God's Communication: Beyond Scripture and Its Authority

In today's discussion, we explored the ongoing debate between cessationism and continuationism, focusing on the belief that God still communicates with humanity outside the confines of the written scriptures. Cessationists argue that the miraculous gifts of the Spirit ceased with the apostolic age, while continuationists, including charismatics and Pentecostals, believe these gifts are still active today. I presented the ninth reason why cessationism is incorrect, emphasizing that God communicates beyond the Bible, a notion supported by scripture itself.

Romans 1:20-21 illustrates that God reveals His invisible attributes through creation, a form of natural revelation. This passage, along with others, demonstrates that God communicates through creation and conscience, indicating that His communication is not limited to the written word. Additionally, John 16:8 highlights the Holy Spirit's role in convicting the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment, which can occur outside the explicit words of scripture.

While I respect my cessationist brothers and sisters for their dedication to the authority and sufficiency of scripture, I argue that acknowledging God's communication outside the Bible does not undermine these principles. The Bible remains the ultimate authority, but God, in His sovereignty, may choose to communicate in other ways, such as through dreams, impressions, or prophetic words. These forms of communication should always be tested and regarded as subordinate to scripture.

I caution against seeking extra-biblical revelations, emphasizing the importance of grounding our faith in the established word of God. However, I acknowledge that God may choose to communicate in unique ways for His purposes and glory. This belief is not an invitation to disregard the Bible but an acknowledgment of God's ability to reach humanity in diverse ways.

In conclusion, the claim that God only speaks through scripture is false. God communicates through creation, conscience, and potentially other means, all of which should be measured against the eternal word of God. The Bible stands alone as the ultimate authority, but we must remain open to the ways God may choose to reveal Himself.

Key Takeaways

• 1. 21 shows that God reveals His attributes through creation, indicating that His communication is not confined to the Bible. This natural revelation demonstrates that God speaks to humanity in diverse ways, which should be acknowledged and respected. [05:23]
  2. The Role of the Holy Spirit: John 16:8 highlights the Holy Spirit's work in convicting the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment. This conviction can occur outside the explicit words of scripture, showcasing God's ability to reach individuals in unique ways.
  
  3. Respecting Scripture's Authority: While God may communicate outside the Bible, the written word remains the ultimate authority. Any extra-biblical communication should be tested and regarded as subordinate to scripture, ensuring that our faith remains grounded in God's eternal word.
  
  4. Caution Against Seeking Extra-Biblical Revelations: We should not actively seek dreams, visions, or prophetic words outside the Bible. Instead, we should focus on the established word of God, trusting that He will communicate in other ways if necessary for His purposes and glory.
  
  5. Openness to God's Sovereignty: Acknowledging God's ability to communicate outside the Bible does not undermine the authority of scripture. It reflects an openness to God's sovereignty and His ability to reach humanity in diverse ways, always measured against the eternal word of God.
  
  ** [05:23]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [00:31] - Introduction to the Debate
• [01:12] - Overview of Previous Reasons
• [04:00] - Reason Nine: God's Communication Outside the Bible
• [05:23] - Natural Revelation: Creation and Conscience
• [06:29] - The Holy Spirit's Conviction
• [08:05] - Authority and Sufficiency of Scripture
• [09:15] - Caution Against Seeking Extra-Biblical Words
• [10:26] - Personal Experiences of God's Communication
• [11:04] - Dreams and Impressions
• [12:14] - God's Sovereignty in Communication
• [13:08] - Testing and Measuring Against Scripture
• [13:56] - Conclusion and Invitation for Feedback
• [14:24] - Preview of the Next Video

1. According to Romans 1:20-21, how does God reveal His invisible attributes to humanity? What does this imply about His communication with us? [05:23]
2. In John 16:8, what role does the Holy Spirit play in the world, and how does this relate to God's communication outside of scripture? [07:02]
3. How does the sermon describe the relationship between God's communication through creation and conscience and the authority of the Bible? [08:38]
4. What caution does the speaker give regarding seeking extra-biblical revelations, and why is this important? [09:53]

1. How might Romans 1:20-21 challenge the belief that God only communicates through the Bible? What does this passage suggest about the ways God can reveal Himself? [05:23]
2. In what ways does the Holy Spirit's work of conviction, as described in John 16:8, demonstrate God's ability to communicate beyond the written word? [07:02]
3. How does the sermon reconcile the belief in God's communication outside the Bible with the authority and sufficiency of scripture? [08:38]
4. What are the potential dangers of actively seeking extra-biblical revelations, and how can believers ensure their faith remains grounded in scripture? [09:53]

1. Reflect on a time when you felt God communicated with you outside of reading the Bible. How did you test and measure this experience against scripture? [10:43]
2. How can you remain open to God's communication through creation and conscience while ensuring that your faith is firmly rooted in the Bible? [08:38]
3. What steps can you take to discern whether a dream, impression, or prophetic word is truly from God? How can you involve your faith community in this process? [11:04]
4. In what ways can you cultivate a deeper reliance on the Holy Spirit's conviction in your daily life, especially in areas where you struggle with sin or righteousness? [07:02]
5. How can you balance being open to God's unique ways of communication with the caution against seeking extra-biblical revelations? What practices can help you maintain this balance? [09:53]
6. Consider how you might respond to someone who claims to have received a message from God outside of scripture. How can you lovingly guide them to test and measure this against the Bible? [12:51]
7. Identify one area in your life where you need to trust in God's sovereignty and His ability to communicate with you. How can you actively seek His guidance in this area while remaining grounded in scripture? [12:14]