Life in the Word

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It must be evident to all who pay close attention to the spiritual conditions of our day that there is being made at this time a very determined and widespread effort to set aside entirely the authority of the Bible. Let us note that one of the unique characteristics of that Book is that it claims the right to control the actions of men. It speaks "as one having authority." It assumes, and in the most peremptory and uncompromising way, to rebuke men for misconduct, and to tell them what they shall do and what they shall not do. It speaks to men, not as from the human plane, or even from the standpoint of superior human wisdom and morality; but as from a plane far above the highest human level, and as with a wisdom which admits of no question or dispute from men. It demands throughout unqualified submission. But this assumption of control over men is a direct obstacle to the democratic spirit of the times, which brooks no authority higher than that of "the people," that is to say, of Man himself. To establish and to make universal the principles of pure democracy is the object, whether consciously or unconsciously, of the great thought-movements of our era; and the essence and marrow of democracy is the supreme authority of Man. Hence the conflict with the Bible.

Not only is the Bible, with its peremptory assertion of supremacy and control over mankind, directly counter to the democratic movement, but it is now the only real obstacle to the complete independence of humanity. If only the authority of the Scriptures be gotten rid of, mankind will have attained the longcoveted state of absolute independence, which is equivalent to utter lawlessness.

The state of ideal democracy would be accurately described as "lawlessness," since it is manifest that an individual or a society which is under no restraint except such as is self imposed, is really under no restraint at all. To attain this ideal state is the end and purpose of present day movements; and, in order to promote these movements, that mighty spiritual intelligence who is designated "the spirit that now works in the children of disobedience" (Eph. 2:2) very wisely, and with consummate subtlety, directs the attack, from many different quarters, against the authority of the Bible.

The great mass of men, including the majority of the leaders of the age, are already completely absorbed in the activities of the world and utterly indifferent to the claims of the Bible. As to these, it is only necessary to take care that they are not aroused from their indifference. But the Bible nevertheless, by reason of its hold upon the consciences of the few, exerts, upon society as a whole, a mighty restraining influence, against which the assaults of the enemies of truth are now being directed.

In some quarters the authority of the Bible is directly assailed and its Divine origin disputed in the name of "Science" and of "Scholarship." Much of the learning and theological activity of the day are concentrated upon the attempt to discredit the Bible, and to disseminate views and theories directly at variance with its claims of divine inspiration and authority.

In other quarters the attack takes the form of a pretense of conceding the inspiration of the Bible, coupled with the claim that other writers and other great literary works were equally inspired. "God is not limited," we are told, "and can speak to man, and does speak to man, in our day, in like manner as in the days of Moses, Isaiah, or Paul."

Manifestly it makes practically no difference whether the Bible be dragged down to the level of other books, or other books be exalted to the level of the Bible. The result is the same in both cases; namely, that the unique authority of the Bible is set aside.

But even in quarters where the Divine origin of the Bible is fully recognized, the enemy is actively at work with a view to weakening its influence. There is much teaching abroad (heard usually in connection with certain spiritual manifestations which have become quite common of late) to the effect that those who have the Spirit dwelling in them, and speaking directly to and through them, are independent of the Word of God. This is the form which the idea of a continuing revelation takes in quarters where a direct attack on the authority of Scripture would fail. But the result is the same.

In such a state of things it is manifestly of the very highest importance to insist unceasingly upon the sufficiency, finality and completeness of the Revelation given by God in His Word. With the desire to serve this purpose, even though it be in a very small degree, these pages are written. It would be, however, a task far beyond the capacity of the writer to present all the unique characteristics of the Bible, whereby it is so distinguished from other books that it occupies a class by itself. The writer has, therefore, singled out for consideration one special attribute or characteristic of the Holy Scriptures; namely, that signified by the word "living."

If one is able to apprehend, however feebly, the tremendous fact that the Word of God is a LIVING Word, such knowledge will go far towards affording him protection from what is perhaps the greatest danger of these "perilous times."

I. THE INCARNATE WORD, AND THE WRITTEN WORD: B0TH ARE "LIVING" Of the many statements which the Bible makes concerning the Word of God, none is more significant, and surely none is of greater importance to dying men, than the statement that the Word of God is a LIVING Word.

In Philippians 2:16 we have the expression, "The Word of Life." The same expression occurs in I John 1:1. It is here used of Jesus Christ, the Incarnate Word, whereas in Philippians it is apparently the Written Word that is spoken of. The Written Word and the Incarnate Word are so identified in Scripture that it is not always clear which is referred to. The same things are said of each, and the same characters attributed to each. The fundamental resemblance lies in the fact that each is the revealer or tangible expression of the Invisible God. As the written or spoken word expresses, for the purpose of communicating to another, the invisible and inaccessible thought, so Jesus Christ as the Incarnate Word, and the Holy Scriptures as the Written Word, express and communicate knowledge of the invisible and inaccessible God. "He that hath seen Me hath seen the Father." "Believe Me that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me" (John 14:9,11).

In Hebrews 4:12 we find the statement that "The Word of God is LIVING and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword" (R. V.). Clearly this refers to the Written Word. But the very next verse, without any change of subject, directs our attention to the Searcher of hearts (Rev. 2:23), saying, "Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in His sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of Him with whom we have to do."

Again in I Peter 1:23 we read of "the Word of God which liveth," or more literally, "the Word of God living." Here again there might be uncertainty as to whether the Incarnate Word or the Written Word be meant; but it is generally understood that the latter is in view, and the quotation from Isaiah 40:6-8 would confirm this idea.

From these passages we learn that the Word of God is spoken of as a "living" Word. This is a very remarkable statement, and is worthy of our closest examination and most earnest consideration. Why is the Word of God thus spoken of? Why is the extraordinary property of LIFE, or vitality, attributed to it? In what respects can it be said to be a living Word?

But the expression "living," as applied to the Word of God, manifestly means something more than partaking of the kind of life with which we are acquainted from observation. God speaks of Himself as the "Living God." The Lord Jesus is the "Prince of Life." (Acts 3:15.) He announced Himself to John in the vision of Patmos as "He that liveth." Eternal life is in Him. (I John 5:11.)

It is clear, then, that when we read, "The Word of God is living," we are to understand thereby that it lives with a spiritual, an inexhaustible, an inextinguishable, i@,i a word a divine, life. If the Word of God be indeed living in this sense, then we have here a fact of the most tremendous significance. In the world around us the beings and things which we call "living" may just as appropriately be spoken of as 'dying." What we call quot;the land of the living" might better be described as the land of the dying. Wherever we look we see that death is in possession, and is working according to its invariable method of corruption and decay. Death is the real monarch of this world, and we meet at every turn the gruesome evidence and results of the universal sway of him who has "the power of death, that is, the devil" (Heb. 2:14). "Death reigned" (Rom. 5:17), and still reigns over everything. The mighty and awful power of death has made this earth of ours a great burying ground-a gigantic cemetery.

Can it be that there is an exception to this apparently universal rule? Is there, indeed, in this world of dying beings, where the forces of corruption fasten immediately upon everything into which life has entered, and upon all the works of so-called living creatures, one object which is really LIVING, an object upon which corruption cannot fasten itself, and which resists and defies all the power of death? Such is the assertion of the passages of Scripture which we have quoted. Surely, then, if these statements be true, we have here the most astounding phenomenon in all the accessible universe; and it will be well worth while to investigate an object of which so startling an assertion is seriously, if very unobtrusively, made.

Before we proceed with our inquiry let us note one of many points of resemblance between the Incarnate Word and the Written Word. When "the Word was made flesh and dwelt [tabernacled] among us" (John 1:14), there was nothing in His appearance to manifest His Deity, or to show that "in Him was life" (John 1:4). That fact was demonstrated, not by His blameless and unselfish behavior, nor by His incomparable teachings and discourses, but by His resurrection from the dead. The only power which is greater than that of death is the power of life. He had, and exercised, that power, and holds now the keys of death and of hades. (Rev. 1:18, R. V.)

Similarly, there is nothing in the appearance and behavior (so to speak) of the Bible to show that it has a characteristic, even divine life, which other books have not. It bears the same resemblance to other writings that Jesus, the son of Mary, bore to other men. It is given in human language just as He came in human flesh. Yet there is between it and all other books the same difference as between Him and all other men, namely, the difference between the living "d the dying. "The word of God is living."

It will require, therefore, something more than a hasty glance or a casual inspection to discern this wonderful difference; but the difference is there, and with diligence and attention we may discover some clear indications of it.

...Let us note that one of the unique characteristics of that Book is that it claims the right to control the actions of men. It speaks "as one having authority." It assumes, and in the most peremptory and uncompromising way, to rebuke men for misconduct, and to tell them what they shall do and what they shall not do....

...If only the authority of the Scriptures be gotten rid of, mankind will have attained the longcoveted (sic) state of absolute independence, which is equivalent to utter lawlessness.

Sometimes our best sentiments becloud our reasoning. Here is a man obviously devoted and delighted with the living Word of God. He sees that, as a rule of life, all of mankind would benefit from it, and those who defy its principles will suffer the consequences. We reap what we sow, and you cannot do wrong a get with it.

But he is wrong, not about the authority of the Scriptures or that they are living and source of life, but, to whom the Scripture are these things.

Just as the blessing of God is a blessing for those who love him, while that same blessing is a "grief" to the wicked (Compare Ge 42:28 And he said unto his brethren, My money is restored; and, lo, it is even in my sack: and their heart failed them, and they were afraid, saying one to another, What is this that God hath done unto us?) so the Word of God is life and blessing to those that love God, but only means death and judgement to those who do not.

John 6:63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

John 12:47-48 And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world. He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.

To the wicked, the Word is a destructive fire and hammer:

Jer. 5:14 Wherefore thus saith the LORD God of hosts, Because ye speak this word, behold, I will make my words in thy mouth fire, and this people wood, and it shall devour them.

Jer 23:29 Is not my word like as a fire? saith the LORD; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?

It is to the upright that the Word is a blessing:

Mic 2:7 ... do not my words do good to him that walketh uprightly?

The Bible is not the rule of life and conduct for the world, or the US, or any other society, it is the rule of life and conduct for those born into the family of God. It is a great mistake to expect the world at large to either be interested in the Bible or to understand it. Even if they should read and seek the truth in it, there are some things in they will never be able to understand, much less obey, until they have new hearts.

It is not at all surprising the world would reject the Word of God, not even that many groups that call themselves Christian would disparage its authority. They are only revealing who they really are.

Finally, there is the point about men believing they are free if only they can get rid of the authority of the Bible. The Bible was never meant to be an authority over mankind, and it has never been such. Very few people actually worry much about the authority of the Bible, one way or the other.

But moral laws and justice do not depend on the authority of the Bible. Moral laws are universal, and even societies that never heard of the Bible, while they may be wrong about what constitutes moral values and justice, know they cannot do wrong and get away with it. The idea that men suppose they can do whatever they like if the Bible is not authoritative is like men believing they can jump of tall buildings with impunity, so long as they have never heard of the laws of gravity.

Hank

Agreed, but we are the 'salt' of the nation.

A people who have a group of believers who hold to the Bible, who effect the nation.

Remember DeTocqueville's comments Nonetheless, America is still the place where the Christian religion has kept the greatest real power over men's souls; and nothing better demonstrates how useful and natural it is to man, since the country where it now has the widest sway is both the most enlightened and the freest (p.291)

Thus, while the law allows the American people to do everything there are things which religion prevents them from imagining and forbids themto dare. Religion, which never intervenes directly to the government of American society should therefore be considered as the first of their political institutions, for although it did not give them the taste for liberty, it singularly facilitates their use thereof (Ibid,p.292)

Thus, while I agree with you that the Bible only directly affects the believer, it has a profound effect on society in general,since the beliver grows and influences those around him.

It is not at all surprising the world would reject the Word of God, not even that many groups that call themselves Christian would disparage its authority. They are only revealing who they really are.

Amen!

No, but a society will only be free, and prosperous as the influence of Christianity in it.

True.

The idea that men suppose they can do whatever they like if the Bible is not authoritative is like men believing they can jump of tall buildings with impunity, so long as they have never heard of the laws of gravity

The believer is a restraint on the degeneration of a society since we do have an absolute standard, which they do not have (conscience).

Just as Israel was to be standard for the Gentile world, the Christian is suppose to be standard for the unbelieving world (1Pet.2:9,4:3-4)

Agreed, but we are the 'salt' of the nation.

I agree with this and all your other comments. I said nothing about what Christians should do, but was answering the position of the original article, with which I completely disagree. I do not believe the Bible is in danger of being discredited by the secular world. When did it ever credit it in the first place.

I think the writer is greatly mistaken, and I believe it is a dangerous mistake most Christians fall into. The Bible is not meant for the World, and Christians should not be forcing it down the throats of those who are not interested. It only brings disrepute to Gospel, and the Word of God.

Child of God, love the Word and Obey it. Speak the truth to all who are interested and will listen. Let them see your obedience to the Word, and they will also see how God blesses you. Jesus never forced anyone to listen to His Word, much less to obey it. There were plenty who couldn't get enough of it, even if they only came to criticize.

That was my point.

Hank

When Christianity was strong and they believed in the Bible, even unbelievers had respect for it.

Even an unbeliever would call it the 'good Book'.

The Bible is ofcourse, only for those who can understand it,(1Cor.2:14) but it did have a strong cultural effect, espically when the article had been written in the last century.

Amen!

If the church no longer lives by the Bible, why should the World have any regard for it?

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