REVELATION

A. GOD WANTS US TO KNOW HIM

• Everything He does is to help us know Him
• Even when it doesn't seem obvious
• Nature, people, technology, etc. -reveal God's mind
• Everything in the Bible helps us know Him
• Look around and listen carefully for God

B. GOD USED PEOPLE TO HELP HIM REVEAL HIMSELF TO PEOPLE

• Abraham was the first person God revealed Himself to directly
• Abraham and his nephew, Lot, are discussing land rights
• God blessed Abraham for his generosity and hospitality
• God walked and talked with Abraham
• God also asked something difficult from Abraham

C. RELATIONSHIP

• God wants to be in relationship with us
• God will not force us to be in relationship with Him
• God offers good reasons for us to be in relationship with Him
• God will not 'take back' His offer even if we 'ditch'on Him
• All good and true friendship comes from God

D. REAL RELATIONSHIP

• involves giving and receiving
• involves sacrifice and suffering
• involves commitment and investment
• must be free and unforced
• results in joy and peace (can't be bought)

E. FORMAL AGREEMENT =COVENANT

• involve spoken and unspoken agreements
• may be written or unwritten
• involve expectations of time, money, effort, etc.
• are entered into freely
• Christ is the Groom, the Church is the Bride

F. COVENANT

• A formal agreement to help, support, be in a relationship
• Usually involve a vow or lifetime commitment
• God entered into covenant with humans from the beginning
• Adam, Noah, Abraham, Jacob, Moses, David, etc.
• God offered covenant to the Jews, then to all people

G. COVENANT

• a formal agreement/promise/vow
• a loving relationship
• a personal commitment
• involves a willingness to suffer for the other
• involves a willlingness to sacrifice for the other

H. GOD AND ABRAHAM

• with A'ham God made very specific promises of blessing
• Abraham willingly suffered to be in covenant with God
• A'ham freely received and willingly obeyed
• Isaac obeyed and received the blessing
• God revealed His will through them to the world.......>

I. WHAT DOES GOD REVEAL IN THIS EVENT?

• He does NOT desire human sacrifice
• God will provide the sacrifice (ram)
• Obedience will be blessed
• God sees/knows all --even our hearts
• Abraham is worthy of great blessing....>

6. THE SACRIFICE OF ABRAHAM

J. WHAT IS GOD REVEALING TO YOU?

• Have you accepted the revelation?
• Do you expect blessings from God?
• Are you in covenant with God?
• Have you made a commitment to God?
• Are you willing to accept what God reveals?

K. ARE YOU OBEYING GOD?

• You must be willing to listen and obey God's revelations
• Abraham's blessings came through obedience
• Obedience involves commitment and sacrifice
• How is God revelating Himself to everyone?
• His REVELATION is an offer of relationship/covenant

L. WILL YOU READ THE BIBLE?

• God's Word to us = worth the effort
• A record of God's relationships with humans
• Recorded over several thousand years
• Includes many types/styles of writing
• We CAN have confidence in it.......>

M. ONE OF THE CHURCH'S JOBS

• to help us understand God's REVELATION
• Christ is God's Word to humans
• The Bible is also God's Word to humans
• God's REVELATION comes to us through The CHURCH
• The CHURCH gave us the Bible to help us understand REVELATION

N. WE ARE NOT ALONE

• God gave us many things to help us come to know Him
• The CHURCH offers us all the we need to know God
• God reveals Himself through the CHURCH
• The Christ, the Bible, the Sacraments, the Saints- help us
• They all help us enter into COVENANT with God

O. THE CHURCH'S GUIDANCE

• Tradition guides us from ancient writings of saints, councils and creeds
• The Holy Spirit protects the teachings and leaders: bishops and pope
• Highly educated and serious theologians help us understand
• The Magisterium: all those who have the authority to teach
• This is the glue that holds us all together in our beliefs: Mt. 16...>

P. MT. 16:18-19

• Christ gives Peter authority= keys
• Christ promises protection against evil powers
• Peter was the leader of the Apostles
• The Pope inherits these promises to Peter

P. TO BE IN RELATIONSHIP WITH THE CHURCH

• Is to be in covenant with God
• Is to inherit the promises and blessings from Abraham
• Is to listen and obey
• Is to be a blessing to others
• Is to suffer, make sacrifices and keep commitments

Q. REVELATION OF GOD

• God desires relationship
• God offers covenant
• God offers blessing
• God invites commitment
• God provides assistance

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