Lecture on General Revelation

Introduction

General Revelation: How God reveals Himself to all people everywhere
Key Questions:
- Does the Bible teach a doctrine of general revelation?
- What happens to those who die without knowledge of Jesus and the gospel?
- How does general revelation affect evangelism and missionary work?

Nature, Conscience, and History: Ways God reveals His existence, power, and eternal nature to all
Limitations: Cannot fully describe God or His salvific plan

Act One: Creation as God's self-disclosure of His divine nature and glory
- Psalmist: "The heavens declare the glory of God"
Act Two: Israel's history and idolatry as confirmation of God's revelation
- Joshua 24: God's plan to rescue Israel from paganism
Act Three: Jesus as surpassing general revelation, the light of men
Act Four: Apostles use general revelation in gospel conversations
- Romans 1: Paul on God's righteous judgment
- Acts 14 & 17: Paul's use of creation as a witness to God's existence
Act Five: In the end times, general revelation is no longer needed
- 1 Corinthians 13 and 1 John 3: Direct knowledge of God in the future

Three Loci of General Revelation:
- Nature: Complexity and causation of creation point to God
- Human Conscience: Sense of morality
- History: God's providence over humanity
Romans 2:12-16: Gentiles show the law written on their hearts

God exists, is uncreated, self-sufficient, transcendent, imminent, eternal, majestic, powerful, wise, good, sovereign, moral lawgiver
Debate over Natural Theology:
- Classical View: Knowledge of God through general revelation
- Liberal View: Reason superior to special revelation
- Rejection by Karl Barth: No value in natural theology without grace

Value: Provides a basic understanding of moral life
Arguments for God's Existence:
- Cosmological Arguments: Cause of the universe
- Teleological Arguments: Design in the universe
- Moral Law Arguments: Objective moral values imply God
Application in Ministry:
- Preaching and teaching general revelation
- Training in using arguments for God in evangelism

General Revelation's Role:
- It is a gift, but not enough without special revelation
- Essential for understanding humanity's inherent religiosity
- A starting point for gospel witness
Affections and Spirituality:
- Pragmatic arguments (e.g., Desire Argument) connect to the longing for God
- Noted atheists also express a longing for God

-Next session to focus on special revelation