“The Word and the Word”

"The Word and the Word"  

  

   

    The Lord Jesus Christ is the living, personal Word of God.  "The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father) full of grace and truth" (John 1:14).  The Bible is the written, doctrinal Word of God.  "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness" (II Timothy 3:16).  The former provides the theme and subject matter for the latter.  The latter perfectly reveals the person and work of the former.  "In Thy light shall we see light" (Psalm 36:9).

   As we ponder our Savior and His redemptive work in our lives, we do so in terms of Scripture.  We must seek the true and authentic Christ, as opposed to "another Jesus" of which the Apostle Paul warned (II Corinthians 11:4).  Only the Bible perfectly reveals our Savior to us.  Other books penned by devoted believers may provide rays of light that help us in our understanding and response to God through Christ.  Scripture alone, however, is light in the sense of Truth.  Thus, in seeking to "grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ", we rightly glance at faithful literature that concerns Him.  But we gaze upon the pages of the Bible, knowing that as we seek God therein, perfect purity of illumination awaits our hearts and minds.  "How sweet are Thy words unto my taste!  Yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!" (Psalm 119:103).

    As we read and consider the Scriptures, we do so in expectation of their revelation of Christ.  "Search the Scriptures… they are they which testify of Me" declared the Lord Jesus of the Old Testament (John 5:39).  Although never directly named in the pre-Incarnation documents, the Savior shines forth no less in the writings of Moses, the prophets and the psalmists than in the New Testament that brings Christ into open display of light and glory.  The Lord Jesus illuminates every letter, word, sentence, verse, passage, book, and Testament of the Bible.  We may not see Him clearly as we read and ponder, but He is there.  The Holy Spirit who inspired the words of Scripture purposes always to glorify the Son.  "When He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth: for He shall not speak of Himself; but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak: and He will show you things to come. He shall glorify Me: for He shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you" (John 16:13-14).

   The Bible reveals the person and work of the Lord Jesus.  The Lord Jesus comprises the purpose and understanding of the Bible.  Again, "in Thy light shall we see light."  The living and the written Word of God go hand in hand, heart in heart.  No truth about Christ and the Bible is more important to learn and to embrace.  Every time we open the Scriptures, we look for the Savior.  And every time we personally seek the Savior, we search in the light of Scripture.  This provides the key to knowing God in living, personal reality, and to understanding the Bible.  Nothing more.  Nothing less.  Nothing else.

"God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ."

(II Corinthians 4:6)

"Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and Thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts."

(Jeremiah 15:16)

Weekly Memory Verse 

   Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.

(Colossians 2:8)