Principles of Christian Faith

Definition of Revelation

Revelation is a Christian teaching that refers to the means by which God has revealed Himself to mankind.

The need for revelation stems from the separation between God and humanity, which began after the original sin of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden.
Genesis 1:31: "God saw all that He had created, and looked, everything was good and perfect."
The stark contrast between Genesis 1:31 and the events in Genesis 3 highlights humanity's fall from grace, resulting in a communication breakdown between God and man.
Genesis 3:9: God asks Adam, "Where art thou?" indicating a shift in the relationship status due to sin.

Sin caused a disruption of the intended relationships between God and humanity.
Post-sin, humanity has been running away from God, which needs to be addressed through revelation.
Sin has led to an intensified wickedness, as seen in the story of Cain and Abel.
Genesis 6:5-6 emphasizes the extent of mankind's wickedness: "The Lord saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become."
Humanity lost touch with God's original concept and needed divine intervention to reconnect with Him.

Revelation serves as a means for human beings to rediscover and engage with God amidst human failings.
Sin creates a chasm requiring God to make Himself known through various means of revelation.

Romans 1:20: God's invisible qualities are clearly seen through what has been made, serving as evidence against humanity.
Psalms 19:1: "The heavens declare the glory of God."
Nature acts as a testimony to God’s creative power, wisdom, and existence, compelling humanity to acknowledge the designer behind creation.
Despite sin tarnishing creation, its beauty remains evident in various facets such as the human body, natural environment, and universe.

Relationships mirror God's love and intentions for humanity.
Ephesians 5:25-26: The relationship between husband and wife exemplifies Christ's love for the church.
Psalm 103:13: Highlights God's compassion akin to parental love.
Matthew 7:11: Illustrates God's willingness to give good gifts to humanity.
Isaiah 66:13: Depicts God’s comfort compared to a mother's tenderness.
Human relationships can serve as platforms to reveal God’s love and intention to others.

John 14:6-8: Jesus states, "I am the way, the truth, and the life."
In Christ, the complete embodiment of God’s revelation is realized.
Matthew 11:27: No one truly knows the Son except the Father and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal Him.
Jesus' life and teachings encapsulate God’s character and purpose.

The Bible serves as an authoritative revelation of God's will and a fundamental source of knowledge about Him.
The writings in the Bible aim to reveal God's character, plans, and purposes.

Personal experiences can lead to an encounter with God, leading to transformative insights and relationships with Him.
Illustrative Biblical examples include Enoch's walk with God (Genesis 5:21-24) and Isaac's encounter with God (Genesis 26:24).

The Holy Spirit plays a crucial role in revealing God's truth to humanity and guiding believers.
Romans 12:2: Encourages transformation through the renewal of the mind to discern God's will.
John 16:13: Affirms the role of the Holy Spirit in guiding believers into all truth.

Human knowledge of God is limited to what has been revealed.
Humanity belongs to God through creation and redemption; individuals must respond to God's call.
Revelation is multifaceted, involving nature, human relationships, Christ, scriptures, personal experiences, and the Holy Spirit.
The understanding of God's revelation calls for a response from humanity, urging believers to seek deeper relationships with God based on the knowledge revealed to them.