God, revelation of

God graciously makes himself known to humanity since people cannot discover him on their own. He achieves this in many ways, but supremely through his Son Jesus Christ.

The necessity of revelation

God is hidden from human view because of sin

Isaiah 59:2 See also Deuteronomy 31:18; Isaiah 1:15, Isaiah 45:15, Isaiah 64:7; Ezekiel 39:23; Micah 3:4

But your iniquities have built barriers between you and your God, and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He does not hear.

People are ignorant of God

Acts 17:23 See also Exodus 5:2; Judges 2:10; Jeremiah 4:22; John 4:22, John 15:21; Galatians 4:8; Ephesians 4:18; 1 Thessalonians 4:5

For as I walked around and examined your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. Therefore what you worship as something unknown, I now proclaim to you.

People cannot know God unaided

Matthew 11:25–27 parallel Luke 10:21–22 See also Job 34:29; 1 Corinthians 1:21

At that time Jesus declared, “I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because You have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was well-pleasing in Your sight. All things have been entrusted to Me by My Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal Him.

The means by which God reveals himself

In the Scriptures

Psalm 119:105 See also Psalm 19:7–10, Psalm 119:130, Psalm 147:19; Proverbs 6:23; 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:19–21

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

By the Holy Spirit

Ephesians 1:17 See also Nehemiah 9:20; Luke 2:26, Luke 12:12; John 14:26; 1 Corinthians 2:10, 1 Corinthians 2:12; 1 John 2:27

that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in your knowledge of Him.

Supremely in Jesus Christ

Hebrews 1:1–2 See also John 1:18, John 8:26, John 12:49, John 14:10, John 17:6

On many past occasions and in many different ways, God spoke to our fathers through the prophets. But in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, and through whom He made the universe.

In the creation

Psalm 19:1 See also Psalm 97:6; Acts 14:17, Acts 17:26–27

For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands.

Through the prophets

Surely the Lord GOD does nothing without revealing His plan to His servants the prophets.

In visions and dreams

Daniel 1:17 See also Genesis 15:1; Isaiah 1:1; Ezekiel 11:24; Daniel 8:1; Nahum 1:1; Matthew 1:20, Matthew 2:12, Matthew 2:22; Acts 9:10, Acts 16:9, Acts 22:17–18

To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding in every kind of literature and wisdom. And Daniel had insight into all kinds of visions and dreams.

Face to face

Numbers 12:8 See also Genesis 32:30; Exodus 24:9–10; Judges 13:22; Job 42:5; Isaiah 6:5

I speak with him face to face, clearly and not in riddles; he sees the form of the LORD. Why then were you unafraid to speak against My servant Moses?”

In the exodus

Exodus 7:5 See also Exodus 14:4; 1 Samuel 2:27; Ezekiel 20:5, Ezekiel 20:9

And the Egyptians will know that I am the LORD, when I stretch out My hand against Egypt and bring the Israelites out from among them.”

In special signs

Judges 6:36–40 Gideon's fleece; 1 Kings 13:3–5 an altar split apart; 2 Kings 20:9–11 parallel Isaiah 38:7–8 a shadow moving backwards

The nature of God's self-revelation in Jesus Christ

God reveals Jesus Christ's true identity

Matthew 16:17 See also Matthew 3:17 parallels Mark 1:11, Luke 3:22; Matthew 17:5 parallels Mark 9:7, Luke 9:35; John 1:31; Galatians 1:15–16; 2 Peter 1:17–18

Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by My Father in heaven.

Jesus Christ is the visible image of God

Colossians 1:15 See also 2 Corinthians 4:4; Philippians 2:6; Hebrews 1:3

The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.

Jesus Christ's glory is still to be fully revealed

Luke 17:30; 1 Corinthians 1:7; 2 Thessalonians 1:7; 1 Peter 1:7, 1 Peter 1:13, 1 Peter 4:13

Things that God reveals

Hidden mysteries

Daniel 2:22 See also Genesis 41:16; Job 12:22; Daniel 2:28–30, Daniel 2:47

He reveals the deep and hidden things; He knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with Him.

Future events

Genesis 41:25 See also 1 Samuel 9:15–16; 2 Kings 8:10; Jeremiah 11:18, Jeremiah 38:21; Matthew 2:13; Acts 18:9–10, Acts 27:22–24

At this, Joseph said to Pharaoh, “The dreams of Pharaoh are one and the same. God has revealed to Pharaoh what He is about to do.

His righteousness

Romans 1:17 See also Isaiah 56:1; Romans 3:21; Revelation 15:4

For the gospel reveals the righteousness of God that comes by faith from start to finish, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”

His wrath

Romans 1:18 See also Numbers 11:1; 2 Samuel 6:7 parallel 1 Chronicles 13:10; Psalm 7:11; Romans 2:5

The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness.

His salvation

Psalm 98:2 See also Isaiah 52:10; Luke 2:30–32, Luke 3:6; Titus 2:11

The LORD has proclaimed His salvation and revealed His righteousness to the nations.

His glory

Isaiah 40:5 Exodus 16:10, Exodus 33:9; Numbers 12:5; Deuteronomy 1:33; Nehemiah 9:12; Psalm 78:14, Psalm 105:39; Exodus 33:18–23 the LORD shows his glory to Moses; Exodus 40:34; Leviticus 16:2; Deuteronomy 31:15; Ezekiel 9:3, Ezekiel 10:4; Deuteronomy 5:24; Psalm 97:6, Psalm 102:16; Isaiah 35:2, Isaiah 44:23, Isaiah 60:2; Acts 7:55

And the glory of the LORD will be revealed, and all humanity together will see it.” For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.

The mystery of the gospel

Ephesians 3:2–3 “mystery” in the NT means “something previously hidden, undiscoverable by human means but now revealed by God”. See also Matthew 13:11 parallels Mark 4:11, Luke 8:10; Romans 16:25–26; Galatians 3:23; Ephesians 3:5–6; Colossians 1:26–27; 2 Timothy 1:10

Surely you have heard about the stewardship of God’s grace that was given to me for you, that is, the mystery made known to me by revelation, as I have already written briefly.

The revelation of God's will

Physical means by which God reveals his will

By the Urim and Thummim: Exodus 28:30; Numbers 27:21; Joshua 18:6–10; Jonah 1:7; Acts 1:26

God's self-revelation makes his will plain

Romans 1:20 See also Zechariah 7:11–12; John 9:41, John 16:8; Romans 7:7

For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood from His workmanship, so that men are without excuse.

God's self-revelation is according to his own sovereign purpose

Isaiah 65:1 See also Daniel 2:30; Romans 10:20; Galatians 1:11–12

“I revealed Myself to those who did not ask for Me; I was found by those who did not seek Me. To a nation that did not call My name, I said, ‘Here I am! Here I am!’