HOLINESS Part 2: God s Self Disclosure 1
A man can receive only what is given him from heaven. John the Baptist, John 3:27 2
Divine revelation palpitates with human surprise. Like a fiery bolt of lightening that unexpectedly zooms toward us and scores a direct hit, like an earthquake that suddenly shakes and engulfs us, it somersaults our private thoughts to abrupt awareness of ultimate destiny. By the unannounced intrusion of its omnipotent actuality, divine revelation lifts the present into the eternal 3
and unmasks our pretentions of human omnicompetence. As if an invisible Concorde had burst the sound barrier overhead, it drives us to ponder whether the Other World has finally pinned us to the ground for a life-and-death response. Confronting us with a sense of cosmic arrest, it makes us ask whether the end of our world is at hand and propels us unasked before the Judge and Lord of the universe. Like some piercing air-raid siren it 4
sends us scurrying from life s preoccupations and warns us that no escape remains if we neglect the only sure sanctuary. Even once-for-all revelation that has occurred in another time and place fill us with awe and wonder through its ongoing significance and bears the character almost of a fresh miracle. Carl F.H. Henry 5
Transcendence & Purity In our last lecture, we noted that the word holiness carries with it the primary idea of cutting off or separation, rather than moral or ethical purity. Since God is separated from His creation and all that is human, we may rightly say of Him that He is the Separate One, elevated above all that He has made. He is absolutely and totally different from His creatures and is above and beyond us. 6
The Hidden God For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man s spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God (I Cor. 2:11, NIV). Who ever knows what you re thinking and planning except you yourself? The same with God except that he not only knows what he s thinking, but he lets us in on it (I Cor. 2:11, The Message). 7
What is Paul Saying? Everyone knows his own thoughts well Others do not know what is hidden in our hearts God s thoughts are hidden from us, but not from the Holy Spirit Nothing that is in God Himself escapes His Spirit (John Calvin). God s Spirit alone knows what is in God 8
Isaiah 40:13 Who has understood the Spirit of the Lord, or instructed him as his counselor? 9
Isaiah 40:28 Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. 10
Deuteronomy 29:29 The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may follow all the words of this law. 11
God s Self Disclosure Today, our focus moves from transcendence to self disclosure. Though transcendent, in an act of divine sovereignty God chooses to make Himself known to us, freely revealing Himself to us as He pleases and freely concealing what He is determined to hide. He cannot be known unless He wills to be known and to make himself known. 12
Can We Engage in God Talk? Apart from God s initiative, God s act, God s revelation, no confident basis exists for Godtalk. Carl F.H. Henry 13
Apokalypto Apokalypto means to reveal, to disclose, or to unveil Revelation is a manifestation of deity Concealment is removed There is no direct access to deity from people All religion depends on revelation 14
Revelation Revelation is the process whereby God disclosed to chosen men things otherwise unknowable. Revelation is the act of communicating divine knowledge by the Spirit to the mind. Revelation means the whole work of God making Himself known to men. 15
I Corinthians 13:12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I shall know fully just as I also have been fully known (NAS). Now we see but a poor reflection; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known (NIV). 16
God Revealed As Holy Who among the gods is like you, O Lord? Who is like you majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders (Ex. 15:11). He provided redemption for his people; he ordained his covenant forever holy and awesome is his name (Ps. 111:9). He is the Holy One (Job 6:10) 17
God Revealed As Holy And they were calling to one another: Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory (Is. 6:3). Your eyes are too pure to look on evil; you cannot tolerate wrong (Hab. 1:13). There is no one holy like the Lord (I Sam. 2:2). 18
God Revealed As Holy For I am God, and not man the Holy One among you (Hos. 11:9). Look down from heaven and see from your lofty throne, holy and glorious (Is. 6:16). Sing to the Lord, you saints of his; praise his holy name (Ps. 30:4). Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name (John 17:11). 19
Conclusion Holiness indicates God s relation to the world God is exalted above us and cannot be found out or discovered by human effort or reason Out of God s goodness and grace, He has revealed to us that He is holy We know God s hiddenness only through His revealedness God is interested in our well being and felicity 20