GENERAL REVELATION

Transcript:

0:00 Intro

As we look at God's revelation in nature we are enabled to understand rightly who that God is. 

Today's video is on General Revelation. Looking for some answers, Kyle and I went to Trinity Reformed Church to get pastor Van Eyk's thoughts on the subject. This is Faith to Film. 

General revelation is the unveiling of God himself in His creation, sustaining, and governing of the universe. And this revelation is to a general audience with general content. 

0:35 What is General Content? 

When we talk about general content we are saying that general revelation does not give us a full revelation of God. It tells us of His creative power, of His divinity. Tells us of His goodness, of His judgments, but it is insufficient to give us a knowledge of God which leads to salvation? It is sufficient to leave us without an excuse so that we know there is a God but it doesn't lead us to a relationship of love with that God 

1:14 What is general audience? 

So the whole world is a stage for God and so the revelation of God in creation reaches all humanity. Either in the revelation of God in creation around them in their own conscience and hearts so that all humanity knows that there's a God. Whereas with special revelation, with the revelation of God in scripture. That is more focused on specific individuals to whom God in His kindness sends His word. But general revelation reaches all humanity, in all places, and at all times. 

1:53 How should we respond to this? 

The fact that God wants to reveal Himself to us is a testimony that He desires a relationship with us. He has no desire to remain hidden from us. So, he unveils Himself. So, that's something that we ought to be thankful for. Secondly, we ought to realize that the revelation of God in creation, though it is accurate, because of our fallen human nature, we are unable to rightly understand the revelation of God in creation. So that book in creation needs to be read through, as Calvin says, through the glasses of the book of the bible. So special revelation provides us with the insight to read the revelation of God in creation. So that's the second thing I would say. The third thing that I would say is that we need the illumination of the Spirit. We need the divine ophthalmologist to give us eyes of faith. So that as we look at God's revelation in nature, we are enabled to understand rightly, who that God is.