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12 Introduction
The Heavens
First, how are all human beings supposed to know that God exists and
that he is powerful and beneficent and should be glorified and thanked?
David, the king of Israel, answered in Psalm 19, “The heavens declare
the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork” (v. 1).
But there are many people who do not see the glory of God when
they look at the heavens. Nevertheless, the apostle Paul says that we
should see it and that we are without excuse if we don’t, because
what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has
shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal
power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the
creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are
without excuse. For although they knew God, they did not honor
him as God or give thanks to him. (Rom. 1:19–21)
God has shown everyone the glory of his power and deity and beneficence.
If we do not see God’s glory, we are still responsible to see it,
treasure it as glorious, and give God thanks. If we don’t, we are “without
excuse.”
The Son
Second, how did Jesus’s first followers know that he was the Messiah,
the Son of the living God? One of those followers answered, “The Word
became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as
of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14).
But there were others who looked at Jesus, saw his miracles, and
heard his words but did not see divine glory. To such people Jesus said,
“Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me?” (John
14:9). He had shown them enough. They were responsible to see the
glory—and to know him.
The Gospel
Third, how are people who hear the good news of the Christian gospel
supposed to know that it is from God? The apostle Paul answered: by
“seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image