PASTOR'S BLOG  

Feb 10

The Written Word and the Living Word

The Bible - the Written Word

The Bible is God’s written word that leads us to Christ, the Living Word of God. In Christ, we can be restored to God the Father and live life in the Holy Spirit. In John 14, we see that Jesus not only speaks but lives out, fulfills and models God’s word and belief in and obedience to it. Jesus there says that obedience to the word and obedience to Christ is our proof that we love Christ; we abide in the word (ie, live in it), keep it and are sanctified in it (set apart by it). Our keeping of the written word by the presence of the Holy Spirit within us allows us to participate in the joy and blessings of the Living Word, Christ. 

Jesus - the Living Word

In John 14:6, Jesus summed Himself and His ministry up in this way: “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life; no man comes to the Father but through Me…” 

Jesus is the Way - We are restored to God the Father through Christ. Now, that needs to sink in for just a minute. Here is Jesus paying for our sins so that we can be restored to the Father. Jesus Himself prayed to the Father for His needs; and that is what Jesus is doing with us - bringing us to His Father. Astounding. Jesus is the Way to God the Father; and we are to believe in Him like we believe in God the Father - a clear equating of Himself with God, though as God’s Son.

Jesus is the Truth - Jesus is God’s word expressed to us that we are to live in and remain in, as Hebrews 1 says, the full and final expression of God’s word. Jesus is the truth. What got Adam and Eve in trouble? They didn’t believe God and that His word was true. Why was Abraham accounted as righteous before God? He believed God’s word was truth. God’s final word is in Christ - He is the ultimate expression of truth. Jesus is the Truth.

Jesus is the Life - Eternal living in relationship with God the Father, God the Son and the Holy Spirit comes through Christ; we live and move and have our being in Christ; we stand forgiven before God in Christ; and in Christ, we can carry on the works of Christ in obedience to His Word and live out our destinies as God had designed them from the beginning - and it is a life of satisfaction and joy, great accomplishment and great reward.

So there is Jesus - the Way, the Truth and the Life - don’t you love how succinct and profound God is? On one hand, so succinct, on the other, without end. Christ is the eternal, living and infinite Word of God, and we will be basking in the joy of the unending revelation of His glory for the rest of eternity.