Components to the Word of God
This blog post is Part 5 of a series entitled, "Orthodoxy" by Pastor Jeffrey Dean Smith of Donelson First in Nashville, TN.
Message Date: February 5, 2023
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On January 12th, Elvis Presley’s family members, friends, and fans were saddened to hear the tragic news that Elvis’s only daughter, Lisa Maria Presley, passed away at the young age of 54.
Just 21 days after her death, an attorney representing Priscilla Presley, Elvis’s former wife and Lisa Maria’s mother, filed a petition in LA County seeking to disprove a modification of Lisa Marie's trust that would give her 33-year-old daughter, Riley, full control of the trust and, in effect, Elvis Presley's estate. That’s big money at stake, no doubt!
The filing argues that a document to amend the trust to remove Priscilla as a trustee of the estate is false. So... the legal battle begins over whether or not Priscilla, Elvis’s former wife, or Elvis’s granddaughter, Riley, controls the Presley dynasty… and all that money!
Included in the filing is a document with a signature claiming to be Lisa Marie's but which appears inconsistent with her handwriting on previous documents. The question: Did Lisa Marie sign the document before her death? Did someone forge her signature? What is the truth in this matter?
Oh my! Sounds like the stuff of which movies are made…Today, we will continue our deep dive into THE TRUTH
And today we will see that God clearly placed His signature throughout the Holy Word so that there will be no doubt as to who He is and the Orthodoxy of His Word.
Evidence is so important to the authenticity of truth.
orthodoxy = The foundational truths that define the Christian faith.
Last week, we examined a treasure trove of both internal and external evidence clearly documenting the authenticity of Scripture. I too presented 13 Foundational Principles that define the Christian faith.
Before moving on in this series to Foundational Principle #2, I want to talk today with you in greater detail about Orthodoxy Foundational Principle #1:
The Bible is the Word of God and is the ultimate authority for everything.
This Principle is such a critical one because the remaining statements of Orthodoxy that we will dissect throughout the coming weeks each hinge on the validity of Principle #1.
So, this week, and most likely next week, we will park here at this first principle. The overwhelming evidence I presented last week is truly foundational as we journey through the Orthodoxy of truth defining the Christian faith. But before moving forward, it to is essential that we are in unison as to our understanding of just how critically foundational is Principle #1!
As you obviously see, Foundational Principle #1 effectively has two major components.
1. The Word of God.
2. The ultimate authority for everything.
Today, let’s talk through component #1: The Word of God.
The term “the Word of God” appears 129 times in the NIV translation of the Bible. When you read these words in the Bible, “the Word of God,” to what does Scripture refer? Is “the Word of God” a phrase highlighting keywords in Scripture when God audibly speaks? Does this phrase refer to the written words of our Creator? Is “the Word of God” words that God spoke through the prophets and writers of the Bible? Or does this phrase “the Word of God” represent the entirety of God’s Holy Word? Well, the answer is: Yes!
There are multiple meanings of the phrase “the Word of God” throughout Scripture. This is an important study for us as we evaluate a very specific writing style of God that manifests itself in unique ways in Scripture. Each is super important to helping us go even deeper into our understanding of the character of God. It is important that we clearly distinguish their differences. I will outline 5 for us today.
This is SUPER IMPORTANT!… My hope for you is that these 5 points today are going to help you as you study the Word of God. And, when you see these 5 attributes of “the Word of God” in Scripture, you are going to better understand and be able to more richly dissect the character of God. So, let’s go!
1. The Word of God is the person of Jesus Christ.
What names do you use when referencing Jesus: Savior. Redeemer. Lord. Forgiver. Hope restorer. Son of God. One of the many things that a study of Orthodoxy can do for us is to expand the way we view, worship & adore Jesus Christ. I hope this happens for you as we move throughout this study.
The Bible rarely uses the words “the Word of God” when in reference to Jesus Christ. But it does do so, and therefore, is another deserving title: John 1:1
Obviously, John is referring to the Son of God, Jesus Christ here in first John 1, because in verse 14 he says: John 1:14
At the end of the Bible, John is given a Revelation and actually sees the risen Lord Jesus in heaven. Imagine what this must have been like for him!
Revelation 19:11-13
Jesus Christ, as a person, is the very Word of God.
When we hear Jesus speak through Scripture, we hear the very words of God. Jesus confirmed this over and again while on earth when He made statements such as: I and the Father are one. John 10:30
one (Greek) = the same as
In John 14:9, Jesus says this in response to a statement Philip makes:
Jesus answered: Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, Show us the Father? John 14:9
One of Jesus’ most critical roles is that of communicating the very nature, love & character of His Father. As the very Word of God, Jesus fulfills this responsibility with every single aspect of His life.
2. The Word of God is a decree by God.
Just as we read in Scripture where Jesus Christ is the very Word of God, so too do we read on many occasions where Scripture states “And God said…”
These commands of God are called decrees.
A decree of God = Words spoken by God that put into motion a cause that cannot be changed. We see throughout the Holy Scriptures many decrees by God that set into motion events, wars, deaths, births, penalties, blessings, and more.
The first time we read a decree from God, we too read these words, “And God said!”
“The Word of God” as a decree for the first time is only three verses into the Holy Scriptures.
And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. Genesis 1:3
The decree, “And God said,” continues to take center stage throughout the Creation story as we read:
And God said, “Let there be a vault between the waters to separate water from water. Genesis 1:6
And God said, “Let the water under the sky be gathered to one place, and let dry ground appear.” Genesis 1:9
And God said, “Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds.” Genesis 1:11
And God said, “Let there be lights in the vault of the sky to separate the day from the night and let them serve as signs to mark sacred times, and days and years, and let them be lights in the vault of the sky to give light on the earth.” Genesis 1:14-15
And God said, “Let the water teem with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the vault of the sky.” Genesis 1:20
And God said, “Let the land produce living creatures according to their kinds: the livestock, the creatures that move along the ground, and the wild animals, each according to its kind.” Genesis 1:24
Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” Genesis 1:26
Then God said, “I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. Genesis 1:29
We read nine times decrees throughout the first chapter of the book of the Bible, “And God said...”
These powerful decrees of God are the very DNA of our existence and the workings of all things.
Hebrews 1:3a tells us exactly this when it reads:
The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. Hebrews 1:3a
Hebrews confirms that ALL things are sustained by the “words” of the almighty God! You see...
When God speaks, He is not merely using words. The very words of God are power and authority. And whatever He decrees is truth.
3. The Word of God is intimate communication with God.
I heard a story this week of a young girl named Emma in Florida who was born deaf. It wasn’t until just this past week, at the young age of 2, that Emma finally heard the words “I love you” from her mom for the very first time. Emma underwent several surgeries and was the recipient of a new hearing device that helped her step out of the silence.
Those of us who have never experienced such silence may have difficulty wrapping our heads around such an amazing joy one experiences when he or she, once deaf, is now able to hear! Imagine what it would be like to actually hear the voice of God. I’m not referring here to a vision or God’s Spirit speaking to you. I mean the actual voice of God…
We know that God communicates in a variety of ways to His people, including as we are discussing today, the Word, the Holy Spirit, through circumstances…
… and we read of many occasions in the Bible where God chooses to communicate through intimate conversations! Why does God choose to communicate with some people verbally? I am not sure. Only God knows! But when He does, we see that the people with whom He communicates, clearly understand that they are hearing from the very Jehovah God! Shortly after the story of Creation, God meets with Adam to clearly and intimately express His expectations about a specific tree in the Garden of Eden.
Genesis 2:16-17
And when Adam (and Eve) fail at following God’s direct expectations, God again personally speaks. At first, He questions what has happened: Genesis 3:7-11
Then, God speaks personally, this time with words of a curse: Genesis 3:16-19
We also hear the voice of God speak personally in Exodus 20 when He gives the Ten Commandments to Moses and the nation of Israel: Exodus 20:1-2 God then proceeds to speak for 14 more verses!
Both intimate conversations with God, that of Adam and then of Moses, are examples that should instill within us a profound reminder as His followers:
To hear the words of God is to hear divine authority. To ignore the words of God is to disbelieve God and to sin.
One of my personal favorites of hearing the voice of God speak directly to people. Imagine this one… You are witnessing a close family member being baptized. And as that family member comes up out of the water, you hear God proclaim: Matthew 3:16-17
Of course, we are so thankful to have these words. Though we were not there in these moments, we now have these very words of God that still to this today are Orthodoxy.
I can’t say that I would have wanted to have the intimate conversation with God that Adam had to have after sinning. Can you imagine! But, I do envy the intimate moments that Moses was afforded with God while on Mount Sinai.
Have you ever wondered:
How can I have intimate communication w/God?
Commit. (Time) Listen. (Silence noises in my life & listen to the voice of God.) Obey. (When God tells me to do something, do it.)
4. The Word of God is the voice of God’s ordained.
You’ve heard it said: A picture is worth a thousand words. Unknown Author
There is also an ancient Chinese Proverb that says: The tongue can paint what the eye cannot see. Ancient Chinese Proverb
Well, God often uses “people” as His tongue. And just like the person in the Chinese Proverb who, though blind, can still clearly “see” what is painted because of the eloquent words of one’s tongue. So too can God, though not seen, use the ordained person to articulate His words.
God’s words, delivered in human language, by humans, are to be received as the very words of God. Though unseen, through the voice of others, God communicates a clear message of truth which can be clearly seen by all who choose to fix their eyes on the Orthodoxy of His Word.
Over and again throughout Scripture, God speaks His words through those whom He ordains.
In the book of Deuteronomy, God speaks through Moses and tells the nation of Israel:
I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their fellow Israelites, and I will put my words in his mouth. He will tell them everything I command him. I myself will call to account anyone who does not listen to my words that the prophet speaks in my name. But a prophet who presumes to speak in my name anything I have not commanded, or a prophet who speaks in the name of other gods, is to be put to death. Deuteronomy 18:18-20
We also know that God came to Jeremiah, His prophet, and anointed him to speak the truth on His behalf:
“Alas, Sovereign Lord,” I said, “I do not know how to speak; I am too young. But the Lord said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am too young.’ You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you,” declares the Lord. Then the Lord reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, “I have put my words in your mouth. See, today I appoint you over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant.” Jeremiah 1:6-10
We also know that God spoke through the Prophet Samuel to King Saul and gave him specific instructions.
1 Samuel 15:1-3
If we were to dive deep into this story, we would see that King Saul did not do as the Lord asked. Saul did not destroy everyone and everything as God commanded. This decision would cost him the throne… and his life.
1 Samuel 15:16-23
Know this… God’s words delivered through the voice of one He ordains are just as authoritative and just as true as words from the very mouth of God.
5. The Word of God is written by the hand of God.
Though one of the Ten Commandments clearly states, “Do not steal.” Ironically, the Bible is the most stolen book in the world.
The Holy Scriptures are also (as mentioned last week) the most printed book on the planet.
More than 100M copies of the Bible are sold globally each year. The Bible has more than 600,000 words categorized through 66 books containing 1,189 chapters.
The shortest Bible chapter is Psalm 117. The longest Bible chapter is Psalm 119. The shortest verse in the Bible is found in the KJV, John 11:35 which states, “Jesus wept.”
Of course, the entirety of Scripture from Genesis 1:1 to Revelation 22:21 is the complete Word of God given to us as God’s people. I could talk, and continue to talk, about all the unique and fascinating points that cumulatively embody God’s Holy Word.
There is one more meaning of the phrase “the Word of God” that I see in Scripture. This is “the Word of God” which was literally written by the hand of God.
Once again, we go back to the nation of Israel, Moses, and the Ten Commandments.
What a life Moses lived. While tending to a flock of Jethro, his father-in-law, he sees a bush on fire. He notices the bush, though ablaze, is not burning up. That in and of itself is pretty supernatural! He then hears a voice from the bush – the very voice of God! This God calls him to go and stand before the most powerful man on the planet at this moment – the Pharoah! Moses reluctantly goes. Plays the critical part in discussing the release of 1M + Israelites who had been under the dictator rule of this Pharoah as slaves for 400 years. What ensues is a negotiation that involves plagues of blood, frogs, gnats, flies, dead livestock, boils, hail, locusts, darkness, and eventually death, including the death of the Pharoah’s firstborn.
He leads this massive group of people out of Egypt, only to be soon chased by a Pharaoh who has changed his mind and an army that wants to destroy these people. Seemingly trapped between warriors on horses and water, Moses leads these people on dry land across these waters to begin their new journey. Standing on the other side of this water, Moses and the nation of Israel watch as those chasing them are eventually floating carcasses.
Wow! It’s like a Hollywood movie that gets better and better and more and more insane.
But all of this… it’s just the prequel to what Moses is really about to experience! Moses and the nation of Israel are settling into their new life en route to the Promised Land.
This is when Moses takes the trip of a lifetime up into the clouds on Mount Sinai. It is during these 40 days and 40 nights with God that Moses has a conversation with God unlike any conversation ever. And at the end of this conversation, Moses is given two tablets of stone inscribed by the very finger of God: Exodus 31:18:
When the Lord finished speaking to Moses on Mount Sinai, he gave him the two tablets of the covenant law, the tablets of stone inscribed by the finger of God.
Moses had quite the life! But nothing this man ever experienced can compare to that moment on that mountain when he met with God and watched as God took a stone tablet and wrote His truths with His very finger! Now there are also other instances in Scripture when we read that God directed His followers to write very specific words on His behalf:
Go now, write it on a tablet for them, inscribe it on a scroll, that for the days to come it may be an everlasting witness. Isaiah 30:8
This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘Write in a book all the words I have spoken to you.’ Jeremiah 30:2
Whether the “words of God” we read in Scripture are in reference to:
1. The person of Jesus Christ. 2. A command by God. 3. Intimate communication with God. 4. The voice of God’s ordained. 5. Words written supernaturally by the hand of God.
... the first component of Foundational Principle #1:
“The Bible is the Word of God” truly is a robust principle that helps us to better place confidence in the Christian faith when we examine these 5 equally unique ways in which God chooses to communicate His word to His people.
Some of you may remember the Bible burning that happened by protesters in Portland, OR during the 2020 riots. This was a true act of disrespect and irreverence to the words of God!
Do I ever show irreverence to God’s Word? “How do I do this?” you might ask. I think this can happen in any number of ways… I do not refer to irreverence in the sense of “book burning” or destroying copies of the Bible.
No, I refer to an irreverence of God’s Word in more subtle and less aggressive ways such as (and this is not an exhaustive list) … The subtle irreverence to God’s Word:
Not making time in the Word a priority in my life. Hearing, but not accepting, what the Word says. Applying to my life only aspects of the Word that make sense to me, is easy, or viewed as culturally cool. Only reading the Word when in need. (When I am desperate, hurt, broken, at my ropes-end.) An act of blatant disobedience to the Word.
You know…it truly is amazing that a book written so long ago still to this day has such a profound impact on so many people who choose to apply the “Words of God” to their lives.
If this has not been the way for you: It’s never too late to begin showing reverence to the Word by spending time in the Word.
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Jeffrey Dean Smith is a husband, father to Bailey & Brynnan, author, and the Senior Pastor at Donelson First in Nashville, TN. If you are in Music City, meet Jeffrey and enjoy iced tea on the front lawn each Sunday at 10:30a.