Reason and Revelation
Scripture Reading: Romans 6:1-4
Leading up to Romans chapter six, Paul has been exulting in the grace of God. He ends chapter five with these encouraging words to those who feel as though the depth of their sin bars them from the forgiveness of God: Where sin increased, grace abounded all the more…
The first line of chapter six, then, is Paul’s getting ahead of what is sure to be faulty conclusions that some will draw from his statement on the abundance of grace. He realizes that some will take him to mean that since grace is more than sufficient to cover any and all sin, we can therefore continue in sin. Some might even conclude that the continuance in sin is a good thing because to do so would allow grace to abound.
Of course, Paul squashes that idea and makes a plea for sanctification and holy living. My point here, though, is more of a general principle we should take to heart. While human reasoning is a good gift from God; He created with this incredible ability to think, deduce, learn, and develop our understanding of our world. But we need to be cautious about exalting reason above revelation. Our logical deductions can lead us to a position that is opposed to revealed truth. That is what Paul is tackling in Romans six.
Notice, though, that doesn’t mean revelation is unreasonable or illogical. If you follow Paul’s train of thought through this chapter, you will see that it is completely reasonable. The problem is we, in our natural way of thinking, wouldn’t come to these conclusions apart from having them revealed to us by God.
The way I would say it is revelation isn’t what we would come up with by our reasoning, but once we see it, once it is revealed to us, it seems completely reasonable and logical to our redeemed minds. God’s wisdom often looks like foolishness to the unredeemed, and human wisdom is often foolishness to God and God’s people.
Subject reason to revelation and revelation will be perfectly reasonable.
