Hearing from God is All About Sanctification

Over my last several posts, I have discussed the issue of God speaking to people in ways other than thru the Bible. I don’t want to rehash those again, but if you haven’t read them yet, you can do so here, here, and here. This post is designed to put what I believe is the final Scriptural nail in the perverbial coffin of the issue of whether or not God is speaking today to people in ways other than thru His inspired, inerrant, breathed-out Word. Here goes.

I believe this whole issue of hearing God speak outside of the Bible has to do with sanctification, or living the Christian life. I doubt anyone is claiming to be receiving new truth from God, and all the examples I have heard have to do with a decision that must be made…uncertainty in the direction to take a ministry…should I take this job or that job…am I to marry this person…how should I deal with this situation…what to do, what to do , what to do. Therefore, all of this need of people to hear God speak to them apart from Scripture has to do with their daily Christian walk…their sanctification. These personal words from God are concerned with the day to day life of the Christian. It’s all about sanctification.

1. Regarding our sanctification, I first want to direct you again to 2 Timothy 3:16-17, which says:

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.

This verse is talking about what? Sanctification…the life of the Christian. And it says that the areas covered by it are teaching, reproof, correction, and training in righteousness (all issues of our daily walk). It also says that from Scripture, the man of God may be competent (fitted, perfect, complete), and equipped for every good work – more truth concerning our sanctification. So here’s my question – IF all Scripture is profitable for the things this verse says it is…and IF it results in compentency (to do what?…live the Christian life) and being equipped for every good work (subject…our daily walk), then WHY would people still need to hear from God apart from/in addition to that God-breathed Scripture? That just doesn’t make sense to me…either Scripture is sufficient for our sanctification and daily Christian walk, or it is not. Which is it?

2. Regarding the issue of our sanctification, I also want to direct you to some statements in Scripture concerning sanctification and how it comes about. This next and final point will be a small exercise in logic, and in letting the Bible interpret itself.

According to the Bible, God seems to be very concerned with our sanctification. And what else is directly tied to our sanctification than our daily walk in this life? God not only wants us to be sanctified, He demands it. Paul gives us the exhoration to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which we have been called, and I hope we could all agree that our sanctification (our daily walk) is of the utmost importance. Why else would so many want to hear from God on specific day-to-day issues in their personal lives? They want to be sancitified. They want to live their life in a worthy manner. They want to know what to do, how to act, which road to take. They want direction and guidance. I do too. The issue , then, with hearing from God, is sanctification.

Here are the logical statements I want you to consider. Let’s try a real basic one first:

• In the beginning was the word
• The word was God
• All things were made through the word
• Jesus made all things
• The word became flesh and dwealt among us
• Therefore – Jesus is the word…Jesus is God

This one is even easier:

• Jesus prayed for our sanctification (John 17:17)
• Jesus prayed that God would sanctify us in the truth (John 17:17)
• Therefore – our sanctification is important, and happens by way of the truth

See how easy that was? Let’s try another one.

• Jesus prayed, “Sanctify them [his sheep] in the truth” (John 17:17)
• Jesus declared, “Your word is truth” (John 17:17)
• Paul declared that the church is sanctified through the word (Eph. 5:26)
• Therefore – sanctification comes through the truth, which is the word

Jesus didn’t ask that we be sanctified through personal messages from the Father. He prayed that we would be sanctified in the truth, which is the word of God. Paul also states that the church’s sanctification comes through the word, not from receiving personal messages from God that provide direction and guidance. If it was good enough for Jesus and Paul, surely the word of truth is good enough for you and your daily walk…wouldn’t you say?

In conclusion, sanctification is the issue. That’s the whole point of receving some directive from God not contained in the Bible. People claim to hear from God on matters of their daily walk…things that have to do with their being more and more conformed to the image of his Son. Christ clearly proclaimed in His prayer to the Father that sanctification comes through the truth, and he declared God’s word to be the truth. Therefore, Christ declared that sanctification comes through the word of God…NOT through private, personal directions from God apart from Scripture.

The only thing needed for sanctification is the word of truth (and, of course, the illumination of that word by the Holy Spirit). David, when writing about his daily walk with God, did not comment on receiving personal, private guidance from the Lord, but instead said, “Your word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against You.” The word of truth results in sanctification, therefore there is no need for – nor is there a present reality of – God speaking directly to people on matters of faith and practice. He has already done that with His incredible breathed-out Scriptures.

Remember, if the Scriptures were not sufficient, then we would ALL need to receive additional direction and guidance from God. But, 2 Timothy 3:16-17 says that it is sufficient, and as such, we have no need to hear from God outside of Scripture…and we do not hear from Him outside of Scripture. Those who think they do, and those who think they need to in order to live this life, simply need to turn to the word of truth – by which God has given all we need for our daily walk in this world.

By the way, God told me to write this…so there is no basis on which to argue against it.