The Bible is God's Word

MAIN TEXT: HEBREWS 4:12

HIGHLIGHT VERSE: HEBREWS 4:12
“For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” (NIV)

TOPIC POINTS:

1. Living Word, Active and Sharp – Hebrews 4:12a
2. Living Word, Penetrates and Judges – Hebrews 4:12b

INTRODUCTION:

In Scripture, we see the living God reveal His personality and plan for the world. He spoke to men, through men, for man’s sake and it was written down. Of all religions and their books, the Bible stands authoritative as the final word on ultimate reality.

The Bible is a divine library of 66 books written down by about 40 men over 1,600 years with a unified message even though the individual authors lived in different locations and at different times.

This is because, behind those 40 human authors was the one author with His one message of the salvation of His people for His glory.

LIVING WORD, ACTIVE AND SHARP

– HEBREWS 4:12A, JEREMIAH 1:4-9, DEUTERONOMY 18:21-22

God’s word by character is alive and active. This character is always manifest in every mouth that speaks the word of God irrespective of age, race, background or location. Jeremiah was reluctant to go considering his age, but with the word of God in his mouth he was to uproot nations and plant kingdoms.

Those who wrote the Scriptures were moved by God to predict things so far off into the future that not all of them were alive to see it happen. Although the men themselves were dead, their writings which were the words of God, being always alive and active, were fulfilled. (Psalm 22, Isaiah 53)

A single-edged sword is sharper than a blunt sword, a double-edged sword is sharper than a single-edged sword but the word of God is even sharper than a double-edged sword. It carries power and strength to transform sinful men and women into new creatures.

LIVING WORD, PENETRATES AND JUDGES

– HEBREWS 4:12B, 1 CORINTHIANS 2:11-16, COLOSSIANS 2:1-4

The penetration power of a double-edged sword cannot be compared to that of a razor blade. Of all sharp philosophies, theories, thoughts, motivations and inspirations of this world, Scripture trumps all. It cuts deeper than any other. People living in sin can dare to watch and listen to all sorts of invented stories and philosophies but will become uncomfortable listening to the word of God.

Scripture penetrates both physical and spiritual issues. It speaks to marriage, academics, business, ministry, etc and is able to settle what many human writings struggle to solve. It is the standard for testing truth in things. God as creator and sustainer of all things is the best in position to tell us the truth about all things. Every truth claim must be thoroughly tested by the standard of God’s word (John 17:17).

The word of God is also able to reach into the innermost parts of our thoughts and attitudes to divide and judge. It penetrates and lays bare the most secret place of man’s heart. No one is able to hide from the truth of God’s word.

CONCLUSION:

The living God has given us His living word in the Scriptures. He did this so that generations after generations, mankind will have His word on how He made the world and how to live in it.

Every testament, book, chapter, verse, word or letter in Scripture is the very word of God. It bears the power of God to bring transformation to its hearers and the situations they find themselves in.

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

• Give a summary of our main text
• Recite our highlight verse
• What do the Scriptures reveal to us?
• How many books make up the Bible?
• How many human authors were involved?
• How long did it take to write?
• How can they all bear the same message?
• How does the prophet Jeremiah’s calling relate to our topic?
• How come the writers of Scripture were able to predict the future so accurately?
• Give examples.
• How does Scripture compare to the philosophies and theories of this world?
• Is Scripture the standard for all truth? Explain.