On one of my first excursions, having left my secular employment, I travelled to Scotland, visiting Edinburgh and several bookshops there. In one particular bookshop, I was handed the first book to enable my long journey in this Christ-like Walk—a value or a notion that would become a challenge to my walk even today.
The book's title: - ‘Progress of Doctrine in the New Testament.’ A compilation of lectures from the 1890s. This book challenges the notion of a static revelation, it has been instrumental in shaping my understanding of progressive revelation. Suggesting that the idea of a progressive revelation is not heretical, as some may argue, but rather a continuous unfolding of God's nature and purpose. Even when Paul, the apostle writes, we can read and see the development of his stance in his thinking and writing.
Although I would firmly uphold the statement found in Hebrews 1 that in these last days, God has spoken in the Son, this being the full explanation of God and must always be upheld as the primary thought. Yet, we can see the progressive disclosure of God continuing down through history and even to this day. God in wisdom is self-revealing and continuously restores and reveals all about God's nature and ways. We would become those who ‘know God’s ways’ as against only God's deeds, as was said of Moses and the people of God, also understanding that to ‘know God is eternal life.’ (John 17:3).
If we have any thought of continuing in the prophetic advance of God's purpose, we are those who uphold and believe in, ‘Progressive Revelation’, the onward unfolding of God and God's purpose as set before the beginning of time.
We accept the progressive nature of understanding and, therefore, doctrine within the Old Testament and the New Testament, for some their understanding comes to an abrupt end, with Revelation 22:21. At the same time, I believe in the canon of scripture and see the onward continual revealing of God's self throughout history and through my decades of Christ's walk.
The scriptures undeniably characterize the various stages of the revelations of God throughout the Old and New Testaments.
We seem to accept Christ as the great revealer of God yet do not consider the Holy Spirit the continuing revealer; maybe the full revelation in Christ was not seen until after his death, resurrection, and ascension. - particularly along with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
Even Jesus told us of onward revelation, progressive, not a stated ‘that is the end of it, no more” Did Jesus not say, “I have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now” the coming of the Holy Spirit was that these “many things” should not be lost. Firstly, disclosed in Acts, Epistles contain the beginning of these things, and if we are to be those read by all men, it also continues in our lives. The Holy Spirit ensures step correctness when these things are being revealed.
The onward revelation of God is advancing communication and the ability to know God more fully. It certainly is not to give individuals ‘special anointing’, titles or positions but is more about the expansion of the nature of God, the ever becoming, the dynamic becoming God (YHWH). This dynamic becoming of God, constantly revealing more of His nature and purpose, should inspire us and fill us with awe and wonder.
All Progressive Revelation sits within the frame of Hebrews 1:1-4, “God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son,” that all speak of the Son who only speaks of the Father and Holy Spirit.
In the same way we are told that at the death of Jesus, the vail was torn in two, Jesus is and was the open veil constantly, there was no hiding, no two worlds, but he came and was the way, was the torn veil making union between heaven and earth, so too progressive revelation stands the same.
In John 17:8, Jesus, in the Lord's prayer, says, “The words which You gave Me I have given to them”, realising for us this is the Jesus way. Onward and continually giving God words - REVELATION, I suggest that this is the onward nature of the Christ, the way of Christ, the self-emptying of nature, a character that we might know God. Progressive Revelation.
When I teach in our Bible school, I begin with the doctrine of God; although we unpack what has been established historically, we must hold on to this, if that is God, however if God is only what has already been revealed, God is tiny, in a way. We must be open to more of God being revealed in our day and in the future. If we can fit God into our Doctrine, how small is our God?
Therefore, there is still so much more within God to be revealed in all revealed truth to date.
Our core values are to disclose and establish restoration, kingdom, and covenant in people’s lives; as I often say, God has a purpose and goal, a vehicle to bring it along with a necessary relationship. With that in mind, we know there is a progressive revelation on Restoration, Kingdom, and Covenant still to be folded
Therefore, there is a continuing advancement happening, and I believe a wholesome definition of a God move is one that enlarges and transforms our view of God - Father, Son and Holy Spirit. At the same time, its impact is a necessary construct adjustment (practice, form, structural). Changing due to revelation, what and how we live and demonstrate or explain that is dawning.
For example, in the ’60s and ’70s, what was coined as the ‘house church’ movement at that time was born from a revelation of Kingdom breaking upon men and women that brought about the restoration of the church, ekklesia. It aimed at transforming the church life with the New Testament church's values from Act 2:42 to see the embodiment of a living, breathing relational community of God. This also brought about the restoration of Eph 4:11 apostles, prophets, pastor-teachers, and evangelists as necessary functions given by the ascended Christ and then followed the restoration of the individual in view, which brought a focus on the restoration of society, having a voice and holding our world.
As part of the onward progressive revelation of restoration today, we see the fresh discovery of the restoration of creation. Witnessing the introduction of an escapist mentality of leaving the earth to be destroyed as become popular through writings in the 1890’s.
These insights more and more bring an understanding of our relationship with the non-human creation along with our God-given responsibility for creation. Somehow, we have ignored God's covenant with creation, animals, plants (Gen. 9) and our intrinsic weaving to the soil over the years. Are we not encouraged “if my people” (2 Chr. 7:14) God will heal the LAND?
We have not realised there is a threesome, God, People and Land (creation) always in God's restorative and redemptive view. Humanity in its first creation is magnificent displaying heaven and Earth in union - breath of God and clay of creation. A model of God's aim in a union of all things. It’s another way of saying “Christ Filling all in all”, everything back to a union with God. Another article is necessary to cover this.
I aim to establish with you that God moves in a progressive revelation of God’s self to humanity, bringing about an ever-enlarging revelation of God’s self while causing changes, ‘new things’ as God’s nature is a ‘new thing’ so-called. We are subject to this progressive revelation and must hold an established understanding of this.
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