Special Revelation... a specific message to a specific people

Previously we looked at one form of revelation by God, general revelation. As you may recall, general revelation (in a nutshell) is God revealing himself through a general message to a general audience. You can walk outside and take a look at God's creation, and that is a general revelation from God. Special revelation is a specific message, for a specific people.

There were various ways that God chose to reveal himself in the Old Testament, such as dreams. For example, 1 Kings 3:5 says, "At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night, and God said, “Ask what I shall give you".  God also revealed himself through visions, such as in Genesis 15:1, "After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: “Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great". (As a side note, modern books that describe visits to Heaven that are not consistent with what the Bible teaches, or books that claim to have new revelation from Jesus Christ himself, are not "special revelation". These books are dangerous and should be avoided. Due to a lack of discernment, these books are best sellers at Christian book stores. "Heaven is for Real", "Jesus Calling", "The Shack" are just a few examples to avoid.)

God chose to have all information about him to be revealed in written form, and he directly guided the authors, even to the specific words used. "All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work."- 2 Timothy 3:16-17.

Scripture is the means in which God uses to bring his people to him. He uses it as a light, but also to judge the disobedient, those who are not committed to Jesus Christ.  "For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart." (Hebrews 4:12)

The most important form of special revelation was God becoming a man in Jesus Christ. Christ came to the world with a specific message to his people, to save his people from their sins. As God in the flesh, Christ showed his followers how to live and the way to eternal life, "Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6)

Without special revelation, we would know nothing of God's messianic purposes in Christ. In love, God revealed his law, and in love, God revealed how he will reconcile his people who broke his law to himself. We can have no doubt, because of special revelation, that if we are in Christ, we will be justified, sanctified, and ultimately glorified. 

"Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world."- Hebrews 1:1-2