Articles
Does God Speak to Us Today
One of the most pervasive ideas in religion today is the concept of modern-day revelation. So many of today’s religious leaders ignore the Scriptures in favor of “hearing God speak” to them. There is a fascination with the idea of hearing God speak to us, audibly and personally. In a way, it’s understandable. Some of the most incredible stories of the Bible are of personal conversations between God and individuals. Adam and Eve’s walking in the Garden of Eden with the Lord represents the relationship we should all strive to have with God (Genesis 3:8). Noah hearing and responding to the voice of God was the thing that saved him and his family (Genesis 7:1-4). The promises made to Abraham are the foundation of both physical and spiritual Israel’s relationship with God (Genesis 12:1-3). The vision of Jesus Christ seen by Paul on the road to Damascus was the beginning of the Apostle’s storied career of spreading the gospel (Acts 9:1-9). With these examples of God speaking to mankind, how do we answer the question of whether God speaks to us today? If we search the Scriptures, we’ll see there are multiple ways that God does still speak to us today.
First and foremost, God clearly speaks to us through His Word. 2 Timothy 3:16 says that all Scripture is “God-breathed.” The Greek word for breath is pneuma, the same word for “Spirit.” This wordplay is intentional: the Word is literally the Spirit of God itself. When we read the Scriptures, we are reading God’s personal instructions to us. We see the Word give us instructions on how to raise our families, how to worship God, and how to once more live as creatures made in the image of God.
The second way God speaks to us today is through Jesus Christ, His son. The Hebrew author introduced his letter by saying that “In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe,” (Hebrews 1:1-2). While all of the Scripture is God’s Word, the sayings of Jesus in the Gospels are a special lens into the heart of our Lord. God, in the flesh, spoke words of comfort, grace, and peace to those who took up their cross and followed Him. Jesus said to His disciples “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me,” (John 10:27). We have the opportunity to hear the voice of God through the words recorded in the Gospel.
The third way God speaks to us is through nature itself. Paul told the Romans that “Since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities – his eternal power and divine nature – have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse,” (Romans 1:20). The glory and beauty of creation speaks to the presence of a Creator. The intricacies of the human body, and how every bone, muscle, organ, and cell work flawlessly together, shows that God took infinite care and love with the creation of mankind in His image. All of His creation speaks to His presence in our daily lives.
A fourth way God speaks to us today is through the Spirit that dwells within us. Paul told the Corinthians that they were “temples of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you,” (1 Corinthians 3:16). This special relationship, where the Spirit of God joins with our spirit upon baptism, allows us to truly communicate with our God. Paul said that “In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose,” (Romans 8:26-28). When we pray to God, He truly answers prayers.
The question that still remains, however, is if any of this is audibly spoken by God? The Scriptures do not specifically say that God does not audibly speak to us today. There are, however, several Scriptures that indicate that it does not occur in the sense of new revelation. First and foremost, Peter told his fellow Christians that “His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness,” (2 Peter 1:3). The previous methods of communication we’ve discussed are more than enough for us to return to our God in heaven. The Word of God contains all that we need to know on how to be saved and how to live holy lives. So, even if God were to hypothetically speak to us, it would not be new information, new revelation, or a new gospel.
Interestingly, the Scriptures actually warn against listening to every voice in our head. Paul talked to the Corinthians about this issue, and said “For if someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the Spirit you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it easily enough,” (2 Corinthians 11:4). If we were to hear voices in our heads that preached a Gospel contrary to the one we already have heard, then we can safely know that it is not God speaking to us. In fact, Paul warns that “Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light,” (2 Corinthians 11:14). So unless we hear an audible voice telling us what we already know from the Scriptures, then we should not jump to conclusions that God is speaking a new revelation to us.
Does God speak to us today? The evidence is undeniable that He does. The Scriptures are the Spirit of God itself conversing with us, and giving us all we need to know in order to be holy. Jesus Christ, God in the flesh, came down from heaven to fully reveal the salvation that we needed. Creation itself loudly proclaims the existence of the Creator. Finally, the presence of the Spirit of God dwelling within us allows us to speak to God and for God to hear our pleas. Do we need to hear God speak to us audibly today to fully understand our relationship with the Lord? No. Is it possible that God speaks audibly to us today? It’s difficult to take a hardline stance and say that God could NEVER speak audibly to His people today, for God certainly has the power to do so. However, scripture has made it clear to us that God has already communicated His full plan for mankind – so we should be very cautious about listening to any voice that tells us something different from what the Word has revealed to us!
Listen to what God has spoken to us. Heed His words, and bring your life to a fuller understanding of the holiness and grace God provides. To God be the glory!
Grace and Peace,
Andrew
