Compare and contrast the Bible and
it’s authority to general revelation and it’s authority.
General
revelation is a term used to refer to how God is revealed through nature, and
has made us all with a consciousness of Him.
“Through non-verbal communication, people of all cultures and all
languages have the capacity to understand that Almighty God exists in all of
His weighty importance.”1 “The heavens are telling of the glory of
God; and their expanse is declaring the work of His hands. Day to day pours
forth speech, and night to night reveals knowledge.” (Psalm 19:1-2). Clearly from the Bible we read God intended
all that we see in nature surrounding us points to the reality, power,
authority, and control of God. In Romans
1 we read that this knowledge we have from nature makes us consciously
responsible, all humanity knows deep down that God exists, and we are
accountable to Him. “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven
against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in
unrighteousness, because that which is known about God is evident within them;
for God made it evident to them. For since the creation of the world His
invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly
seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without
excuse.” (Romans 1:18-20) God’s
revelation from nature is great knowledge, however it has its’ limits. Later in Romans (10:17) we read; “So faith
comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.”
Nature testifies
of God, but the Bible gives us the knowledge we need unto salvation, and
day-to-day sanctified living, which natural revelation is insufficient to
accomplish. Nature and human conscience
draw us to His truth, but it is the Bible that gives us the proper knowledge
and guidance of understanding our sin nature, God’s gift of grace, His place of
holiness and our place of needing a Saviour.
“The
secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things revealed belong to us
and to our sons forever, that we may observe all the words of this law.”
(Deuteronomy 29:29) God’s Word to us is
a cherished treasure, incomparable to general revelation, but enhanced by
it. In and through it alone we can
conclude; “His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life
through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.” (2
Peter 1:3)
1 “Counseling: How to
Counsel Biblically” John MacArthur page 42
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