Word Up! Divine Revelation, Pt. 2

When God reveals Himself, He often uses words. Part one discussed revelation through creation and conscience.  Part two explains the words of special revelation.

3. His Inspired [or Prophetic] Word: Scripture

God has revealed Himself through His Inspired Word. He breathed out words to the prophetic authors, both spoken to their generations and recorded, and these writings are scripture. The Greek word “scripture”, graphe, literally means “writing”. Scripture tells all about God’s character and historical actions. Unlike creation and conscience, it conveys God’s message of redemption.

Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets (Hebrews 1:1)
 

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16-17) [*Note: Everyone should memorize this. No one should quote it in a Category II round. It’s a great passage that’s over-overused.]

4. His Living Word: Jesus Christ

Jesus is the Word of God. He is God, and he spoke and acted on earth as God. He revealed the Father, being His exact representation for anyone to see.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God… And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth… No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father's side, he has made him known. (John 1:1, 14, 18)

 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. 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 (Hebrews 1:2-3)
 

[Jesus said] If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him… Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. (See John 14:6-9a) 

God reveals Himself using words. He spoke creation into being, wrote His law into human hearts, inspired holy writings, and lived on earth as a human. Although God (being infinite) is not fully comprehendible, He certainly has made Himself knowable to humanity.

A note of caution: in the first speech I gave with this outline, I didn’t mention General and Special Revelation.  A parent judge wrote multiple constructive comments (and marked me down several ranks relative to both other judges) about needing the traditional categorization.  He wrote that he liked my outline but still seemed to think I missed the “right” answer.  So be sure to mention it if you use this pattern.