The Mystery of God

Revelation of God• How do we know God exists?• How do I know my religion is right?• Who cares? (indifference)

Knowing God as a topic in Sunday School is not only a question the kids may ask, but an

essential ingredient in their spiritual development

Types of Revelation of God1. Natural Revelation

A. Nature & ScienceBecause that which may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has

shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead… Rom 1:19

B. Human Person• We have a desire for God “You have made us for Yourself, and our hearts

are restless until it rests in You.” St. AugustineFor God created us for incorruption, and made is in the image of His own eternity. Wis 2:23

• This desire is manifested by our endless search for Love & Truth• Man has a sense of eternity & longing for the infinite• Experiences of Love lead to an experience of the Infinite“Within the heart are unfathomable depths” Homily of St. Macarious

C. Throughout History, all races have manifested religious desire

Types of Revelation of God1. Natural (continued)

And you shall seek Me and find Me, when you shall search for Me with all your heart. Jer 29:13

• search for God demands from man all his heart

• Man can never attain the knowledge of God which leads to a relationship with Him through natural capacities

• The Lord puts in the nature of man longing for Him because of that longing in the natural capacity, man can accept & welcome the Supernatural revelation of God

Types of Revelation of God2. Supernatural ( REVELATION )• He is a hidden God He must reveal Himself to us• The Bible is the Book of History of the Supernatural Revelation

of God• Persons who receive this revelation will be in ecstasy, “in the

spirit”• These people are called Mediators of Revelation, greatest and

perfect Revelation of God is Jesus Christ, the Absolute Teacher

• Different ways of the Revelation of God• Visions, dreams, words, actions

• Revelation (apokaluptw = internal) & (phanerw = external)

How Can We Speak About Him• God is Mystery– Closer we come to know God, the more we discover the limitations of knowing God– Limitation of Language in expressing God

• We use positive & negating statements in speaking about God• St. Gregory’s Liturgy “unutterable, the invisible, the infinite; without beginning,

everlasting, timeless, limitless, immeasurable, unchangeable, Creator of all, Savior of everyone”– Negating limits in describing God “Apophatic Language”

– Same applies to our relationship with the Lord, the more you advance in your relationship with God, the more you realize your own limitations in knowing Him

– Difference between Essence & Manifestation• Only God can know His own Essence

– We can never comprehend God’s Essence

• Manifestation is what creatures can perceive – We can only know God in His Manifestation

Revelation of GodGod’s perfect Manifestation is Jesus Christ

Through all times, God has revealed Himself through Christ & the Holy Spirit

No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him. John 1:18

For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have

received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. 1 Cor 2:11-12

Revelation of God• Through Revelation, God desires all men to come to

His knowledge• His will is that all men respond to Him, loving Him,

more than their natural ability• Revelation of God is always in WORDS & ACTIONS

History of God’s RevelationGod’s revelation is always made in the context of a covenant• Adam & Eve Covenant with Humanity

• The Fall did not stop God from revealing Himself to the descendants

And I will put enmity between you and woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel. Gen 3:15

• Noah Covenant with Nations• All people outside of faith belong to this covenant• We remember Noah, Melchizedek, & Job who belong to this covenant

• Abraham Covenant with the Patriarchs• The Patriarchs (Abraham, Isaac & Jacob), Prophets, Righteous men & women of

the Old Testament are celebrated as saints by the Church in its calendar

• Moses Covenant with Israel• Through the Prophets, God brought up His people in the hope of the Messiah

• Jesus Christ Covenant with the Church

History of God’s Revelation• Jesus Christ Covenant with the Church through Apostles

• Full – Complete – Perfect Revelation of God– End Goal of all RevelationsGod, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers

by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds. Heb 1:1-2

There is NO further Revelation of Godafter Jesus Christ

God’s Revelation• Handing down of God’s revelation • Tradition• Holy Scripture

Opposing Beliefs• Naturalism

– No existence beyond material world

• Materialism– Everything can be explained on material basis

• Spiritualism– Everything can be explained on spiritual basis

• Pantheism– Everything is god (god & nature is one)

• Deism– There is a god but no religion

• Rationalism– Mind does not need revelation

• Agnosticism– no way of prove or disprove religious revelation

• Relativism– No one revelation- truth is relative to beholder