God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; – Hebrews 1:1-2
In today’s church many are making the declaration that God is still speaking to us. The question is this? Is He really? And if He is, just what is He saying?
This is actually a simple reality that can be answered with an emphatic, NO! God is not still speaking to us today.
As shown in Hebrews 1:1, He spoke to us in sundry times, meaning that we were given fragments of His Truth (Greek: polumeros adverb meaning, in many portions, i.e. variously as to time and agency (piecemeal):–at sundry times) through the ages up to Christ,
Also, we are told that He spoke in “diverse manners,” meaning that in times past God spoke in many different ways – directly as with Abraham; through a burning bush as with Moses; by way of visions like to Isaiah; or dreams to Daniel; etc.
He spoke fragmentally and in different ways in “times past.” His message was revealed to the “fathers” through the “prophets.” He no longer gives us new revelation. He is no longer speaking through prophets today.
He “hath” (meaning that it is something that has happened, and no longer will take place) spoken to us through His Son! His message to us is complete. It is also final! We have His Word on it.
The Apostle Peter said, “According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:” – 2 Peter 1:3
Simply stated, as Christians, God has given us everything we need to be a Christian, and everything we need to grow as a Christian too. We have His Word on it.
The tragic thing is the fact that many believe we need more! More feelings, more dreams, more visions, more experiences. If you are reading this today, rest assured, those “things” are not what God has for us. Jesus Christ, and His Word, is all we need. The 66 Books of the Bible are His guidelines for us. When we venture out of His “revelation,” we are treading on dangerous ground. When our theology begins outside of the framework of Scripture, that doctrine, or belief is actually negated, and is more in tune with idolatry.
As Bible Believing Christians we know that God is not in a box, but He has given us His Word to keep us in bounds, safe from our own thoughts and imaginations of the heart. We ought not trust them. In prophesying judgment to the Jews, God, through the Prophet Jeremiah, said;
Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Put your burnt offerings unto your sacrifices, and eat flesh. For I spake not unto your fathers, nor commanded them in the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt, concerning burnt offerings or sacrifices: But this thing commanded I them, saying, Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and ye shall be my people: and walk ye in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well unto you. But they hearkened not, nor inclined their ear, but walked in the counsels and in the imagination of their evil heart, and went backward, and not forward. Since the day that your fathers came forth out of the land of Egypt unto this day I have even sent unto you all my servants the prophets, daily rising up early and sending them: Yet they hearkened not unto me, nor inclined their ear, but hardened their neck: they did worse than their fathers. Therefore thou shalt speak all these words unto them; but they will not hearken to thee: thou shalt also call unto them; but they will not answer thee. But thou shalt say unto them, This is a nation that obeyeth not the voice of the LORD their God, nor receiveth correction: truth is perished, and is cut off from their mouth. – Jeremiah 7:21-28
The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? – Jeremiah 17:9
The human condition is still the same today, and yet we try anything that suits our fancy, especially if it sounds righteous.
As the rules of a sport determine when a play is “out of bounds,” so too does the rulebook for life. Imagine if we were not able to judge whether a ball were fair or foul, because the only thing that mattered was how we felt about it? Think about it!
Why not simply trust Him, and the revealed rules in the BIBLE?
R.J.P.
