General Revelation fought on the beaches of Normandy. No, just kidding.
Also known as Universal revelation, general revelation deals with how God can be understood through his creation. More specifically, this can be manifest in physical nature, human nature, and history. General revelation does not impart truths that are necessary for salvation (e.g. sinfulness of humanity, the atonement, etc...), however, it is argued that God's existence, transcendence, immanence, self-sufficiency, eternality, power, goodness, and hate for evil can be comprehended and seen through his creation (Elwell, Evangelical Dictionary of Theology, p. 1,019; cf. Romans 1).
Physical nature
The book of Psalms says that, "The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork" (Psalm 19:1). Paul quotes Psalm 19:4 in reference to hearing the gospel, "But I ask, have they not heard? Indeed they have, for 'Their voice has gone out to all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world' " (Rom. 10:18). Later on in Psalm 97:6 it says that, "The heavens proclaim his righteousness, and all the peoples see his glory." Paul told men that God had given testimony of Himself in that he has shown kindness by giving them rain from heaven, crops in their seasons and even provides them with their food (Acts 15:15-17). A clearer passage states that, "What may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities - his eternal power and divine nature - have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse" (Rom. 1:19-20).
Human nature
Because humans are made in God's image (Genesis 1:27), something about God can be learned from the study of human nature. Most evident is the moral and spiritual qualities found within humankind that reflect the character of God. Paul says that even the law is written on the hearts of people who do not have the specially revealed law (Romans 2:11-16).
History
Some theologians note that history is His - story. The Bible clearly indicates in numerous places that God is moving the course of history and is controlling the destinies of nations (Job 12:23; Psalm 47:7-8, 66:7; Isaiah 10:5-13; Daniel 2:21; Acts 17:26). It should then be possible to sense God at work within history. A careful analysis of the history of the nation of Israel should provide more evidence than is needed.
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Theopedia
Theopedia
General revelation also encompasses rational arguments for the existence of God. Theologians and philosophers have proposed five major arguments:
- Cosmological Argument (Cause and effect). The universe is the effect of a greater cause, an intelligent Creator. The universe cannot create itself or come from nothing, therefore must have come from something else. God then, is the single uncaused cause.
- Teleological Argument (Order/Intelligent Design). The universe displays an amazing amount of order in its chaos. But even more, it exhibits design which necessitates a Designer.
- Anthropological Argument (Humanity reflects deity) – Man's extraordinary abilities, superiority over creation, and his "mannishness" (Schaeffer) reflect a greater personal Creator. Some stress man's rational abilities, while others see the relationships with the Trinity as key to man's personality.
- Moral Argument (Common Morality) – All men have some sense of right and wrong and some set of common code. Man's sense of morality reflects the divine image of a moral God.
Ontological Argument (God's definition requires existence) – Anselm first set forth this powerful and difficult argument. It argues that the definition of God as the greatest of beings necessitates His existence. 1) The idea of a thing is greater if it exists in reality, than if only in the mind. 2) Man conceives the greatest being – God. 3) For the idea to exist in the mind as "greatest" it must exist in reality or not be the greatest.--From Basic Theology
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