The Living Word, Part 2

Hebrews 4:12-13 says,

For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

If that is true (and I believe it is) then God’s Word in the Bible is as relevant and personal today as it was to the Israelites and the Early Church.

God intended His words and actions to be written down and spoken for the benefit of future generations. We read in Exodus 34:27, Then the LORD said to Moses, “Write down these words, for in accordance with these words I have made a covenant with you and with Israel.” John says in his gospel that Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name (John 20:30-31). God’s spoken Word was what gave Moses his authority. When the prophets spoke, they referred back to what God said through Moses. When Jesus spoke, He pointed back to the OT to prove His authority. When the Apostles wrote, they pointed to Jesus words and the OT to verify their message.
God’s Word to one generation was always seen as authoritative to the next.

God also intended the actions of His people to be written down for the benefit of future generations. He did this for two reasons:

1. To show the rewards for faith. Paul tells the Church in Rome that when God told Abraham that his faith was credited to him as righteousness.” The words “it was credited to him” were written not for him alone, but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness-for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead (Romans 4:23-24). Just as Abraham’s faith was rewarded, so will ours. God always rewards His faithful—often here, but always in heaven.
2. To show the undisputable consequences for disobedience. Jesus said “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash (Matthew 7:24-27).
   

The purpose of the Word of God is to produce trust in God and fear of God.

Trust: God’s Word is true and dependable. It always proves true. God always comes through. (Although I will admit, at least for me, He often seems to prefer to come through at the last possible minute!) God has never given anyone any reason to doubt His promises. He is the same yesterday and today and forever (Hebrews 13:8). God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill? (Numbers 19:9). God’s word will not return to Him empty, but will accomplish what He desires and achieve the purpose for which He sent it (Isaiah 55:11). Jesus assures us that while Heaven and earth will pass away, His words will never pass away (Matthew 24:35).

Fear: Now, I am not talking about a servile fear, or a fear of something bad. I am talking about a respect, a reverence, an awe; an awareness of who God is in all His power and glory. Since you call on a Father who judges each man’s work impartially, live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear (1 Peter 1:17). God’s Word keeps us accountable and motivated because it reminds us who God is and what He requires. The Psalmist says Fear the LORD, you his saints, for those who fear him lack nothing (Psalm 34:9) and the LORD delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love (Psalm 147:11). Jesus warns us not to be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after the killing of the body, has power to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him (Luke 12:4-5).

Tomorrow we’ll wrap things up…