God’s Word – From Scripture Alone

God’s Word

Three Forms of the Word

• Personal Word (Jesus as God’s Word to Us)
• Spoken Word (Prophets, Apostles, Pastors, Teachers, All Christians – in Preaching, Evangelism, Conversation)
• Written Word (Definitive instances of written proclamation by prophets and apostles)
  
  
• The Written Word serves the spoken Word which delivers the personal word.

Three Forms – To Be Distinguished but not to be separated.

Scripture cannot be broken.

John 10:35 – “Scripture cannot be broken”

Jesus said this initially in reference to the OT.
Nothing in the OT can be broken by the NT.
Any future commentary or books cannot go against OT or NT.

Scripture came from the Holy Spirit – and it originated with God, not with man.

2 Timothy 3:16 – “All Scripture is God-breathed”  Parallel to Gen 2:7 – “Then the LORD God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.”

2 Peter 1:20-21 – “Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation of things.  For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.” 

Acts 4:25 – “You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David: “‘Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain?”

They were compelled, even commanded, to publically preach God’s Word.   It is to be spoken and shared, not just read.

1 Corinthians 9:16 – “For when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, since I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!”

Jeremiah 26:2 – “”This is what the LORD says: Stand in the courtyard of the LORD’s house and speak to all the people of the towns of Judah who come to worship in the house of the LORD. Tell them everything I command you; do not omit a word.” 

Jesus affirms that the Holy Spirit will HELP his apostles write the teachings he has given them. 

John 14:26 – “But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.”

God’s Word doesn’t change.

James 1:17 – “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” 

God’s Word is true! 

Psalm 18:30 – “flawless”

John 17:17 – “Sanctify them by the truth, your word is truth.”

Psalm 33:4 – “right and true”

Specifically the Gospel has the power to save, and in fact it is the power to save.

The Gospel the power of God for salvation.  Romans 1:16 – “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.”

Scripture makes us wise for salvation. 2 Timothy 3:15 – “how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.”

John 20:31 – “But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.”

1 Corinthians 1:18 – “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”

God’s Word (Gospel) has the power to save, yet It can be resisted, rejected.  In other words, God’s Word is resistible. 

Ezekiel 2:5 – “And whether they listen or fail to listen–for they are a rebellious people–they will know that a prophet has been among them.”

Isaiah 66:4 – “so I also will choose harsh treatment for them and will bring on them what they dread. For when I called, no one answered, when I spoke, no one listened. They did evil in my sight and chose what displeases me.”

John 10:27 – “My sheep listen to my voice.”

Matthew 23:3 – “I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wing, but you were not willing.”  God’s intent can desire can be resisted. 

Though God’s Word can be resisted, it will not return empty.  It will accomplish what God desires it to accomplish. 

Isaiah 55:11 – “so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.”

Since God’s Word goes out in Law and Gospel, even when the Gospel that has the power to save is rejected, God’s Law still produces its desired effect.  In the context, this word likely was Law.  God spoke that nations would attack Israel and God is saying, I have spoken this and it will happen! 

God’s Word illumines the path to salvation. 

Psalm 119:105 – “lamp to my feet” “light to my path” 

2 Peter 1:19 – “lamp shining in a dark place”

John 1:1-14 – Jesus is the Word of God and the Light of the World. 

Yet, men reject the light, because they love darkness.

John 3:19-21 – “This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.  Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed.  But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.” 

God’s Word is understood/discerned spiritually, not by human reason, so that even infants who we do not perceive to be capable of comprehending God’s Word, or any words for that matter, may know God and His Word and have faith in Jesus Christ. = Mind-blown! 

1 Corinthians 2:14 – God’s Word is “spiritually discerned” and needs the Holy Spirit to be discerned. 

2 Timothy 3:15 – “Timothy knew the Scriptures from infancy and they made him wise for salvation!