GodRevealsSelf

GodRevealsSelf

Revelation of God   (An outline of scriptures to show how God shows man who He is.)

Synopsis

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

Is 59:2

Isaiah 59:2 (ESV) — 2 but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear.

See also Dt 31:18 ; Is 1:15 ; Is 45:15 ; Is 64:7 ; Eze 39:23 ; Mic 3:4

Deuteronomy 31:18 (ESV) — 18 And I will surely hide my face in that day because of all the evil that they have done, because they have turned to other gods.

Isaiah 1:15 (ESV) — 15 When you spread out your hands, I will hide my eyes from you; even though you make many prayers, I will not listen; your hands are full of blood.

Isaiah 45:15 (ESV) — 15 Truly, you are a God who hides himself, O God of Israel, the Savior.

Isaiah 64:7 (ESV) — 7 There is no one who calls upon your name, who rouses himself to take hold of you; for you have hidden your face from us, and have made us melt in the hand of our iniquities.

Ezekiel 39:23 (ESV) — 23 And the nations shall know that the house of Israel went into captivity for their iniquity, because they dealt so treacherously with me that I hid my face from them and gave them into the hand of their adversaries, and they all fell by the sword.

Micah 3:4 (ESV) — 4 Then they will cry to the Lord, but he will not answer them; he will hide his face from them at that time, because they have made their deeds evil.

People are ignorant of God

Ac 17:23

Acts 17:23 (ESV) — 23 For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription, ‘To the unknown god.’ What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you.

See also Ex 5:2 ; Jdg 2:10 ; Je 4:22 ; Jn 4:22 ; Jn 15:21 ; Ga 4:8 ; Eph 4:18 ; 1 Th 4:5

Exodus 5:2 (ESV) — 2 But Pharaoh said, “Who is the Lord, that I should obey his voice and let Israel go? I do not know the Lord, and moreover, I will not let Israel go.”

Judges 2:10 (ESV) — 10 And all that generation also were gathered to their fathers. And there arose another generation after them who did not know the Lord or the work that he had done for Israel.

Jeremiah 4:22 (ESV) — 22 “For my people are foolish; they know me not; they are stupid children; they have no understanding. They are ‘wise’—in doing evil! But how to do good they know not.”

John 4:22 (ESV) — 22 You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews.

John 15:21 (ESV) — 21 But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me.

Galatians 4:8 (ESV) — 8 Formerly, when you did not know God, you were enslaved to those that by nature are not gods.

Ephesians 4:18 (ESV) — 18 They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart.

1 Thessalonians 4:5 (ESV) — 5 not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God;

People cannot know God unaided

Mt 11:25–27

Matthew 11:25–27 (ESV) — 25 At that time Jesus declared, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; 26 yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. 27 All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.

See also Job 34:29 ; 1 Co 1:21

Job 34:29 (ESV) — 29 When he is quiet, who can condemn? When he hides his face, who can behold him, whether it be a nation or a man?—

1 Corinthians 1:21 (ESV) — 21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe.

The means by which God reveals himself

In the Scriptures

Ps 119:105

Psalm 119:105 (ESV) — 105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

See also Ps 19:7–10 ; Ps 119:130 ; Ps 147:19 ; Pr 6:23 ; 2 Ti 3:16 ; 2 Pe 1:19–21

Psalm 19:7–10 (ESV) — 7 The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; 8 the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; 9 the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the Lord are true, and righteous altogether. 10 More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb.

Psalm 119:130 (ESV) — 130 The unfolding of your words gives light; it imparts understanding to the simple.

Psalm 147:19 (ESV) — 19 He declares his word to Jacob, his statutes and rules to Israel.

Proverbs 6:23 (ESV) — 23 For the commandment is a lamp and the teaching a light, and the reproofs of discipline are the way of life,

2 Timothy 3:16 (ESV) — 16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,

2 Peter 1:19–21 (ESV) — 19 And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, 20 knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. 21 For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

By the Holy Spirit

Eph 1:17

Ephesians 1:17 (ESV) — 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him,

See also Ne 9:20 ; Lk 2:26 ; Lk 12:12 ; Jn 14:26 ; 1 Co 2:10 ; 1 Co 2:12 ; 1 Jn 2:27

Nehemiah 9:20 (ESV) — 20 You gave your good Spirit to instruct them and did not withhold your manna from their mouth and gave them water for their thirst.

Luke 2:26 (ESV) — 26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.

Luke 12:12 (ESV) — 12 for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.”

John 14:26 (ESV) — 26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.

1 Corinthians 2:10 (ESV) — 10 these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God.

1 Corinthians 2:12 (ESV) — 12 Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God.

1 John 2:27 (ESV) — 27 But the anointing that you received from him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie—just as it has taught you, abide in him.

Supremely in Jesus Christ

Heb 1:1–2

Hebrews 1:1–2 (ESV) — 1 Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.

See also Jn 1:18 ; Jn 8:26 ; Jn 12:49 ; Jn 14:10 ; Jn 17:6

John 1:18 (ESV) — 18 No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.

John 8:26 (ESV) — 26 I have much to say about you and much to judge, but he who sent me is true, and I declare to the world what I have heard from him.”

John 12:49 (ESV) — 49 For I have not spoken on my own authority, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment—what to say and what to speak.

John 14:10 (ESV) — 10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works.

John 17:6 (ESV) — 6 “I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the world. Yours they were, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word.

In the creation

Ps 19:1

Psalm 19:1 (ESV) — 1 The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.

See also Ps 97:6 ; Ac 14:17 ; Ac 17:26–27

Psalm 97:6 (ESV) — 6 The heavens proclaim his righteousness, and all the peoples see his glory.

Acts 14:17 (ESV) — 17 Yet he did not leave himself without witness, for he did good by giving you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness.”

Acts 17:26–27 (ESV) — 26 And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, 27 that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us,

Through the prophets

Am 3:7

Amos 3:7 (ESV) — 7 “For the Lord God does nothing without revealing his secret to his servants the prophets.

See also Nu 12:6 ; 2 Sa 7:17 ; 2 Sa 7:27 ; Is 22:14 ; 1 Pe 1:12

Numbers 12:6 (ESV) — 6 And he said, “Hear my words: If there is a prophet among you, I the Lord make myself known to him in a vision; I speak with him in a dream.

2 Samuel 7:17 (ESV) — 17 In accordance with all these words, and in accordance with all this vision, Nathan spoke to David.

2 Samuel 7:27 (ESV) — 27 For you, O Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, have made this revelation to your servant, saying, ‘I will build you a house.’ Therefore your servant has found courage to pray this prayer to you.

Isaiah 22:14 (ESV) — 14 The Lord of hosts has revealed himself in my ears: “Surely this iniquity will not be atoned for you until you die,” says the Lord God of hosts.

1 Peter 1:12 (ESV) — 12 It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look.

In visions and dreams

Da 1:17

Daniel 1:17 (ESV) — 17 As for these four youths, God gave them learning and skill in all literature and wisdom, and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.

See also Ge 15:1 ; Is 1:1 ; Eze 11:24 ; Da 8:1 ; Na 1:1 ; Mt 1:20 ; Mt 2:12 ; Mt 2:22 ; Ac 9:10 ; Ac 16:9 ; Ac 22:17–18

Genesis 15:1 (ESV) — 1 After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: “Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.”

Isaiah 1:1 (ESV) — 1 The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.

Ezekiel 11:24 (ESV) — 24 And the Spirit lifted me up and brought me in the vision by the Spirit of God into Chaldea, to the exiles. Then the vision that I had seen went up from me.

Daniel 8:1 (ESV) — 1 In the third year of the reign of King Belshazzar a vision appeared to me, Daniel, after that which appeared to me at the first.

Nahum 1:1 (ESV) — 1 An oracle concerning Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum of Elkosh.

Matthew 1:20 (ESV) — 20 But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.

Matthew 2:12 (ESV) — 12 And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.

Matthew 2:22 (ESV) — 22 But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there, and being warned in a dream he withdrew to the district of Galilee.

Acts 9:10 (ESV) — 10 Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.”

Acts 16:9 (ESV) — 9 And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing there, urging him and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.”

Acts 22:17–18 (ESV) — 17 “When I had returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, I fell into a trance 18 and saw him saying to me, ‘Make haste and get out of Jerusalem quickly, because they will not accept your testimony about me.’

Face to face

Nu 12:8

Numbers 12:8 (ESV) — 8 With him I speak mouth to mouth, clearly, and not in riddles, and he beholds the form of the Lord. Why then were you not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?”

See also Ge 32:30 ; Ex 24:9–10 ; Jdg 13:22 ; Job 42:5 ; Is 6:5

Genesis 32:30 (ESV) — 30 So Jacob called the name of the place Peniel, saying, “For I have seen God face to face, and yet my life has been delivered.”

Exodus 24:9–10 (ESV) — 9 Then Moses and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel went up, 10 and they saw the God of Israel. There was under his feet as it were a pavement of sapphire stone, like the very heaven for clearness.

Judges 13:22 (ESV) — 22 And Manoah said to his wife, “We shall surely die, for we have seen God.”

Job 42:5 (ESV) — 5 I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you;

Isaiah 6:5 (ESV) — 5 And I said: “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!”

In the exodus

Ex 7:5

Exodus 7:5 (ESV) — 5 The Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, when I stretch out my hand against Egypt and bring out the people of Israel from among them.”

See also Ex 14:4 ; 1 Sa 2:27 ; Eze 20:5 ; Eze 20:9

Exodus 14:4 (ESV) — 4 And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and he will pursue them, and I will get glory over Pharaoh and all his host, and the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord.” And they did so.

1 Samuel 2:27 (ESV) — 27 And there came a man of God to Eli and said to him, “Thus says the Lord, ‘Did I indeed reveal myself to the house of your father when they were in Egypt subject to the house of Pharaoh?

Ezekiel 20:5 (ESV) — 5 and say to them, Thus says the Lord God: On the day when I chose Israel, I swore to the offspring of the house of Jacob, making myself known to them in the land of Egypt; I swore to them, saying, I am the Lord your God.

Ezekiel 20:9 (ESV) — 9 But I acted for the sake of my name, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations among whom they lived, in whose sight I made myself known to them in bringing them out of the land of Egypt.

In special signs

Jdg 6:36–40Gideon’s fleece; 1 Ki 13:3–5an altar split apart; 2 Ki 20:9–11a shadow moving backwards

Judges 6:36–40 (ESV) — 36 Then Gideon said to God, “If you will save Israel by my hand, as you have said, 37 behold, I am laying a fleece of wool on the threshing floor. If there is dew on the fleece alone, and it is dry on all the ground, then I shall know that you will save Israel by my hand, as you have said.” 38 And it was so. When he rose early next morning and squeezed the fleece, he wrung enough dew from the fleece to fill a bowl with water. 39 Then Gideon said to God, “Let not your anger burn against me; let me speak just once more. Please let me test just once more with the fleece. Please let it be dry on the fleece only, and on all the ground let there be dew.” 40 And God did so that night; and it was dry on the fleece only, and on all the ground there was dew.

1 Kings 13:3–5 (ESV) — 3 And he gave a sign the same day, saying, “This is the sign that the Lord has spoken: ‘Behold, the altar shall be torn down, and the ashes that are on it shall be poured out.’ ” 4 And when the king heard the saying of the man of God, which he cried against the altar at Bethel, Jeroboam stretched out his hand from the altar, saying, “Seize him.” And his hand, which he stretched out against him, dried up, so that he could not draw it back to himself. 5 The altar also was torn down, and the ashes poured out from the altar, according to the sign that the man of God had given by the word of the Lord.

2 Kings 20:9–11 (ESV) — 9 And Isaiah said, “This shall be the sign to you from the Lord, that the Lord will do the thing that he has promised: shall the shadow go forward ten steps, or go back ten steps?” 10 And Hezekiah answered, “It is an easy thing for the shadow to lengthen ten steps. Rather let the shadow go back ten steps.” 11 And Isaiah the prophet called to the Lord, and he brought the shadow back ten steps, by which it had gone down on the steps of Ahaz.

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

God reveals Jesus Christ’s true identity

Mt 16:17

Matthew 16:17 (ESV) — 17 And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.

See also Mt 3:17 ; Mt 17:5 ; Jn 1:31 ; Ga 1:15–16 ; 2 Pe 1:17–18

Matthew 3:17 (ESV) — 17 and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”

Matthew 17:5 (ESV) — 5 He was still speaking when, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.”

John 1:31 (ESV) — 31 I myself did not know him, but for this purpose I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel.”

Galatians 1:15–16 (ESV) — 15 But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by his grace, 16 was pleased to reveal his Son to me, in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with anyone;

2 Peter 1:17–18 (ESV) — 17 For when he received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased,” 18 we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain.

Jesus Christ is the visible image of God

Col 1:15

Colossians 1:15 (ESV) — 15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.

See also 2 Co 4:4 ; Php 2:6 ; Heb 1:3

2 Corinthians 4:4 (ESV) — 4 In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

Philippians 2:6 (ESV) — 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,

Hebrews 1:3 (ESV) — 3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,

Jesus Christ’s glory is still to be fully revealed

Lk 17:30; 1 Co 1:7; 2 Th 1:7; 1 Pe 1:7; 1 Pe 1:13; 1 Pe 4:13

Luke 17:30 (ESV) — 30 so will it be on the day when the Son of Man is revealed.

1 Corinthians 1:7 (ESV) — 7 so that you are not lacking in any gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ,

2 Thessalonians 1:7 (ESV) — 7 and to grant relief to you who are afflicted as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels

1 Peter 1:7 (ESV) — 7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

1 Peter 1:13 (ESV) — 13 Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

1 Peter 4:13 (ESV) — 13 But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.

 

The Outline was provided by Logos Bible Software.