But God has also revealed Himself in MIRACLES, in SIGNS, and in WONDERS. These have been preserved and recorded for us in the Bible. Now that may not be, and probably is not, an absolute, complete, exhaustive list of everything that God has done; however, there is abundant evidence for us to read in the Scriptures, proving His power and His ability. These were supernatural acts of God that violated the laws of nature and the order of things as we know them. [God set the laws of nature and the order of things, and He could, and did, show His mastery of control over that which He had created.]

You know, these lame claims that men make today about performing miracles are nothing more than just empty words, empty statements, without any kind of proof or evidence at all of being actual miracles or actual signs. Some of you may remember that, some months ago I preached a two-series lesson, on two consecutive Sunday nights, about why there are no miracles today. Well, there just aren’t! These people who claim to perform miracles do just that—they make a claim. Show me a miracle! Show me one that truly violates the laws of nature. Show me someone who can walk on the water today. Show me a miracle that defies the natural order of things. Show me someone who can calm a storm, and then I’ll believe that they can work a miracle! I remember Harvey Porter [a minister of the Gospel] used to say, “The first one who raises someone from the dead, I’m going to believe him!” They haven’t done it yet, although I understand that Benny Hinn is making a claim that he’s done that! I heard that he’s claiming that somewhere, sometime, somebody was raised from the dead. Apparently the person sat right up in the casket and looked at his death certificate! I don’t believe it!

Supernatural acts—signs—wonders—miracles! The Hebrew writer says in Hebrews 2, verse 4, “God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His Own Will…” And so God has revealed Himself in this way, as well.

In addition, God has revealed Himself supremely in the PERSON OF JESUS CHRIST. Let’s look at Hebrews, chapter 1, verses 1 and 2. This is a brief summary of God’s dealings with man—of God’s declaring Himself to man. “God, Who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, Whom He has appointed heir of all things, through Whom also He made the worlds…” And then in John, chapter 1, verse 18, John writes, “No one has seen God at any time. The Only Begotten Son, Who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.” So Jesus—by Who He is, by what He did, by what He continues to do now, by what He said when He was here on the earth, by ALL of these things—declares Who God is. See also: John 14:9; Matthew 26:16-18.

Then the fifth way God declares Who He is in this supernatural, special revelation is by the HOLY SCRIPTURES—the BIBLE. The Scriptures embody all of the revelations. They are the record of these things that we’ve talked about as God speaks to us today in a special sense. The ONLY way God speaks to us today is through the written Scriptures contained in the Bible. That is how God deals with us in these latter days. No—He doesn’t whisper to any one in their ear. No—there are no latter-day prophets. No—there isn’t anyone who has a special revelation from God, no one who can claim, “I received a word from God!” No—we’ve all received the same Word from God. It is His Holy Bible!

Paul writes to Timothy in 2 Timothy 3:16 and 17: “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable…” That Scripture given by the inspiration of God continues, and it is thorough. It is there to make us complete, to thoroughly furnish us to every good work. When something is complete, when something furnishes thoroughly, what else is there? What else is needed? I submit to you, nothing else is needed! [“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works,” 2 Timothy 3:16-17, King James Version].

So, we can know God! God has not left us wondering or wanting [lacking sufficient information or knowledge] about how to do that. Rather, He has revealed Himself, both in a general way—a natural way—and also in a special way—a supernatural way.

Let’s consider for a moment what we can learn about God by or through what has been revealed to us. Again, since God has revealed Himself to us in so many ways, we can know Him. Not only can we KNOW Him, we can know Him as He WANTS us to know Him, because of His self-revelation that is found in the Scriptures. From Scripture, we can define God by applying some of the essential and distinguishing attributes and characteristics which He has revealed to us.

For example, we can define God in His nature. We learn that in His nature, God is spirit. John 4, verse 24 is a well-known Scripture (Jesus is with the Samaritan woman at the well) that we quote often as to how we are to worship. [“God is spirit, and His worshipers must worship in spirit and in Truth.”] We are to worship in spirit and in Truth. Why is that? Because Jesus said that, “God is spirit.” So that is the defining nature of God. He is spirit. We cannot see God. We cannot visually acquire Him like I can visually look out and see you and you can look and see me. We can’t make that observation of God; therefore, we must see Him by faith. As the Hebrew writer says in that great faith chapter, Hebrews, chapter 11, and verse 6, “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”