Believing In The Word Of God” 1Pet. 1:25, Col. 3:16

  1 Peter 1:25,  NIV: "but the word of the Lord endures forever. ' And this is the word that was preached to you." Colossians ...

 1 Peter 1:25, NIV: "but the word of the Lord endures forever. ' And this is the word that was preached to you."

Colossians 3:16, KJV: "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord."

What does it mean to believe?

It means to have confidence in the truth, the existence, or the reliability of something, although without absolute proof that one is right in doing so:

Only if one believes in something can one act purposefully.

 

Believing In The Word Of God

What is the Word of God?

The Word of God is a manifestation of the mind and will of God.

 

What constitutes the word of God and how do we receive it?
The phrase, “the Word of God” is used in a number of different ways:

1.     It refers to something that God has decreed to come to pass: His words cause things to happen. (Gen. 1:1-3, Psalm 33:6)

2.     It is also used of the actual spoken words of God: When God verbally addressed certain humans in the past, ADAM; His words were known as the Word of God (Gen. 2:16-17)

3.     Words that God has spoken through the prophets can also be called “the Word of God.” : The Bible says that God spoke to His people through the words of the prophets (Deuteronomy 18:18-20 )

4.     Jesus Christ Himself is called the Word of God (John 1:1)

5.     Finally, the phrase can also refer to God’s written Word THE HOLY BIBLE

Our main source of the word is the main Bible

 

Why the Bible and why have we chosen the Bible as the main source of God’s Word?

Several people or groups have claimed to have books also referred to as God's word: The Muslims believe that the Quran was God's message given to prophet Mohammed while The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saint believe that The Book of Mormon was God's revelation. 

There are other bibles that do not fall in the category of the word of God

1.     Apocrypha

2.     Additional books in the Catholic bible; Tobit, Judith, 1 Maccabees and 2 Maccabees, Wisdom, Sirach and Baruch

3.     The Book of Mormon used by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

4.     The Jehovah Witness bible

 

Tanakh, an acronym derived from the names of the three divisions of the Hebrew Bible: Torah (Instruction, or Law, also called the Pentateuch), Neviʾim (Prophets), and Ketuvim (Writings).

New Testaments

 

Why is the Bible Different?

1.     All Scripture is God-inspired and therefore is the sole authority for living.

 

The Bible is literally "God-breathed" (2 Timothy 3:16):  this verse indicates that Scripture is God-inspired:

(2 Timothy 3:16-- "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.");

 2. God superintended the writing but didn’t dictate it.

3. He used human authors and their own individual styles.

 

Why do we need to believe the word of God?

1. God’s Word Is “Yea,” And “Amen” (2 Corinthians 1:20)

The word translated to “yea” in the original Greek means “sure“, and the word translated to “amen” means “firm“. In other words, all God's promises (or words ) are sure and firm.

Someone said, “God said, I believe it, and that settles it.” 

His friend replied, “No, God said it and that settles it, whether I believe it or not.”

 

Believing the Word of God does not settle it because it's already settled in heaven even before the creation of the earth. Psalm 119:89 (For ever, O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven.) 

But believing in the word of God settles it for you.

Jesus believed his word is irrevocable: “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away” (Luke 21:33).

2. It is powerful: ‎Hebrews 4:12

3. It is reliable (absolute truth)

The Bible passes the 3 tests of truth by Dr. Ravi Zacharias

1. Logical Consistency- Are there any contradictions found in what we believe?

2. Empirical Adequacy- Does it have verifiable observations, practical experience/facts you can use in court?

3. Experiential Relevance- Does it work in real life?

Luke 1:37: For no word from God will ever fail

4. Fulfilled Prophecy

The benefits of believing in the Word of God

1.     God’s Word leads us to salvation. Although many of us came to Christ by hearing about Him from another person, the way of salvation is clearly revealed by simply reading the Bible (John 3:16; Rom. 10:9). We are all saved by believing the truth of Scripture whether we read it ourselves or are taught it by someone else (1 Peter 1:23).

2.     The Scriptures guide our steps. Psalm 119:105 says, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” If we read and heed the Lord’s instructions, He will show us where to go, what to say, and how to make decisions. His Word also reveals when we’re heading in the wrong direction and warns us of the consequences of continuing down that path.

3.     God’s Word directs us to wisdom.“The unfolding of Your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple” (Ps. 119:130). Scripture is our greatest protection. It’s like a shield before us, guarding our way and warning of danger. But if we neglect reading and obeying the Word, we won’t be able to distinguish right from wrong.

4.     It lifts our burden. Because the Lord is interested in every aspect of our lives, we can run to His Word in our pain, grief, loneliness, or sickness and receive help in our time of trouble (Ps. 119:28).

5.     The Word of God brings joy. If we love the Word, we’ll find great joy and comfort in reading it (Ps. 119:111). When facing tough situations and discouragement, our first response will be to open the Scriptures. Even if we don’t know where to read, the Lord will guide us to a passage which can restore our hope and joy. And if we don’t have a Bible with us, He can bring to mind the verses that we’ve stored in our hearts. Once we experience how the Scriptures can change sorrow into joy, our love for the Lord and His Word will increase and overflow in praise and gratitude.

6.     The Scriptures give peace. Perhaps the most desired possession in the world is peace, but it can only be found in the Lord. “Those who love Your law have great peace, and nothing causes them to stumble” (Ps. 119:165). Peace means to be bound to something, and when that something is the Word of God, we are bound to Him and experience the peace Jesus promised to His disciples (John 14:27).

7.     Brings us good success: Josuah 1:8

Conclusion

God honors and is committed to blessing those who respect and love His precious Word. It is the most valuable possession we own because it is His written message to us. From Genesis to Revelation, God reveals His mind and heart. Everything else will pass away, “but the word of our God stands forever” (Isa. 40:8). The Lord is still on His throne and continues doing what He’s promised in His Word. When we believe and obey it, our lives are transformed.

‎Isaiah 43:2 - When you pass through waters, I will be with you

‎Romans 10:17: Faith comes by hearing, and hearing through the word of God

Joshua 1:8: This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.

2 Timothy 2:15 - Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.