-- Peter Kreeft, Three Philosophies of Life
Nature reveals that there is a God; however, it does not show you what kind of expression He is wearing on His face. It shows you that there is a Man in another room., but it doesn't inform you as to His disposition towards those in your room. Is He over there because He doesn't like this room? Would He accept an invitation? Would He receive visitors? Would He answer the door if we knocked? Would He ever knock at our door?
The world makes visible some of God's invisible character qualities, but not all of them. The general revelation of the skies gets us somewhere, but it can't take us there and it can't tell us much about the somewhere it gets us. It's better than nothing, but it's nothing if not begging some questions.
What we need is special revelation and the Bible is just that. It is more pointed, more specific. It is not merely the sound of God's voice, like the sun in the sky, but the words and the accent in which He speaks. The Bible reveals the character of God in more detail. It puts into specific words what nature can only imply by illustration. It communicates with more detail the way the evening news anchor uses words instead of pantomime to review the day's events.
But Jesus is the face of God. He is revelation incarnate. Nothing communicates His invisible attributes better than the tangible, physical, incarnate face of God in Christ Jesus. He is the ultimate revelation of Who God is and what He is like.
John 14:8-9
Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?
Hebrews 1:1-3
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. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power.
John 14:8-9
Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?
Hebrews 1:1-3
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. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power.
2 Corinthians 4:6
For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
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