The Living Word

Last week, in my personal devotions, I completed going through the First (Old) Testament book of Daniel - not for the first time. I have now started on the Second (New) Testament book of the Revelation - again, not for the first time! That choice was made because of the links between the two books. Of course, reading God's Word is of great importance to anyone who claims to be a disciple of Jesus. Part of the reason for this is the simple fact that Jesus, Himself, is often referred to as "the Word". For example, in the book of the Revelation, we read: "And He was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and His name is called The Word of God." (Revelation 19:13). 

This uniquely expressive name assigned to the Christ, as He returns to Earth in glory, is used also by John in his gospel (John 1:1, 14) and in his epistle (1 John 1:1), referring both to the Lord's primeval work of creation and also to His human incarnation. It is well known that "Word" here is the Greek logos. Six times it is applied by John as a name or title of the Son of God (three times in John 1:1), the second person of the Trinity. Actually, John used it seven times, assuming that the disputed verse, 1 John 5:7 ("the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost"), is really a part of the inspired text.

 

The Greek word logos is a remarkable word, adaptable to many meanings. It is translated in English language versions of the Second (New) Testament by a number of other words, where a more precise definition is felt to be appropriate. For example, Paul, writing to the Thessalonian disciples of Jesus, reminds them: "So each of us shall give account of himself to God." (14:12, RSV) and uses "logos" for "account". The lexicons add still other meanings, and some of the Greek philosophers used it to describe the intelligence behind the universe.

 

As used by John, however, it becomes much more specific: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God" (John 1:1). The New World translation of Jehovah's Witnesses, rejecting the deity of Christ, like to translate this as "the Word was a god," but all knowledgeable Greek scholars agree that the rendering of other versions is correct. Then, says John, "... the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth; we have beheld His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father." (John 1:14). Even although "No one has ever seen God; " (John 1:18), He has become knowable through His Son Who "has made Him known." It was Philip who asked the Lord: "Lord, show us the Father, and we shall be satisfied." (John 14:8). The Saviour replied: "Have I been with you so long, and yet you do not know me, Philip? He who has seen me has seen the Father; how can you say, 'Show us the Father'?" (John 14:9).

Consequently, John can also declare Him to others. "That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon and touched with our hands, concerning the word of life . . . that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you may have fellowship with us; and our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus, the Christ." (1 John 1:1, 3).

The written Word is alive. "For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword , piercing to the division of soul and spirit, of joints and marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart." Heb.4:12). Those of us who read that Word with any regularity are all too aware of having read a soecific passage many times before but, on a particular occasion, having seen something that we had never before noticed!

And He, the Lord Jesus, is the Living Word. The only question is this - "Is He living in you?"

A different Gospel!

Many years ago, when my family and I lived in Livingston, in West Lothian, my wife and I were members of Ladywell Baptist Church, and I was occasionally invited to preach at the Sunday Worship Services. During the week prior to one particular preaching engagement, we received a visit from two charming young men who shared their testimonies with us. Much of what they said sounded good, as they spoke of what God was doing in their lives, and how much Jesus meant to them.

At the morning worship service on the Sunday, I shared with the fellowship about these two young men. I assured them that, if I had invited the two men to come with me, and to share their testimonies from the front of the sanctuary, that many of them would have been wanting to shake hands with two such fine specimens. I then added a very important piece of information - that the two young men were Mormons: members of the "Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints". 

What, one might ask, is the greatest challenge facing Biblical disciples of the Lord Jesus in the early part of the 21st century? It isn't difficult to find contenders for such a title! Is it divisive social issues - whether stemming from the current BLM movement (that conveniently forgets the number of black lives destroyed in the womb!), or from the demands of certain sexual deviants? Is it the rampant immorality as even young children are allegedly sending nude self-images of themselves to their friends? Is it the current refusal of so many to adhere to the guidelines with regard to 'social distancing'? These, and many other topics, would certainly be 'in the running'. However, I would dare to suggest that the biggest threat, as my two visitors all of those years ago showed, is religion - any religion that draws us away from the truth of the Gospel as revealed in the written Word of God. 

Some religions, of course, openly oppose the Christ; others are more subtle They use language that disciples of Jesus already know, giving their testimony a familiar sound. Then they add to it their own twisted brand of thinking - whether it be the teachings of the Book of Mormon; or the inaccuracies of the New World Translation of the Bible, used by the "Jehovah's Witnesses"; or whatever is placed alongside, or above, the written Word of God contained in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments.

But if such groups "sound" Christian, how may we know that they are preaching "... a different gospel - not that there is another gospel ..." (Gal.1:6-7)? Here are a few false teachings for which we may look out:

1. Salvation through anything other than faith in the finished work of the Lord Jesus, the Christ! The Lord Jesus made that perfectly clear when he told Thomas: "I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life; no one comes to the Father but by Me." (John 14:6). In his great sermon, preached on the first Day of Pentecost of the Christian era, Peter proclaimed: "And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven, given among men, by which we must be saved." (Acts 4:12).

2. A refusal to see the Lord Jesus as the eternal God in human flesh, our only, and all-sufficient, Saviour. "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God; all things were made through Him, and without Him was not anything made that was made." (John 1:1-2).

3. Giving more importance to the words of men than to the Word of God. Paul writes to the Corinthian disciples: "Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit Who is from God, that we might understand the gifts bestowed on us by God. And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who possess the Spirit." (2:12-13).

4. Leaders who do not provide Christlike guidance through careful Biblical instruction. Advising his young "son in the faith", Timothy, Paul wrote: "If you put these instructions before the brethren, you will be a good minister of Christ Jesus, nourished on the words of faith and of the good doctrine which you have followed." (I Tim.4:6 - but be sure to read the full context!). Jude wrote, in his short letter:  "For admission has been secretly gained by some who, long ago, were designated for this condemnation; ungodly persons who pervert the grace of our God into licentiousness, and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus the Christ." (v.4).

There are, indeed, those who want to lead us into another 'gospel' that is no Gospel (Good News). Learn God's Word; steep yourself in it; soak it up as a sponge soaks up water; so that you won;t be deceived by fine, but false, words. Apply yourself to the Bible; and the Bible to yourself.