The Blessing of God’s Complete Revelation: A Reflection on Westminster Confession 1.1

General and Special Revelation: Two Ways God Reveals Himself

The Westminster Confession of Faith, chapter 1, section 1, begins by distinguishing between general revelation and special revelation. General revelation consists of what can be known about God through the light of nature, the works of creation, and His providence (Psalm 19:1-2). These testify to God’s goodness, wisdom, and power. However, while general revelation reveals God truly, it does not provide the knowledge necessary for salvation.

Special revelation is necessary because, while creation and conscience can reveal God’s existence and our sinfulness, they cannot show us the way of salvation (Romans 1:19-20). Only through the Bible does God reveal Himself in a way that leads to salvation.

The Purpose of God’s Revelation

The goal of revelation is not simply to impart knowledge about history, science, or moral principles. Rather, the goal is that we might know God Himself (Jeremiah 9:23-24). Scripture is given so that we may know God personally and understand His will for our lives.

The Progressive Nature of Special Revelation

The Confession explains that God revealed Himself progressively over time, using various means—dreams, angels, direct speech, and even a talking donkey (Numbers 22:28). However, this process of revelation culminated in the written Scriptures. Today, we should not seek new revelation because we have the completed Bible, which preserves and propagates the truth (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

Scripture as a Weapon for Spiritual Warfare

The Bible is not only necessary for salvation but also for equipping believers in spiritual warfare. The Confession highlights our struggle against “the world, the flesh, and the devil” (Ephesians 2:1-3). In this battle, Scripture is both our defense and our guide, providing wisdom and strength to stand firm in faith (Ephesians 6:17).

The Blessing of a Complete Revelation

Some may feel disappointed that God no longer speaks through dreams or miraculous signs. However, the Confession reassures us that this is a great blessing. We do not have to rely on uncertain experiences or wait for new revelations. Instead, God has spoken definitively through His Son, Jesus Christ (Hebrews 1:1-2).

Because God does not change, neither does His Word. It is a firm foundation for every believer, offering unshakable truth in a world of uncertainty. Let us embrace the Bible as the complete, unchanging revelation of our unchanging God. This is one of the reasons why I started the Bible Answers Project in 2024. Every day 100,000s of people are searching online for Bible-related questions. I want to help make sure they get the best answers possible. I want to point them to Jesus and to participation in a local church.

Note: Generative AI was used in creating this post. First, I made an audio recording of what I wanted to say. Then, I transcribed the audio using TurboScribe.ai. Finally, I transformed the transcript into a blog post using ChatGPT.