Tuesday, March 16, 2021

Word of God

   Contrary to the baby in the manger imagery that Jesus Christ is most commonly associated with at Christmas time, the bible paints a more telling and timely image of the Lord, albeit a commonly misconstrued one.  

    Whenever you hear someone say "the bible says", it may be due to the passage about the Word of God found at Hebrews 4:12 which states:   

12 God's word is living and active.  It is sharper than any two-edged sword and cuts as deep as the place where soul and spirit meet, the place where joints and marrow meet.  God's word judges a person's thoughts and intentions.   

    Describing the Holy Spirit aspect of the Holy Trinity, this scripture takes on new light when you consider the depiction in Revelation 19:13 which shows that the Word of God is a name that Jesus Christ goes by.    

13 He wears clothes dipped in blood, and His name is the Word of God  

    The subsequent verses found in Hebrews chapter 4 confirm this where it is written:  

13 And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account. 

14 Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.  15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.  16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. 

     (the face Christ made when I glanced at Him partway through conversation not knowing who He was, shortly after speaking out publicly against homosexual marriage.)


    On another note:  

    There are some who in holding to the traditional view of this passage have quote James 1:22,

22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

    In becoming a doer of the word, we become followers of the Word, perhaps a more appropriate word for translation given the origins of this instruction found at Matthew 7:24 as part of the sermon on the mount.

24 Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.

    The words of the Word.  Another spin on the truth that sets us free.

    See also: John 1:1  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

    Hebrews 11:3  By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.  
- English Standard Version