OUTLINE:

Pastor Mark Dever
God defines what is good. Goodness or righteousness is not an external standard that God effortlessly and perfectly conforms to; rather, goodness is a way of describing God and all his actions and commands.

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)

Divine Providence
This is a part of General Revelation as described in the Bible. The fact that “nature” provides for us is indicative of God’s intrinsic goodness. “He did not leave Himself without witness” (Ac 14:17).

The Divine Nature
Is “not…like gold or silver or stone” (Ac 17:29), even though man might tend to label such things as “good”. The goodness of God transcends such things.

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)

Man’s Conscience & Creation
Someone might argue that beholding God’s creation is one thing, but understanding it in the context of salvation is another thing altogether; but they’d be wrong. They presuppose that God hasn’t instilled a conscience in man (ability to discern right and wrong - ala Ro 2:14-16).

General Revelation
- God witnesses to Himself through creation
- God creates man with a conscience (ability to know right/wrong)
- God “sets eternity in [man’s] heart”

God Saves!
He purposely reveals His own glory through creation to creatures (man) that have the God-given faculties to comprehend it. To the humble man, this is the “repentance” part of the Gospel. The “faith” part is in Christ, our Redeemer (Job 19:25).

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

Eph 2:8-9
For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.

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

General Revelation
- God witnesses to Himself through creation
- God creates man with a conscience (ability to know right/wrong)
- God “sets eternity in [man’s] heart”

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).