Hth 505 - Knowing God

Knowing God

Marie Leslie Griffin-Robert

Grand Canyon University

HTH 505

Professor Peter Conlin

April 3, 2012

Knowing God

Knowing God entailed knowing own self because, as revealed in the Bible, God created humankind to be his channel of conversation; hence humankind and God worked as partners to realize God's plan and intention for his creation. According to McGrath, Emil Brunner (1889- 1966) on the Personal Nature of Revelation disclosure, summarized this concept by placing humanity as being, "The conversation- partner of God." Therefore humanity represented, "the personal nature of divine revelation, which is an integral aspect of his notion of his divine-human dialogue." (McGrath, 2007, p. 148) An analysis of the doctrine of revelation would share lights on the issue of knowing God, the sources of knowledge, and challenges; as well as the strengths and weakness of discovering truth about God through general revelation and human experience.

Following the sequence in which the Bible correlated the Word of God, The Holy Spirit of God gave a clear understanding through the biblical events that the doctrine of Revelation focuses on God's intention for his creation. God's programs for his creation began on the first part of the book of Genesis with the spread of sin in the world, and the flood in the days of Noah. However, the second part of the book of Genesis revealed God's dealings with one man, Abraham through whom God promised to bring salvation in the world. Abraham and his descendants learned originally that God accommodated his creation in all their needs. God revealed his pattern of dealing in his relationship with Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph. God's promise to Abraham upheld through all the generations including this current one. The systematic method of operation by God has been consistent throughout the Bible. The book of Genesis also called "the book of the Generations" described the doctrine of Revelation as fitting into the overall scope and task of theology. One could clearly observe God's presence as the Source in all the events of the Bible; thus from the beginning (Genesis 1: 1-2:3), Heaven and Earth (2:4-4:26), Adam (5:1-6:8), Noah (6:9-9:29), Sons of Noah (10:1-11:9) Shem (11:10-26), Terah ( 11:27-25:11), Ishmael (25:12-18), Isaac (25:19-35:29), Esau (36:1-37:1), Jacob (37:2-50:26). The evidence of God's revelation of his relationship with humankind originated from the book of Genesis. God chose Moses to be the writer of these events because he had a close relationship with God whereas God dictated to him his intention for his chosen people that serve as an exemplary for the rest of the world to follow. Therefore, the doctrine of Revelation must always be the primary source of discussion in a systematic theology book. GCU' lecture simplified the importance of the doctrine of Revelation; "Revelation is the basis for theological knowledge, that is, knowledge about God..." (GCU, 2012)

The Bible represented God's revelation and inspiration to humanity. Lasor.et al (1982) expressed his view of the Bible as being the unique source to knowing God as such, "The key theological terms that give expression to this uniqueness are revelation and inspiration." (Lasor, Hubbard, & Bush, 1996, pp. 591-592) According to the Bible, human revealed to be an integral part of God, in fact God completed the process of creation by creating man in his image; however not with his intelligence (Gen 1:26). Furthermore, God not only did he put life in man (2:7), he gave human "dominion" over his creation (1:28). God created humankind intentionally with the purpose of manifesting his Holy Spirit in human to rule over his creation. Unfortunately sin entered the picture that changed the course of things; thus God resumed to other means to reach his ultimate goal. Humans, because of their continuous transgressions in disobeying God, therefore God resolved this condition by manifesting in the person