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Word of God
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"Hear, O heavens, and give
ear, O earth: for the Lord hath spoken." (Isa. 1:2). This declaration
commands heaven to give audience, and the earth to heed the spoken things of
God. Christ Jesus declared to the world the God of heaven. (Jno. 1:18)
Again, "For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God." (Jno.
3:34) In the light of his face, and in the brightness of his raiment the
apostles learn they are to "hear him." (Mt. 17:5) On a throne
exalted and with power unlimited the Holy Spirit announces God...hath in
these last days spoken unto us by his Son." (Heb. 1:1, 2)
Its Power
It is "sharper than any two-edged sword." (Heb. 4:12) The
"sword of the Spirit is the Word of God." (Eph. 6:17) So keen,
sharp, and pointed is the word of God that it is the most potent weapon in
all the world. To Cain the Word' said, "Sin lieth at the door."
(Gen. 4:7) To Belshazzar, "God hath numbered thy kingdom and finished
it. Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting." (Dan.
5:26, 27) To the Pharisees, "For if ye believe not that I am he, ye
shall die in your sins." (Jno. 8:24) To the young rich man, "Sell
that thou hast and give to the poor." (Mt. 19:21) To the rich man,
"Thou fool, this night shall thy soul be required of thee." (Lk.
12:20) Some day the Word of God will paralyze unbelievers, stagger the
unfaithful, and sentence all the wicked into the corridors of eternal
misery, and, at the same time, beckon to the faithful, "Come ye blessed
of my Father." (Mt. 25:34)
Its Authority
God's Word is the "first and the last," "the beginning and
ending" the a and the z, in all matters pertaining to salvation. It is
the voice of origin, "In the beginning," and will be the voice of
destiny at the final day of account. Science can discover, but it cannot
create; it can imitate, but it cannot duplicate; it can copy, but it cannot
originate. Thus, God's Word hurls a challenge to the sages of the day, to
those gone by, and those to come hereafter. Until man can create, duplicate
and originate we cling tenaciously to God and his Holy Word. The Bible is
the oldest legal document in all earth; herein we have the "voice of
law." God's laws were given to be kept, not broken. Adam, the
patriarchs, and the Jews testify to this fact. "The voice of the
heavens" breaks forth in exaltation, "the heavens declare the
glory of God; and the firmament showeth his handiwork." (Ps. 19:1)
There is nothing unreturned to God; everything begins with God, and
everything ends with him. Finally, the Word of God is the voice of the
kingdom of Heaven. It is employed in its commands, promises, blessings, and
curses. "If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God."
(1 Pet. 4:11).
Its Office
This office is seen clearly in Jno. 1:1, 8, "In the beginning was the
Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the
beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not
anything made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of
men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it
not. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. The same came for a
witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might
believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that
Light." To reveal the truth in light and life was Jesus' mission. (Jno.
8:32) God declared his Son twice on earth. (Mt. 3:13, 17) and Mt. 17:1, 5)
His great resurrection from the tomb further established this fact (Rom.
1:4) and declares him to be the Son of God. The dignity of the Word is seen
in Hebrews 1, as being the brightness of his glory, the express image of his
person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, is seated at the
right hand of the Majesty on high. His name is greater than that of angels,
greater than any name in all God's realm. He is our object of worship. His
throne is forever and ever. He laid the foundation of the earth; and the
heavens are the works of his hands. They are to perish, but he is to remain.
Seeing his exalted position, why look for anything higher, than Jesus Christ
or better than his Law?
The Bible has weathered every fierce storm, escaped the flames of fire,
endured the battering rams of centuries, and has outlived every book on
earth. Infidels have denied it, many have forsaken it, some betrayed it,
others scoffed it, and while it stands they lie at its feet in the dust of
earth. It changes tears of sorrow into smiles of joy and lift the burdens of
life. It transforms the sinner into a child of God and changes ugliness into
beauty. It is responsible for enlightenment, education, sanitation, respect,
hope, love and faith. "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every
word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God." (Mt. 4:4).
Wallace W. Thompson
Bible Banner - April 1944
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Copyright (C)
2009 Folsom Point Church of Christ
All rights reserved.
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