Progressive revelation

Along with this notion of an expanding Kingdom, Jesus also preached a message about progressive revelation, or that God would reveal Truth continually and gradually throughout the ages.


When Jesus was prophesying about his eventual crucifixion and ascension in John 16, he comforted his disciples with these words: I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you….I have much more to say to you, more than you can now hear. But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth.


Jesus said that his life’s mission was to reveal the truth of God, but that there was much more he wanted to teach us that was “more than we could now hear”. With that he promised that he would send the Holy Spirit who will continue to guide and teach the Church, leading us into all the Truth.
Just as the Kingdom is revealed progressively over time, so is Truth. And just as the Kingdom is not fully realized on earth as it is in heaven, neither has all Truth been revealed.


We have much more to learn. The Spirit of God is still teaching us. Though an ancient counsel of theologians may have declared that the Biblical canon is closed, the Scriptures themselves are clear that God’s revelatory work certainly isn’t finished.


From “Gay & Christian, No Contradiction; A Brief Guide for Reconciling Christian Faith & LGBT+ Identity” – by Brandan Robertson

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