October 21, 2013
Romans 10:14, 15
(All scripture is from the New King James Version unless otherwise indicated.)
The third way that Jesus Christ is Revealed is closely related to the first two. Remember, the first two are specific and general revelation:
• Special revelation is when God gave His Word to man – the Old and New Testaments of the Bible. From the first intimation in Genesis of God being One in Trinity – “And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.” (Genesis 1:2 with Genesis 1:26) “Let us make man in our image….” – to the specific revelation of John 1:1 and 14, “…and the Word was God….And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us….” – Jesus Christ is Revealed! And He is revealed in such a way as man could not ever conceive Him to be. Only God could have given such information to us!
• General revelation is that which is given in creation. The mark of the Creator is on everything He has made! And in the last blog we saw that such revelation is so specific that all creation shouts out, “Jesus Christ is the risen Lord!”
So what is the third way that Jesus Christ is Revealed? It is shown in our scripture of Romans 10:14 and 15:
How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how
shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they
hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, unless they are sent?
Now the first two ways of Jesus Christ Revealed is by God’s initiative. Man had nothing to do with it. The only obligation man has in the first two is to receive what God has given! But the third – while the command comes from the Son of God Himself – involves man to a great degree! And it is not mankind generally that is held responsible to fulfill this command, it is Christians! Believers in and followers of the Lord Jesus Christ are commanded to go and preach the gospel!
You can find that command in a number of scriptures, such as Psalm 71:18; Isaiah 43:10 and 11; Matthew 4:19; Matthew 28:19 and 20; Mark 16:15 and 16; John 14:12. But perhaps the clearest presentation of the command given by Jesus to His followers is in Acts 1:8:
…you shall receive power, when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you
shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and Samaria, and to
the end of the earth.
So you – and me – are to go in the power of the Holy Spirit and tell others about Jesus – how He died and rose again for our salvation. We are to start where we are – in our Jerusalem – then in wider circles, to take the gospel “…to the end of the earth.”
Some might say, “But I’m not the missionary type! I’m not even good at talking with other people! How am I going to go to the ends of the earth to share the gospel?” Did you notice that in Romans 10:14 and 15, not everyone goes out? It also says, “And how shall they preach, unless they are sent? ” Some have to stay home and send others out!
But that does not mean you are off the hook. You are still a missionary – a gospel preacher – to your family, neighbors, co-workers, schoolmates, etc. As the old saying goes, “Bloom where you are planted!”
This is the third way God has planned to have Jesus Christ Revealed. We must make use of the first two – specific and general revelation, and tell others about Jesus. So walk close to Him. Study His Word. Be in prayer, especially to whom God would send you. Since you will do this in the power of the Holy Spirit, let Him direct you in this adventure.
Remember God’s three ways of Jesus Christ Revealed:
• Specific revelation
• General revelation
• Preach the gospel