The word it self has no power , it only has the power given by the writer.
Even Satan can quote its words...every cult claims they have interpreted it correctly. With out His grace and the Holy Spirit the word is just words on a page.Words that are bent and misused for personal and sinful reasons.
Those that take a phrase and build a doctrine on it are in error.
The word of God is His word to those that are His to the rest of the world it is foolisness.
But holding a Bible or even reading it from cover to cover does not save. That written word tell us we are saved by a name.Under no other name is one saved.
For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Hebrews 4:12.
Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. 24 For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: 25 But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you. 1st Peter Chapter 1 verses 23 thru 25
Hebrews 4:12. In this passage, the Word of God is described in amazing terms... a. It is "living" b. It is "powerful" c. It is "sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit" d. It is "a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart" At a time in which God's Word is so often neglected, even by some Christians, it never hurts to contemplate the wonder of God's Word.
I. THE WORD OF GOD IS "LIVING" AND "POWERFUL"
A. GOD'S WORD IS NOT SOME "DEAD LETTER"
1. Not only in this passage, but elsewhere we read of the abiding nature of God's Word
a. Notice Peter's description of it - 1 Pe 1:23-25
It "lives and abides forever"
It "endures forever" - cf. Isa 40:8
b. Jesus said "my words shall not pass away" - Mt 24:35
2. The "life" of God's Word is due to the nature of God Himself!
a. God is eternal, He is "the living God" - cf. He 3:12; Jer 10:10
b. He cannot lie, so what He says will come to pass - He 6:18; Ti 1:2 -- Thus His Word will never perish!
3. As Jesus said, "...the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life." - Jn 6:63
B. THAT GOD'S WORD IS "ALIVE" IS SEEN IN ITS "POWER"
1. It has the power to accomplish its intended purpose - Isa 55: 10-11
2. The gospel in particular has the power to save - Ro 1:16-17; Ja 1:21
3. Through God's word we can be born again - 1 Pe 1:22-23; Ja 1: 18
4. It works effectively in those who believe - 1 Th 2:13; cf. He 4:2
5. It can build us up, and give us the inheritance that is ours - Ac 20:32
6. It can make the man of God complete for all good works - 2 Ti 3:16-17
How could anything with such power be a "dead letter"?
It's power is seen further as mentioned below:
II. THE WORD OF GOD IS "SHARP" AND "A DISCERNER"
A. SHARPER THAN AN "TWO-EDGED SWORD"
1. The Word of God is often likened to powerful objects
a. Here it is described as a sword - cf. also Ep 6:17
b. Elsewhere it is it described as fire, and a hammer - Jer 23:29
2. To illustrate its sharpness as a "sword", the Word of God is said to pierce
a. "...even to the division of soul and spirit"
b. "...and of the joints and marrow"
-- i.e., the divine word is able to cut through everything that is in man
B. A DISCERNER OF "THE THOUGHTS AND INTENTS OF THE HEART"
1. With its sharpness, it is capable of sifting through and revealing the heart of man
2. It's effect on man reveals his true heart
a. In some cases, that one's heart is sincere and open to change - e.g., Ac 2:36-37
b. Other times, that one's heart has no desire to change - e.g., Ac 5:33; 7:54
a. Some are so "dull of heart", that they react with indifference and say "so what?"
b. Some are "cut to the heart", angrily resist the Word, and blame the messenger - Ac 7:54
c. Some are "cut to the heart", and cry out "what shall I do?" - Ac 2:37
Forgive my inability to outline well. :)