Prophecy reveals the basis of our faith…
· 1 Peter 1:10-13…Of which salvation the prophets have inquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.
How does prophecy reveal the basis of faith? Two ways; first, it reveals a suffering Savior; second, it reveals what man is. In light of Christ, prophecy shows man his natural rejection of a Savior’s love. Rejection of Christ not acceptance is man’s natural inclination toward Christ. Faith comes to man by hearing the Word of God. Prophetic truth stirs the soul of a natural man. The Word gives evidence. So, how is prophecy the basis of faith? The suffering of Christ reveals to man what he really is. Man recognizes what he is in light of a Savior’s love for humanity through suffering and death on the cross. Man is thus enlightened to the truth. Man realizes his helplessness and need. Consent of the human will is thus given to God at repentance. Natural understanding is surrendered when man trust’s in Christ’s death and redemptive work on the cross. When man trusts in a suffering Savior’s love for the sinner…he is granted the forgiveness of sins through God’s Justification. Sin is therefore renounced as the believer is given a new desire to quit practicing sin. That desire is initiated by the power of the Holy Ghost, at repentance. Faith is established in the Word of God. Faith can therefore be built upon when evidence is given from the Scriptures.
Revelation of the suffering Christ sways the heart of man...
Many Old Testament prophecies point to death, burial, and resurrection of a Savior. Prophecies also reveal inherited depravity and rejection of the human heart. Prophecies reveal the truth about what man really is. Prophecies prove why man naturally rejects the truth about redemptive power given through Christ’s suffering and death on the cross. In light of hearing the true Gospel of a Suffering Savior, sinful men are led to repentance by the work of the Holy Spirit within the human soul. Sinful men that hear the Gospel are called to God through the Spirit’s work of truth. Truth about Christ (based on prophecy) gives the hearer something to exercise and place faith into. After Salvation is revealed and accepted, believers are kept by the power of God through faith.
· 1 Peter 1:5…Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
How does Divine Revelation affect the human being (soul, spirit, and body)?
The make-up of the human being consists of three parts; soul, spirit, and body. Within the human makeup, man is naturally self-centered where only the Spirit of God can change man from his natural inclination and rejection of a Savior. After the Revelation of Christ is acknowledged in the new birth, the Spirit of God unites with the spirit of man. Man’s consciousness toward God is thus changed from an inherited self centeredness, to a God given Christ centeredness. God consciousness is revealed to the spirit of man through the union of a new birth in Christ. A God given inclination to do right is given to the penitent after he receives the forgiveness of sins. This inclination sways the soul’s consciousness of self, toward the spirits consciousness of God in Christ. The spirit of man gains control over mans self inclination of the soul because the Word of God*(the basis of our faith) has divided the spirit, from the soul’s natural possession. This operation of God that reveals the person of Christ to the human soul… is Divine Revelation.
· 1 Cor 2:11-12…For what man knoweth the things of a man save the spirit of man which is in him? Even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God
*The truth of the Word of God divides the soul and spirit of man from self inclination to Christ centeredness. The truth of the Word of God affects to will of man enough to do right instead of wrong. The truth of the Word of God also distinguishes the difference between what man thinks and the intentions of his heart.
Divine revelation ministered to the human soul through evidence given in the Word…
· Heb 4:12…For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
The revelation of God’s word through the Gospel message affects the soul of man and enhances God consciousness in the spirit of man. Divine revelation from the Word of God divides the soul and spirit of man and distinguishes the difference between mans thoughts and intents of the heart. The Bible instructs us to have the mind of Christ. “Let this mind be in you that was also in Christ Jesus”. The mind of a child of God thinks differently than the mind of the unsaved. A child of God glorifies God in the body because his actions and decisions are changed by the Grace of God. Why? After union is made between the Spirit of God and the human spirit, the child of God’s mind, will, and intellect are governed by the Spirit of God. The power of the Holy Ghost within the child of God’s inner being takes control of the physical body (unlike the past life governed by the flesh). The conduct of a believer in the sight of God is likewise different than the conduct of an unbeliever. The difference between a “believer and unbeliever” is, “The believer has accepted Christ for the forgiveness of sins and forsakes sin in his daily walk. The unbeliever hasn’t”. The Word of God reveals and teaches this very distinction.
Unregenerate man is enlightened to the truth about Christ’s redemptive work through Divine Revelation…
Revelation from God stirs the soul of an unregenerate and causes him to reach Christ through repentance. The penitent unites with God “when” he believes. Belief is consent of the human will to God. In belief man’s understanding is surrendered to the redemptive work of Christ for the forgiveness of sins. When man trusts in Christ’s redemptive work and receives the forgiveness of sins a renunciation* from all sinful conduct in the sight of God will thus begin the life of holiness. The unregenerate man’s inner being is thus regenerated by the manifested power of the Holy Ghost.
· Titus 3:5…Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
*The believer’s sins are not only forgiven in the new birth, a new desire is given to “forsake” sinful conduct in the new life.
Revelation comes by the word of faith…
The truth about Christ is prophetically revealed through preaching God’s Word. This word is called, “the word of Faith”. Believing comes from within the heart of man that has heard and received the truth of the Gospel message. Believing stems from the mind, will, and understanding of a man to whom God reveals the truth of the Gospel. Confession is made in both, word and conduct.
· Rom 10:8-9…But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved
Hearing reveals the Gospel…the Gospel calls men to God…and the Gospel gives man something to place his faith into…until the Rapture.
· Rom 10:16-17…6 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
What is the Gospel? It was a mystery in times past but is now revealed to us by the Spirit. Paul was separated unto the Gospel by the Grace of God.
· Rom 1:1-6…Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God, (Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,) Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead: By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name: Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ:
Revelation from the Gospel calls men to God through Christ. When believers take hold of Christ, holiness of heart and obedience of conduct begin. A heartfelt relationship in the Spirit of God begins as God continues giving revelation to the heart. Faithfulness is always carried out in the life of a believer. Sin doesn’t live there anymore as the child of God is ashamed of the past life. The hearts and minds of believers are kept by the power of God revealed to the human soul. Through our revelation of an invisible Christ whose coming back to take this Church out in the Rapture; contentment and peace that passes all understanding is given to us everyday of our lives… this side of Heaven.
· Phil 4:7…And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
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