- As created and flawed by sin, we do not know God and no moral endeavors or intellectual pursuits will find God
- The only way to know God is if God chooses to reveal Himself to us
- This is what God has done with the bible
Theologians perspective on how God reveals Himself:
1. General way- Available to all
1. creation
2. human conscience- We have a sense of right and wrong
- These two are sufficient to bring us accountable to God, but NOT to bring us into faith in God
- Starlit sky vs. cross analogy: Starlit sky – awe of creation; Cross – brings us into awareness of His intervention for us
2. Special revelation
1. Bible – God’s written word
2. Jesus – God’s incarnate word- #’s 1 and 2 are interwoven and cannot be separated
- We know Jesus through the written word and through Jesus we make sense of the written word
- This is why until you know the bible you will not meet Jesus and until you meet Jesus you will not know the bible
Psalm 138:
- Antidote to pride and self promotion
- Everything begins with God
- We were created to praise God – SING!
- If we do not praise God, maybe it is because we do not know God
- Every single time there has been a revival among God’s people, believers have sung their hearts out
- Illustration of evangelistic praise
- Reminder that our walk with God is not without its tests and troubles
Hymns vs. challenge songs:
Psalm 138:
1 I will praise you, O LORD, with all my heart;
before the “gods” I will sing your praise.
2 I will bow down toward your holy temple
and will praise your name
for your love and your faithfulness,
for you have exalted above all things
your name and your word.
3 When I called, you answered me;
you made me bold and stouthearted.
4 May all the kings of the earth praise you, O LORD,
when they hear the words of your mouth.
5 May they sing of the ways of the LORD,
for the glory of the LORD is great.
6 Though the LORD is on high, he looks upon the lowly,
but the proud he knows from afar.
7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble,
you preserve my life;
you stretch out your hand against the anger of my foes,
with your right hand you save me.
8 The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me;
your love, O LORD, endures forever—
do not abandon the works of your hands.
