Thursday, November 12, 2015

"Christ", the Living Word

In the teaching of the Bible you have, God's spoken Word, God's written Word, and then you have the living Word...which is Christ. The "living Word" is the subject of this Blog. In the beginning was the Word, the Word was God, and the Word was with God, and the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. Christ was considered the Word that became flesh. John 1: 1-15

After Christ's earthly ministry He was crucified, resurrected, and then ascended to Heaven where He presently rules and reigns from the Throneroom...now today in the Church Age. Notice the language of the following verse. It's not speaking of the written Word...it's speaking of He...which is Christ.

Heb 4:12-14... For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged 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. 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. Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.

In John's first Epistle Jesus is called the Word of life.

1 John 1:1...That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life;

John not only experienced the blessing of Christ's physical presence...but also His spiritual presence "after" the crucifixion and ascension of our Lord. The power of a resurrected Christ is the theme of the Epistles. The resurrected Christ ministers the truth of His Word in our hearts and lives. The best proof of this is the changed life of a sinner! Glory!

After the Law ended at the crucifixion of Christ the Grace covenant birthed the Church, the body of Christ. This Church God's spiritual body, is governed by the ministry of the Holy Spirit presently as it was when the Epistles were written. God spoke, holy men of God (after the resurrection) wrote, and Christ actually fulfilled what is written... but it doesn't stop there. Christian's today are living Epistles that have the truth of God's Word written in the tables of their hearts.

2 Cor 3:3-6...Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart. And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward: Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God; Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.

Heb 8:10-11...For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people: And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.

Christian's are actually governed by a living Christ from the Throneroom. This is the theme of the Grace covenant. Christ puts the Law of God in our minds and writes these Laws in our hearts through the blessing of His Holy Spirit. Remember, the blessing of the Holy Spirit was given after the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ where the Grace covenant began. At that time the covenant of the Law of Moses given to Israel ended.

The Word of God should never be limited to what is written and spoken by God. Why? Christ is the living word that has an effect on our hearts and lives. Yes, the living Christ effectually works in the heart and life of a believer...now...today..present tense. Where? From the Throneroom.

1 Thess 2:13...For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.

These Apostles preached the person of Christ. They preached the power of a crucified and risen Christ. Not His birth and life. They preached the Gospel of the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. Why? The very character of Christ was produced within those who believed. the Gospel "effects" the human soul. Glory!

Acts 9:20...And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.
Acts 13:38...Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins:

The person of Christ is what the Apostles preached after Calvary. The Gospel they preached dealt with a crucified and risen Christ. The power of the Gospel comes from a living Christ in the Throneroom...not a baby in the manger. The person of Christ was the Living Word that forgave men of their sins. Christ is alive and when He is preached this word of life changes the hearts of sinful man...morally and instantaneously. If any man be in Christ he is a new creature. 2 Cor. 5:17

James the Brother of our Christ wrote these words about Christ the living Word, in his Epistle.

James 1:17-18...Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

Notice it says Christ begat us with His word of truth to be a kind of firstfruit of His creatures. James is simply saying that when we (Christians) are born of the Spirit we become a children of God. God makes us one of His creatures when we are pardoned and cleansed by the blood of Christ. We become by the Grace of God His workmanship "created" in Christ Jesus. Christ the living Word produces His very character within our hearts and lives. Christ is preached, Christ is heard, Christ is experienced. The revelation of Christ the living Word simply magnifies an exalted Christ who touches the hearts of those who believe and trust in Him.

I like the word's of Peter while preaching the Gospel. He preached these marvelous words of truth after he was baptized with the Holy Ghost and fire and sanctified entire on the day of Pentecost...

Acts 2:33-35...Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear. For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, Until I make thy foes thy footstool.

When you get beyond Calvary to an exalted Christ the "living Word" becomes an actual experience in your character and life.

Heb 4:12-14... For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged 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. 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. Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.