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Understanding the Assurance of Hearing God's Voice Biblically

The assurance of hearing God's voice, in a biblical context, is primarily understood through the reception and understanding of God's written word, the Bible, and the preaching of the Gospel [4, 12]. This concept is deeply intertwined with the nature of faith itself, which is consistently presented as arising from hearing God's word [1, 9, 13].

The Bible is referred to as the "Word of God" because its authors were instruments through whom God communicated His will to humanity [4]. What these inspired writers declared to be true and binding, God Himself declares to be true and binding [4]. This divine origin ensures the infallibility of the Word, as it was written under the guidance of the Holy Spirit and is therefore free from error in fact, doctrine, or precept [4]. All saving knowledge is derived from this Word [4].

The connection between hearing God's voice and the Word of God is explicitly stated in Romans 10:17: "Then faith is of hearing, and hearing through the Word of God" [1]. Commentators emphasize that this "hearing" refers to the preaching of the Gospel, which serves as the ordinary means God uses to convey faith into the hearts of believers [9, 12]. Preachers are seen as ministers or instruments through whom others come to believe [9]. Adam Clarke, a Methodist commentator, notes that "preaching the Gospel is the ordinary means of salvation; faith in Christ is the result of hearing the word, the doctrine of God preached" [12]. Similarly, Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown, in their Presbyterian commentary, affirm that "faith supposes the hearing of the Word, and this a commission to preach it" [13]. The Thessalonians, for instance, were commended for receiving "the word of God which ye heard from us... not as the word of men, but, even as it is truly, the word of God" [15].

The act of "hearing God's voice" is not merely an external auditory experience but involves an internal reception and obedience to His word [8, 10]. John Gill, a Baptist/Reformed commentator, explains that to "hear his voice" (referring to Christ's voice in Proverbs 8:34) means to hear Him speaking through His ministers, acknowledging His authority as King, and demonstrating love and obedience [11]. This hearing should be attentive, reverent, and lead to putting the word into practice [11]. It involves not only external hearing but also an internal, spiritual understanding, distinguishing it from "the voice of a stranger," approving and receiving it with love, feeling its power, and believing it [14].

The Holy Spirit plays a crucial role in enabling this hearing and understanding. The Spirit opens the ear, as seen in Job 33:16 and 36:10, and Christ Himself opens the ears of the spiritually deaf (Isaiah 35:5; 43:8,10) [2]. The Holy Spirit is also the one who speaks through the Scriptures, as noted in Hebrews 3:7, where the psalmist's words are attributed to the Holy Ghost [10].

Assurance, in a broader sense, is produced by faith [3]. This assurance is described as a "fullness of faith in God which leaves no room for doubt" and an "entire unwavering conviction of the truth of the declarations of Scripture" [5]. It is confirmed by love and is an effect of righteousness [3]. The resurrection of Jesus is presented as God's pledge that His revelation is true and worthy of acceptance, serving as an "assurance" (Greek: pistis, often rendered "faith") [5].

Believers are privileged to have assurance concerning various aspects of their spiritual lives, including their election, redemption, adoption, salvation, eternal life, the unalienable love of God, and their union with God and Christ [3]. This assurance is obtained through faith and is a privilege of saints who have access to God with confidence [6].

The concept of "hearing God's voice" also extends to prayer. God hears the prayers of His people [7]. Prayer is commanded and is to be offered to God, to Christ, and to the Holy Spirit, through Christ [7]. This access to God in prayer is by Christ and by the Holy Spirit, and it is obtained through faith [6]. Saints are encouraged to approach God's throne of grace with confidence to obtain mercy and grace [6].

However, the ability to hear God's voice can be judicially closed, as illustrated in Isaiah 6:10 and Matthew 13:15, indicating a spiritual deafness that can result from disobedience or hardened hearts [2]. Therefore, the exhortation to "hear his voice" carries a sense of urgency and responsibility [8]. Matthew Henry, a Nonconformist/Puritan commentator, emphasizes that those who sing gospel psalms are expected to "live gospel lives, and to hear the voice of God's word; otherwise, how can they expect that he should hear the voice of their prayers and praises?" [8]. This highlights that hearing God's voice is not merely a passive reception but demands an active response of obedience and a life consistent with the Gospel [8].

Sources

  1. Romans “Romans 10:17 (LITV) — Then faith is of hearing, and hearing through the Word of God.”
  2. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Ear, The — The organ of hearing -- Job 13:1; 29:11. Capable of trying and distinguishing words -- Job 12:11. God Made. -- Pr 20:12. Planted. -- Ps 94:9. Opens. -- Job 33:16; 36:10. Judicially closed. -- Isa 6:10; Mt 13:15. Christ opens -- Isa 35:5; 43:8,10. Instruction received through -- Isa 30:21. That hears and receives the word of God, blessed -- Ex 15:26; Mt 13:16. Should Seek knowledge. -- Pr 18:15. Be bowed down to instructions. -- Pr 5:1. Be incline to wisdom. -- Pr 2:2. Be given to the law of God. -- Isa 1:10. Receive the word of God. -- Jer 9:20. Hear and o”
  3. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Assurance — Produced by faith -- Eph 3:12; 2Ti 1:12; Heb 10:22. Made full by hope -- Heb 6:11,19. Confirmed by love -- 1Jo 3:14,19; 4:18. Is the effect of righteousness -- Isa 32:17. Is abundant in the understanding of the gospel -- Col 2:2; 1Th 1:5. Saints privileged to have, of Their election. -- Ps 4:3; 1Th 1:4. Their redemption. -- Job 19:25. Their adoption. -- Ro 8:16; 1Jo 3:2. Their salvation. -- Isa 12:2. Eternal life. -- 1Jo 5:13. The unalienable love of God. -- Ro 8:38,39. Union with God and Christ. -- 1Co 6:15; 2Co 13:5; Eph 5:30; 1Jo 2:5; 4:13. Peace with ”
  4. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Word of God — (Heb. 4:12, etc.). The Bible so called because the writers of its several books were God's organs in communicating his will to men. It is his "word," because he speaks to us in its sacred pages. Whatever the inspired writers here declare to be true and binding upon us, God declares to be true and binding. This word is infallible, because written under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and therefore free from all error of fact or doctrine or precept. (See [670]INSPIRATION; [671]BIBLE.) All saving knowledge is obtained from the word of God. In the case of ”
  5. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Assurance — The resurrection of Jesus (Acts 17:31) is the "assurance" (Gr. pistis, generally rendered "faith") or pledge God has given that his revelation is true and worthy of acceptance. The "full assurance [Gr. plerophoria, full bearing'] of faith" (Heb. 10:22) is a fulness of faith in God which leaves no room for doubt. The "full assurance of understanding" (Col. 2:2) is an entire unwavering conviction of the truth of the declarations of Scripture, a joyful steadfastness on the part of any one of conviction that he has grasped the very truth. The "full assurance ”
  6. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Access to God — Is of God -- Ps 65:4. Is by Christ -- Joh 10:7, 9; 14:6; Ro 5:2; Eph 2:13; 3:12; Heb 7:9, 25; 10:19; 1Pe 3:18. Is by the Holy Spirit -- Eph 2:18. Obtained through faith -- Ac 14:27; Ro 5:2; Eph 3:12; Heb 11:6. Follows upon reconciliation to God -- Col 1:21,22. In Prayer -- See Prayer. De 4:7; Mt 6:6; 1Pe 1:17. In his temple -- Ps 15:1; 27:4; 43:3; 65:4. To obtain mercy and grace -- Heb 4:16. A privilege of saints -- De 4:7; Ps 15:1; 23:6; 24:3,4. Saints have, with confidence -- Eph 3:12; Heb 4:16; 10:19,20. Vouchsafed to repenting sinners -- See Repen”
  7. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Prayer — Commanded -- Isa 55:6; Mt 7:7; Php 4:6. To be offered To God. -- Ps 5:2; Mt 4:10. To Christ. -- Lu 23:42; Ac 7:59. To the Holy Spirit. -- 2Th 3:5. Through Christ. -- Eph 2:18; Heb 10:19. God hears -- Ps 10:17; 65:2. God answers -- Ps 99:6; Isa 58:9. Is described as Bowing the knees. -- Eph 3:14. Looking up. -- Ps 5:3. Lifting up the soul. -- Ps 25:1. Lifting up the heart. -- La 3:41. Pouring out the heart. -- Ps 62:8. Pouring out the soul. -- 1Sa 1:15. Calling upon the name of the Lord. -- Ge 12:8; Ps 116:4; Ac 22:16. Crying to God. -- Ps 27:7; 34:6. Drawing”
  8. Psalms (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Psalms 95:7: The latter part of this psalm, which begins in the middle of a verse, is an exhortation to those who sing gospel psalms to live gospel lives, and to hear the voice of God's word; otherwise, how can they expect that he should hear the voice of their prayers and praises? Observe, I. The duty required of all those that are the people of Christ's pasture and the sheep of his hand. He expects that they hear his voice, for he has said, My sheep hear my voice, Joh 10:27. We are his people, say they. Are you so? Then hear his voice. If you call him Master, or Lord, then d”
  9. Romans (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Romans 10:17: So then faith comes by hearing,.... That is, by preaching; for the word hearing is used in the same sense as in the preceding verse; and designs the report of the Gospel, or the preaching of the word, which is the means God makes use of, to convey faith into the hearts of his people; for preachers are ministers, or instruments, by whom others believe: and hearing by the word of God; or "of Christ", as some copies read, and so do the Vulgate Latin and Ethiopic versions; and intends either the holy Scriptures, which have God for their author, and Christ for the subje”
  10. Hebrews (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Hebrews 3:7: Wherefore, as the Holy Ghost saith,.... In Psa 95:7 today if you will hear his voice; either the precepts of Christ, to hear which is to obey them; and this is an acknowledgment to Christ as King of saints, and is a testimony of love to him, and is wellpleasing in his sight; and in which the saints find pleasure themselves, and profit also: or the Gospel of Christ, which is a voice of love, grace, and mercy; of peace and reconciliation; of pardon and righteousness; of liberty, redemption, and salvation by Christ; and to hear it, is not only to hear it externally, but”
  11. Proverbs (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Proverbs 8:34: Blessed is the man that heareth me,.... Christ in his Gospel, as speaking by his ministers; for hearing them is hearing him, Luk 10:16; they have their commission from him; are his ambassadors, and represent him; receive their gifts from him; speak according to his mind and will, revealed in his word, and preach him himself. This shows with what attention and reverence the Gospel should be heard; what credit should be given unto it; how it ought to be put in practice; this accounts for the efficacy of it on the souls of men, it being no other than the word of Christ”
  12. Romans (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Romans 10:17: So then faith cometh by hearing - Preaching the Gospel is the ordinary means of salvation; faith in Christ is the result of hearing the word, the doctrine of God preached. Preaching, God sends; if heard attentively, faith will be produced; and if they believe the report, the arm of the Lord will be revealed in their salvation.”
  13. Romans (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Romans 10:17: So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God--"This is another confirmation of the truth that faith supposes the hearing of the Word, and this a commission to preach it."”
  14. Proverbs (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Proverbs 1:33: But whoso hearkeneth unto me,.... To Wisdom, or Christ; to the cry and call above; to the voice of his Gospel, not only externally, but internally; so as spiritually and experimentally to understand it, to distinguish it from the voice of a stranger; so as to approve of it, and receive it in the love of it, and to delight and take pleasure in it; so as to feet the power of it, and believe it; not only give an assent unto it, but by faith receive it, and appropriate the things of it to a man's self: and also to the voice of his precepts, his ordinances; so as to yiel”
  15. 1 Thessalonians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Thessalonians 2:13: For this cause--Seeing ye have had such teachers (Th1 2:10-12) [BENGEL], "we also (as well as 'all that believe' in Macedonia and Achaia) thank God without ceasing ('always' . . . 'in our prayers,' Th1 1:2), that when ye received the word of God which ye heard from us (literally, 'God's word of hearing from us,' Rom 10:16-17), ye accepted it not as the word of men, but, even as it is truly, the word of God." ALFORD omits the "as" of English Version. But the "as" is required by the clause, "even as it is truly." "Ye accepted it, not (as) the wo”
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