How Does God Speak To Us Today? Bruce W. Robida

 

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

These verses show us that before Jesus came to the earth, God spoke to us through various prophets at many times and in various ways.  The writer of the book of Hebrews makes the point clear that now(...but in these last days...) God has spoken to us through His Son, Jesus Christ.  Is it possible that God speaks to us by other means today?  If Hebrews 1:1 made no mention of God speaking to us through prophets in the past, I might be tempted to think that He could speak to us through prophets like He did in the past.  But because He said, "...but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son..." I am forced to conclude that Jesus Christ was the final prophet through whom God has spoken. It is also interesting to note that the writer of Hebrews uses the words has spoken rather than is speaking, or speaks.  God has already spoken and we can find His words in one place and only one place, the Holy Bible.  So let us consider a few other possibilities.

Other prophets

If God has already spoken "...but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son..." is it logical that He would speak to us again by another prophet?  How about Joseph Smith?  Were his words greater that those of Jesus Christ?  What about Islam’s prophet, Muhammad, were his words greater than those of Jesus Christ?  What about the many prophets of the Jehovah’s Witnesses, or even those of the Word of Faith /Charismatic/Pentecostal movement?  Are their words greater than those of Jesus Christ?  And what about the Virgin Mary?  Does she really speak to us today?  Are her words greater than those of Jesus Christ? What can anyone tell us that God has not already told us through His Son, Jesus Christ?  Is there any message that has been told by a different prophet that can be compared to the message that Christ gave us? 

The apostle Paul charged Timothy with these instructions:

You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, persecutions, sufferings--what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra, the persecutions I endured. Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them. In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil men and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:10-17

Paul told Timothy "...continue in what you have learned..." What did Timothy learn and from whom did he learn it? "...because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures..." What he learned was from the Holy Scriptures which he learned from the apostle Paul and possibly other apostles as well.  And here we see that the Holy Scriptures are complete. "... which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work."

So then, what need would there be for other, future prophets?  The Book of Mormon was published in 1830 and  "There is no hard evidence for the existence of the Koran in any form before the last decade of the seventh century" (Toby Lester, executive editor of Atlantic Unbound, the Atlantic Monthly Web site).   In contrast, the Bible has been around for centuries.

Conclusion:

God has spoken to us through His Son and continues to speak to us through His Word, the Holy Bible.  There is no other source for God’s Word where teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness is concerned.  If it is true that the Bible is "...able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus...", and it is useful for "...teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.", then there are no other prophets through whom God speaks today.  Now as a preacher or teacher reveals some truth to each of us through preaching and teaching from the Word of God (the Bible), then he may be regarded as a prophet.  Other than that, there are no legitimate prophets today. 

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