Jesus..."The Word of God."
Was it the bible that spoke to Abram...No.
Was it scripture that spoke to Abram...No.
The scripture was not written, nor was the concept even a figment of man's imagination to compile scriptures into a book called the bible in Abram time.
The interpretation of scripture and the subsequent compilation of the bible is a product of man yet, the word "bible" is not even in the bible, nor does it sate or imply that the bible is the "Word of God."
Therefore, "the word of The Lord" had to be exactly that...the word that The Lord SPOKE to Abram.
John says: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and with-out Him nothing was made that was made.” (John 1:1-3)
It is impossible...unless you live in delusional delusions...to attribute the word "Word" to be the Bible.
Yet to hear people who believe the Bible is the "Word of God" you would think the verse reads, “In the beginning was the bible, and the bible was with God, and the bible was God. The bible was in the beginning with God. All things were made through the bible, and without the bible nothing was made that was made.”
How absurd!
Did the bible create the world? No. Was the bible in existence when the world was created? No. The first "Christian bible" dates back to only as far as 1516.
John in Rev. 19:11-13, states that He saw "The Word of God" sitting on a white horse, was He referring to the bible as "the Word of The Lord? Of course not. He was referring to Jesus as the "Word of The Lord"
Hebrews tells us that : “The word of God is living and powerful.., and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12). Is this referring to the bible. Of course not. The bible without the Living Word to bring it to life is dead letters. It would sit on your coffee table for ever and not discern the thoughts and intents of your heart even if you read it. Unless Jesus gave life to the content of the bible as you read it, it remains a dead book. Why? Because Jesus says: “I am He who searches the minds and hearts.” (Revelation 2:23). It is Jesus, and not the bible, that is the Word of God.
The Word of God has life, gives life and His life is the light of men according to John 1:4. If the bible was the Word of God, would Jesus have maintained that there is no life in the scriptures. Jesus said to the Jews: “You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.” (John 5:39-40).
The Jews searched the scriptures in the mistaken assumption eternal life could be obtained by reading them, in other words, gain life from them. But, they could find no life in them because they are dead, Jesus is the life that brings the scriptures to life...it is vain to seek the living among the dead. (Luke 24:5).
The scriptures are signposts identifying Jesus as “the way, the truth and the life.” (John 14:6). Our living is in Christ...not the letter of the written word...the bible.
Without the Spirit God, the letter in the bible kills, but the spirit gives life. (2 Corinthians 3:6). Jesus says: “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.” (John 6:63). It is the word that Jesus speaks, the word that comes directly from the mouth of God, which gives life. It is God’s spoken word and not the inspired written word that is the Word of God. Jesus says: “Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” (Matthew 4:4).
Jesus asked no one to record His words in a book. Jesus did not promise that God would inspire the compilation of His words into a bible for future reference. Instead, He promises His disciples that: “The Helper, the Spirit of Truth, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.” (John 14:26).
“You have received the Holy Spirit, and he lives within you, in your hearts, so that you don’t need anyone to teach you what is right. For he teaches you all things, and he is the Truth, and no liar.” (I John 2:27).
Thus, if the word of God was with God in the beginning, where is the Word now? Is it in the Bible? Even Moses, the giver of the law, tells us where to find it. He says: “It is not up in heaven, so that you have to ask, ‘Who will ascend into heaven to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?’ Nor is it beyond the sea, so that you have to ask, ‘Who will cross the sea to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?’ No, the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it.” (Deuteronomy 30:12-14).
Through the ministry of the Holy Spirit, God has placed His word in our hearts and minds. Indeed, that is the promise of the New Testament. God says: “This is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days: I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. No more shall every man teach his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ for they all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them.” (Jeremiah 31:33-34).
Thus, the word of God is delivered to us directly by the Holy Spirit and not through a bible. Jesus says of the Holy Spirit: “He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but what-ever He hears He will speak.” (John 16:13). This means the Holy Spirit will never contradict the words of Jesus in the bible.
Does this diminish the value of the bible for the believer? No. Does this mean we are to take the bible and throw it out? No. The ascension of the bible to the "Word of God" was man's doing not Gods. The words that God spoke in the bible are the words of God thus, "The Word of God" but that does not make the bible itself the "The Word of God."
The bible reveals the word of God came to some people in the past. Thereby, it encourages us to establish similar relationships with God today. John says: “That which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ...notice it had nothing to do with a bible... And these things we write to you that your joy may be full.” (I John 1:3-4).
Rejoice in Jesus "The WORD of God" and read the written word about God through the life of Jesus in you, who will by His Holy Spirit bring the written word to life for you.
It is spiritually suicide for people to allow a relationship with, and the idolization of the bible, like some "Christian People," to rob you of an intimate relationship with God, and Jesus working His works through you.
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