Revelation, natural, special or otherwise

[MysticMonist]

So Aquanis breaks revelation into two types.
Natural revelation (I would add inadaqeute): the knowledge of God given to all mankind, yet too vague and without saving power or really able to do man any good besides leading him to special revelation, which I would argue it does not accurately do.

Special revelation: the belief that there is a specific and precise message needed for salvation, meant for all people, which God only gives to some people. I know appologists of special revelations would argue that all or nearly all of humanity have access to and have at least heard of their respective gospels. However, for many people receiving such message as true is a cultural or psychological or spirtual impossibility or improbabilty.

I purpose two other possible types of revelation and want to know how we would know if they exist.

Adaquete natural revelation: the idea that God reveals enough of His Truth for salvation and to lead a generally good and holy life to all people outside the need for scripturers or religions. Not that these things can’t contain this revelation but in order to be natural they cannot exclusively contain this adaquete Truth.

Occult (hidden) revelation: the idea that God reveals some of his Truth to some, but not all people in means of his choosing. Perhaps they are purely divine gifts freely bestowed or perhaps they are estoeric and must be obtained thru prayer, works or study or combination of those or perhaps a mix of works and grace. But this hidden knowledge while beneficial for greater holiness is not a criteria for general salvation or general holiness.

I would argue that adaquete natural revelation is logically incompatible with necessary special revelation. You cannot have a knowledge of God available to all that is saving and yet have a restricted knowledge needed for salvation.

So the question is, can we outside of the teachings of religion, have an essential or sufficient knowledge of God to be saved? Is salvation even a thing or are we are all saved or does knowledge and acceptance of revelation even have anything to do with salvation?

Just some simple questions

 

[John_Martin]

One is “saved” when one is baptized by a Christian plus taught all that Jesus commanded by the Church. Thus one becomes effectively a citizen of the Kingdom established by God, in the world but no longer one of the world’s own people. Now a foreigner and sojourner in the land where they live.

The revelation that brings one to seek baptism is termed “gratuitous Grace”, where some real person interacts with the “seeker” such that becoming a disciple of Jesus seems a desirable thing to be true. So this “seeker” says, “Here is water, what is to prevent you from baptizing me, and will you also teach me all that Jesus commanded?”

The “seeker” may not realize it as it happens, but when the Christian baptizes him into the Name (of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit), now in the Name, the “seeker” also receives the Holy Spirit with Sanctifying Grace, whereby he is renewed in his soul to be able to recognize what are faithful, hopeful, and charitable movements to do in his new being. And in being taught, he learns how to make use of these new infused virtues.

These are the revelations that an individual encounters:

• A real person serving his LORD as he encounters this individual. In serving his LORD, he brings the Scriptures as his witness.
• The indwelling of the Holy Spirit as Light enlightening the soul with light in the wavelengths of the three Virtues mentioned, such that the new creature can now see virtuous things to accomplish that were not visible before these wavelengths were enlightening his soul.

No special knowledge is needed, only needed is a real person in front of you who faithfully presents Jesus to you, calling you to “Follow”, and needed is the new Light of Faith, Hope, and Love shining within…
Then you walk with this other, with the Church, as a fellow disciple, not neglecting to meet together (as is sadly the habit of some), and participating in the Mass (and yourself being a servant of the LORD, of Gratuitous Grace).

John Martin