GENERAL REVELATION DOES Do

52. WHAT GENERAL REVELATION DOESN’T Do
1. ItDoesNot:
a. ProvideameansofescapingGod’sjudgment
(Rom.2:3)
b. RestoreustoarightrelationshipwithGod
(Rom.1:18)

53. 1. Paul’sAreopagusAddresstotheAthenians (Acts17:22-32)
a. Paulmakesuseofman’sreligiousnature–oneoffourmodesof
generalrevelationcitedbyErickson
b. Weallworshipsomethingorsomeoneaspartofournature,why
notmeetTheOneworthyofworship?
GENERAL REVELATION In witnessing

54. 2. HistoricalRevelation-whichEricksonsites asanother
modeofGeneral Revelationhasbeenusedoften.
a.God’spreservationofIsrael
b.PreservationofChristianitythroughterribleadversity
c. Wehaveallreceivedprovidentialgoodtotallywithoutmerit.
WouldwenotwanttoknowTheProviderofsuchgrace?
GENERAL REVELATION In witnessing

55. 3. EricksonsiteshumansthemselvesasGod’sthirdmodeof
generalrevelation.
a.“…forwearefearfullyandwonderfullymade” (Ps.139:14)
b.“…weareHisworkmanship” (Eph.2:10)
c. Thecomplexityofthehumanbrainandits vastcapabilities are strongevidenceofa
divinecreator(Geisler,IDon’tHaveEnoughFaithtoBeanAtheist)
d. Mankindshowsauniversalpropensityforworship(Erickson)
GENERAL REVELATION In witnessing

56. • 1. GeneralRevelationcanbeusefulinwitnessingtoan
unbelieverby:
a. Presentingevidenceforadivinecreatorfromexamplesin
natural,historical,human,or religiousrevelation
b. Helpinganunbelieverrecognizetheirinnatesenseof
right/wrong.Justice,ormoralityasevidenceofadivine
creator
CONCLUSION

57. • 1. Limitations
a. Itisusefulonlyasameanstopromptsomeoneto
considerthevalidityofspecialrevelation.
b. Itisnotcapableofleadingsomeonetoasaving
knowledgeofChristinandofitself.
c. Neithergeneralnorspecialrevelationcanbeeffective
withoutthedirectinvolvementoftheHolySpirit.
CONCLUSION