HOW DOES GOD SPEAK TO US TODAY?

“Long ago God spoke many times and in many ways to our ancestors through the prophets. And now in these final days, he has spoken to us through his Son. God promised everything to the Son as an inheritance, and through the Son he created the universe. The Son radiates God’s own glory and expresses the very character of God, and he sustains everything by the mighty power of his command. When he had cleansed us from our sins, he sat down in the place of honour at the right hand of the majestic God in heaven. This shows that the Son is far greater than the angels, just as the name God gave him is greater than their names.”— Hebrews 1:1–4 (NLT)

This passage underscores a progression in how God has communicated with His

people throughout history. In the Old Testament, God revealed His will through

prophets, who instructed the people and their leaders—whether commanders or

kings—on His divine directives. These prophets were called to speak God’s

words, whether of warning, encouragement, or instruction. Over time, the words

of these prophets were recorded, forming a significant portion of the Hebrew

Scriptures, including books like Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel.

With the establishment of the new covenant, however, God chose to reveal

Himself fully through His Son, Jesus Christ. Through Jesus, the fullness of God's

glory and character was made known, ushering in the time of grace and jubilee.

As the ultimate revelation of God, Jesus embodies the culmination of God's

communication with humanity.

This naturally raises an important question: Does God still speak today?

Specifically, does He speak through words, as in prophecy, or has divine

communication ceased with the closing of the biblical canon? This is a sensitive

issue, particularly within evangelical circles, where many hold firmly to the belief

that the Bible is the final and sufficient Word of God. Some may feel that claims of

modern prophecy undermine the sufficiency of Scripture. However, Scripture itself

teaches that God continues to speak to His people today, primarily through two

channels: His written Word, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit.

The Bible is the infallible and authoritative revelation of God, inspired by the Holy

Spirit. It provides all the guidance necessary for life and godliness (2 Timothy

3:16-17). The Scriptures were given “once for all” (Jude 1:3) and remain

timelessly relevant for every believer, in every place and era. At the same time,

the Holy Spirit continues to work in believers' lives, illuminating Scripture,

convicting of sin, and providing wisdom and direction (John 14:26, Romans

8:26-27). Thus, while the canon of Scripture is closed, God’s voice is not silent.

He speaks to His people today through His Word and His Spirit, guiding His

church and drawing believers closer to Himself.

While prophecy as a spiritual gift may still exist (1 Corinthians 12:10, 14:1), it must

always align with the Bible and be tested against its teachings (1 Thessalonians

5:20-21, 1 John 4:1). Any modern prophecy is situational and temporary, meant

for encouragement, edification, or direction within the church (1 Corinthians 14:3).

Unlike Scripture, prophecy is not infallible, universal, or timeless, and must always

remain subordinate to the authority of God’s Word.

Prima Scriptura

In my personal opinion, I find the Reformation phrase Sola Scriptura ("by

Scripture alone") to be an imperfect term when it comes to testing revelation and

divine communication. While it rightly asserts that Scripture is the ultimate

authority in matters of faith and doctrine, it may give the impression that God no

longer speaks or acts directly in the lives of believers today. This interpretation

can inadvertently overlook the work of the Holy Spirit, who continues to guide,

convict, and illuminate truth for God’s people.

Instead, I propose that Prima Scriptura ("Scripture above all") is a more

appropriate expression. This term emphasises that Scripture holds the highest

authority, above all other sources of divine revelation, and serves as the ultimate

standard for testing any claim of truth. While Prima Scriptura allows for the

possibility of God speaking through the Holy Spirit or other means, it ensures that

such communication must always be subordinate to Scripture and in complete

agreement with its teachings.

It is crucial to recognise that the Bible itself was revealed through the inspiration

of the Holy Spirit (2 Timothy 3:16-17, 2 Peter 1:21). Therefore, any claim to

modern revelation or prophecy must be tested rigorously against Scripture, as

instructed in passages like 1 Thessalonians 5:20-21: “Do not despise prophecies,

but test everything; hold fast what is good.” This ensures that the authority of

Scripture remains uncompromised while acknowledging the ongoing work of the

Holy Spirit in guiding believers.

Ultimately, while Scripture is the sole infallible authority, it is through the Spirit that

believers gain understanding and are reminded of God's truths (John 14:26). By

adopting a Prima Scriptura framework, we affirm the supreme authority of the

Bible while remaining open to the dynamic and personal ways God may choose

to speak today. However, we must always hold to Scripture as the measure by

which all claims of divine revelation are tested and validated.

The Key Principles

There are three key principles that revelation and prophecy should never violate:

1. Revelation should never be an addition to the Bible.

2. Revelation should never be an alternative to the Bible.

3. Revelation should never become an advance on the Bible.

These principles affirm that the canon of Scripture is closed, and no new

revelation or prophecy can add to or replace the authority of God's Word.

It is important to distinguish between Scripture and prophecy:

• Scripture is God’s inspired and infallible revelation, intended for all

Christians, in every age, and every place. As Jude 1:3 states, the faith has

been “once for all delivered to the saints.”

• Prophecy and revelation, by contrast, are specific messages given through

the Holy Spirit to particular individuals or communities for a specific time

and purpose (1 Corinthians 14:3). Prophecy is intended to build up,

encourage, and guide, but it is always subordinate to Scripture and must

align with it (1 Thessalonians 5:20-21).

While the Bible is a collection of divine revelations that apply universally,

prophecy is meant to address specific circumstances and should not be treated

as Scripture. However, it can be beneficial to document modern prophecy for the

purpose of testing and accountability, provided it is always evaluated in light of

God’s Word. Prophecy serves to edify the church locally, while Scripture serves

as the ultimate, unchanging revelation for all believers everywhere.

I thought it wise to add this clarification of how God speaks today,

lest any man be led astray. I must remind readers not to believe a word I

write unless it is clearly supported by the Scriptures themselves, which remain the

ultimate authority. The Bible warns us that in the latter days, many will turn from

sound doctrine and embrace myths and fables, whether they involve miracle

bread or miracle seagulls.