OUTLINE:

Pastor Collins
As soon as we become more than a waiter, or esteem ourselves as more than a waiter, that's when we muck it up.

God’s Choice
Man doesn’t decide how God is to reveal Himself to His creatures (such that man is somehow convinced of Him). That is the pinnacle of creature arrogance. God has chosen both general and special revelation - things He has deemed MORE than sufficient to reveal Himself. (e.g. Lk 16:19-31)

Jn 6:44
"No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day.”

Ro 1:19-20b
because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them…so that they are without excuse.

Man Without Excuse
God puts all His messages "up on the chalkboard" for all to see. People can choose not to read it... whether it be reading the signs in the heavens, or reading the Word itself... but in the end it's on them if they deny God has revealed Himself to them.

ONE Forever and Always
The Word (God) became flesh and dwelt among us, Jn 1:14, but He was never separate from the other members of the Godhead.

Jesus and the Father
Heb 1:3 He is ... the exact representation of His nature,
Php 2:6 He existed in the form of God,
2Co 4:4 who is the image of God
Jn 10:30  I and the Father are one.
Jn 14:9 He who has seen Me has seen the Father

God Never Fails
If His intention is to reveal Himself to His creatures (that is what the Bible says), then do you know what? God reveals Himself to His creatures…PERIOD! No man has ever not known of His existence (Ro 1:20).

The “Good” Litmus Test
It is very sobering to analyze our own definitions for “good”. We might quickly realize that what we think and even act upon as “good” really isn’t. A good litmus test is to observe what we esteem/celebrate in ourselves/others.

The “oldest trick” is to put God on trial.

"Show Me Proof"
The presupposition being peddled with such a statement is that God HASN’T revealed Himself already!

Wisdom Remembers...
ONLY the very witness and conviction of God, through the special ministry of God the Holy Spirit, is able to save someone.

General vs. Special Revelation
General: God’s witness of Himself through creation (Ps 19:1-6)
Special: God reveals Himself directly (e.g., Holy Scripture, Christ’s incarnation, dreams/visions, acts) (Ps 19:7-14)

The simple fact is…
EVERY person who’s EVER lived has KNOWN that God exists at some point in their lives.

General Revelation
1) God witnesses to Himself through creation (Ro 1:20)
2) God creates man with a conscience (ability to know right/wrong) (Ro 2:14-16)
3) God “sets eternity in [man’s] heart” (Ecc 3:11)

General revelation is NOT the Gospel.
People are not saved by it.
(Ro 10:5-17; 1Co 1:18-2:5)

The Purpose of General Revelation
It reveals the nature of mankind’s Creator: His holiness, righteousness, sovereignty, majesty, and glory. Arrogant man’s failure to recognize this serves as an indictment against him. However, to the humble, it is on the pathway to salvation (but never the source).

Ro 2:4
Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?

Tit 3:4-5
But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit,

General vs. Special Revelation
General: God’s witness of Himself through creation (Ps 19:1-6)
Special: God reveals Himself directly (e.g., Holy Scripture, Christ’s incarnation, dreams/visions, acts) (Ps 19:7-14)

The Word Is Special Revelation
In the OT, the “law”, “testimony”, “precepts”, “commandment”, and the “judgments of the LORD” (Ps 19) are all speaking about what the NT writers (e.g. John) described as “the Word” (e.g., Jn 1).

Only God is able to express Himself perfectly, so it is only right to say that He IS the Word.

God’s Word On His Word
God’s says that His Word means EVERYTHING to Him. And as such, it ought to mean EVERYTHING to us!