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“ Summary, Part 4 (final) ” Fourth, God is specially present wherever believers gather to praise His name through Jesus Christ, by the Spirit He has sent to us. c. GOD’S EXISTENCE IS SPECIALLY REVEALED IN PROPHECY BY THE PREDICTION AND FULFILLMENT OF HIS SECRET PURPOSES. Prophecy is founded upon the fact that God knows the future. In eternity, He determined everything that would happen. God doesn't predict events; He decreed them (cf. EPHESIANS 1:11). DEUTERONOMY 18:22: Prophecy reveals that God is, and that the Lord is God. ISAIAH 41:23: the Lord challenges idols to prove their deity by fulfilled prophecy. ISAIAH 53: not long afterward, and with startling clarity, the same prophet predicted details of the coming of the promised messiah over seven hundred years before they happened. Why did God give him this graphic vision? Because men’s hearts are as hard as iron. Christ is the spirit of prophecy, and His coming as our Lord and Savior is prophecy’s great goal. This is why angels kept telling men to not bow to them, but instead to bow to God. JOHN 20:29: the Lord blesses those who believe without seeing. Note the irony of the next two verses: some of the signs were included in the Bible so that men would believe.
Ian Migala (1/13/2014)
from Minneapolis, Minnesota
“ Summary, Part 3 ” Second, even if they saw a miracle, it would not guarantee that they would get right with God. Many Israelites perished in unbelief despite everything they saw. Without belief in the Bible, there is no belief in miracles (LUKE 16:30-31). b. GOD’S EXISTENCE IS SPECIALLY REVEALED IN THEOPHANIES BY THE AUDIBLE AND VISIBLE MANIFESTATIONS OF HIS SPECIAL PRESENCE. Though God is everywhere present at all times, He is specially present in some places at some times. It might be more accurate to call theophanies ‘Christophanies’. God reveals Himself in His Son in both the Old and New Testaments. 1 KINGS 18: during a low point in Israel’s history, when the nation was questioning the existence of their God, the Lord intervened with His special presence to settle the matter decisively. But how do we answer those who claim they would believe in God’s existence if they only hand a Mount Carmel-like experience? First, not all supernatural appearances are theophanies (2 CORINTHIANS 11:14). Second, that someone sees a theophany does not guarantee their salvation. Third, the ultimate display of God is in the special presence of Jesus Christ. If people have Christ, they typically no longer want a theophany.
Ian Migala (1/13/2014)
from Minneapolis, Minnesota
“ Summary, Part 2 ” 2. GOD’S SPECIAL REVELATION OF HIS EXISTENCE IS PERSONAL; IT DECLARES HIS NAME (ISAIAH 45:18, 21). God, as ‘the LORD’, calls men into a special relationship (or communion) with Himself (ISAIAH 45:22). General revelation does not have this power. Special revelation is essential to all true and saving religion (ISAIAH 45:4). a. GOD’S EXISTENCE IS SPECIALLY REVEALED IN REDEMPTIVE HISTORY BY THE MIRACULOUS INTRUSIONS OF HIS SUPERNATURAL POWER. We can also state this as ‘by miracles’. We focus only on the miracles associated with the exodus of Israel from Egypt (EXODUS 3-14). We learn a couple of important lessons here. Pr. Nichols observes, “All these miraculous plagues reveal in a profound way that God exists, and emphatically, that Jehovah is God. They also abundantly support the superiority of the special revelation of God’s existence.” But how do you answer those who argue that they would believe that God exists if they could just see Him perform a miracle like in the days of old? First, they should beware of being deceived by lying signs and wonders (2 THESSALONIANS 2:9-12).
Ian Migala (1/13/2014)
from Minneapolis, Minnesota
“ Summary, Part 1 ” [Pastor Nutter credits his former professor, Pastor Greg Nichols of Grace Immanuel Reformed Baptist Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan, for the outline of this message, which can be found in Pastor Nichols’ book, *What does the Bible say about God?: The Biblical doctrine of God*.] Continuing with Part II: THE REVELATION OF GOD’S EXISTENCE, we now consider B. THE SPECIAL REVELATION OF GOD’S EXISTENCE. In general revelation, God reveals Himself through the creation and through the consciences of mankind. Special revelation is distinct and superior. 1. THE SPECIAL REVELATION OF GOD’S EXISTENCE IS VERBAL; IT IS EXPRESSED BY GOD’S WORD. Before the Fall, a) God gave direction to Adam (GENESIS 2:16ff); b) God pronounced blessing upon Adam and Eve (GENESIS 1:28-30). After the Fall, God still spoke to men. Adam and Eve yet heard the voice of God in the Garden (GENESIS 3:8-19). God even spoke to Cain after he murdered his brother Abel (GENESIS 4:9-12). But unlike general revelation, which is universal, God’s testimony of His existence in special revelation has not been witnessed by all men, or even consistently by some men (ACTS 14:16). We find gaps in the history of God’s special revelation (HEBREWS 1:1).
