Communication

The effective conveyance of a message. God has communicated with humanity, especially through his Son. Christians are encouraged to communicate God's word effectively to others.

God communicates with people

Through his creation

Psalm 19:1–4 See also Romans 1:20

For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge. Without speech or language, without a sound to be heard, their voice has gone out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world. In the heavens He has pitched a tent for the sun.

Through the Scriptures

2 Peter 1:20–21 See also Jeremiah 36:2; Ezekiel 1:3; Zechariah 7:12; 2 Timothy 3:16

Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture comes from one’s own interpretation. For no such prophecy was ever brought forth by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

Through his Son

John 1:18; Hebrews 1:1–3 See also John 1:14; Colossians 1:15, Colossians 2:9

No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is Himself God and is at the Father’s side, has made Him known.

On many past occasions and in many different ways, God spoke to our fathers through the prophets. But in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, and through whom He made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His nature, upholding all things by His powerful word. After He had provided purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.

Through the human conscience

John 8:9; Romans 2:14–15

Through the providential ordering of life

Acts 14:16–17, Acts 17:26–27

Through angelic appearances

Judges 6:11–12, Judges 13:3; Zechariah 1:9; Matthew 1:20; Luke 1:11–13, Luke 1:28, Luke 2:9–11; Acts 8:26; Revelation 1:1

Through dreams

1 Kings 3:5; Daniel 7:1; Matthew 2:13

Through visions

Isaiah 1:1; Ezekiel 11:24–25; Daniel 8:1; Obadiah 1:1–21; Acts 10:3, Acts 10:9–17

Through a donkey

Numbers 22:27–31

Through miracles

John 11:25, John 11:43–44; Acts 2:22 The miracles of Jesus Christ were not merely wonderful occurrences; they were also signs that conveyed spiritual truth.

God has communicated directly with individuals

Exodus 3:2–6 See also Exodus 33:9, Exodus 33:21; 1 Kings 19:12–13

There the angel of the LORD appeared to him in a blazing fire from within a bush. Moses saw the bush ablaze with fire, but it was not consumed. So Moses thought, “I must go over and see this marvelous sight. Why is the bush not burning up?” When the LORD saw that he had gone over to look, God called out to him from within the bush, “Moses, Moses!” “Here I am,” he answered. “Do not come any closer,” God said. “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.” Then He said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” At this, Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God.

Jesus Christ and communication

Jesus Christ communicated his Father's will

John 12:49 See also John 14:9–10, John 14:24, John 15:15, John 17:8

I have not spoken on My own, but the Father who sent Me has commanded Me what to say and how to say it.

Jesus Christ used parables in order to communicate with some but not with others

Mark 4:10–12 parallels Matthew 13:10–15, Luke 8:9–10; Isaiah 6:9–10; John 9:39

The Holy Spirit and communication

John 16:15 See also John 14:26, John 15:26, John 16:8, John 16:13; Romans 8:16; Galatians 4:6; 1 John 3:24

Everything that belongs to the Father is Mine. That is why I said that the Spirit will take from what is Mine and disclose it to you.

Christians are to communicate the good news to other people

Luke 24:46–48 See also Matthew 10:7, Matthew 28:19–20; Mark 6:12, Mark 16:15, Mark 16:20; Acts 1:8, Acts 4:20, Acts 20:27, Acts 26:17–20; Romans 10:14–15; 1 Thessalonians 1:8

And He told them, “This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and in His name repentance and forgiveness of sins will be proclaimed to all nations, beginning in Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things.

The failure of communication

Inadequate perception of the truth

Mark 8:16–21 See also Mark 4:13; John 1:10, John 8:27, John 10:6, John 13:22, John 14:9, John 16:18

So they began to discuss with one another the fact that they had no bread. Aware of their conversation, Jesus asked them, “Why are you debating about having no bread? Do you still not see or understand? Do you have such hard hearts? ‘Having eyes, do you not see? And having ears, do you not hear?’ And do you not remember? When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many basketfuls of broken pieces did you collect?” “Twelve,” they answered. “And when I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many basketfuls of broken pieces did you collect?” “Seven,” they said. Then He asked them, “Do you still not understand?”

Wilful rejection of the truth

Ephesians 4:18 See also John 8:44, John 8:47; Romans 1:21–25; Hebrews 3:12–13

They are darkened in their understanding and alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardness of their hearts.