Does God communicate with people today?

Definition of Divine Communication

Divine communication refers to any manner by which the Creator conveys His will, guidance, or revelation to humanity. Throughout history, believers have described spiritual encounters, prophetic messages, miracles, and personal impressions that they attribute to the living God. This concept draws from scriptural accounts and continues to be a topic of deep interest and debate.

Biblical Precedents of God Speaking

In Scripture, God’s communication with individuals is evident in both the Old and New Testaments. From the earliest chapters of Genesis through the final pages of Revelation, we see a consistent portrayal of a personal God who desires interaction with His creation.

• Old Testament Examples: God called out to Adam and Eve in the Garden (Genesis 3:9), spoke with Abraham in promises and covenants (Genesis 12:1–3), and guided Moses with audible instructions (Exodus 3:4). Prophets such as Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel received direct messages they were commanded to proclaim (e.g., Isaiah 6:8–9).

• New Testament Accounts: The Gospels record the Father speaking at Jesus’ baptism: “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17). After Christ’s ascension, the book of Acts shows the Holy Spirit directing believers—such as in Acts 13:2, where the Spirit says, “Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” These patterns demonstrate that divine communication served to call, correct, and comfort God’s people.

Continuous Role of the Holy Spirit

Believers hold that the Holy Spirit remains active in conveying truth, as Jesus Himself promised: “But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have told you” (John 14:26). This teaching and reminding function is often understood as God communicating with His people internally—through conviction of sin, guidance in decision-making, and illumination when reading Scripture.

Additionally, 1 Corinthians 12–14 describes spiritual gifts, indicating in part that God can communicate encouragement, wisdom, or instruction through believers for the benefit of the church. These gifts, though exercised differently across various Christian traditions, are often cited as evidence of God’s ongoing communication.

Communication Through Scripture

Scripture is described as divinely inspired and profitable for instruction (2 Timothy 3:16–17). Many contend that the primary way God communicates today is through the written Word, which was carefully preserved and passed down. The discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls in the mid-20th century demonstrated remarkable consistency in Old Testament texts over centuries—providing archaeological support that the biblical manuscripts have been faithfully transmitted. This helps establish confidence that when we read the Bible, we can trust it to convey God’s intended message.

Prayer as a Means of Dialog

Prayer is affirmed throughout the Bible as a means by which believers both speak to and hear from God. Often described as a “dialogue,” prayer involves presenting requests, offering praise, and patiently listening for the Spirit’s guidance. In John 10:27, Jesus says, “My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow Me.” Although different traditions vary on how this “listening” occurs, the principle remains that God desires a relationship characterized by communication.

Miraculous Encounters and Testimonies

Accounts of divine communication have been documented beyond the pages of Scripture. Throughout Christian history, there are anecdotal testimonies of visions, dreams, providential guidance, and supernatural interventions. While skeptics attribute these reports to psychological or natural explanations, others see them as present-day examples comparable to the biblical record.

Modern documentation of miracles—whether in medical cases of inexplicable healing or cross-cultural mission fields—have been studied and cataloged in scholarly works. Some reports, examined scientifically, cannot be readily dismissed by naturalistic explanations. Scholars who study such phenomena argue that these instances can serve as evidence that God is still actively involved in personal ways.

Philosophical and Scientific Considerations

From a philosophical standpoint, if God created the universe and sustains it, there is no logical barrier preventing Him from interacting with it today. Indeed, many philosophical arguments for an eternal Creator (the Cosmological Argument) and for an intelligently designed universe (the Teleological Argument) support the premise that God can and does act in meaningful ways. Geological examples, such as the rapid stratification observed around Mount St. Helens, illustrate that cataclysmic events can rapidly produce geologic features once assumed to take vast ages—lending credibility, in some interpretations, to a young-earth model and a miraculous divine hand in creation.

Verification and Discernment

Scripture advises believers to practice discernment. In 1 John 4:1, we read, “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God.” This means that any communication—whether through impressions, supposed revelations, or signs—must align with biblical truth and sound doctrine. This principle upholds the consistency of Scripture, ensuring that any contradictory message is not regarded as valid divine communication.

The Relationship to Christ’s Resurrection

For believers, the resurrection of Jesus Christ serves as the ultimate confirmation that God intervenes in human history. Historical documentation—such as references to Jesus found in the writings of Josephus and Tacitus, as well as the early creeds preserved in the New Testament (e.g., 1 Corinthians 15:3–8)—supports the claim that Christ’s followers were convinced of His bodily resurrection. This event, central to Christian faith, underscores that God not only spoke in the past but continues to bring hope, transformation, and communication to those who trust in Him.

Conclusion

When considering the full scope of biblical testimony, historical evidence, philosophical arguments, and personal experiences, many are persuaded that God does communicate with people today. The most reliable avenue of this communication is understood to be Scripture itself, interpreted under the guidance of the Holy Spirit and corroborated by prayerful discernment. Additional means—such as spiritual gifts, promptings, miracles, and testimonies—are considered supportive channels by which God may still speak in the present age.

Those who seek to hear from God are encouraged to immerse themselves in Scripture, remain open to the Holy Spirit’s prompting, and weigh all forms of perceived divine communication against the unchanging truths of God’s Word. As Jesus says in Revelation 3:20, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in…” This promise resonates with the belief that God, who created and redeemed humanity, remains actively engaged in communicating with those who earnestly seek Him.