035 ~ The Gospel Is Received By Revelation
THE GOSPEL IS RECEIVED BY REVELATION
By Rodney W. Francis
Christianity is totally different from every other kind of belief systems that pollute our world today. It is about a real and living relationship with Jesus Christ, God’s Living, Resurrected Son ~ and it starts within us when we are born-again by the Holy Spirit. When we repent and believe the Gospel (God’s Good News to us), something happens in our spirit; it is transformed or born-again, and renewed so we can begin to receive things from God and understand that the way of the Lord is totally different to anything else we have ever known. It has to be this way because the natural mind ~ the natural logical way of thinking things through ~ cannot and does not grasp the realities of the way of the Holy Spirit. The Bible clearly tells us this: “But as it is written: ‘Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.’ But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. 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. These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned” (1 Corinthians 2:9-14, NKJV).
In John’s Gospel Chapter One, Verse One, we read of the Word (Jesus) being God . . . He Who was the Creator of all things: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God”. When we get to John 1:14 we read: “And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father), full of grace and truth.”
The invisible Word ~ Jesus Christ ~ was revealed to mankind in the form of a human being . . . born as a little baby, just like us. The revelation was given to John, who has written it down for our benefit.
- Everything we receive, see and know of God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit, comes to us by revelation.
Christianity can never be received, seen, nor understood by intellectual, natural means. It is a spiritual reception. It has to be revealed by God Himself! And He reveals Himself to open and hungry hearts that desire to know God personally and intimately.
Matthew 11:25-27 (KJV):
“At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank You, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because You have hid these things from the wise and prudent (“1. discreet or cautious in managing one’s activities; circumspect. 2. practical and careful in providing for the future. 3. exercising good judgment or common sense” - Collins), and have revealed (Greek: “apokalupto” meaning to “to take off the cover, i.e. disclose: reveal” - Strong’s) them unto babes. Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in Your sight. All things are delivered unto Me of My father: and no man knows the Son, but the Father; neither knows any man the Father, save the Son, and He to whomsoever the Son will reveal (“apokalupto”) Him.” (See also Luke 10:21-22).
Matthew 16:13-28 (KJV):
“. . . flesh and blood has not revealed (“apokalupto”) it unto you, but My Father Who is in heaven.”
The Church is built upon the revelation of WHO JESUS IS given to Peter from the Father!
We come to Jesus by Revelation of the Father:
John 6:44-45 (KJV):
“No one can come to Me unless the Father Who sent Me draws (Gk.: “helkuo” = “to draw, especially implying a certain attraction mentally or morally; also, to draw to a certain point” - Bullinger’s) him; and I will raise him up at the last day. It is written in the prophets (Isaiah 54:13), ‘And they shall all be taught (Gk.: “didaktos” = “instructed or communicated by teaching” - Strong’s; “they shall be God’s taught ones” - Bullinger’s) by God. Therefore everyone who has heard and learned (Gk.: “manthano” = “to learn, understand” - Strong’s; “to learn, intellectually from others, or from study and observation, to be informed, to understand” - Bullinger’s) from the Father comes to Me.”
Paul’s Gospel was Received by Revelation:
Galatians 1:11-16 (NKJV):
“But I make known (“to make known, point out, explain” - Bullinger’s) to you, brethren, that the Gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught (“didasko” = “to teach, to learn” - Strong’s) it, but it came through the revelation (“apokalupsis” = “disclosure:- appearing, coming, lighten, manifestation, be revealed, revelation” - Strong’s; “unveiling, uncovering; of facts and truths” - Bullinger’s) of Jesus Christ . . . But when it pleased God, Who separated me from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace, to reveal (“apokalupto”) His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles . . .“
Galatians 2:2 (KJV):
“And I went up by revelation (“apokalupsis”), and communicated (“anatithemai” = “declare to any one, to make known” - Bullinger’s) unto them that Gospel which I preach among the Gentiles . . .“
The New Covenant Gospel of Jesus Christ is revealed and received from above; from God the Holy Spirit. It is His Ministry to speak, lead and guide us into all truth:
John 16:13-14 (NKJV):
“However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me (Jesus), for He will take of Mine and declare it unto you.”
Ephesians 1:17 (NKJV):
Paul’s prayer was that believers would receive the revelation:
“That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation (“apokalupsis”) in the knowledge of Him.” (See also Colossians 1:9-11).
Ephesians 3:3 (KJV):
“How that by revelation (“apokalupsis”) He made known unto me the mystery, Whereby, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ, Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed (“apokalupto”) unto His holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit.” (See also Romans 16:25).
We see the same principle applied in the Old Testament.
God revealed/reveals Himself by Revelation:
Deuteronomy 29:29 (KJV):
“The secret things belong unto the Lord our God: but those things which are revealed (Hebrew: “galah” = “opened” - Wilson’s) belong unto us and our children for ever, that we may do all the words of the law.”
In Samuel’s day there was no Open Vision (until the Lord revealed Himself to Samuel):
1 Samuel 3:1 (KJV):
“. . . And the word of the Lord was precious (“rare”) in those days; there was no open vision (“a means of divine revelation. It refers to prophetic vision by which divine messages are communicated.” This is the first time the word “vision” is used).
1 Samuel 3:21 (KJV):
“The Lord appeared again in Shiloh: for the Lord revealed (“galah”) Himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of the Lord.”
Other Scriptures that may prove helpful to you: 1 Corinthians 2:10; 1 Corinthians 11:23; 1 Corinthians 15:3; Galatians 1:9-12; Galatians 1:6-16; Galatians 3:2; Ephesians 3:1-6; 1 John 2:27; 2 John 4.
We, today, must have revelation from God. It is the only way God’s truth is revealed, received and understood.
Let us all desire to receive more revelation from God, and to be open to the Holy Spirit to make known to us WHO JESUS IS (“the Word become flesh”) and the understanding of how we live that revelation and how we share that revelation with others. God bless you.
The Gospel Faith Messenger Ministry, New Zealand. Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.