Page 33 - Bibliology - Textbook w videos short

Special Revelation

Special revelation is revelation where God has made Himself known by words or language and through
prophets. God has communicated the details to us through special revelation. This verse explains this
fact:
Hebrews 1:1-2 Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the
2
prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all
things, through whom also he created the world.

Special revelation occurs through the mode of words or language. It occurs to man within a specific
time frame and through specific persons. Special revelation is restricted to Jesus Christ and the
Scriptures. It is needed because of man’s blind and sinful condition caused by the fall. Man is blinded
by his sin nature but also by the blinding activity of Satan (Eph. 4:17-19). This necessitated the need for
special revelation so that God could reveal Himself and His plan of salvation that man might be
reconciled to God through faith. Without special revelation, man would never know God’s plan of
salvation.

Jesus said, “I am the way…and no man will come to the Father but through me.” (John 14:6) God’s
special revelation of Himself centers in the Person of Jesus Christ as the ONLY One who fully reveals who
God is and His plan of salvation.

13
14
Romans 10: 13-14 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” How then will
they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have

never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? (ESV)

The Old Testament prophets brought God’s message to mankind and their messages were recorded for
all mankind to know. Then, in the New Testament, the specific revelation is completed in Christ and the
New Testament apostles. The Living Word came to reveal God to us, and then the final words came in
the balance of the New Testament Scriptures. The special revelation was completed.

The general revelation and specific revelation in the Bible is accurate, progressive, and purposeful. And
for both to be fully understood, the story of special revelation must be made known to all men.

Illumination – How to Understand the Bible

I Corinthians 2:14-16 The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they
are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually
16
discerned. The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one. “For who has
15
understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.

God has revealed Himself to us in His inspired Word that it might give light to our innate blindness. The
Bible is a spiritual book. To understand it, the verse above says that spiritual discernment is required,
and that comes through the new birth. Lost men cannot fully understand God’s Word because the Holy
Spirit, given to each believer, enlightens the believers’ mind to comprehend the riches found there.

However, for the Scripture to give us light, it must be understood properly, then believed and applied in
faith. But for man to understand the Bible properly, he must have two things: (a) he needs the

32