Gairney Bridge

This past Sunday evening, we began having occasional services (meaning we will not be meeting every week, but probably twice a month) at Midlane Park. I am framing these meetings around a study of our confessional standards (i.e., the Westminster Confession of Faith), so they serve as a sort of review of Reformed theology. The first meeting began with the study of the doctrine of revelation. I plan on placing the outlines of these lessons on this blog in the coming weeks, and I hope to also fill in details (such as supplemental commentary) as well, as time permits. I would also appreciate any helpful feedback in the comments. I hope to eventually compile the lessons into a booklet for use with new members and those interested in an introduction to the Reformed faith.

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Lesson 1: The Need for Revelation

• A major question for theology — Where do we begin?
  • John Calvin, Institutes of Christian Religion entitles Book One: “The Knowledge of God the Creator”
  • Westminster Confession of Faith entitles Chapter One: “Of the Holy Scripture”
    • A better question might be: Where do we get our knowledge of God?
    • “Thank you, Bill.” ~ Mark Dever, Nine Marks of a Healthy Church , p. 57 [Note: I’ll explain this in a later revision]
    • “A religious knowledge of God, wherever existing, comes by revelation; otherwise, we should be committed to the incredible position that a man can know God without His willing to be known.” ~ Hugh Ross Mackintosh
• Psalm 19
  • There are two types of revelation mentioned in this psalm (note the differences between vv. 1-6 and vv. 7-14 — the transitions from creation to word/law, as well as “God” to “LORD”)
    • General revelation – God reveals Himself through the creation (God as Creator)
      • Romans 1:18-20
    • Special revelation – God reveals Himself through His word (God as Redeemer)
      • “The idea of revelation implies more than imparting knowledge of God; it carries with it the idea of the self-disclosure of God.” ~ Alister McGrath, Christian Theology: An Introduction, p. 202
      • “It is needful that another and better help be added to direct us aright to the very Creator of the universe. …Scripture clearly shows us the true God. … Not only does He teach the elect to look upon a god, but also shows Himself as the God upon whom they are to look.” ~ John Calvin, ICR , 1:6.1
      • 2 Timothy 3:16-17
      • 2 Peter 1:16-21

• General Revelation and Special Revelation are not at odds with one another (competitors), but work with one another (complementary).
  • “There are a number of Biblical passages which refer to the revelation of God through the things He has made. We may note in particular Psalm 19:1-6; Romans 1:18-20; Acts 14:15-17. According to these passages the creation can teach us God’s glory and His handiwork (Ps. 19:1), His eternal power and deity (Rom. 1:20), and His goodness to His creatures (Acts 14:17). The obvious, yet overlooked, thing in all these passages is that general revelation is a revelation of God. What is popularly called science makes very little if any reference to God. … Since science, as we know it today, misses the main point of God’s revelation through the creation, it could hardly be said that it should be referred to as an authority by a Christian.” ~ Noel Weeks, The Sufficiency of Scripture, pp. 16-17