Jesus Is the Living And Active Word Of God
John 1:1-2, 14 – John describes Jesus as the Word. Because Jesus is the living and active Word of God, He can “rightly divide/judge the thoughts and intentions” of our hearts (Hebrews 4:12). Everything is “open and laid bare” before Him (Hebrews 4:13; see 1 Cor. 14:23-25 below).
1 In the beginning was the Word [356- logos – “a word or saying, a word spoken for any purpose”], and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 He was with God in the beginning...
14 The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
NIV
Matthew 9:1-4 – Jesus knows, and is therefore able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
1 Jesus crossed over the sea and came to His own city.
2 And they brought to Him a paralytic lying on a bed. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralytic, "Take courage, son; your sins are forgiven."
3 And some of the scribes said to themselves, "This fellow blasphemes."
4 And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, "Why are you thinking evil in your hearts?
NASU
Matthew 12:22-25 – Again, He knows our thoughts, which is good for us to keep in mind, not letting bad thoughts continue on to further wickedness.
22 Then a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute was brought to Jesus, and He healed him, so that the mute man spoke and saw.
23 All the crowds were amazed, and were saying, "This man cannot be the Son of David, can he?"
24 But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, "This man casts out demons only by Beelzebul the ruler of the demons."
25 And knowing their thoughts Jesus said to them, "Any kingdom divided against itself is laid waste; and any city or house divided against itself will not stand.
NASU
Jude 14-16 – The Lord’s coming again “with many thousands of His holy ones, to execute judgment on all.” Because He is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart, He is able to judge righteously.
14 It was also about these men that Enoch, in the seventh generation from Adam, prophesied, saying, "Behold, the Lord came with many thousands of His holy ones,
15 to execute judgment upon all, and to convict all the ungodly of all their ungodly deeds which they have done in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him."
16 These are grumblers, finding fault, following after their own lusts; they speak arrogantly, flattering people for the sake of gaining an advantage.
NASU
1 Corinthians 14:23-25 – Through prophecy (i.e. speaking the word of the Lord), the secrets of the heart of an “unbeliever or an ungifted man” (i.e. his thoughts and intentions) are disclosed/laid bare.
23 Therefore if the whole church assembles together and all speak in tongues, and ungifted men or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are mad? [See the Bible study Tongues.]
24 But if all prophesy [4395- “to speak under inspiration, to utter forth, declare, exercise the prophetic office”], and an unbeliever or an ungifted man enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all;
25 the secrets of his heart are disclosed [5318- “apparent, manifest, evident, known”]; and so he will fall on his face and worship God, declaring that God is certainly among you.
NASU
Revelation 1:1-3 – See the Bible study The Testimony Of Jesus regarding the next few passages from Revelation that refer to “the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.”
1 The Revelation [602- “an uncovering, unveiling, disclosure”] of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show to His bond-servants, the things which must soon take place; and He sent and communicated it by His angel to His bond-servant John,
2 who testified [3140] to the word of God and to the testimony [3141] of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw.
3 Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heed [5083- “to attend to carefully, take care of, to guard, to observe”] the things which are written in it; for the time [2540- “a fixed and definite time, the right time, opportune or seasonable time”] is near.
NASU
NT:3140 martureo (mar-too-reh'-o)
(Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance)
from NT:3144; to be witness, i.e. testify (literally or figuratively):
KJV - charge, give [evidence], bear record, have (obtain, of) good (honest) report, be well reported of, testify, give (have) testimony, (be, bear, give, obtain) witness.
(Thayer’s Greek Lexicon)
to be a witness, to bear witness, testify,
a. in general; absolutely, to give (not to keep back) testimony (John 15:27)
b. emphatically; to utter honorable testimony, give a good report: with a dative of the person (Luke 4:22)
c. the middle voice, according to a false reading, to conjure, implore (1 Thess 2:12)
3141 marturia (mar-too-ree'-ah)
(Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance)
from 3144; evidence given (judicially or genitive case)
KJV-- record, report, testimony, witness.
(Thayer’s Greek Lexicon)
1) a testifying; the office committed to the prophets of testifying concerning future events
2) what one testifies, testimony, that is, before a judge
Revelation 1:9 – John was sent to an insignificant place, the island called Patmos, “because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.” It was here that he was given visions from the Lord that he compiled in the book of Revelation, the last book of the Bible.
9 I, John, your brother and fellow partaker [4791- “a co-participant, joint partner”] in the tribulation [2347- “a pressing, pressing together, pressure”] and kingdom [932- “royal power, kingship, dominion, rule”] and perseverance [5281- “steadfastness, endurance; a patient steadfast waiting for”] which are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony [3141] of Jesus.
NASU
Revelation 19:10 – The “testimony” of Jesus, the witness/evidence of Him within, is the spirit of prophecy, His word being proclaimed. Another witness, or evidence of Jesus being within someone is the words of God that they speak. John 3:32-34 says, “What He has seen and heard, of that He bears witness [3140]; and no man receives His witness [3141]. He who has received His witness [3141] has set his seal to this, that God is true. For He whom God has sent speaks the words ([4487] – rhema - “the living word having a definite meaning”) of God; for He gives the Spirit [“the evidence, the witness, the testimony”] without measure.”
10 And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said to me, "Do not do that; I am a fellow servant of yours and your brethren who hold [2192- “to have, that is, to hold; to own, to possess”] the testimony [3141] of Jesus; worship God. For the testimony [3141] of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy."
(NASU)
Revelation 19:11-16 – By the two-edged, “sharp sword” of the Lord, the nations will be struck down.
11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war.
12 His eyes are a flame of fire, and on His head are many diadems; and He has a name written on Him which no one knows except Himself.
13 He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God.
14 And the armies [the “hosts” of the Lord in Isaiah 25:6 above] which are in heaven [separated from the rest of the body, she has now been eternally joined together with the Lord in the wedding feast of the Lamb], clothed in fine linen, white and clean [the newly crowned bride in Rev. 19:7-8], were following [190- see def. below] Him on white horses.
15 From His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may strike down the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron; and He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty.
16 And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, "KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS."
NASU
NT:190 akoloutheo (ak-ol-oo-theh'-o)
(Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance)
from NT:1 (as a particle of union) and keleuthos (a road); properly, to be in the same way with, i.e. to accompany (specially, as a disciple):
KJV - follow, reach.
(Thayer’s Greek Lexicon)
1. to follow one who precedes, join him as his attendant, accompany him (Matt. 4:25)
2. to join one as a disciple, become or be his disciple; side with his party, (A.V., follow him) (Matt. 4:20, 22)
(Vine's Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words)
akoloutheo [NT:190] – to be an akolouthos, “a follower,” or “companion” (from the prefix a, here expressing “union, likeness,” and keleuthos, “a way”; hence, “one going in the same way”), is used (a) frequently in the literal sense, e. g., Matthew 4:25; (b) metaphorically, of “discipleship,” e. g., Mark 8:34; 9:38; 10:21. It is used 77 times in the Gospels, of “following” Christ, and only once otherwise, Mark 14:13.
Psalm 149 – You won’t hear much, if ever, spoken about this psalm. The psalmist declared that the “godly ones” of the Lord will have “a two-edged sword in their hand to execute vengeance on the nations, and punishment on the peoples… to execute on them the judgment written.” He then says that it will be “an honor for all His godly ones.”
1 Praise the Lord! Sing to the Lord a new song, And His praise in the congregation of the godly ones.
2 Let Israel be glad in his Maker; Let the sons of Zion rejoice in their King.
3 Let them praise His name with dancing; Let them sing praises to Him with timbrel and lyre.
4 For the Lord takes pleasure in His people; He will beautify [6286- “to glorify, to beautify, to adorn”] the afflicted [635- “poor, humble afflicted, needy, weak”] ones with salvation [3444- “salvation, deliverance, aid, victory”].
5 Let the godly ones exult in glory; Let them sing for joy on their beds.
6 Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a two-edged sword in their hand,
7 To execute vengeance on the nations and punishment on the peoples,
8 To bind their kings with chains and their nobles with fetters of iron,
9 To execute on them the judgment written; This is an honor for all His godly ones. Praise the Lord!
NASU
2 Thessalonians 2:7-10 – In this passage, Paul is speaking of the timing of the return of Christ. in the first six verses he says that the apostasy, the great falling away from Christ will occur first, and “the man of lawlessness, the son of destruction” will be revealed. This person is described by Him as one who exalts himself, seated on the throne of the Lord. This lawless person will be killed “with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming.”
7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only he who now restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way.
8 Then that lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will slay with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming;
9 that is, the one whose coming is in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders,
10 and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved.
NASU
Ezekiel 37:1-14 – Ezekiel writes of the army of the Lord coming to life, and their dry bones being filled with “marrow,” the life of God by the filling of the Spirit.
Separation (division) in the Bible
Isaiah 59:1-3 – Sin causes separation between God and His people.
1 Surely the arm of the Lord is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear.
2 But your iniquities have separated [914- “to divide, to separate, to sever, to divide into parts”] you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear. [See Psalm 66:18]
3 For your hands are stained with blood, your fingers with guilt. Your lips have spoken lies, and your tongue mutters wicked things.
NIV
Matthew 19:6-9, Mark 10:9 – “What God has joined together, let no man separate.”
In a marriage covenant, adultery is the only legal ground for separation between two spouses. Sometimes, because of sin and rebellion (i.e. hardness of heart, spiritual adultery), it is necessary for the Lord to separate/divide one body part from another (see Matthew 18:7-9 right below, 1 Cor. 7:15) so as to allow the rest to shine brightly.
Matthew 18:7-9 – See the note below.
7 "Woe to the world because of its stumbling blocks [4625]! For it is inevitable that stumbling blocks come; but woe to that man through whom the stumbling block comes!
8 "If your hand or your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it from you; it is better for you to enter life crippled or lame, than to have two hands or two feet and be cast into the eternal fire.
9 "If your eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out and throw it from you. It is better for you to enter life with one eye, than to have two eyes and be cast into the fiery hell.
NASU
NT:4625 skandalon (skan'-dal-on) (“scandal”)
(Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance)
probably from a derivative of NT:2578; a trap-stick (bent sapling), i.e. snare (figuratively, cause of displeasure or sin)
KJV - occasion to fall (of stumbling), offence, thing that offends, stumblingblock.
(Thayer’s Greek Lexicon)
a. properly, the movable stick or tricker (“trigger”) of a trap, trap-stick; a trap, snare; any impediment placed in the way and causing one to stumble or fall (Romans 9:33)
b. metaphorically, any person or thing by which one is (“entrapped”) drawn into error or sin
1. of persons (Matthew 13:41)
2. of things (Romans 14:13)
In His rebuke of the Pharisees, the religious hypocrites, Jesus speaks of removing body parts that cause you to stumble. Is He being literal with this statement, or is it symbolical? I believe that it’s symbolical, revealing a very serious warning to the body of Christ. If we are causing others to sin against God, and do not repent, we will be cut off from Him (i.e. His body of people). (See the Bible studies Wholly Illumined No Dark Part, and Cut Off.)
The separation of body parts is what’s being revealed in Hebrews 4:6-11 above. The unfaithful/disobedient children of Israel being cut off from the faithful/obedient ones is the picture being presented to us by the Holy Spirit. God’s word is sharp enough in and of itself to separate truth from lies, wheat from tares, and wise virgins from foolish virgins. God’s division (separation) from His body of those who cause division among His body is a New Testament warning that many in the church, through adherence to lies (i.e. “doctrines of demons”), do not believe is possible. To the horror of many in the church who “did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness” (2 Thess. 2:12), they will find themselves on the outside of a closed door. It will be too late.
Bone Marrow And The Life Of God
“Bone marrow is the blood cell ‘factory.’ Healthy bone marrow releases blood cells into the bloodstream when they are mature and when required. Without bone marrow, our bodies could not produce the white cells we need to fight infection, the red blood cells we need to carry oxygen, and the platelets we need to stop bleeding… Bone marrow can be separated from the hard, outer part of the bone through a medical procedure called a bone marrow aspiration or biopsy.”
The Bible declares that the life is in the blood (Gen. 9:4, Lev. 17:11-14, Deut. 12:23, 1 John 5:11). So without this inner, unseen part where life is produced, the bones will dry up (Ezekiel 37; the dry bones), causing lifelessness/death. The word declares that Christ is our life (Colossians 3:4). It’s through His blood that was shed for our sins on the cross, applied to a repentant heart, that the power of His life-giving blood is able to flow within us now, as well as giving His eternal life later.
As we saw above, “Marrow is the nourisher and strengthener of the bones; it is said to moisten the bones.” This unseen, inner part is a picture of the life of Christ being produced within every believer that will obediently (v.6-11) “hold fast” their confession of faith in Christ (v.14). Without Him, we “dry up,” spiritually speaking, becoming “hard-hearted” (v.7). This is why Paul declared, “I die daily with Christ.” (1 Corinthians 15:31) It was so that the blood of Christ could flow “effectually” (i.e. “powerful in action”) through him as he walked in the pattern of Jesus’ crucified life.
Some in the church refer to “our confession” as a person’s “profession of faith,” meaning those who turn to Christ through repentance of sin, thereby acknowledging Him as their Lord and Savior (i.e. a Christian). But like the children of Israel on their way to the Promised Land, they rebel against the “Lord” portion of the covenant, becoming the lord themselves, seated on His throne within them (2 Thessalonians 2:1-12). This is the whole picture being presented through Paul, by the Holy Spirit, within this passage in Hebrews. His warning is that if we are not “diligent” to enter the rest of God, that we can become just as the children of Israel who disobeyed. They fell away from their devotion to the Lord with an apostate heart, and died, not able to enter into the Promised Land of their inheritance in Him. They discovered that the promise alone would not grant them entrance if it was not joined together with obedience (2 Corinthians 6:1). Having been defrauded of their prize (i.e. eternal life) through acceptance of lies through deceived leaders, they too will not enter into the promised eternal life in Christ (see Colossians 2:18-19 below). They did not stand firm in Him until the end (Matthew 10:22, 24:13, Revelation 3:10-11). Therefore, they will be separated from His body, and cast out of His kingdom (Matthew 13:41-43; see the Bible study Outer Darkness).
Matthew 23:27-28 – See the note below.
27 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites [5273- “an actor, pretender”]! For you are like whitewashed tombs which on the outside appear beautiful, but inside they are full of dead men's bones and all uncleanness.
28 "So you, too, outwardly appear righteous to men, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.
NASU
In Jesus’ rebuke of the religious hypocrites, He refers to them as “whitewashed tombs.” Thayer’s Greek Lexicon says that, “Jews were accustomed to whitewash the entrances to their sepulchers, as a warning against defilement by touching them.” The picture is one of an outward appearance of piety, and yet on the inside are filled with hypocrisy and lawlessness (see Ezekiel 13:14-16, Acts 23:1-3). Dead men’s bones are all that is left in a tomb that may look beautiful on the outside. It’s a picture of lifelessness on the inside of someone because of their rebellion against God. They are “marrow-less” hypocrites who put on an outward display of spiritual piety, but inwardly are dead men walking (see Revelation 3:1-6), void of the refreshing presence of the Holy Spirit (Acts 3:19).
Jesus had said something similar in regards to their outwardly spiritual appearance while being filled with “robbery and self-indulgence” on the inside in the two previous verses. This is the issue with the foolish virgins as well that Jesus refers to a couple of chapters later (Matthew 25:1-13). When they heard the midnight shout to get ready for the bridegroom’s return, they, along with all the other virgins (i.e. Christians), “trimmed their lamps” (Matthew 25:6). The trimming of the lamp is comparable to outward preparation only. The problem was their lamps had not been filled with fresh oil that would cause the wick to be lit. The oil of the Holy Spirit from the past they had received had just about run out, causing their path to the Lord to be hidden in darkness. This is the problem with many Christians in our day. While not spending time with the One who is our source of the oil of God, they are presuming on their past time walking together with Him to guide their path to the entrance into His wedding feast.
Within the tabernacle, and temple, there was a Holy Place, and a Most Holy Place. Within the Holy Place was a golden lampstand. It was the duty of the priests to keep it burning. They would have to watch it to make sure there was enough oil in it. As a kingdom of priests (i.e. Christians), it’s our duty today to be watchful, remaining near the Lord in our relationship with Him so as to receive His life-giving, lamp-lighting oil within us. We cannot be negligent in our walks with Christ, assuming on past oil to last forever.
The Most Holy Place, on the other hand, represents the age to come. In this place there was no natural light. The light of the glory of God illumined it. This is a picture of the body of Christ gaining the glory of God. It is at this point that we have once and for all entered into our final rest with the Lord.
Ephesians 4:15-16 – See Ephesians 2:19-22 which also refers to our being “joined together” [4883], or “fitted together” in Christ, “growing into a holy temple in the Lord.”
15 but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up [not down] in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ,
16 from whom the whole body, being fitted [4883- “to join closely together, to frame together”] and held together [4822] by what every joint [860- “bond, connection”] supplies, according to the proper [3358- “a measure, by implication a limited portion (degree; determined extent”] working [1753- “efficiency (“energy”), working”] of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.
NASU
NT:4822 sumbibazo (soom-bib-ad'-zo)
(Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance)
from NT:4862 [“denoting union; with or together”] and bibazo (to force; causative [by reduplication] of the base of NT:939); to drive together, i.e. unite (in association or affection), (mentally) to infer, show, teach:
KJV - compact, assuredly gather, entrust, knit together, prove.
(Thayer’s Greek Lexicon)
1. to cause to coalesce, to join together, put together (Ephesians 4:16)
2. to put together in one's mind, to compare (Acts 16:10)
3. to cause a person to unite with one in a conclusion or come to the same opinion, to prove, demonstrate (Acts 9:22)
Colossians 2:18-19 – See the note below.
18 Let no one keep defrauding you of your prize [2603] by delighting in self-abasement and the worship of the angels, taking his stand on visions he has seen, inflated without cause by his fleshly mind,
19 and not holding fast [2902- “to lay hold of, to continue to hold, to retain”] to the head [Christ], from whom the entire body, being supplied [2023- “to supply fully, abundantly”] and held together [4822- “to drive together, i.e. unite; to cause to coalesce, to join together”] by the joints [860- “bond, connection”] and ligaments [4886- “a joint tie, i.e. ligament; fig. uniting principle; that which binds together”], grows with a growth which is from God. [Acts 2:47, 1 Cor. 3:6-7]
NASU
NT:2603 katabrabeuo (kat-ab-rab-yoo'-o)
(Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance)
from NT:2596 and NT:1018 (in its original sense); to award the price against, i.e. (figuratively) to defraud (of salvation):
KJV - beguile of reward.
(Thayer’s Greek Lexicon)
to decide as umpire against one, to declare him unworthy of the prize; to defraud of the prize of victory; metaphorically, to deprive of salvation
(Vine's Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words)
katabrabeuo [NT:2603] "to give judgment against, to condemn" (kata, "against," and brabeus, "an umpire"; cf. brabeion, "a prize in the games," 1 Cor. 9:24; Phil. 3:14, and brabeuo, "to act as an umpire, arbitrate," Col. 3:15), occurs in Col. 2:18, RV, "let (no man) rob (you) of your prize" (KJV, "...beguile... of your reward"), said of false teachers who would frustrate the faithful adherence of the believers to the truth, causing them to lose their reward. Another rendering closer to the proper meaning of the word, as given above, is "let no man decide for or against you" (i. e., without any notion of a prize); this suitably follows the word "judge" in v. 16, i. e., "do not give yourselves up to the judgment and decision of any man" (KJV, marg., "judge against").
By not “holding fast to the head,” who is Christ, the body becomes disjointed, without unity and life (i.e. marrow), His life. This is the current condition of the body of Christ. Our divisions (i.e. denominations) are visible proof that we are not holding fast to Christ, but have instead become puffed up in our “fleshly mind,” choosing to live out the Christian walk in our flesh, rather than by the Spirit (Galatians 5:16-21). One of the pieces of evidence given by Paul that we are now walking in the flesh is “factions,” or divisions (i.e. denominations).
In his letter to the church in Corinth, Paul made the following statement;
“Now I exhort you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all agree and that there be no divisions [4978- “a split or gap, a rent, division, dissension, schism”] among you, but that you be made complete [2675- “to mend, to repair, put in order; to strengthen, perfect, complete”] in the same mind and in the same judgment [1106- “view, judgment, opinion, resolve, purpose, intention”].”
(1 Corinthians 1:10/NASU)
Another evidence is the current business model accepted by most churches for growth. The majority now use the worlds methods instead of the Lord’s; by “holding fast to the Head, from whom the entire body, being supplied and held together by the joints and ligaments, grows with a growth which is from God.” Their growth is from themselves, their worldly methodology, resulting in the exaltation of themselves and their methods, rather than God. Their so-called “life” is derived from the flesh. The end result will always be “spiritual death” within their congregations. They may have a reputation that they are “alive,” but in reality, they are “dead” (Revelation 3:1-6), void of the life of Christ (i.e. marrow). It is the Spirit that gives life (2 Corinthians 3:6).
By continuing under this type of leadership, walking in agreement with them, Paul warns that they will “keep defrauding you of your prize.” Thayer’s Greek Lexicon defines this as, “to decide as umpire against one, to declare him unworthy of the prize; to defraud of the prize of victory; metaphorically, to deprive of salvation.” Vine's Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words states that it’s “said of false teachers who would frustrate the faithful adherence of the believers to the truth, causing them to lose their reward.” In other words, if you continue “joined together” in heart and mind with those who have become “disjointed” from Christ, causing division in His body, that you will end up losing your reward of salvation in Him.
Defraud
to take or keep something illegally from someone by deceiving the person
If someone defrauds you, they take something away from you or stop you from getting what belongs to you by means of tricks and lies.
To trick or deceive someone for personal gain.
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