Knowing God and Jesus Christ is essential to eternal life (John 17:3). To accomplish this, three kinds of revelation have been made to humanity.
First, there is natural revelation. “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork. Day unto day utters speech, and night unto night reveals knowledge. There is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard. Their line has gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them He has set a tabernacle for the sun, which is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber and rejoices like a strong man to run its race. Its rising is from one end of heaven and its circuit to the other end; and there is nothing hidden from its heat” (Psalm 19:1-6). In this revelation, the Godhood of Jehovah is emphatic. The power, greatness, and majesty of God is seen in the mighty forces and vastness of nature. Since the creation of the world, God’s immense superiority to humanity and His eternal power have been clearly seen.
Second, there is supernatural revelation. “The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; the statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover, by them Your servant is warned, and in keeping them there is great reward” (Psalm 19:7-11). In this revelation, the personhood of God is emphatic. The supernatural governor of this universe is not a force, but a person: Jehovah. “I am that I am” (Exodus 3:14). He loves and cares for His own.
Third, there is incarnational revelation. In human history, when the fullness of time had come, God became flesh and dwelt among us. His stepfather named Him Jesus. Though “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). Therefore, anyone who has seen Him has seen the Father (John 14:9).
Jehovah God has revealed Himself in these three ways because of His intense desire for all men to “be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (2nd Timothy 2:4).
