8/2/2019 The Word of God by Theo Logan

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The Word of God by Theo Logan

Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword,

piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner

of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Let us look at this familiar text to see what we can find. What is the Apostle Paul saying about the Word

of God? What is it he wants us to understand?

First, Gods Word is living. What is it that makes Gods Word living? What defines something as animate

as opposed to inanimate? One thing that comes to mind is the ability to reproduce, or to give life. Gods

Word is not only living but is life giving.

That leads to the second point, Gods word is not only living, it is powerful. It has the power to give life.

We can reproduce, but the power to reproduce comes from God. We can plant a seed and watch it

grow. but we cannot make it grow. We do not give life to the seed. Nor did the seed create itself. It

needs outside influences to grow -- sunshine, moisture, nutrients -- and these cannot be provided by theseed itself. These were created and provided by God.

Now this life-giving Word also has another quality -- it can cut. This appears on the surface to be a

destructive feature and, indeed, it is. Gods Word is living, powerful and it is destructive to si n. The

destructive quality in Gods Word is the natural result of its life -giving and powerful qualities. A seed

again serves as a good illustration of this fact.

In order for life to come from the seed, the seed must be destroyed. Its destruction results in an

abundance of fruit.

John 12:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abidethalone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.

Gods Word is quick, powerful and sharp. This sharpness, this destructive quality that is inherit in Gods

Word, works upon the spirit (soul and spirit), body (joints and marrow) and mind of man (thoughts and

intents of the heart).

Gods Word divides asunder soul and spirit. I have heard many fanciful interpretations of this text based

upon our fanciful interpretations that we attach to the meanings of the words soul and spirit. There are

two verses that we can look at the may help shed light upon our understanding of this passage.

Genesis 2:7 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils thebreath of life; and man became a living soul.

1 Corinthians 15:45 And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was

made a quickening spirit.

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God created man from the dust of the ground. He was not living until God breathed the spirit of life into

man. At that point man became a living soul. The difference between the spirit of life, the breath of life,

and the life that results from it is hard to discern. So much so, that there are many who see the words

soul and spirit as interchangeable. Gods Word distinguishes the difference. It can discern spiritual truths

that are beyond our ability. Gods Word alone gives us clear insight into the deep things of God.

1 Corinthians 2:13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but

which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

2 Peter 1:21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as

they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

Gods Word sheds light not just upon the spiritual world but upon the physical world as well. It can

divide the joints and marrow of the body. All that is seen in the physical world can be better understood

when viewed through the truths of the Bible.

Psalms 119:130 The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.

Many more texts could be quoted. It is clear that the study of Gods Word helps us to think about and

see our world more clearly.

More than this, however, Gods Word looks into the human heart and reveals those things that are

hidden even to ourselves.

Psalms 139:23 , 24 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if

there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

Jeremiah 17:9, 10 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? I the

LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to

the fruit of his doings.

Gods Word cannot do its work upon our heart unless we read it.

Romans 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Gods word is living, life-giving, and contains the creative power of God. His word is destructive to sin

and transforms the selfish human heart by recreating it into the image of Jesus. Gods Word gives us

insight into things that are beyond human comprehension. It sheds light upon this world and imparts

practical knowledge. Gods Word discerns the things hidden in our heart. This is true insight. This workneeds to be performed before we can enter into Gods kingdom.

1 Peter 1:23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which

liveth and abideth for ever.

John 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again,

he cannot see the kingdom of God.