Although many of us have heard the key phrase "The Word" used in Christian lingo, we might find ourselves confused with its multiple contexts. Here are 3 key aspects to simplify your understanding... #1: "The Word" is THE BIBLE First, "the Word" is frequently employed to talk about the Bible itself. This use of the term tends to be the most logical. We can easily associate the words and phrases on the pages of the Bible... or simply that this Bible is loaded with the words and phrases of God. In addition to that, it comes with a component of scripture memory. To illustrate, in Deuteronomy 30:14 we read "No, the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it". There is yet another aspect tied to the utilization of "the Word" as the Bible I have learned to appreciate. You'll likely hear other Christians chat about being "in the Word". Here, we're simply making reference to ensuring we explore the Bible, that we read His words introduced to all of us in the Bible. #2: "The Word" is THE LAW The term "The Word" is also used to represent "the law", or God's law. I consider this use of the term being a subset of the first one discussed above. Within the Bible ("the Word"), God's law is revealed and discussed frequently. But the entire Bible isn't ONLY filled with the law. You will see many illustrations of the use of "the Word" as the law when God first delivers it to Moses inside the Book of Exodus and then throughout the Old Testament. "The word of the law" is often discussed by a great number of of the prophets (e.g., Jeremiah, Ezekiel) as they continually remind the run-a-way nation of Israel of its broken obligations to God. Of note, until the law was officially delivered to Moses in the book of Exodus, "the Word of God" tended to be in reference to His words spoken, literally, to our Biblical ancestors. #3: "The Word" is GOD HIMSELF A final major context for the term "the Word" is it refers to God himself. As it says in the opening of the book of John: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it... And the Word became 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 1:1-5, 14) Many of us admit that God is omnipresent, meaning always in existence. God has been named the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. Here, John clearly links "the Word" as God and Jesus as "the Word becoming flesh". If we tried to substitute our other contexts "the Bible" or "the law" becoming flesh,it doesn't seem sensible. No... John is clearly stating that "the Word" is God Himself, and that God become flesh in Jesus. Now, how is "the Word" a synonym for God? Allow me to demonstrate how I have come to understand this complicated issue... Think about anything at all you would like in your life to turn into a reality. Think of an ideal relationship you wish to have... think of a dollar number inside your bank account you desire... picture that brand new home you've been wanting... visualize that vacation spot you'd rather be at right now... Now speak the words to accomplish it! The simple truth is, that's exactly what God did when He created all things. His essence envisioned all things and "SPOKE" them into existence. You and I fight barrier after barrier to make things an actuality with our words. Yet, all things are feasible for God. His power is unceasing and unchallenged. And thus, the potency of His words to design and create reality are substantiation of the power of His words... or in other words, "the Word". Please visit my FREE ministry site at OnlinePrayerJournal.com for lots of tools to help accelerate your spiritual growth!
Related Articles -
online bible dictionary, the word, word, understand, bible, law, power,
|