GOD HAS SPOKEN BY HIS PROPHETS

Has God ever spoken to you?  Has He ever revealed any new truth to you? 

Last week the subject matter of my pastor’s sermon was the reformation principle of “Sola Scriptura” which has to do with the sufficiency of Scripture as our only and supreme authority in all spiritual matters. 

So one of the Hymns I selected for our congregational singing was “God Has Spoken By His Prophets.”  I love this great, old hymn because it is rich in biblical doctrine. 

Hebrews 1:1-2 says, “God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in times past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds."

That passage forms the outline and sets the theme for this hymn; “God has Spoken.”

Verse one starts with the declaration that God spoke His “unchanging Word,” in times past, through His prophets. 

Then, in verse two, the author takes us to “These last days.”  God’s revelation today is “By His Son,” who is far superior to and more excellent than all the ancient patriarchs and prophets.  He is the Living Word of God.

In verse three the writer tells us that God is still speaking today BUT then he quickly points us to the vehicle the Spirit of God uses, and that is “the ageless Word” of God.

Notice the recurring emphasis on the unchanging or ageless Word of God  in all three verses.  Everything God wants to reveal to us, in this world, about Him and our faith and practice in our relationship to Him has been revealed in His complete, unchanging Word.  It’s not that God can’t speak directly or reveal something different to us; it’s just that He doesn’t   In that divinely inspired Hebrews passage we are told that God has spoken. Furthermore, in Revelation, we are warned that we are not to add anything to or take anything from God’s Word because He is unchanging and His Word is established forever.  There is no new revelation.  And that provides us certainty and security.  We need not wonder about those who claim to have new revelation from God - they don't.  Nor do we need to wonder about any new message we may think we got from God - we didn't.  If our new revelation disagrees with scripture, we don't need it.  And if it does agree with scripture, we still don't need it.

Do you want something new from God?  Ask Him for it and then open His Book and listen to His "unchanging" written Word.  

 God Has Spoken By His Prophets

1.      God has spoken by His prophets,
Spoken His unchanging Word.

            Each from age to age proclaiming
     God, the One, the righteous Lord.

            In the world’s despair and turmoil
     One firm anchor hold us fast.

            God is King, His throne eternal,
     God the First and God the Last.

2.      God has spoken by Christ Jesus. 
Christ the everlasting Son.
      Brightness of the Father’s glory,
With the Father ever one.

            Spoken by the Word incarnate,
     God of God ere time was born.

             Light of Light, to earth descending,
     Christ as God in human form.

3.      God is speaking by His Spirit,
 Speaking to our hearts again;
      In the ageless Word expounding
God’s own message, now as then.

            Through the rise and fall of nations
     One sure faith yet standing fast;

            God abides, His Word unchanging,
     God the First and God the Last.