The Power of the Word of God

The Power of the Word of God

Throughout my life, my theology has been a work in progress. I have changed some aspects of my beliefs and developed depth and breadth in my theology that just wasn’t there when I was younger. I think differently than I used to. Age does that.

But I think most of that change has come about as I learned more and more about the Bible itself. I’m not talking about learning what’s in the Bible. As important as that is, I’m talking about understanding the real nature of the Bible.

Let me explain.

When I was younger, I used to think of the Bible as a really great book. More than that, it was the greatest book ever written. But now I realize how insufficient that thinking is. The Bible isn’t just better than other books—it is completely unlike any other book.

I’ve said it before, and I’ll repeat it here: the Bible is not like other books. Other books are ink and paper that convey the thoughts and ideas of great men and women. The Bible is not just ink and paper. It is the living, powerful, purifying, and life-changing Word of the One True God.

It has attributes and characteristics like no other book ever written. It stands above every other piece of literature because no other book has the Holy Spirit as its Teacher, Jesus Christ as its Author, and God as its Source and Foundation.

The Bible doesn’t convey true ideas—it is Truth. It doesn’t teach wisdom—it iswisdom. It corrects and affirms, injures and heals, strengthens and weakens, hides and exposes, sets in place and removes, instructs and confounds, comforts and convicts, builds up and tears down.

The Word of God is the Power of God. Don’t believe me? Then maybe you’ll believe the Apostle Paul, who wrote this:

1 Thessalonians 1:5 and 2:13

“Our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction…”

“…the Word of God … performs its work in you who believe.”

On Monday, let’s begin a tour of the Bible and look at what it teaches about itself. We’ll learn what it really is and how it really works.