THE WORD OF GOD
The word of God is powerful. Paul said,
"For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God
to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the
Greek." (Romans 1:16.) The word of God has the power to influence and
change the lives of men in this world. His word has the power to justify or
condemn and it will judge us in the last day. "He who rejects Me, and does
not receive My words, has that which judges him -- the word that I have spoken
will judge him in the last day." (John 12:48.)
WHAT IS THE WORD OF GOD? The word of God
is the incorruptible seed which, planted in an honest and good heart brings
salvation. "Having been born again, not of corruptible seed but
incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever." (1
Peter 1:23.)
Pilate and others have asked, "What
is truth?" The word of God is truth. "Sanctify them by Your truth.
Your word is truth." (John 17:17.)
Sin had separated man from God. (Isaiah
59:1-2.) The word of God is the "word of reconciliation" or the word
which brings about reconciliation. "That is, that God was in Christ reconciling
the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and
has committed to us the word of reconciliation." (2 Corinthians 5:19.)
The word of God is the seed which produces
the kingdom. "Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God."
(Luke 8:11.)
Sin had brought death but the word of God
is the "word of life." (Acts 5:20.)
Sin has brought condemnation but the word
of God is the "word of salvation." "Go, stand in the temple and
speak to the people all the words of this life. Men and brethren, sons of the
family of Abraham, and those among you who fear God, to you the word of this
salvation has been sent." (Acts 13:26.)
The word of God is the "sword of the
spirit" which is the weapon we are to use in our battle against Satan.
"And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is
the word of God." (Ephesians 6:17.)
The word of God instructs us how to live,
how to die and how to be prepared for that world to come. Is the word of God
hidden in your heart? "Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might
not sin against You!" (Psalm 119:11.)
WHAT WILL THE WORD OF GOD ACCOMPLISH? The
word of God will accomplish that for which God sent it. "So shall My word
be that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me void, but it shall
accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent
it." (Isaiah 55:11.) The word of God is not a dead letter. It is living
and active. "For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than
any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of
joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the
heart." (Hebrews 4:12.) God will perform His word. (Jeremiah 1:12.)
Sin and its deception make fools of those
overcome by it. The word of God makes us wise unto salvation. "And that
from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you
wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus." (2 Timothy
3:15.)
Sin produces death. (Romans 6:23.) The
word of God produces life. "But He answered and said, It is written, Man
shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth
of God." (Matthew 4:4.)
The word of God saves the soul. "Who
through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so
that your faith and hope are in God." (1 Peter 1:21.) It also produces spiritual
growth. "Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy,
and all evil speaking, as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that
you may grow thereby." (1 Peter 2:1-2.)
The word of God shows Christians how to
behave themselves or conduct their lives in God's kingdom. "But if I am
delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the
house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of
the truth." (1 Timothy 3:15.)
Because the word of God is God's
"power" to salvation, the "word of life" and the word which
brings salvation; God commanded that it be preached to every creature. "He
who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be
condemned." (Mark 16:16.)
Faith comes by hearing the word of God.
(Romans 10:17) and "without faith it is impossible to please God."
"But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to
God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently
seek Him." (Hebrews 11:6.)
To go to heaven we must have God's approval.
Only those who study have His approval. "Study to shew thyself approved
unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word
of truth." (2 Timothy 2:15.)
Sin makes one filthy and dirty. The word
of God brings cleansing. "You are already clean because of the word which
I have spoken to you." (John 15:3.)
A terrible end is awaiting those who do
not love and obey God's word. "And with all unrighteous deception among
those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they
might be saved. And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that
they should believe the lie, that they all may be condemned who did not believe
the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness." (2 Thessalonians
2:10-12.)
A soul is not converted without the word
of God because, "The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul; the
testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple." (Psalm 19:7.)
God has revealed His will in the Bible. He
expects us to use His book in getting acquainted with His nature and in
obedience to His will. Do you have a desire to know God's will? "If anyone
wants to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from
God or whether I speak on My own authority." (John 7:17.)
Paul
said to Timothy, "I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus
Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His
kingdom: Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince,
rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching." (2 Timothy 4:1-2.)
All who are saved from sin must "gladly receive God's word."
"The word of God is living and powerful."
By Charles Box,