MEMORY VERSE:“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” John 1:1
BIBLE READING:2 Peter 1:19-21;2 Timothy 3:16-17
Introduction
Abuse is inevitable when the purpose of a thing is unknown, in the same way the word of God is often misunderstood, misapplied, abused, and misappropriated.
This is the reason for the sub-standard life that many Christians are living and the absence of the divine impact of the Word of God both in our lives and in the diverse activities of the church. The divine purpose of the word of God in the life of every believer is to enable you to live a victorious, productive and impact making life in your community. The Word of God is God John 1:1
The Word of God is God-breathed and God-inspired 2 Timothy 3:16; and must never be mistaken for the word of men or cleverly put together ideas of the human mind.
In this study, we will take a close look at the divine essence and nature of the Word of God
OUTLINES
- THE ESSENCE OF THE WORD OF GOD
- THE NATURE OF THE WORD OF GOD
THE ESSENCE OF THE WORD OF GOD
The first thing to know about the Word as it is presented to us in the pages of the Bible is that it is given by inspiration of God Himself.
God’s Word which is God himself is God-breathed and authored by the Spirit of God John 1:1, 1 Peter 1:20-21; 2 Timothy 3:16.
We must know and understand that everything written in the Scriptures comes to us by the inspiration of God and not by the will of men.
God’s Word in either the Old or New Testament were revealed by the express inspiration of the Holy Spirit Psalm 36:9.
No part of the Scriptures should be considered less relevant to our lives than others.
If we do not know this first, our ability to correctly hear God or apply His Word in our lives and work for Him will be greatly impaired.
The correct interpretation of God’s word must be by the Holy Spirit it’s author.
Once we come to realisation that the Word of God is divinely inspired and that it did not originate from the will of man, it follows that the Word of God must be correctly interpreted only by its Author- the Holy Spirit.
The Word of God should never be subjected to any private, personal, or intellectual interpretation 1 Peter 1:19-21, 1 Corinthians 2:9-14.
The Word is not to be subjected to analytical debates. If we want to know what the Word means, what its object, emphasis and implication is for our lives in any situation, then we must ask the One who inspired its writing.
No one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God 1 Corinthians 2:11. The Holy Spirit is the only interpreter of the Word of God; we must therefore acquaint ourselves with Him- He has been sent to guide us into all truth John 16:13.
As we approach the Scriptures, we must accept that it is profitable to our lives 2 Timothy 3:16-17 If we are to be well rounded and balanced Christians, we must know and accept the profitability of the Word of God for our lives.
THE NATURE OF THE WORD OF GOD
Several descriptions are used in the Scriptures to highlight the nature of God’s Word. Here are a few:
- The Engrafted Word
James 1:21 By its nature, the Word of God must be engrafted or – transplanted into our hearts if it will be effective. Unless it is engrafted, it remains on the surface, as head knowledge, having no lasting impact on our lives and thus loses its purpose.
- The Mirror of the Word
James 1:22-24 The Word of God, like a mirror, reflects the real condition and state of our soul. It never distorts our image. John 17:17. As a mirror, the Word of God demands prompt action on what it shows us of our lives. Our response to the Word of God must be immediate or else we will lose sight of what it is revealing to us.
- The Perfect law of liberty
James 1:25 The Word of God is the perfect law that guarantees our perfect liberty from spiritual bondage. It is the divinely constituted authority that governs our lives. It is always perfect for every situation or season, needing no revision nor editing.
- The Truth
John 17:17 The Word of God is not a truth but THE truth. There is no other truth anywhere, but that which God utters in His Word. Whatever God says about us in His Word is the truth no matter what any person, situation or circumstance may be saying. His promises are truth. We can be confident that whatever God says is what will come to pass because it is the truth. “Let God be true but every man a liar.” Romans 3:4. The revelation of the truth of God’s Word makes us free from sin’s power and the lies of Satan our adversary John 8:32
CONCLUSION
The Word of God is given by His own inspiration for our good. God has sent us His Word so that our lives and work for Him can be impacted maximally to accomplish His will and purposes. Our approach to the Word of God needs to be based on correct knowledge of its core values and nature. May the Lord in His mercy deliver us from every misconception and grant us divine insight into the essence and nature of His Word. Amen.