General revelation makes available to all men a knowledge of God’s power, righteousness, and providential rule, but it contains nothing of God’s redemptive purposes through the incarnation of Jesus Christ. God’s existence and glory are plainly revealed to all men by the things that are made, by the aid of a general illumination which enlightens every man who comes into the world so that all men clearly see God’s existence, power, and righteousness. Apart from special revelation the wisest and most educated of men have failed to discover gospel truth; in spite of their knowledge of God, none worship him as God. Instead, they worship and serve his creation. God meets the sinner’s need with “special” revelation. It is special in both content and outreach. Its content is not general truth about God but specifically God’s gracious plan of redemption including the Jewish history creating and preserving the Messiah’s line. The outreach of special revelation, is not universal but in fact limited to “many.”
That is why even when men, the wisest of men, can read the scriptures and hear the gospel taught and preached and still not respond to the “special revelation”.
Amen! I'm reminded of the magicians who had to acknowledge the power of God or the Pharisees who listen to the words of Christ but could not understand it because they were not His sheep. Christians are called to preached the gospel but it is God's Spirit that quicken us and gives us the wisdom from above to led us to salvation. And, just as important, God's Spirit sustains us to continuously understand His word.