Sunday, September 21, 2008

Jesus is the living Word and the Bible is the written Word of God.

Yesterday as I was studying I came across an article discussing the Word of God. The main theme of this writer was that “Jesus is the Word of God.” 100% TRUE: However he goes on to argue that the Bible is not the Word of God and those who study the Bible are not being taught by God but by human beings. He continues to argue that when we study the Bible we cannot hear from God because we are only listening to the Bible.

I was a bit disturbed by this extreme. Although I agree with him that studying the Bible without acknowledging Jesus and without letting the Holy Spirit teach us can be fruitless, we cannot deny the fact that the Bible is the written Word of God and without it we are at a great disadvantage.

It is true as he recalls that the disciples managed to spread the gospel without the Bible. It is also true that in those days there were few sects in Christianity than there are today. However, he continues his argument that this is due to studying the Bible. My question is ‘how can you tell how many sects there would be today if they continued to spread the gospel without the Bible? Would they have increased or decreased? Who can tell?’ My guess is they would have increased regardless.

Yes, Jesus is the living Word of God. He said “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.” John 6:63.
In John 14:6 He says; “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” No argument about that!

However, the Bible, the written Word of God, was inspired by the Holy Spirit and written by men and women of God. They were under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.
I know it is frustrating when people study the Bible and use it as the Pharisees and Scribes used the Law and abused it. Jesus was opposed to that type of practice. They studied the law and tried to load it over the innocent and the disadvantaged. That was wrong then and it is wrong now. Studying the Bible for intellectual purposes or for selfish motives is not what it was meant for, still the sins of a few should not change the importance of the Bible.

The Bible is the written Word of God. It was written by men and women of God inspired by the Spirit of God. 2 Timothy 3:16 "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness." NKJ
Do not be discouraged from using the very weapon Jesus has put in your hands. Use it to enhance your life in the Lord. Let the Holy Spirit reveal to you the hidden secrets wrapped in it. He will make the words of the Bible become alive in your life. He will reveal Jesus and all that is of His to you.
Hallelujah!

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