In the past I would have read this verse:
1 Peter 1:25 (NIV)
"but the word of the Lord stands forever." ...to mean something like: "The Bible is reliable, it will last forever."
But when you look at Scripture I think there is another meaning.
Have we at times allowed the Bible to be a substitute for the Word of the Lord that is alive with us now and desiring to speak to us personally? Have we sometimes worshiped the book instead of the living Word?
Don't get me wrong, I still love the Scriptures... but they are not the end in themselves. I love them because they have introduced me to my Lord.
There are too many verses from the Old Testament to list here... here is a small sample of verses that use "word of the Lord" (NIV):
Ezekiel 21:8
"The word of the LORD came to me:"
(Many references in the Old Testament like this...)
Acts 8:25
"When they had testified and proclaimed the word of the Lord, Peter and John returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel in many Samaritan villages."
Acts 13:44
"On the next Sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord."
Acts 13:48
"When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and honored the word of the Lord; and all who were appointed for eternal life believed."
Acts 13:49
"The word of the Lord spread through the whole region."
Acts 15:35
"But Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, where they and many others taught and preached the word of the Lord."
Acts 15:36
"[ Disagreement Between Paul and Barnabas ] Some time later Paul said to Barnabas, "Let us go back and visit the brothers in all the towns where we preached the word of the Lord and see how they are doing."
Acts 16:32
"Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house."
Acts 19:10
"This went on for two years, so that all the Jews and Greeks who lived in the province of Asia heard the word of the Lord."
Acts 19:20
"In this way the word of the Lord spread widely and grew in power."
1 Peter 1:25
"but the word of the Lord stands forever." And this is the word that was preached to you."
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4 comments:
Er ging een schok door mij heen toen ik uw studie las , het komt overeen met mijn gedachten hierover .
reeds lang denk ik hier over na en heb dezelfde vragen , vele eeuwen is ons het woord van God verklaart door mensen met klinkende academische titels , op veel kansels mogen zelfs geen mensen het woord brengen die niet gestudeerd hebben aan een universiteit of seminarie . De Bijbel spreekt echter over mensen die vol zijn van Gods geest, die kunnen getuigen dat Gods Geest woning in hen heeft gemaakt . Zie Jesaja 61 , waar de de profeet zegt ; De Geest des Heren is op mij, omdat Hij mij gezalfd heeft...
en dan komt hij met de bekende profetie over het losmaken van gebondenen en het vrijlaten van gevangenen en het geven van vreugde olie in plaats van rouw . Ook 2 Samuel 23:2 spreekt zo als hij zegt; De Geest des Heren spreekt door mij, Zijn woord is op mijn tong . Als wij weten dat we wederom geboren zijn en met Zijn Geest vervuld zijn zouden wij dan niet mogen , ja zelfs moeten spreken... ZO SPREEKT DE HEER ! Wat ik mij steeds weer afvraag hebben deze geletterde mensen ons wel een evangelie van bevrijding gebracht , hebben ze ons niet veeleer gebonden aan nieuwe wetten en nieuwe regels en dogma's die bovendien ons ook nog een verkeerd God's beeld hebben gegeven en de kracht aan het Evangelie hebben ontnomen ?
Sorry , misschien meer vragen dan antwoorden , maar dit is wat mij sterk bezig houdt .
It blew my mind when I started preaching verse by verse through the New Testament and found out that nearly every occurrence of "word of God" appeared to be in reference to the message about Jesus, meaning that it was only indirectly referencing Scripture since it was the document containing that message.
(a google translate of wieger's commnet)
A shock went through me when I read your study, it corresponds with my thoughts on this.
long I think about it and have the same questions, many centuries, the word of God declares us by people with academic-sounding titles, in many pulpits should not even bring the word of people who have not studied at a university or seminary. But the Bible speaks about people who are full of God's spirit, who can testify that God's Spirit dwelling in them made. See Isaiah 61, where the prophet says, The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because He has anointed me ...
and then he comes with the famous prophecy about loosing nonaligned and releasing prisoners and give the oil of gladness instead of mourning. 2 Samuel 23:2 also speaks when he says, The Spirit of the Lord speaks through me, His word is on my tongue. If we know that we are born again and filled with His Spirit, we would not be allowed, even to speak ... Thus says the Lord! What I always wonder, these literate people us a gospel of liberation brought, they do not rather bound by new laws and new rules and dogmas which, moreover, we also have a false God's image have given the power of the Gospel have deprived?
Sorry, perhaps more questions than answers, but this is what keeps me very busy.
Thanks Geoff and Wieger I appreciate your feedback. God bless!
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