“So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the Word of Christ.” Romans 10:17 ESV
We know that “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1 ESV). We know that the pre-incarnate Christ was the Logos. He was timeless and spaceless, not bound by matter or any substance. He was Incorporeal, just as the Heavenly Father and Holy Spirit. When the Logos chose to die on the Cross and rise again the Third Day, this was an eternal decision. Not only eternal for giving life to those who would repent and believe, but eternal for Himself and His nature. The Logos will never revert back to His unseeable form. Forever He will remain as the Lord Jesus Christ, “the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation” Colossians 1:15 ESV).
Since Christ has always been and always will be, we can trust that His Word means what He desires it to say.
Since Christ has always been and always will be, we can trust that His Word means what He desires it to say. For “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16 ESV). Those who have an ear to hear are not afraid of coming near. They do not fear reproof and the tougher Truths of Scripture. Instead, they accept them with all humility. They see that they are in need of the Truth. By accepting the tougher truths of the Word of God, one is able to be covered and protected by God Himself. For it takes God to be protected from God. It takes God’s Love and Grace to be protected from His justice and wrath.
It takes God to be protected from God. It takes God’s Love and Grace to be protected from His justice and wrath.
God desires all to come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9). He does not desire to damn. Rather, He desires to save (1 Timothy 2:4). Having given human beings libertarian freewill, people have the inherent decision of choosing right from wrong, good from evil, accepting Christ or rejecting Christ. Knowing this, it is no wonder why most reject God’s Word.
Many desire all the promises and blessings without obedience. Many desire all the mercy and grace without repentance. Many desire all the love and acceptance without turning from the ways of darkness.
Some like to pretend they know God’s Word. Some like to appeal to others that they walk with God. Many live under this facade trying to be someone they are not. They desire all the promises and blessings without obedience. They desire all the mercy and grace without repentance. They desire all the love and acceptance without turning from the ways of darkness. For “You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons” (1 Corinthians 10:21 ESV). Many desire the reward without the responsibility. It is these people, therefore, that live a deceptive faith and quickly fall out of the faith.
Paul said that "faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God" (Romans 10:17 NKJV). Pastors and preachers who preach self-help messages that entertain and entice the flesh are those who do not preach the Word of God. With this in mind, it is no wonder that there is no faith in god from the vast majority of congregations.
Whether knowingly or unknowingly, congregations are being starved. They are not hearing the Word of the Triune God. They are not hearing that which God desires them to hear. Instead, the church on a widespread scale has turned into a movie theater. Multitudes go in and out as easily as going into a movie. There is no bold word that comes in love and rebukes the sinner. There is no true teaching of what Scripture has to say. Many have infected the pulpit and have become Satan’s puppet and culprit. Many neglect God’s Word and use the position and authority of “pastor” to further an agenda that is either ungodly or fleshly. Both result in the damning of the soul. Those who do so will be responsible for every soul cast into Hell. They will have their portion in the Lake of Fire (Revelation 20:15, Revelation 21:8).
Self is the natural spirit of man until the Holy Spirit gets ahold of him. Without one being willing to deny themselves, they will forever live for themselves both now and in the afterlife.
“For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12 ESV). The division of soul and spirit is ten-fold more difficult to split than any quark or electron. Knowing this, we must not find it surprising when many reject God’s Word. Many would rather be in control of their own soul than to have it split and cut off from an ungodly spirit. For self is the natural spirit of man until the Holy Spirit gets ahold of him. Without one being willing to deny themselves, they will forever live for themselves both now and in the afterlife.
The Holy Spirit is the One Who illumines our soul with His Divine Light. He shines forth the Word of God from within and gives us the power, wisdom, strength, love, and courage to walk in it.
That is why “When the Spirit of Truth comes, He will guide you into all the Truth, for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak, and He will declare to you the things that are to come” (John 16:13 ESV). The Holy Spirit is the One Who illumines our soul with His Divine Light. He shines forth the Word of God from within and gives us the power, wisdom, strength, love, and courage to walk in it. Without Him, we could depend on nothing. With Him, we have and can do everything.
““My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me”” (John 10:27 ESV). There is only One Lord and Savior. There is only One Jesus Christ. In the midst of a world that preaches many different, false Christ’s (2 Corinthians 11:4), those truly born again will hear Christ’s voice. Why? Because they are hearers of the Word of God and accept what it says. They do not seek to combat and override what God has to say in His Word. They take it at face value and realize there are no mysteries to be solved.
It is the carnal “Christian” who is lukewarm and strives to have Scripture fit their narrative and agenda. The irony in this is that their own selfish pursuits become their own damnation.
It is the carnal “Christian” who is lukewarm and strives to have Scripture fit their narrative and agenda. The irony in this is that their own selfish pursuits become their own damnation. Though God initially sends people to Hell, ultimately it is people who send themselves to Hell. They wanted religion without power; reward without responsibility; blessing without obedience; acceptance without faith; love without holiness; salvation without sanctification; conversion without change. These are those who strive for their fleshly desires disguised in a nice form of religion. In doing so, they damn their own souls in the process.
God’s Word will do one of two things: It will either break us to repentance or harden us to resistance.
“As it is said, “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion”” (Hebrews 3:15 ESV). God’s Word will do one of two things: It will either break us to repentance or harden us to resistance. There is no in-between. Christ said, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with Me” (Revelation 3:20 ESV). Christ's knock is gentle and firm. It is loving and holy. It desires to be let in through true belief and genuine repentance. Without either, one will live a counterfeit faith; thinking they are on their way to Heaven, when they are on their way to Hell.
Every Word of Scripture proves true. Every sin has a consequence.
That is why “we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. For since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable, and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution, how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard, while God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to His will” (Hebrews 2:1-4 ESV). Every sin has a consequence. Every Word of Scripture proves true. God’s “Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105 ESV). If we fail to believe this reality, we will succumb to an illusion that will ultimately destroy us.
Without God’s Word, we cannot know God. Without God’s Spirit, we cannot understand His Word. Without the Lord Jesus Christ, we cannot have the Holy Spirit as our Helper. It takes God to know God. It takes God to live for God.
Without God’s Word, we cannot know God. Without God’s Spirit, we cannot understand His Word. Without the Lord Jesus Christ, we cannot have the Holy Spirit as our Helper. It takes God to know God. It takes God to live for God. We must hear God’s Word and obey it. We must “be doers of the Word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the Word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing” (James 1:22-25 ESV).
May we hear God’s Word, accept it, believe it, do it, and allow it to be the breath within.
May we hear God’s Word, accept it, believe it, do it, and allow it to be the breath within.
PRAYER
Triune God, Him Who is Timeless and Boundless, expand our souls to receive more of You. Help us not to wander or waiver. May we not seek to change Your Word, but may Your Word change us. May we not argue with what You have spoken, but accept it with all humility. O God, change us within. May we not succumb to the desires and temptations of the flesh. Keep us from false prophets speaking false doctrines. Keep us from the show of Christianity. Help us to live out the faith as true born again believers. Lead us upon still waters and keep us from those who know You in name only. Lead them to genuine repentance and true knowledge of You before they are damned. Convict them and awaken them, just as You have with us. May we all deny ourselves, take up our cross and follow You, Lord Jesus. Lead the way and keep us in the Word, Holy Spirit. We depend upon You, Heavenly Father, for all things. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Lance VanTine