Would you turn back to Revelation
16? I've entitled the message for
this evening, The Doctrine of Revelation. Now, there are two
things that I would like to see accomplished in this message,
if the Lord's pleased to bless it. First is what is meant by
revelation. And secondly, I want every one
of us to know whether or not he has revealed himself to us. I want you to know when you leave
this place tonight whether or not he has in fact revealed himself
to you. Now you will notice in our text
the word revelation. The preaching of Jesus Christ
according to the revelation of the mystery which was kept secret
since the world began. Now the word revelation means
to uncover, to make bare, to reveal. How could you know what's
going on in my head? You can guess, Lynn thinks she
knows. The only way you can know for
sure is if I reveal to you, if I disclose to you, if I uncover
to you what's going on in my head. Turn to Revelation chapter
one. Verse one, the revelation of
Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him to show unto his servants
things which must shortly come to pass. Now, the only reason
we will know of these things which must shortly come to pass
is because of his revelation, his disclosure of what's going
to take place. And he sent and signified it
by his angel unto his servant John, who bare record of the
word of God and of the testimony of Jesus Christ. And all these
things that he saw, blessed is he that readeth, and they that
hear the words of this prophecy. And keep those things which were
written therein, for the time is at hand." Now that could be
said of all 66 books of the Bible, can't it? The revelation of Jesus
Christ. The Bible claims, and this is
so important, the Bible claims to be inspired by God. 2 Timothy 3, 16, all scripture
is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine,
for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness
that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all
good works. Now we know that God exists from
the light of nature. Turn with me for a moment to
Psalm 19. David says in Psalm 19, the heavens
declare the glory of God. And the firmament showeth his
handiwork. Day unto day uttereth speech,
and night unto night showeth knowledge. There is no speech
nor language where their voice is not heard. This is talking
about creation. Everybody can see the creation
no matter where they live, no matter what country they're in,
no matter what kind of education they have, no matter what kind
of culture they have. Everybody can see by the light
of nature that God exists. Somebody made this and nobody
made him. I love the simplicity of that.
Somebody made this creation and nobody made him. And we can see that from the
light of creation, but we can't know God from that light. We
can't know who he is unless he reveals himself. I mean, there's
things we can figure out intellectually. Just somebody made this. That's logical. And nobody made
him. He's eternal. And oh, how powerful,
how wise he must be. We can see from the light of
creation, but we can't know of the love of his heart. We can't
know of his grace. We can't know of his justice.
We can't know of his hatred of sin, apart from a written revelation
where he makes himself known. Now, this book made of 66 books,
39 in the Old Testament, 27 in the New Testament, written by
40 authors over a 1500 year period, is the divinely inspired, inerrant
Word of God. Now, somebody says, how do you
expect me to believe that? I don't expect you to. I don't expect you to, but there's
nothing hard about believing it. How so? If God can create the universe,
and he can, he can give us a word divinely inspired and preservative. If God can create the universe,
he can do that. And if you read, I'll tell you
what, I read this book, I know God wrote it. I don't have to
have anybody proven it to me. I know God wrote this book. You can argue against it all
you want. Somebody may do that. Well, That's okay. I'm, you know,
I'm, I am secure in this. I know God wrote this book. It's
the revelation of himself. And he makes his character known
through this book. Turn with me for a moment to
second Peter chapter one. This was mentioned in somebody's
prayer tonight. Second Peter chapter one. Verse 16. Peter says, for we have not followed
cunningly devised fables. That's, I guess, the way a lot
of people would view the scripture, a cunningly devised fable. When
we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus
Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. Now he tells
about a personal experience, he and James and John Han, For
he received from God the Father honor and glory, when there came
such a voice to him from the excellent glory, this is my beloved
Son, in whom I am well pleased. And this voice which came from
heaven, we heard when we were with him in the holy mouth."
Now you remember that's the Mount of Transfiguration, where the
Lord's deity burst through his humanity, and his face shined
like the sun. His clothing became glistening
and white, and that's when old Peter said, Lord, it's good for
us. He didn't know what else to say. He said, it's good for us
to be here. Let us make thee three tabernacles,
one for thee, one for Moses, and one for Elijah, because Moses
and Elijah were there. Speaking of the deceased, which
he should accomplish, he didn't know what he's saying. And then
that bright cloud overshadowed them. And the voice came from
heaven. This is my beloved son in whom
I'm well pleased. Hear him. Can you imagine having
experienced that? They experienced this in the
flesh. And I can't think of a greater
experience that there could be. But look what Peter says in verse
19. We also have a more sure word of prophecy. Talking about the scriptures.
The scriptures are better and more sure than any experience
you have. You believe that? The scriptures
are better and more sure than any experience you've ever had,
because that experience you had, you don't know for sure that
it was real, do you? You don't know, but here's the more sure
word, God's revelation of himself, the scriptures. We also have
a more sure word of prophecy, where unto you do well that you
take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place unto
the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts, knowing
this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private
interpretation. Now, what does that mean? How
many times have you given some truth regarding the scripture
and they said, well, that's your interpretation. The Bible isn't up to somebody's
interpretation. The Bible says what it says.
It's a declaration. It's not somebody says, well,
that's your interpretation of it. No, that's what it says. That's what it
says. And the scriptures have no private
interpretation. For the prophecy came not in
old time by the will of man, but holy men of God spake as
they were moved by the Holy Ghost. Now, God is all powerful and
he can inspire men to write the Bible and keep it preserved from
the additions, subtractions or changes for men. Well, what if
men translated? How do you know they didn't make
an error? God preserved it. The Bible, written in Greek,
Hebrew, and Aramaic, is the inspired word of God. We've got a translation.
It's a good translation. I'm thankful for it. But the
Bible is divinely inspired. This is God's revelation of himself.
And it's been called, by some, a progressive revelation. Abel knew some things, but Paul
knew more than he did. It's been called a progressive
revelation, God making himself known more progressively. That
may be. Perhaps we have more light through
the writings of the apostle Paul than the Old Testament writers
had. And Paul tells about being taken
into the third heaven in 2 Corinthians chapter 12 and being taught the
gospel directly by the Lord Jesus Christ. He said, I heard unspeakable
things, which are not lawful for a man to utter. Turn with
me to Ephesians chapter three for a moment. Paul says to the church at Ephesus
in chapter 3 verse 1, for this cause I, Paul, the prisoner of
Jesus Christ, for you Gentiles, if you've heard of the dispensation,
of the stewardship, of the grace of God which is given me to youward,
how that by revelation, there's the word, how that by revelation
he made known unto me the mystery As I wrote it forward in a few
words, whereby when you read, you may understand my knowledge
in the mystery of Christ, which in other ages was not made known
unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles
and prophets by the spirit that the Gentiles should be fellow
heirs." Now there's something in the Old Testament that wasn't
clearly revealed that is revealed in the New Testament. the Gentiles
are now fellow heirs. And of the same body and partakers
of the promise in Christ by the gospel, whereof I was made a
minister according to the gift of the grace of God given unto
me by the effectual working of his power unto me, who am less
than the least of all saints, is this grace given that I should
preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,
and to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery,
which from the beginning of the world hath been hidden God, who
created all things by Christ Jesus, to the intent that now,
under the principalities and powers and heavenly places, might
be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, according to the
eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord. Now, granted, there are some
things more clearly seen in the New Testament than are in the
Old Testament, but I've got to say this, the gospel is not more
clear in the New Testament than it was in the Old Testament.
Now, let me repeat that. The gospel The content of the
gospel is not more clear in the New Testament than it was in
the Old Testament. When it says, then opened he
their understanding that they might understand the scriptures,
what scriptures were you talking about? New Testament hadn't yet
been written. Paul said, moreover, Christ died
for our sins. Well, he said, moreover, I declare
unto you the gospel. It's how the Christ died for our sins
according to the scriptures. Talking about the Old Testament
scriptures. Genesis through Malachi. Is there any place in the New
Testament that's clearer than Isaiah 53? Christ's great substitutionary
death as the Lamb of God for his people. I love the way Isaiah 53 begins. Who hath believed our report
and to whom is the arm of the Lord? Know the next word? Revealed. I know who believes
the report. whoever the arm of the Lord is
revealed to, whoever has this divine revelation. Turn with
me a moment for Acts chapter 2. When the Old Testament prophets
were making the statements they made, did they know what they
were talking about? These were events that had not
yet taken place. Did they know, did they understand
what they were talking about when they were making these statements?
Well, look in verse 29 of Acts chapter 2. Men and brethren, let me freely
speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and
buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day, therefore
being a prophet and knowing. that God had sworn with an oath
to him that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh,
he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne. He, seeing this
before, spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was
not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption." David
knew exactly what he was saying, didn't he? According to that
passage of scripture, when he was making those statements in
the Psalms about how Christ would never see corruption, he knew
he was speaking of the resurrection of the coming Lord of glory.
That same one Abel looked to. He knew that animal sacrifice
wasn't doing him any good. He knew it's what that sacrifice
represented. Now this book, Old Testament
and New Testament is the revelation of Jesus Christ. This is a divinely
inspired revelation. And being you, can't understand
any of it unless God reveals it to us. We have this revelation
from God and it will mean nothing to us. We will have no understanding
unless God is pleased by His Spirit, supernaturally, miraculously,
to make this known. Now we have both of these revelations
in Galatians 1. Would you turn with me there? There's the revelation of this
book, God's revelation of himself, and after that, it's his revelation
of the message of this book to the heart. Two revelations. Now look what Paul says in Galatians
chapter one, beginning in verse 11. But I certify you, brethren,
that the gospel which was preached to me is not after man. It was not derived from any human
source. For I neither received it of
man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus
Christ. He's talking about when God took
him up into the third heaven and taught him the gospel. For
you've heard of my conversation in times past in the Jews religion,
how the beyond measure, I persecuted the church of God and wasted
it and profited in the Jews religion above my equals in my own nation
being more exceedingly zealous of the tradition of my father's.
But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's
womb and called me by his grace to reveal his son, in me, not
simply to me. If all he does is reveal his
son to me, I'll lose him. He revealed his son in me, that
I might preach him among the heathen. Immediately I conferred
not with flesh and blood. Turn with me to 1 Samuel 3. This is when God first appeared
to Samuel. 1 Samuel chapter 3 verse 7. Now the Lord had been calling
Samuel and we read in verse 7, now Samuel did not yet know the
Lord, neither was the word of the Lord yet revealed unto him. Now this is talking about a personal
revelation. The word had not yet been revealed
to him. Look in verse 19. And Samuel grew, and the Lord
was with him, and did let none of his words fall to the ground.
And all Israel, from Dan even to Beersheba, knew that Samuel
was established to be a prophet of the Lord. And the Lord appeared
again in Shiloh, for the Lord revealed Himself to Samuel in
Shiloh by the Word of the Lord." Now this is a personal revelation. The Word is made real. And I'm made to see and hear
and believe the word of the Lord. Now here is the next question
I have. Has he revealed himself to me?
I really believe the Bible is a book of divine inspiration.
I believe that. I mean, I'm not just Putting
something out somebody else told me, I believe it. I believe this
book is the very word of God, divinely inspired. Now, how can
I know if he has revealed himself to me like he did to Samuel? Turn with me to Romans chapter
one, and this will answer that question. Verse 16, Paul says, for I'm
not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it, the gospel, is
the power of God unto salvation. Sounds to me like we better find
out the gospel, because it's the gospel that's the power of
God unto salvation. To everyone that believeth to
the Jew first and also to the Greek, for therein, in the gospel
that's the power of God unto salvation, is the righteousness
of God revealed. From faith to faith, as it's
written, the just shall live by faith. Now, you listen to
me real carefully. You can know if God has revealed
himself to you. if he's revealed the righteousness
of God to you. That's how you can know. If he
spoke to you the way he spoke to Samuel, he will have revealed
the righteousness of God. Do you know what's that mean?
Well, first of all, it means you see God's righteous character. You believe him to be utterly
and unapproachably righteous and holy. That's what you believe
regarding him. If you don't believe that, he
never revealed himself to you. If you do believe that, he's
revealed himself to you. But not only do you believe in
his utter righteous and holy character, you believe in his
righteousness and your personal damnation. You believe he would
be righteous. You couldn't say this is not
right, this is wrong. You believe that if he cut you
off and didn't give you mercy and let you go to hell, it wouldn't
change the righteousness of his character. Now, you might not
want that to happen, but you believe that, don't you? You
believe that. If He passed me by, I don't want it to happen.
I don't want Him to pass me by. Pass me not, O tender Savior. Hear my humble cry. While on
others Thou art calling, do not pass me by. I don't want that
to happen. But if God removed His hand from
me and let me go to hell, you know what? Righteous and holy
is His name. You believe that. You believe
the righteousness of God. But not only that, you believe
His righteousness in your salvation. You believe you're saved by the
righteousness of Christ and you really believe that the righteousness
of Jesus Christ is the only righteousness you have. And you see how this
honors the righteous character of God. That's when God reveals
himself to somebody, that's what happens. They come to some understanding
of the righteousness of God. His character in passing me by
and condemning me and in saving me. You remember when Paul said
in Romans chapter 10, my heart's desire and prayer to God for
Israel is that they might be saved. They weren't saved, were
they? Paul said, I want them to be.
My heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they
might be saved. I bear them record. They have a zeal of God. They're
very religious. But they being ignorant of God's
righteousness. That's what we're talking about.
They being ignorant of God's righteousness, and they go about
to establish their own righteousness, they've not submitted themselves
to the righteousness of God, for Christ is the end of the
law for righteousness. to everyone that believeth."
Do you believe that? Is Christ the end of the law
for righteousness to you? He's the only righteousness you
have. You really believe you don't have any, but Christ's
righteousness is the only righteousness you have. If that's the case,
God has revealed himself to you. This is not merely giving assent
to doctrine, but it's the revelation of the person of Christ. When the person is revealed,
You see yourself for what you are. You see God for who he is. And everything you believe is
predicated on who he is, is determined by who he is. It's trusting a
person. And the reason we believe in
effectual redemption, for instance, number one, because the Bible
teaches that he died for the elect. But number two, we understand
it would be impossible for Christ to die for somebody and then
to go to hell anyway. I'd take away the only hope I
have is that Christ died for me. Please God who separated me from
my mother's womb and called me by his grace to reveal his son
in me Christ revealed in me and that's why Paul said yea doubtless.
I count all things but loss to the excellency of the knowledge
of Christ Jesus my Lord for whom I've suffered the loss of all
things in new counted but done and that I may win Christ and
be found in him. Now let me give you four things
about this personal revelation when God makes himself known
and reveals himself to you that you will understand. First turn
to Matthew 11. I'll give these briefly. Verse 25. At that time, Jesus answered
and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because
thou hast hid these things from the wise and the prudent and
hast revealed them unto babes. Even so, father, for so it seemed
good in thy sight. All things are delivered unto
me of my father, and no man knoweth the son, but the father. Neither
knoweth any man the father, save the son, and he to whomsoever
the son will reveal him." Now hear what the Lord said. He said,
you have hid these things from the wise and prudent. You've
revealed them unto babes. And here's your reason, it seemed
good in your sight. And you know if it seems good
in his sight, it's good in my sight too. It's good in every believer's
sight. But you know this, if he has
revealed himself to you, you know that he revealed himself
to you. It's not because of anything
in you. It's not because you were better than somebody else.
It's not because you had more gifts or had more to offer God.
Nothing like that. You know it was His sovereign
choice. He did it simply because He would. Do you know that? Do you know
that for sure? I know that for sure. I know
the only reason I know him is because he revealed himself to
me. And it wasn't because of anything in me. It's simply because
it seemed good in his sight. Turn to Matthew 16. When he is revealed, you understand
the true character of saving faith. Now listen to this statement
before we go on. I'm going to read this passage
from Matthew chapter 16. Saving faith is not believing you're
saved.