Just a Thought, Part I: I was listening to a class on Apologetics on iTones (WTS) , taught by Dr. Scott Oliphint. It was great. Here is an outline with some comments by Rev. B. Rom. 1:18, “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. “ 1. What is revealed? God’s wrath 2. From where is it revealed? From heaven 3. Against what is this revelation? Man’s ungodliness and unrighteousness 4. What does man do? who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth Note: This revelation is Dynamic & not Static 1. It is CONTINUALLY being revealed (It not as if anyone can escape for a period of time this revelation) 2. It is revealed in TIME (In History) Romans 1:19-20, “ For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.” 1. TRUTH – Things that can / are known about God A. What can / is known? Basically, all of God’s Divine Perfections B. Note: We tend to think that General Revelation reveals what Paul says here that it does; but note that General Revelation is the INSTRUMENT by which God’s Perfections are revealed. C. Thus, TRUE Knowledge can ONLY come from God’s activity of revealing Himself. D. This has great significance for our EPISTOMALOGY. Man can know ONLY if God Reveals the information. He does so either through General Revelation (Including man, science, morality, etc.) or SPECIAL REVELATION, Scripture. E. This knowledge is PLAIN, CLEAR, etc. We get it? Why? Not because of our right thinking, process, etc., but because God reveals it to ALL human beings F. What is Paul primarily talking about? The IMAGE of God in man! H. This IMAGE establishes a RELATIONSHIP, a COVENANTAL Relationship. I. This COVENANTAL Relationship has ONLY TWO Components (1) In Adam (With all that he has = DEATH & HELL) (2) In Christ (With all that He has (ETERNAL LIFE & HEAVEN) J. All people know these TRUTHS (Not SAVINGLY) & Not PROPOSITIONAL Knowledge (This is not what Paul is talking about here) but, COVENANTAL [Personal] Knowledge; Not ABSTRACT, It has CONTENT; Calvin = “Sense of Divinity” K. Because ALL of mankind are Image of God BEARERS: We do not have to seek Him (God does not play hide & seek with His image bearers) ; Also, there is NO excuse (No Apologia, w/o a DEFENCE for unbelief) NOTE: Man SUPPRESS the TRUTH 1. From Romans 1:21-30, we have, in a sense, the History of Mankind 2. Sad to say—many Christians give more honor to Philosophy / Philosophers than they do to Good Christian Theologians. 3. But what really is Philosophy? Well-articulated unbelief! They have great questions; but BAD answers. They do steal some TRUTH form Christian thought! They still know nothing & have no answers. Dr. Oliphint tells of a course on Philosophy that he took at a University. The Professor, talking about Hagel, asked the question “What is the Absolute? All of the students could not wait for the answer. At the end there was no answer! 4. Paul says “They became FOOLS! 5. They exchanged “…the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.” (NOTE: The downward Spiral effect of sin).
Posted on: Wed, 05 Jun 2013 19:51:54 +0000
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