Does the Bible Have Anything to Do with Having a Relationship with God?
Does the Bible have anything to do with having a relationship with God? Some might think they can get in touch with God by getting in touch with nature. I can understand that. I enjoy getting out and talking walks on the greenway. Out there I can see the beauty of God’s creation, and all that I see in nature dives my soul to sing, “How great Thou art!” There is something about observing the handiwork of the Creator. Trees, flowers, birds, deer, squirrels, snakes, fish, tadpoles, bull frogs, and butterflies all in their own way pay tribute to the Maker. Yet, one can get in touch with God on an even deeper level through meditating upon the Scriptures. God also has spoken to us through Moses and the prophets and Christ and the apostles, and through them God has share things about Himself that could not have been known otherwise.
God the Father sent the Son to be incarnated in the person of Jesus Christ. He is Living Word, who has declared to His followers the good news of salvation. This message that Jesus gave to the world is something the world could not have known apart from His divine revelation. It was a mystery hidden in the mind of God until Jesus came. It is for this reason Paul concludes the epistle to the Romans with the following doxology:
General revelation of God in nature reveals to us an Intelligent Designer, but the special revelation of God in the Scripture reveals to us the very heart of God.
The Greek philosophy that influenced the Corinthians provided ways for them to use their faculties of reason in the quest of finding the ultimate truth. When in fact one considers the writings of Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, and other Greek philosophers one finds what they accomplished apart from Mount Sinai and the Incarnation to be quite impressive. Their faculties of reason, however, were not enough to improve their society. Divine revelation given by those under the inspiration of the Spirit was necessary for improving the common good. The Roman Empire continued to be influenced by the Greek philosophy, but even that contribution to their society they could not erase ethnocentrism, free slaves, or dignify women. It is only through the divine revelation of the incarnation that people came to realized “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither make nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Gal. 3:28). It was God’s divine revelation though the incarnation of The Son that enabled man to know the very heart of God, and the truth that transforms the world for the better.
How great it is to see the fingerprints of God in the creation, but how much greater it is to know that God has communicated to us mysteries hidden within His own heart and put them in the Scriptures.
God the Father sent the Son to be incarnated in the person of Jesus Christ. He is Living Word, who has declared to His followers the good news of salvation. This message that Jesus gave to the world is something the world could not have known apart from His divine revelation. It was a mystery hidden in the mind of God until Jesus came. It is for this reason Paul concludes the epistle to the Romans with the following doxology:
Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which has been kept secret for long ages past, but now is manifested, and by the Scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the eternal God, has been made known to all the nations, leading to obedience of faith; to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, be the glory forever. Amen (Rom. 16:25-27, NASB).Elsewhere Paul writes,
Yet we do speak wisdom among those who are mature; a wisdom, however, not of this age nor of the rulers of this age, who are passing away; but we speak God’s wisdom in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory; the wisdom which none of the rulers of this age has understood; for if they had understood it they would not have crucified the Lord of glory; but just as it is written, THE THINGS EYE HAS NOT SEEN AND EAR HAS NOT HEARD, AND which HAVE NOT ENTERED THE HEART OF MAN, ALL THAT GOD HAS PREPARED FOR THOSE WHO LOVE HIM. For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God” (1 Cor. 2:6-10, NASB).
General revelation of God in nature reveals to us an Intelligent Designer, but the special revelation of God in the Scripture reveals to us the very heart of God.
The Greek philosophy that influenced the Corinthians provided ways for them to use their faculties of reason in the quest of finding the ultimate truth. When in fact one considers the writings of Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, and other Greek philosophers one finds what they accomplished apart from Mount Sinai and the Incarnation to be quite impressive. Their faculties of reason, however, were not enough to improve their society. Divine revelation given by those under the inspiration of the Spirit was necessary for improving the common good. The Roman Empire continued to be influenced by the Greek philosophy, but even that contribution to their society they could not erase ethnocentrism, free slaves, or dignify women. It is only through the divine revelation of the incarnation that people came to realized “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither make nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Gal. 3:28). It was God’s divine revelation though the incarnation of The Son that enabled man to know the very heart of God, and the truth that transforms the world for the better.
How great it is to see the fingerprints of God in the creation, but how much greater it is to know that God has communicated to us mysteries hidden within His own heart and put them in the Scriptures.
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