The Limits of General Revelation

I was recently teaching about the difference between general and special revelation and came upon this helpful statement from Robert Lightner.

“God’s revelation in the world does not possess power to alter man’s conduct. Also, it is very limited and restricted in its extent and purpose. God did not give it to correct man but to communicate to him his need for correction. Neither does the revelation of God in the world include the cure or the basis for cleansing man’s sin. Only God’s revelation in the Word provides these necessities. Furthermore, the revelation God gave of Himself in nature and in the conscience of man is limited. Man’s lost condition, his need of a substitute for his sin, and Jesus Christ as the only Saviour from sin are only revealed in Scripture. Neither does general revelation tell man how to live. Even to our first parents God had to speak before they knew what to do and how to live. The beauty and splendor of the garden did not communicate such knowledge to them.”

Robert P. Lightner, The God of the Bible: An Introduction to the Doctrine of God (Grand Rapids: Baker, 1973), 53.
  

General Revelation

Matt Waymeyer has posted the following excellent outline on general revelation on his blog.

The Definition of General Revelation

General revelation is the universal self-disclosure of God by which He makes Himself known to all people everywhere (Ps 19:1-6; Rom 1:18-23; 2:14-15; Acts 14:17).

The Means of General Revelation

1. God’s Creation (Ps 19:1-6; Rom 1:19-21)

• the heavens (Ps 19:1-4a)
• the sun (Ps 19:4b-6)
• the world (Rom 1:20a)
• “what has been made” (Rom 1:20b)

2. God’s Provision (Acts 14:17)

• the provision of rain (Acts 14:17a)
• the provision of fruitful seasons (Acts 14:17b)
• the provision of food (Acts 14:17c)

3. Man’s Conscience (Rom 2:14-15)

• “the Law written in their hearts” (Rom 2:15a)
• “their conscience bearing witness” (Rom 2:15b)

The Audience of General Revelation

1. All Men without Exception

• “all the earth” (Ps 19:4a)
• “to the end of the world” (Ps 19:4b)
• “nothing is hidden from its heat” (Ps 19:6)

2. All Men without Distinction

• Jew and Gentile (Rom 2:14-15; Acts 14:17)
• Righteous and Wicked (Acts 14:17; cf. Matt 5:45)

The Content of General Revelation

1. The Existence of God (Rom 1:19-25)

• “His divine nature” (20)
• “they knew God” (21)
• “the truth of God” (25)

2. The Glory of God (Ps 19:1a; Rom 1:19-23)

• “the glory of God” (Ps 19:1a)
• “the glory of the incorruptible God” (Rom 1:23)
• “that which is known about God” (Rom 1:19)
• “His invisible attributes” (Rom 1:20)

3. The Power of God (Ps 19:1b; Rom 1:20)

• “the work of His hands” (Ps 19:1b)
• “His eternal power” (Rom 1:20)

4. The Goodness of God (Acts 14:17)

• “He did not leave Himself without witness, in that He did good”

5. The Law of God (Rom 2:14-15)

• “the things of the Law” (14)
• “the work of the Law” (15)

The Outcome of General Revelation

1. The Comprehension of Truth (Rom 1:19-21)

• what “is known about God is evident within them” (19a)
• “God made it evident to them” (19b)
• “they knew God” (21)

2. The Suppression of Truth (Rom 1:18-25)

• “men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness” (18)
• “they did not honor Him as God or give thanks” (21)
• “they became futile in their speculations” (21b)
• “their foolish heart was darkened” (21c)
• “they became fools” (22)
• “exchanged glory of incorruptible God for image” (23)
• “exchanged the truth of God for a lie” (25)
• “worshiped/served creature rather than Creator” (25)

3. The Culpability of Unbelievers (Rom 1:18-23)

• “so that they are without excuse” (20)

The Limitations of General Revelation

1. Not Detailed in its Content (Ps 19; Rom 1-2; Acts 14:17)

• the existence of God (Rom 1:19-25)
• the glory of God (Ps 19:1a; Rom 1:19-23)
• the power of God (Ps 19:1b; Rom 1:20)
• the goodness of God (Acts 14:17)
• the law of God (Rom 2:14-15)

2. Not Salvific in its Effect (Rom 1:20; cf. 10:14)

• fails to save the unbeliever (1:20; cf. 10:14)
• renders him “without excuse” before God (1:20)