Renewing Your Mind Podcast

Episode: The Necessity of Special Revelation

Date: January 15, 2026

Host: Ligonier Ministries | Speaker: Dr. R.C. Sproul

Episode Overview

This episode delves into the foundational theological distinction between “general” and “special” revelation. Dr. R.C. Sproul explains why general revelation—God’s self-disclosure in nature and creation—is not sufficient for salvation, and why the special revelation found uniquely in the Scriptures is essential. Sproul walks listeners through core sections of the Westminster Confession of Faith, clarifying how believers should view the authority, inspiration, and necessity of the Bible, and addressing common objections about the fate of those who have never heard the Gospel.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. General vs. Special Revelation

• General Revelation (01:23)

  • General revelation is “general” in both its information and audience.
  • It reveals basic facts: the existence, eternal power, deity, and wisdom of God.
  • Everyone everywhere receives this knowledge, but it doesn't disclose the “particulars” of God's character as Scripture does.
  • “The audience is general. That is, the whole world of inhabited beings are the recipients of this self disclosure of God. Everybody is open to and receives general revelation.” (01:57)

• Human Guilt and Universal Knowledge of God (00:00, 02:49)

  • No one is truly “innocent” before God; all have received and then distorted the knowledge of God that comes through nature.
  • Memorable moment: Sproul on the “innocent native in Africa” objection.

    “That person goes straight to heaven. He doesn’t pass go, he doesn’t collect his $200… The gospel’s not for innocent people. The gospel is for guilty people… There aren’t any innocent people out there.” (02:52)

• Why General Revelation Is Insufficient (04:39)

  • General revelation leaves all people “inexcusable” but is inadequate for providing the way of salvation.

    “You’re not going to learn the Gospel by studying the stars. Therefore... it pleased the Lord... to reveal Himself and to declare His will unto His church, and... to commit the same wholly unto writing.” (05:27)

2. The Necessity and Uniqueness of Special Revelation

• Special Revelation Through Scripture (06:12-08:45)

  • God provided special revelation at “sundry times and in diverse manners” (dreams, prophets, theophanies), but now has “committed the substance of His special revelation... into writing.”
  • Scripture is “most necessary”—not just necessary, but necessary to the highest degree for knowing God and His will.
  • Quote:

    “It is not just necessary to have the Scripture. It's most necessary. It's necessary to the superlative degree. For us, if we're going to know who God is... we have to have the Scriptures.” (09:24)

• Lifelong Mastery of Scripture (12:10)

  • Mastery of Scripture is a lifelong pursuit; there are no shortcuts.

    “There is no mastery of Scripture in three easy lessons. This is a lifelong pursuit… and it doesn't quit until the day you die.” (12:45)

  • Even after decades, new riches are continually found in the Word.

3. The Canon of Scripture & Inspiration

• Definition and Scope of the Canon (15:10, 18:49)

  • The canon = 66 books of Old and New Testaments, “all of which… are given by inspiration of God to be the rule of faith and life.”
  • Inspiration is not mere human authorship; it is God’s superintendence to preserve His truth.

    “When we talk about inspiration, we're talking about God's superintendence of human activity... God preserves the truth of His word while He inspires those human authors in such a way as to keep them from distorting His truth.” (19:37)

• ‘God-Breathed’ Nature of Scripture (21:00)

  • The Greek (theopneustos) is more “expired” (breathed out) than “inspired” (breathed in).

    “What the Bible is saying about itself is that all of the Scripture is breathed out by God.” (21:35)

  • The authority of Scripture covers “faith and life”—that is, every aspect of the believer’s existence.

• Partial Inspiration Error Refuted (22:30)

  • Some argue the Bible is only authoritative on “faith and life”, not on history/science, leaving room for error.
  • Dr. Sproul insists this is a twisting of the confession:

    “The Word of God rules over your faith and it rules over your life and every part of your life: your historical part, your scientific part, your psychological part, your whole life is under the rule of the Word of God.” (23:00)

4. Apocrypha and the Protestant Canon

• Protestant vs. Catholic Canon (24:27)

  • Westminster Confession excludes Apocryphal books; considers only the standard 66 as authoritative.
  • Roman Catholic Church includes Apocrypha (Council of Trent, referencing the Greek/Alexandrian canon).

• Normative Authority of the Canon (25:10)

  • “Canon” means “measuring rod”—the books recognized as the normative rule for belief and life in the church.

  • Ongoing debate over sources: Palestinian canon (excluding Apocrypha) vs. Alexandrian/Egyptian canon (including it).

  • Notable quote:

    “The Bible is not just one book, it's a collection... of 66 books which do not include those books written in the intertestamental period... Now, the Roman Catholic Church... include the Apocrypha in the Bible. So what the Protestants delete, the Catholics include.” (24:55)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the “Innocent Native” Question

  “The gospel’s not for innocent people. The gospel is for guilty people... There aren't any innocent people out there. And they say, ‘You mean God is gonna condemn somebody for rejecting Jesus when they've never heard of Jesus?’ God judges everybody on the basis of the light that they have. But you have to understand that Christ comes into a world that is already under the universal indictment of God the Father... They can't claim ignorance as an excuse.” (02:55-04:03)

• On the Superlative Necessity of Scripture

  “It would seem to me that the true necessity does not admit to degrees... but they wanted to emphasize that necessity to have the Scriptures by stressing that it is not just necessary to have the Scripture. It's most necessary... If we're going to know who God is, how to please him, how to grow in his grace, we have to have the Scriptures.” (09:12-09:58)

• Against Quick-Fix Bible Reading Plans

  “Forget this idea that you can do it in 15 minutes a day. There is no mastery of Scripture in three easy lessons. This is a lifelong pursuit to master the pages of sacred Scripture.” (12:32-12:54)

Timestamps for Key Sections

• General vs. Special Revelation – 01:23-06:12
• Objection: “Innocent Native” & Universal Guilt – 02:49-05:23
• Why Scripture is ‘Most Necessary’ – 06:12-09:58
• The Lifelong Mastery of Scripture – 12:10-14:08
• The Canon and Inspiration – 15:10-23:10
• Partial Inspiration Refuted – 22:30-23:25
• The Apocrypha and Canon Debate – 24:27-26:00

Concluding Reflection

Dr. Sproul challenges complacency among Christians regarding the Bible:

“We have lost our capacity to tremble before the Word of God as if the Scriptures were no longer necessary for our health and for our salvation.” (14:01)

He urges believers to treasure, study, and submit wholly to God’s most necessary special revelation—the Scriptures—recognizing both their unique divine origin and their ultimate authority over every aspect of faith and life.

For further study:
Sproul references “Truths We Confess,” a commentary on the Westminster Confession, for those interested in exploring the doctrines discussed in more detail.