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The importance of the Word How the apostle Peter and John emphasized the Word 1 Peter 1:25 the word of the LORD endures forever." Now this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you. The word is eternal, unchanging, it continues on. For it comes from Gods nature and has life within it. 1 Peter 2:2-3 we are to desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious. But there were those They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed. (1 Peter 2:8). Without having understanding, the Word will not benefit anyone, even those who memorize it. 1 Pt.1:18: "the aimless conduct received by the tradition of the fathers." Meaning their teachings that were not of Scripture. Nowhere did Peter ever say to follow the traditions of men or a Church. Peter had only one reference to traditions and it was a clear warning. 2 Peter 1:19 we have the prophetic word confirmed. Nearly 1/3 the Bible is prophecy. If you do not know the word then you do not know the time you are living in, and what is being fulfilled. A judgment time is coming to all the earth, to test all. 2 Peter 3:5 they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old.V.8 But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. Apostle John John begins his gospel in John 1:1-4 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. John uses the Word as a representation of God, as to what he created, and communicates to man as the source of all truth (light) and life are from the Word that is the Son of God. To the certain men among the Jews Jesus says Why do you not understand My speech? Because you are not able to listen to My word (John 8:43-44). These were those steeped in their traditions. John 8:54-55 It is My Father who honors Me, of whom you say that He is your God. Yet you have not known Him, but I know Him. And if I say, 'I do not know Him,' I shall be a liar like you; but I do know Him and keep His word. Jesus kept all that God required of man perfectly. John 14:24 the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father's who sent Me.Here Jesus explains the source of the Word is not from his humanity but the Father who is in heaven. What he does not mean that he is the Father, for he speaks of him as another, not himself. He also tells us John 8:51-52 I say to you, if anyone keeps My word he shall never see death." As John wrote in chapter 6, many left because they could not understand the spiritual meanings he was conveying. Even his disciples who traveled with him had been perplexed at some statements. At this point, Simon Peter says, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God"(John 6:68-69). They could not fully comprehend until when He had risen from the dead, His disciples remembered that He had said this to them; and they believed the Scripture and the word which Jesus had said (John 2:22). The disciple had an incomplete understanding of certain sayings of Jesus until they were fulfilled, then they understood what He meant. We have that same completed word today. John 5:24 "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life.John was intently focused throughout his gospel on the deity of the son who became incarnate as man. The divine nature of Jesus is explained by John specifically which came after the other 3 gospels were written, and before he was taken to heaven to write the last book of the Bible. John 14:23-24 If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father's who sent Me. John 15:3-4 3 You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. He explains how important the Word is, that we abide in him by continuing in it, learning and applying it, we are kept from the world and its inflences. He affirms in John 17:14 I have given them Your word. John 17:17 Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. By his word which is the truth we are separate from the world that is fallen, trapped in darkness that follows lies. John 17:20 "I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word.Their word means the apostles and all those disciples through the ages that speak what is written. This is so V.21 that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us We who believe today are added to the body of Christ, the church that exists through the ages until it is completed. 1 John 1:1-4 the Word of life-- the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us-- that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. And these things we write to you that your joy may be full. 1 John 2:5 whoever keeps His word , truly the love of God is perfected in him. Keeping, means continuing to do His Word. 1 John 2:14 I have written to you, young men, Because you are strong, and the word of God abides in youThe Spirit indwells all believers empower us to keep the word that he inspired to the writers. 1 John 5:7-8 For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one. He does not say the Son here, he substitutes the Word for him who is eternal in heaven. Rev. 1:1-3 John, who bore witness to the word of God, and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, to all things that he saw. Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near. This took place on the island that is called Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ(Rev. 1:9-10). To one of the seven churches, the church of Philadelphia. Rev. 3:8-9 you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name. It is during the tribulation period the Word will be scarce, even forbidden, it will be illegal. For this reason we read Rev 6:9 the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held. Jesus returns to end the tribulation with the same name John emphasized of him in his gospel. Rev. 19:13 He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. It is by the word of his mouth he destroys the antichrist and all the wicked armies gathered at his coming. Rev. 2:16 Jesus will fight against them with the sword of My mouth. 2 Thess. 2:8 the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming." He and his armies will be obliterated in an instant. Those saved in the tribulation will be resurrected immediately after it ends. Rev. 20:4 Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. |
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