God's Word and His Work

Hebrews 4:11-16New American Standard Bible (NASB)

11 Therefore let us be diligent to enter that rest, so that no one will fall, through following the same example of disobedience. 12 For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13 And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.

14 Therefore, since 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 cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. 16 Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

I am completely in love with God's word.  Nearly every day begins with extended time spent studying the Bible which leads to times of repentance, seeking God, requesting His power in my life, building of my faith and worship.  The work that He does through His word is far greater than any devotional, self-help literature, or force of will could ever do in my heart.  It is because of my love for scripture that I want to "back up" to the portion of Hebrews chapter 4 which speaks of the power of God's word.  There is also a note of redemption that drives me back to this passage.  About a decade or more ago, I was listening to a sermon by a prominent individual who ridiculed believers for "deifying the scriptures."  He continued to make less of the scriptures than I was comfortable with hearing.  The study of higher thought and origin of scripture had somehow weakened his view of God's word.  However, I knew that this minister was dead wrong because I had experienced the living word in my life.  By God's Spirit through the scripture, God had done in me what I could not do in myself.  Hebrews 4:12 and it clearly states that God's word is living.  More than that, His word is active as stated in the following passage:

Isaiah 55:11New American Standard Bible (NASB)

11 So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth;
It will not return to Me empty,
Without accomplishing what I desire,

And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.  

    

Living and active: This amazes me - that God's word is alive!  But I know it is true, because I can read it, walk away and miraculously experience a transformation in my mind and my spirit. It is like the truths in His word unlock some sort of secret passageway, or push a reset button to reshape my thinking.  In contrast, God's word would be dead if it did not cause a change of heart.  God's word cannot be dead because I see new mysteries revealed each time I re-read a passage.  

Sharp two-edged sword:  Here is a frightening and painful thought; but to the believer, hope and peace.  The word of God is a precision tool which God uses to free us from encumbrance of sin and reveal the presence of Christ in us.  (God be glorified!)  It is by the word and the work of the Holy Spirit that the old sinful self passes away.  The result is the conformity of our hearts and minds to that of God's Son.

Division:  This is judgment - to draw clear definition between what is holy and what is unholy.  God's word judges the hearer/reader.  John 1:1-13 refers to Jesus as the Word who came into the world , brought light to men and enlightens everyone.  Reading God's word in itself does not make one holy, but it does enlighten all who read.  The Bible brings present judgment in that the hearer must determine what he or she will do with the truth.  Consequently, the Word will bring future judgment for all who do not believe.

John 12:47-48New American Standard Bible (NASB)

47 If anyone hears My sayings and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world. 48 He who rejects Me and does not receive My sayings, has one who judges him; the word I spoke is what will judge him at the last day.

Revelation 19:13-15New American Standard Bible (NASB)

13 He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God.14 And the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following Him on white horses. 15 From His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may strike down the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron; and He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty.

Soul and Spirit:  The soul is sometimes referred to as the mind.  Our soul is what makes determinations based on what motivates us - our sinful human nature.  Our spirit is the space given us by the Creator and designed to be filled with His Spirit.  Our spirit is dead in us until God breathes His life into it.  Once the spirit is alive, we are driven by His Spirit to know Him more - pursue God.  The Bible breaks the bond between soul and spirit so that the Holy Spirit can do a transforming work in our lives.  A life that is yielded to God's Spirit can now be motivated by what pleases God - holiness.

Joints and Marrow:  The joints of our body provide action and mobility.  Similarly, spiritual action is our conduct.  The marrow of the bone is the very core of life.  It is what gives us wellness and a ready defense from the environment that invades the body continually.  Spiritual marrow is the very core values that drive our conduct.  Our conduct can be driven by sinful core values or by spirit led values.  The word of God brings a clear judgment between conduct that is driven by sin and that which is spirit led.  Our actions reveal what is in our hearts and God's word reveals the heart of sin.  Jesus spoke of our actions in terms of good or bad fruit.

Matthew 12:33-35New American Standard Bible (NASB)

33 “Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for the tree is known by its fruit. 34 You brood of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak what is good? For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart. 35 The good man brings out of his good treasure what is good; and the evil man brings out of his evil treasure what is evil.

 An account or a Priest:  Based on what we know of the power of God's word, our spirits should tremble at the coming judgment; but there is Christ, our high priest who acts on our behalf in relation to God.  Without Christ, we would have to give an account for every sin which the Word of God reveals - and we would never be able to make restitution for them.  "In Christ, we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace which He lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight, making known to us the mystery of His will, according to His purpose which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth."  (Eph. 1:7-10)