1. The Doctrine of “Revelation” is a profound concept
2. It is well taught in the Scriptures consistently
3. Man, cannot by mere “reason” understand God
4. The Lord has to reveal His truth to us
THE DOCTRINE OF REVELATION
1. Revealed from faith to faith
“16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.” Romans 1:16-17
a) The Gospel of Christ
i) It is the power of God
ii) That leads to salvation
iii) To everyone who believes
b) The righteousness of God
i) It is revealed
ii) From faith to faith
iii) It is written, “The just shall live by faith”
2. Revealed through the Spirit
“9 But as it is written: ‘Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.’ 10 But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. 11 For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.” 1 Corinthians 2:9-12
a) Revealed through the Holy Spirit
b) The deep things of God need to be revealed to us
c) We have received the Spirit of God that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God
THE GOSPEL OF GOD
1. The Gospel of God summarised
“1Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God 2 which He promised before through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures, 3 concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of the seed of David according to theflesh, 4 and declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.” Romans 1:1-4
a) The Gospel of God was promised
i) Through God’s prophets
ii) Written in the Holy Scriptures
b) The Heart of the Gospel
c) Called and set apart to be an apostle of God
To proclaim and teach the Gospel of God
2. The Gospel of God revealed to the Apostle Paul
a) The sinful “former conduct” of Paul
i) He persecuted the church (Galatians 1:13a)
ii) He sought to destroy it (Galatians 1:13b)
iii) “More exceedingly zealous” for the traditions (Galatians 1:14)
b) The revelation of God’s Son
i) The Journey to Damascus (Acts 9:1-9)
ii) The special revelation
“I am Jesus whom you are persecuting” (Acts 9:5)
c) The conversion of Paul
i) His blindness
ii) His healing
iii) His baptism (Acts 9:10-19)
d) The Call of Paul
i) As a chosen vessel (Acts 9:15a)
ii) To bear My name before Gentiles (Acts 9:15b)
iii) And the children of Israel (Acts 9:15c)
iv) To preach Christ among the Gentiles (Galatians 1:16)
3. The Gospel of God distinguished and defended
a) Distinguished from a “different gospel” (Galatians 1:6)
a) Distinguished from a perverted version of the Gospel (Galatians 1:7)
b) There is only one Gospel (Galatians 1:8-9)
4. The continued practice of revelation to the Apostle Paul
a) Revelation to Paul to go to Jerusalem (Galatians 2:2)
b) Revelation of God’s word
i) By revelation He made known to me the mystery (Ephesians 3:3)
ii) Revealed by the Spirit (Ephesians 3:5)
CONCLUSION
1. Dangers to be heeded
a) It is easy to mistake God’s revelation
b) There is a subjective element that can result in perversion
c) There is also the danger of pride (2 Corinthians 12:7)
2. Wisdom of God to be sought
a) It is humbling to know that we are dependent upon the Spirit of God
b) There is no substitute for waiting upon the Lord to reveal His word
c) God allows for thorns in the flesh to move us to seek His grace (2 Corinthians 12:9-10)