Christ Made Known to You, Christ Made Known Through You
The psalmist reveals that, “Yahweh (the Lord) has made Himself known (Ps 9:16).” This is true through His ways to Moses (Ps 103:7; 111:6), and His working wonders among the peoples (Ps 77:14). God is both strong and a stronghold (Ps 48:3). He executes judgment (Ps 9:16) and makes known His salvation (Ps 98:2). It is becoming for His servants to know the hand of the Lord and the power of His works (Ps 111:6; Is 66:14).
When Yahweh makes something known to His servants, they know it (Jer 11:18). There is no more precious revelation than when He says to His own chosen people, “I am the Lord your God (Ezek 20:5).” They are made to see their salvation, as did the Israelites when He brought them out of slavery in Egypt (Ezek 20:9). As God reveals such mysteries, there is nothing hidden and now made known that is greater than the mystery of the Gospel of Jesus Christ (Rom 16:25–26).
God demonstrates His wisdom and power by revealing future events, as He did about the looming Babylonian exile and then even more in Babylon during the days of Daniel (Dan 2:5, 23, 28, 29, 45). God directs both people and events in time. Through angels, the Lord guided Abraham to the Promised Land and the shepherds of Bethlehem to the Promised One (Lk 2:15). What knowledge was granted to the shepherds was theirs to make known to others (Lk 2:17). Jesus made known to His disciples what He heard from the Father (Jn 15:15), even the name of the Most High (Jn 17:26).
Vital to the revelation of God was the prime topic of revelation, Jesus Christ Himself. Just as Joseph revealed His true identity to his brothers in Egypt (Acts 7:13), Jesus reveals both the Father and Himself to those He designates as “brethren.” Jesus is the life of God made known (Jn 14:6; Acts 2:28) and this gives His people joy and gladness because of their union with Him…who is near.
God makes Himself known to all people in a general sense (Rom 1:19). This general revelation in the natural world only makes man responsible and accountable for that which is evident to him. This does not include what is only revealed in the Scriptures of the prophets and apostles (Eph 3:5), which is special revelation. The written Word is an open book, but it is the universal testimony of believers that without the illumination of the Holy Spirit, the Bible is not believed nor valued in the way God intends for His people. He made known to us the mystery of His will (Eph 1:9).
Through the revelation of His purpose for Christ and His church, God reveals His intention to rulers and authorities in the heavenly places (Eph 3:10). Jesus Christ came to save His people from their sins (Mt 1:21), to gather His holy nation of royal priests to Himself (1 Pet 2:9). This salvation of God through Christ, worked by the Holy Spirit, is to be made known with simplicity and clarity for all to understand (2 Pet 1:16).
Christians, filled with indwelling Spirit (Mic 3:8), bear witness of Jesus’ person and work (Acts 1:8). We make known His deeds among the peoples (Ps 105:1; 1 Chron 16:8) because He has made known to us the path of life (Ps 16:11). We speak of His faithfulness manifest to us (Ps 89:1). He saved us (Titus 3:5), and woe to us if we do not preach the Gospel (1 Cor 9:16). His name is not just for the Jews to know (Ezek 39:7), but even the Egyptians and all nations will know it (Is 19:21; Ezek 38:23), even to His adversaries that they may tremble (Is 64:2). Like Daniel of old, it is for God’s chosen people to interpret what God has spoken through His prophets, apostles, and Christ incarnate.
The fruit of the Spirit of Christ, the True Vine, is evidence to be considered (Mt 12:33). Jesus, filled with the Spirit, made the name of Yahweh known like no one else had done or could do (Jn 17:26). Enduring the vessels of His wrath (Rom 9:22), God patiently waits to consummate all things, not wishing that any of His beloved should perish (2 Pet 3:9). The beloved are recipients of the knowledge of the riches of God’s glory (Rom 9:23). They boast, “Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of the Father!” by the Spirit (1 Cor 12:3; Phil 2:11).
Grace (God’s work for the benefit of His people) receives the Gospel (Jn 1:12–13) and turns to preach it, by grace, to the next generation (1 Cor 15:1; Eph 6:19). Here is God’s purpose for us in Christ Jesus. He has made Christ known to His elect, redeemed, regenerate people from all nations (Col 1:27), who are called and commissioned to then make Him known to the whole world (Mt 24:14), even all creation (Mk 16:15).
Woe to those who err because they do not know the Scriptures (Mt 22:29; Mk 12:24). Common is this fatal error to the natural man, who is occupied by the enemy of every man’s soul (Jn 8:44; 2 Cor 4:4). How can you believe in Christ, who you don’t really know? You do not know Him because you do not have His Spirit in you (Rom 8:9). The Spirit is sent to call out the unbelieving elect to come to Christ Jesus (Mt 11:28). The good news is that all that God the Father has given to God the Son shall come to Him (Jn 6:37), yet no one can come to Jesus unless the Father drags him (Jn 6:44, 65).
If God has made Himself known to you by making Christ known then rejoice in His grace unto salvation. May God cause your cup of knowledge to be so full that it overflows from you to make Him known to the world…for salvation to some and judgment for others…and all for His glory.
David Norczyk
Spokane Valley, Washington
April 3, 2022
