Man, so I'm gonna preach a sermon this morning on the topic of God's revelations
God's different revelations to man and the means by which God has revealed himself to man
throughout time and hopefully what this will do is help us to develop an
appreciation for the revelation that we have in the scripture in the Bible
because God as we're gonna see this morning has gone to great lengths to reveal himself to mankind and to us as believers and
The first thing I want to look at when it comes this topic of God's revelation to man is the fact that he has revealed himself
To all men, you know God has revealed himself to all men the Bible says and the way that he's done
That is through the natural world through the means of creation. You're there in Psalms chapter 19
Let's just begin reading there in Psalms chapter 9 actually are you where am I got going on here?
I tried I'm doing something different with the notes to bear with me Psalms chapter 19
Yeah, Psalms chapter 19
The Bible says there
The law of the Lord is perfect
Excuse me
The law of the Lord is perfect converting the soul the testimony the Lord is sure making wise the simple
The statutes of the Lord are right rejoicing the heart. The commandment of the Lord is pure and lightening the eyes
I'm sorry verse 1 is where I'm gonna come back to that's where I'm getting confused
Some Psalms 19 verse 1 the heavens declare the glory of God and the firmament showeth his handiwork
so right there we see in verse 1 that God has
Declared his glory in the heavens through creation through the means of creation. God has made himself known. He has manifest himself to all men
if you would
Go over to Psalms chapter 8 Psalms chapter number 8 Psalms chapter number 8
The
Bible says in Psalms 104 Oh Lord
How many fold are thy works and wisdom thou has made them all the earth is full of thy riches
You know man looks around and he sees the glory of the firmament. He sees
The earth that is full of the riches that God has put in it and what that is is God revealing himself
To man, you know man can't sit back and say well, I didn't know there was there there was a God
It just didn't look when I looked around it just appeared to me as if this all happened by accident
You know, that's a lie that people tell themselves. That's not the truth when we look around and we see creation
We see what God has made what we're looking at is the fact that God has revealed himself to all of mankind to everybody
The Bible says in Isaiah chapter 40 who hath measured the waters in the hollow of his hand and meted out the heaven with his
span and
Comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure and weighed the mountains in scales and the hills in a balance
That's a question who's done all these things who's you know
Meeted out the heavens with the span who's comprehended the dust of the earth and a measure, you know
Who's measured all the all the dust of the earth?
The question that's a question and the way the scales the mountains and scales and the hills in a balance
Well God has God's the one that knows exactly how much of everything there is in the earth. He said in verse 26
Lift up your eyes on high and behold who hath created these things, you know
God is the one that has created all these things
He's the ones created the heavens and stretched them out and measured them with a span
He's the one that is, you know comprehended the earth and a dust in the dust of the earth
He's the one that's weighed out the mountains and the hills. It's God that's done all these things and
Isaiah is telling these people to lift up their eyes on high and behold who hath created these things
That bringeth out the host by their number. He's talking about the stars
Again, how the the the the firmaments show the handiwork of God. They declare his glory its creation that does it
In Acts chapter 14 the Bible says nevertheless he left not himself without witness in that he did good
And of course, this is Paul speaking to a bunch of Gentiles. This is him speaking to a bunch of
Unsaved heathens and he's saying to them that God has not left himself without witness for that. He did good and gave us rain
Again, he's speaking to the unsaved. He's saying look God gave us rain
From heaven and fruitful seasons filling our heart with food and gladness
You know the bounty of the earth the the fruitful seasons all the things that God has provided, you know
The Bible says that Jesus said that he has made causes the rain to fall upon the just on the unjust
You know, it does this for everybody God has revealed himself to all men through creation
You're there in Psalms chapter 8 look at verse 1 Oh Lord our Lord
How excellent is thy name and all in all the earth who has set thy glory above the heavens?
You know God's name isn't just excellent to those that have acknowledged him it's his name is excellent in all the earth
Because he has set his glory above the heavens man is without excuse when he looks up and sees the glory of God
So one way that God has revealed himself to all men is through creation
Another way that he has done that is through the means of history
Okay, and I'm just gonna touch on this briefly but go over to Psalms chapter 9 Psalms chapter 9
You
Know even you know, of course, we don't put our faith in any of these things
We don't we're not saved and we'll see that it's it's insufficient to get somebody saved these things
But this the fact is is that God has revealed himself through creation
God has revealed himself through even a historical record in the forms in the form of like archaeology
You know, there are things that people find out there that validate
You know for the unbelieving world the things that the scripture records
The different things that took place with the patriarchs and all that all that history
There's people that look at the biblical record. They look at the physical evidence in archaeology and say well it lines up
And of course at the end of the day, you know
If we see something there's a discrepancy in the history in the archaeological record the Bible Trump's that because we believe these things by faith
People can look at things like, you know evidence of the flood, you know, it's out there
There's evidence that there was a great flood. I mean, we've got it right here in our state, you know
The Grand Canyon State right?
That's that the flood is what made that you know, and there's whole creation seminars and whole gracious is devoted have devoted whole lectures
So that one topic I'm not going to go on and on about that
But that is one, you know
Archaeological piece of evidence, you know in the natural world that shows us that God is known through the historical record
People can look at you know, I remember seeing a video where they showed a you know, and of course, it's all you know
Second hand whether or not it's true look through at the time and if they faked it
They did a pretty good job because it was back in the 90s or whatever
where they actually went over to the you know, the Gulf of Aqaba over there by Saudi Arabia where they
Does anyone know what I'm talking about the Gulf of Aqaba? It's part of the Red Sea
It's a little inlet from the Red Sea would have been considered the Red Sea back then and it's the one place in that whole
Body of water there that anybody could have crossed over and they start to find these, you know
Egyptian chariot wheels and things like that. It's like oh this is where
They crossed the the Red Sea and it's right there
But you know, you could show that to somebody still walk away and say I don't believe it
It's all hopes right but it's there God's right. He has revealed himself these things have happened
Look at Psalms chapter 9 verse 16. The Lord is known by the judgment which he executed
How was the Lord known this morning?
It's not just through you know, the the natural world the things where God has displayed himself in creation
Which is a testimony of his glory
But it's also through the fact that he has executed judgment upon the earth. I mean, that's what the flood is
That's what Pharaoh's army is. It's you look at that you say. Oh, that's God judging the earth. That's God judging people
That there is a God in heaven that he does judge mankind. The Lord is known by the judgment which he executed
That's how he's known
Go to Romans chapter number two Romans chapter number two
So God has known God has revealed himself this morning through the natural world
God has revealed himself through the judgments that he's performed through and we can see evidence of that even today
But even if we didn't have all that even if we didn't have those things
And even if that wasn't good enough for people, you know
They God has still revealed himself through the means of people's own conscience
People's own conscience is testimony of the fact that there is a God the fact that people can just naturally know the difference between
Right and wrong that the fact that they have a moral compass look at Romans chapter 2 verse 1 therefore
Thou art an excusable man whosoever thou judges actually, I'm sorry jump down to verse 12
For as many as have sinned without the law shall also perish without the law and as many as have sinned in the law
Shall be judged by the law
For not the hearers of the law are justified before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified
This isn't really kind of a I'm just thinking about this as I'm going
You know
it says there in verse 13 that the the hearers of the Lord that not the hearers of the law are justified before God because
People always bring this up. Like well, is it really fair that people go to hell if they've never heard
Well hearing is not what justifies you that's why he's saying the hearers of the law are
The here for not the hearers of the law are justified before God
But the doers of the law, you know, the what condemns a man is the fact that he's a sinner
Not that he hasn't heard the law
Why is that because it says in verse 14 for when the Gentiles which have not the law
do by nature the things contained in the law these having not the law or a law unto themselves the Bible says
Which show the work of the law written in their hearts and their conscience also bearing witness in their thoughts
Excuse accusing or else accusing or else excusing one another
Look the Gentiles who have not the law have the witness of God written in their hearts
Testifying to them that what they do is wrong. It's either excusing or accusing
One another either look at what some other heathen does and says that's right or that's wrong
They don't need the law to do that and that's what condemns it. So God has revealed himself to all men through various means
He has revealed himself through
Creation he's revealed himself through the judgments that are done the earth. He has revealed himself even through man's own conscience
Look at Romans chapter 1. I mean that's that's what Romans chapter 1
You didn't think we were not gonna go to Romans chapter 1 the first Sunday in Pride month. Did you Romans chapter 1?
It says there in verse 18
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and righteousness of men who hold the truth and unrighteousness
Why because that which may be known of God is manifest in them. Where is it manifest? It's manifest in them
Man looks at creation. He could see the God's handiwork
He can see
You know the judgments that God has performed on the earth
He can look at his own mind in his own heart and see that God has revealed himself to all of mankind that there is a
God
There's somebody who created him and has a will for them. They can look at that and that's why they're condemned
Because God hath showed it unto them God has made himself a parent God has revealed himself. I
Mean, that's the purpose of God's revelation
Go over to Romans chapter number 8 Romans chapter number 8
You know God did all this to bear witness of himself God's not playing some cosmic game of hide-and-seek with mankind
I'm over here. No, I'm over here. Now, you know God has chosen to reveal himself and we'll see why
He wants to reveal himself to you know, bear witness of himself. That's that's what all this is is showing us creation our
Conscience the judgments all of this. It's bears witness of
himself and
Not only that this you know
Without even God even trying just the fact that he's revealed himself to man. That is what condemns man
In turn it condemns mankind and that's what we read in Romans chapter 1
They knew God and they glorified him not as God God manifests these things in them and they chose not to acknowledge him
But here's the thing, you know, God has revealed himself to all mankind
But in spite of that fact that is not enough to get does that mean everybody's saved?
No, of course not few there are that be saved
This the fact is that God has revealed himself to all mankind
But that general revelation of God is not enough to save mankind
Because there's really two types of revelation
Okay, there's you have the general revelation where God has just manifest himself to all of mankind
Where people can just look at creation look at their hearts look at all these things and just say there is a God
God exists and who is he and then they can begin to seek if they want and
feel after him
But then there's the special revelation where God, you know directly
Reveals himself to men to a man to individuals to groups of people
But the general revelation that God where he reveals himself to all mankind that is inadequate for salvation. That's not gonna get anybody saved
That's why I don't want to spend a lot of time, you know arguing
Creation with people because it's inadequate to get people saved. It might get them thinking
It might get the wheels turning or it might just end up just being a long debate
That's highly ineffective
You know, that's not enough to get somebody saved eventually they have to end up just putting their faith in the Word of God
Why is that why is that you would think well that should be enough
Why can't people just look at creation?
Why can't people just look in their own hearts?
See the judgments of God and just say there is a God and his name is Jesus and I believe on him and get saved
well a large part of that is because of the fact that you know, this creation that God has
Revealed himself through is marred by sin, right?
We all know the story in Genesis chapter 3 when Adam ate of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil
You know, the ground was cursed. He said cursed is the ground for thy sake so it doesn't have
You know that original glory that it had it's cursed that's why people look at creation they go, you know explain explain mosquitoes
You know when he when he cursed it, you know, he said it's gonna bring forth thorns and thistles
We know a little something about that here in Arizona, but all the thorns and thistles, right?
We step on a big patch of you know, those what are they called?
satanic devil horn
Those little tiny spike ones are they is it devil horns or something like that? I don't know
It's like a real appropriate name though
We step on those and I've got I mean, I don't know how many times I've done it solely
I don't know a few times you just step on that and then it's just like ah
You take your shoe off and pull those things out. It's like why did God make this?
You know and there's probably if we studied it all and we went into all of it
You know and followed it through and did all the science behind it. There's probably a purpose behind all of it
But when man looks at creation in general, they'll say well, why did God make poisonous frogs?
Why did God make you know venomous animals? Why are there thorns? It doesn't make any sense
Well, God made them but man fell and then the creation was cursed again
The Lord is known by the judgment which he executed and just showing us that God has cursed this earth
It's marred by sin so the general levy revelation to man is not enough to save him
because the creation is
Imperfect because it is in bondage but also because of the fact that man himself is blinded by sin
That's what it says of 1st Corinthians chapter 2 that the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God
For their foolishness unto him, you know man is spiritually blind
He can't he can't look at creation and discern all this doesn't make any sense to him
They can't understand it. So because the general revelation of God
Through creation through history through conscience is inadequate to save man. Okay, it's inadequate
God has you know, God didn't just say well, you know, I tried, you know, I gave him all that and you know, what?
God has gone to great lengths to make sure that man knows who he is
God has manifested himself through special revelation. Okay, let's go over to 2nd Samuel
2nd Samuel chapter 8 2nd Samuel chapter number 8
And what is special revelation? So general revelation again is just God revealing himself to all of mankind
but special revelation where's God, you know, he doesn't use creation as
A witness of himself where he actually reveals himself directly to man. There's no middleman. There's no
Intermediary he just reveals himself directly to mankind and there's several different examples of this throughout Scripture
We'll move through them very quickly
But one of them one of the ways which God reveals himself through special revelation would be dreams, you know
And you see this throughout
The Bible we could talk about, you know, Joseph's dream where he dreamed about how you know
The other sheaves which represented his brothers were gonna bow down to him
I talked it was a God showing him that he was gonna be a ruler in Egypt when he didn't
Understand it all at the time
Then he had the other dream were the Sun and the moon and the stars bowed down to him, right?
He had the dream. He had the dreams of the butler remember when he was in prison
The butler and the Baker come in there and they and he wants he has to interpret their dreams
It was God showing them it was gonna happen and it comes to pass
Then you have even Pharaoh's dream, right where he has the dream of the the kind
Fat-fleshed and the other the skinny ones and the one devours the other and he says to them
You know that God has showed Pharaoh what he's about to do and how did he do that through a dream?
So that's one way that God has used special revelation to reveal himself to man and he revealed himself to Pharaoh
Then there's the example of not only dreams but visions and you say well it isn't that the same thing
Well a vision differs from a dream in the fact that a vision of something that happens while you're still awake
You think about Daniel's vision right where he's by the river
It says in the third year of the reign of King Belshazzar a vision appeared unto me even unto Dan at me Daniel
After which appeared unto me at the first and if you read that story
That's like during the day like he's out sitting by a river and this vision comes upon him
You know, this isn't where he laid down like Pharaoh did and had a dream or Joseph
We could think about you know Peter's vision and acts it says where he went up on the roof
Right, and it says he fell into a trance and he saw heaven opened
So this is a vision where God is revealing himself in a special way directly to man. It's a special revelation
Then we could talk about Urim and Thummim, which is you know
Something that that pertained to the priesthood was a part of the the garments that they wore their breastplate of judgment
the Urim and the Thummim and
You know, that's a whole nother
That's a whole nother sermon right there. But if you remember it's first Samuel chapter 28 when Saul inquired of the Lord
The Lord answered him not neither by dreams nor by Urim nor by prophets
So that was another these are just different ways in which God has revealed himself to mankind
Not at not in general but specifically to individuals and through a special revelation
We did I have to go to Numbers? I don't think I did go to Numbers. That's where you should have gone
Numbers chapter 22
Numbers chapter 22. This is one of probably
You know my more favorite
Examples of this, you know God's special revelation before I get to Numbers, you know
You would also think about the audible voice that Samuel heard remember that Samuel Samuel
He thought it was Eli talking. That was God revealing him. He doesn't do that to everybody
That's a special revelation that God gave at certain times to certain people
But he also uses animals and this is kind of an interesting one right Numbers chapter 22
Verse 27 and when the ass saw the angel the Lord she fell down under Balaam
So remember Balaam was going to prophesy against Israel. He got hired and he's on the way there and God's trying to stop him
and it says when the ass of the
Saw the angel of the Lord. She fell down under Balaam and Balaam's anger was kindled
You know, he got a flat tire, you know, he lost his temper
And he smote the ass with the staff. So you mean guys just losing his cool
He gets off. He just starts smacking this this animal this ass with a with the staff
This is just laying down right? It just sees that it sees it and says sees the angel just it just sits down, right?
And the Lord opened the mouth of the ass and she said unto Balaam
What have I done unto thee that thou has sent me this three times every time I read this it makes me chuckle
Because you can just picture this situation. He's like I'm gonna go prophesy. I'm gonna go get all you know, the all this money
I'm gonna be you know, get me made rich
I'm gonna be given honor and all of a sudden the ass just sits down and he starts beating it and
The ass turns starts to talk to him. This is God speaking. This is a special revelation
Look, this is don't go home and expect your cat or your dog to do this. Okay. This is what special revelation is
It's a very it's unique. It's different. It's it's often it's it's not something that happens consistently and it's not anything that goes on anymore
I don't believe God is speaking us anymore through dreams or visions. I don't believe he's giving us your room and thumb in
I don't think he's gonna speak to you through your house cat. Okay, no matter how much you beat it
You know, you're gonna go home and squirt your cat with a bottle. It's gonna say why has thou done this to me?
You know
What have I done unto thee, you know that thou has submit me these three times and then verse 29
it's probably the most humorous part and
Balaam said unto the ass
I mean the fact that he actually doesn't like did it even register with him that my my my ass is talking to me
This animal is speaking to me
And he's just like starts talking back to it
Because thou hast mocked me he says why I'll tell you I'm beating you it wasn't like whoa, you know
I
Don't know if I mean this wasn't probably the most most charming animal it wasn't like mr. Ed or something like that
You know the talking horse
He said I would there was sword in my hand it for now
I would kill thee and the ass said again unto Balaam. He starts talking again
Am I not thine ass upon which thou hast written ever since I was thine unto this day
Once I ever want to do so unto thee and he said nay
So he just he's having this conversation now people say, you know, like well, what how did that ass talk?
Like what what did I don't think this was like that animals own personal cognition? Okay, I
Think this was the Lord speaking through it. You know, this was a special revelation of God
This wasn't you know, the the ass finally could move its tongue and speak, you know and be understood
So it's gonna express the way it felt finally, you know, these weren't the this wasn't the internal monologue of the of the ass
Finally being you know spoken when this was God speaking through it, you know and showing you know
Balaam how crazy he was
Anyway, that's a funny story. But that is one of the special revelations that you see God do throughout Scripture
We have you know the example of angels, okay
I'm almost done with this part of it
But angels we could go to Luke 1 where the angel Gabriel shows up to Zacharias and to Mary
Right the heavenly host that shows up
To the shepherds, right? These are all special things
The angels of revelation, you know
That's something that God's gonna do a special thing that God's gonna do at the end of the world
When God's pouring out his wrath
You know
He there's gonna be the angels that fly in the midst of heaven having the ever lasting gospel
To preach unto them that dwell on the earth. These are special revelations of God to man
Now all these you know these various forms of special revelation
You know, they're significant
To those who they came upon, you know, they're special to them. They're significant to them
It was significant to Joseph that he had those dreams right there. They're not really sick. Those aren't specifically
Significant to us, you know the things that the ass said to Balaam don't really pertain to us, you know
It's a story that we read
So they are similar to God's general general revelation and that they are
Insufficient to save lost man. Okay. Now the special revelation that is
able to save man's soul is
the is
The the revelation that came through Jesus Christ in the Bible, right?
And Jesus Christ is a special revelation of God to man
And what I'm trying to get across this morning is that's how far God has gone to manifest himself
to mankind
You know, he didn't just make creation. He didn't just put the law of God in our hearts
He didn't just execute judgment on the earth for us to look at and look at the curse and look at all these other things
you know, he didn't give us all these different stories of
You know these these different revelations through people, you know through these different special revelations
That's not gonna happen to us today
You know, we might want that but you know
What's far greater than that is the fact that Jesus Christ has manifest himself unto man
He is the completion of that
revelation of God's special revelation
So God revealed himself by coming directly to man and dwelling with him and we know the scriptures
We know first Timothy chapter 3 verse 16 and without controversy great as the mystery of godliness
God was manifest in the flesh
Justified in the spirit scene of angels preached on the Gentiles believed on the world and what received up into glory
That's God that was manifest in the flesh, you know, that's a great verse
To show people that doubt the deity of Christ, you know, the Mormons might say oh that was you know
The father when he came down and you know had relations with Mary. That's what they believe
Okay
But you know that the rest of that doesn't you can't really apply that to him
Because it says that he was manifest in the flesh justified in the spirit scene of angels preached unto the Gentiles
It's specifically about Christ. That's who else is that referring to if not Christ and what does it say that God was manifest in the flesh?
You know, Jesus Christ is that special revelation to all mankind to all of us
That's how far God has gone to reveal himself to man
Again, God wants man to be saved
the Bible says in John 1 14 the word was made flesh and we beheld and dwelt among us and we be held as glory as
The only big glory of the gotten of the Father full of grace and truth. The word was made flesh Jesus Christ
That's God's special revelation
Go over to John chapter 6
John chapter 6, you know, God wants man to be saved
God wants man to know who he is and God has just gone to all these great lengths
Through creation through all these things to reveal himself unto mankind, you know, we would look at that and think well, that's enough
I mean, what more does God have to do?
Well, you know what? Those things aren't sufficient
The creation is not sufficient to get man saved and to bring him to Christ
You know the judgments even his own conscience is not enough to bring man to Christ now all those things can play a part in
Pausing man to to come to Christ but ultimately to come to Christ you need the Bible need the Word of God to come to
Christ
The Bible says in John chapter 6 look at verse 40 and this is the will of him that sent me that
Everyone which seeth the Son and believeth on him may have everlasting life. That's the will of God that they would see
The Son, you know now obviously Christ isn't gonna come down here today and reveal himself physically like he did
You know
2,000 years ago like he did with the Apostles and the disciples. That's not gonna happen
You know, but we are the ones that are gonna go out and show people Christ
We not now therefore we are ambassadors prices. Oh God did beseech you by us
We pray you in Christ said be reconciled unto God, you know
We're the ones are gonna go and actually show people Christ through the Word of God
You
Know God the Bible says in Hebrews chapter 1 at sundry times and diverse manners spake and time passed under the fathers by the prophets
You know God has spoken under the fathers and times passed by the prophets
But how has he spoken us today? It says in verse 2 half and these last days
Spoken unto us that's me and you that's everybody by his son
So I want to sign from God. Well, you got one. It's called the Bible
You got one it's called Jesus Christ having come here and preached and manifesting himself to the world
Let me apparent it heir of all things by whom also he made the world
So Jesus is the ultimate revelation of God to man. That is the pinnacle. That's the crown of that revelation
However his final revelation of man the final the last revelation that he has made thus far is
In the scripture itself, you know, the Bible itself is God's revelation to man
And that's what we believe about the scriptures. Jesus said in John 5
Search the scriptures for and then you think you have eternal life and they are they which testify of me
So Jesus Christ, yeah, he is he revealed him
He is the revelation of God to man, but it's now it's the scriptures that that testify of him
That's what we use to reveal Christ to reveal God to people today
Mm-hmm the Bible itself go over to 2nd Peter chapter 1 2nd Peter chapter number 1
You know a lot of these other things they're not sufficient they're not sufficient for salvation
But you know, what is is the Word of God the Word of God is what's quick and powerful
And sharper than any two-edged sword and is divided can divide us under you know
To the boins of the joint the joints and marrow and is discerner of the thoughts and tends of the heart
It's the Word of God that's gonna do that for people
It's not a fossil. It's not a creation seminar
You know, it's the Word of God that's gonna get people saved
ultimately
That is the ultimate revelation that God has given us the testimony of Jesus Christ
In
2nd Peter chapter 1
Look at verse 3. It says in verse 3 according as his divine power hath given unto us all things
That pertain unto life and godliness through the knowledge of him that have called us to glory and virtue
so the knowledge of him of Jesus Christ is
The dev is God's divine power that knowledge, right? That's what it says are according as his divine power hath given unto us all things
That pertain unto life and godliness through the knowledge of him through the knowledge of Christ
Whereby are given unto us exceeding precious great precious promises
How do we receive these great precious promises whereby do we receive them?
How are they given to us through the knowledge of him that have called us to glory and virtue?
Through the knowledge of Christ to the acknowledging of Christ through knowing Jesus, you know
We are given exceeding great and precious promises that by these you might be partakers of the divine nature that you might be partakers
You might be saved
That's God's revelation to man is through Christ and that's how we are saved
Having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust
So the Bible is what is sufficient for salvation day
That's not to say that you know God that you know, that's the God just did the bare minimum and giving us the Bible
God did just enough to get man saved. No God has been revealing himself since creation
God has revealed himself through creation. God has manifested himself unto mankind in all these different ways
But ultimately the only one that's that's gonna you know
Seal the deal for man and him getting saved is through the Bible through the knowledge of Jesus Christ
That's why the Bible says in Psalm 19 the law the Lord is perfect converting the soul
It's the law of the Lord that converts the soul. The testimony Lord is sure making wise the simple, you know
Which means this is that the Bible is needed for salvation
You do need the Bible to get people saved. You can't just you know
Reason with people into salvation
You actually at some point you have to get the Bible out and start to read it and tell them what it says
Show them that they're a sinner show them that God loves them show them that that
Salvation is a gift that it's eternal that you can't lose it that it's by faith
You have to show these these then these things from the scripture
And it has to be that way, you know, it has to be that way because of the fact, you know
Why are these other things insufficient because of sin?
You know, it's our iniquities have separated us from God our sins have hid his face from us
Right and because of the fact that God is holy we need some kind of an intermediator to help us
Right. We need that mediator which is Christ Jesus
Go over to Deuteronomy chapter 29 Deuteronomy chapter 29, we're gonna close there but Deuteronomy chapter 29
You know, God doesn't have pleasure and wickedness he
Evils not going to dwell with him. The Bible says in Psalms, you know, he's a pure eyes than to behold evil
You know, so God in a way has had to hide himself for a man just because of the fact that man is sinful
you know God can't just
Dwell with iniquity that doesn't mean God hasn't tried to reach out to man that God hasn't tried to you know
manifest himself to mankind
through all these different ways
You know, and if here's the thing God has done this not just because he's obligated you say well God's obligated to do it
God has to reveal himself. No, he doesn't
God could have just you know, let left Adam and Eve in the garden and just you know
Just started you know what from their own forward everyone can just go to hell
And he would have been perfectly just in doing that and think about that
God didn't have to reveal himself to man
You know, he wasn't obligated he didn't owe us something the only reason he did that is because he loves us
That's the love of God towards man
The fact that he has chosen to reveal himself that he has chosen to show man how he can be saved through Christ
because of the love of God
You know Deuteronomy chapter 29
Look at verse 29. The Bible says the secret things
belong unto the Lord our God
the secret things
Belong unto the word of the Lord our God, you know, there's some things about God. We're never gonna understand
We're never gonna know there's some things that God has chosen not to reveal unto himself
You know people they seem to get sometimes to get so obsessed with those things
secret things
things that God has you know is not going to reveal the secret things belong unto him he says you're not gonna know any of
It and people want to pry into all that they want to try and figure out they want to sit there and you know
And just wonder about and think about and hypothesize about all these, you know the secret things
And they get so caught up in that and when we do that, sometimes I think we miss what God has revealed
It says the secret things belong unto the Lord our God, but the things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children forever
You know things which God has revealed they belong to us. Those are the things we should concern ourselves with
We should concern about well, what about this about God? Well, what about that about God? Well, what what do you know about God?
Maybe we should just focus on that
Maybe we should just focus on the things that God has revealed unto us through his word
All the things that do pertain unto life and the godliness. Those are things we should concern ourselves
You know God's that's what God has given us. That's what's important the things which belong unto us and to our children forever
And that's what it says there at the end, right? Why has God revealed all this to us?
Why has God given us these things that we may do the words of this law?
So we shouldn't get so obsessed about the things that we don't know the things that God hasn't revealed unto us
And you know and and and fail to not do the things that are written in this law
These are the things we should concern ourselves. That's why God's given them to us
So that we can do all the things that are written in
The law while the various means of God's revelation, you know, they're intriguing aren't they?
There's some things that we would really we wonder about at least I do sometimes I sit there and I think about
You know different things. Yeah, the deep things of God right the mysteries of God
But you know what? That's not what's gonna help me live a good Christian life
That's not what's gonna make my life profitable here on earth. That's how it's gonna help me, you know raise a godly family
That's how it's gonna help me to win souls
Just wondering about all the things which have not been revealed all the secret things that belong unto God
Those aren't the things that gonna help me they're intriguing
You know what as intriguing as they are they cannot compare to the revelation that has given us in the Bible
You know, we shouldn't take that for granted
that's really what I'm trying to get across this morning is to the
For people to develop an appreciation for what they hold in their hands in the Bible
God's revelation to mankind
You know, we want to look at all these other things and be in awe of them, you know the Grand Canyon Wow
Yeah, it's breathtaking. Wow. That was this is all underwater
Yeah, it's intriguing to think about all the things that God has done the past but none of those things can save you
None of those things are gonna help you live for the Lord, but this is right here
This is the power of God unto salvation the gospel of Jesus Christ and this is what God has given to us
This is this isn't secret. These are the things that God have given unto us and to our children forever
You know the Word of God is gonna remain forever
Their creation it's all gonna fade away
You know all these other testimonies all these other things that God has revealed himself through they're all gonna go away
But this is get the Word of our God shall stand forever
You know, this is what we should concern ourselves with
You know all these other things they might be intriguing but they cannot compare to the revelation that is given to us in the Bible
It's an eternal revelation
You know, it's good and why is it given unto us so that we can know the very will of God good pray