God’s Nature in Divine Communication

God’s Nature in Divine Communication

Our heavenly Father is the perfect parent. He perfectly loves, informs and holds each of us to account for our healthy maturation. In the beginning, the LORD made man in His own image, according to His own likeness, a man with whom the Divine Nature would commune. From then on, God spoke, and man understood. Not one of the Old Testament Patriarchs failed to understand God’s Word. Adam understood, and ignored it. Cain understood, and rejected it. Noah understood, and obeyed it. Abraham understood, and followed it. Note the similarities and differences.

Each understood God’s Word. But in terms of attention, value, practice and lifestyle, they differ. The same is true for every generation after them. From Adam to Moses, God communicated predominantly to fathers or Patriarchs; then, to the Israelite nation, God spoke through judges and prophets. Since the first century A.D., God has communicated to “all men everywhere” (Acts 17:31). In this last age, the Hebrew writer tells us that God has spoken to us through His Son, Jesus, and the inspired writings preserved for us by the Holy Spirit in what we call “the Bible” (Hebrews 1:1, 2). These messages have been confirmed by signs, wonders and miracles (Hebrews 2:4). Even now they are preserved providentially (1 Peter 1:25). Praise be to God for lovingly fashioning man with an intellect for comprehending the Lord’s will.

Consequently, by attending to words, grammar, train of thought and context with good and honest hearts, we can recognize where God’s Word applies to us, our beliefs and our practices. One of the most important context questions is to note under which covenant a teaching is given. We live under the authority of the New Covenant of Christ or the New Testament. The Old Testament is important for us to study and know. It actually helps us to understand the New Covenant under Christ’s authority.

As all parents do, God teaches us along three general avenues: direct command or teaching, approved example, and necessary inference. While these designations are general groupings and can be greatly expanded, they all point to common ways parents guide their children. Direct command or teaching is where the Word of God explicitly obligates us to believe or obey some aspect of the will of God. For teachings that apply to Christians today, we will one day be held accountable to God. Knowing this helps us to grow to the best of our ability. But God never compels us against our will. He wants us to will to do His will … of our own free choice (John 7:17).

Approved example is where the Word of God – again like any loving parent – shows us how to be pleasing to God in our obedience. For Christians, the apostles give us many approved examples of how to live out our Christianity according to Jesus’ standards (Philippians 3:17). Acts 20:7a is an approved example: “Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread.” It establishes when and how often Christians assemble to take the Lord’s Supper together. Rather than ourselves making up a practice, we have an approved example to follow as Christians. One we know is pleasing to God.

Necessary inference is a teaching form that parents use when their children are maturing to the point of being able to exercise their “reason.” At some point, a parent wants a child to be able to use their “reason” to understand “necessary things.” Not all inferences are necessary. But when God shares teachings with us that result in a necessary ramification, we should learn from that ramification. For instance, Acts 8:35ff is a divine implication (necessary inference): When Philip “preached Jesus” (see Matthew 28:19; Acts 2:37, 38; and 8:12), we conclude he must have addressed the urgent necessity of water immersion because the eunuch conscientiously and quickly voiced his desire for it. Learning to “reason” with spiritual wisdom is an exciting part of our growth as God’s children (Hebrews 5:14).

For all eternity!—that’s how long our heavenly Father wishes us to dwell with Him. Take that to heart. Let it sink in. God is perfect, and His nature is holy. Unlike earthly fathers, He never issues unrealistic expectations, delivers instructions haphazardly, or flips a coin to determine accountability. To the extent we appreciate God’s love at the cross of Christ, we should equally be enamored by God’s love through His divine communication. He who gave His only begotten Son deserves our total confidence in His Word.