Special Revelation of God

Special Revelation of God

The most definite means by which God makes Himself personally known to human beings individually is referred to as special revelation. By this, the wonderful news that God has intervened in humanity’s situation to offer redemption and the way to be redeemed through Jesus Christ alone is revealed. Through this means, He makes Himself and His will known to specific individuals.  Natural revelation does not disclose this hence the importance of special revelation. This revelation comes to us in two main ways, Jesus Christ, and the word of God. 

i) Jesus Christ, God’s only begotten Son, is the embodiment of the word of God (Gk: Logos – the living word); the Incarnation of God at a particular time and place (John 1:1, 14, 18). In Jesus, God is present in person, and His character, essential nature and will are made known to us (John 14:9-10; 2 Cor. 4:4, 6;  Col. 1:15; 2:9; Heb. 1:3; 10:7, 9). Christ is indeed, the ultimate revelation of God since He is God who appeared in human form (John 1:1, 14, 18). Thus, as the Son of God, a glimpse of His personhood manifests God to us. 

ii) The word of God, that accompanied God’s acts in biblical history and made known to us through the Bible (2 Tim. 3:16), is the next means by which God makes Himself know more clearer to us. Jesus Christ is the “Living Word” of God, the Word made flesh (Jn. 1:1) and the Bible is His written word, the word inspired and recorded (Ex. 31:18; 32:16; Josh. 24:26; Isa. 30:8; Jer. 30:2; 1 Cor. 14:37; cf. 2 Pet. 3:2). The written word was necessary to be a reliable, permanent and universal expression of God available to all humanity in the absence of all the other forms of revelation. This written word is what is called the Bible, Gk: Graphe – the Scriptures, made available to all nations (Rom. 16:26). In them the infallible nature, being and will of God is revealed. A relationship between the Living Word (Jesus) and the written word (Bible) is that, “The Living Word is revealed in the Written Word and the Written Word leads us to the Living Word. They are one”19. 

iii) Although revelation through Jesus Christ and the Scriptures are the ultimate means by which God is made manifest fully to the world, God’s special revelation has also come to us in His actions in history. History has been referred to as His -story. It shows the footprints of God in the sands of time (Acts 17:26-27; Dan. 4:17). The nature of God is thus, known in historical events such as, in the pre-Christian era in the call of the patriarchs, the Exodus, the history of Israel, the Exile and the ministries of the prophets, among others. 

That is, as one studies God’s dealings with the Israelites in these historical events as recorded in Scripture, His character and how He wants humanity to be related to Him or He wants to be related to them becomes apparent. The call of Abraham by God to establish a nation for Himself in the midst of the existence of other nations whom He saw as living in sin demonstrates clearly His holiness and righteousness. The call of Moses and the Exodus of the Israelites from Egypt and the numerous deliverances of the Israelites from their enemies reveal His faithfulness as a covenant keeping God who does not abandon His promises made to His people. Even their captivities into exile indicate aspects of His self-disclosure as a God who hates and punishes sin. 

Another historical event that supremely manifests God to us is seen in His acts in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The New Testament reveals Jesus as the manifestation of God in bodily form (John 1:1-2, 14, 15; 1 Tim. 3:16; Heb. 1:1-3; 1 John 1:1-3; 4:2). The book of Hebrews declares Jesus as  superior to all the patriarchs, angels and the sacrificial events that took place in the Old Testament. In effect, the works of Jesus can only be best appreciated in union with God’s dealings with the Israelites. The happenings in their history, especially in their numerous sacrifices, burnt offerings and the atonement, all pointed to Jesus’ death and resurrection as God’s climax of unveiling Himself clearly to the people He had created.20 

In addition, the activities of the Holy Spirit from the first Day of Pentecost onwards in inner illumination within the Christian, in empowering them for Christian service and in the ministries of the church such as miracles and prophecies and their fulfilment (the book of Acts) are all self-disclosures of God to His church. The outpouring of the Holy Spirit on His church sealed the disclosure of God as Trinity; Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Before then, He had shown Himself as Father and Son in Jesus Christ. But in the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost, the revelation of the fullness of God as triune was made manifest and complete. 

As indicated, though these historical events do not surpass God’s unfolding of Himself in Scripture and Jesus’ personhood, a following of God’s acts in History manifests Him in a special way to humanity. 

The fact that God and His will are known to us in Scriptures, which is a revelation of Himself to us, gives an indication that the Bible has a supernatural source. By reading the Bible and hearing messages from it, the Holy Spirit enlightens the human mind and spirit to give meaning to it. It is only under His influence that we are able to receive God’s revelation in the Scriptures since without the Spirit, they would be meaningless, even foolishness (1 Cor. 2:10-14) to us. It is by this act of God through His Spirit that creates the personal relationship with Him.