Dictionary of Bible Themes  »  1000 God  »  1400 God, knowledge of  »  1439 revelation  »  1445 revelation, responses to

God requires and imparts a frame of mind that receives and responds to what he has made known.

God commands that his word be heeded

Mark 4:3 See also Isaiah 1:10; Mark 4:9; Revelation 2:7

People do not naturally understand what God has revealed

They fail to recognise God's revelation in Jesus Christ

Matthew 11:25-27 pp Luke 10:21-22 See also John 5:37-40; John 6:44-45; John 10:24-26; John 12:37-41; John 14:9; Romans 9:31-10:4; 1 Corinthians 1:18-25; Corinthians 2:8; 2 Corinthians 4:4

They fail to understand God's revelation in general

1 Corinthians 2:14 See also Mark 4:11-12 pp Matthew 13:13-15 pp Luke 8:10; Isaiah 6:9-10; John 8:43-47; 2 Corinthians 3:14-16; 2 Thessalonians 2:11-13

God has given his Spirit to illuminate the human mind

He reveals and teaches truth

1 Corinthians 2:12-13 See also Jeremiah 31:31-34; Matthew 16:17; John 3:3-10; John 14:16-17,25-26; John 16:12-15; Philippians 3:15

He reveals through prayer for understanding

Psalm 119:18 See also Psalm 119:12,27; Ephesians 1:17-18

Understanding God's revelation carries special responsibility

Luke 12:47-48 See also Matthew 13:11-12; Matthew 25:14-30 pp Luke 19:12-27

God's revelation of himself will only be fully understood at the second coming of Jesus Christ

1 Corinthians 13:12 See also 1 Peter 1:13; 1 John 3:2

The consequences of responding to revelation

Repentance

Acts 2:38 See also Matthew 4:17; Acts 3:19; Acts 26:20; 2 Corinthians 7:10

Faith

Romans 10:17 See also Romans 10:8-10,14-15; 1 Corinthians 2:4-5

Obedience

Romans 1:5 See also Judges 2:17; Phm 21; 1 Peter 1:2

See also

2426  gospel, responses
2565  Christ, second coming
4018  life, spiritual
5029  knowledge of God
5784  amazement
6732  repentance
8023  faith, necessity
8453  obedience
8470  respect for God
8662  meditation
8835  unbelief