The word of God has specific attributes. The following scriptures point out a few
Act 20:32 (KJV) And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.
2Ti 3:15 (NIV) and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
2Pe 1:4 (KJV) Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
From the above verses, we learn the following about the Word of God taught using the Holy Scriptures:
- The word of God is able to build you up—spiritually and physically.
- The word can deliver you into an inheritance among all them which are sanctified
- The word as per Apostle Paul is able to make you wise for salvation. That means knowledge of the scriptures are able to instruct you and give you the understanding that produces salvation for you. Salvation here is G4991 sōtēria, and it means “preservation from danger or destruction, deliverance, rescue or safety (physically or morally), and health”. The word brings you sōtēria or deliverance from the molestation of enemies.
- Knowledge of the word, as per Apostle Peter, is the avenue by which mere men get to put aside the old nature and put on a new nature—having a participation in the God Kind.
What are the other benefits of scripture and sound biblical teaching?
2Ti 3:16-17 (NKJV)
16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,
17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
2Ti 3:16-17 (AMPC)
16 Every Scripture is God-breathed (given by His inspiration) and profitable for instruction, for reproof and conviction of sin, for correction of error and discipline in obedience, [and] for training in righteousness (in holy living, in conformity to God's will in thought, purpose, and action),
17 So that the man of God may be complete and proficient, well fitted and thoroughly equipped for every good work.
- The word of God has the following functions in the life of a believer:
- reproof and conviction of sin so we do not end up messing up our lives.
- correction of error and discipline in obedience
- training or instruction in righteousness
- equipping the believer so they are complete for every good work assigned to them
If these scriptures be true and the word of God is able to change my life this much, then what ought to be our disposition towards listening to and studying the word of God?
DISPOSITION/ATTITUDE TOWARDS GOD’S WORD
First, the person must have a teachable spirit instead of a critical spirit. They must be attentive, making sure they have put away all distracting elements before sitting down to listen to or study God’s word. This is one way we accord God respect and honour. If we were in the presence of a president or king of a nation, we would give them our maximum attention. How much more when we are interacting with God or his emissaries? The Psalmist stated:
Psa 62:11 (AMPC) God has spoken once, twice have I heard this: that power belongs to God.
God spoke only once, but the psalmist was so attentive he heard twice. It matters how we hear because faith for executing what we hear “… comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Rom 10:17, NKJV).
Yet still, in the book of Acts, we learn of two groups of Christians, and the author encourages us to adopt the disposition of the believers in Berea and not that of the believers in Thessalonica.
Act 17:11 (KJV) These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
Act 17:11 (AMPC) Now these [Jews] were better disposed and more noble than those in Thessalonica, for they were entirely ready and accepted and welcomed the message [concerning the attainment through Christ of eternal salvation in the kingdom of God] with inclination of mind and eagerness, searching and examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.
The scriptural model for anyone listening to or studying the Word of God being taught is:
- To be entirely ready for the word, accept and welcome the message taught with
-
- inclination of mind
- and eagerness
- Set time aside to search and examine the Scriptures DAILY to see if what you are taught is truly so
Personal study is thus critical to spiritual growth and arriving at the truth of any matter taught.
Pro 14:6 (AMPC) A scoffer seeks Wisdom in vain [for his very attitude blinds and deafens him to it], but knowledge is easy to him who [being teachable] understands.
Here we learn about the disposition of being teachable. Not everyone has that disposition, but one can cultivate it.
Webster’s 1828 Dictionary defines teachable as follows:
TE'ACHABLE, a. That may be taught; apt to learn; also, readily receiving instruction; docile.
We ought to bring our minds free, unbiased and teachable, to learn our religion from the word of God.
No wonder the Bereans were commended as opposed to the Thessalonians for the readiness to receive instruction or teaching. The scriptures say they were entirely ready and accepted and welcomed the message with inclination of mind and eagerness, searching and examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so. This is the attribute of teachableness.
THE WORD IS YOUR LIFE
2Ti 3:7 (KJV) Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
Scripture says there are those who are ever learning and never able to come to the intimate and complete knowledge of the truth. You may meet a Christian who is always learning, but his life does not reflect the glory of a life beautified by the riches of God’s word. Why is this so? There are many reasons for this. V8 states that one reason could be that some of these though they claim to be in search of the truth, actually resist the truth because their minds are corrupt.
For the Jews in the wilderness, the Decalogue was a catalogue of commandments, but for Moses, it was his life.
Deu 32:46-47 (NKJV)
46 and he said to them: "Set your hearts on all the words which I testify among you today, which you shall command your children to be careful to observe—all the words of this law.
47 For it is not a futile thing for you, because it is your life, and by this word you shall prolong your days in the land which you cross over the Jordan to possess."
Moses saw the Decalogue as a depiction of the nature of God rather than commandments. He meditated upon it till his face shone with the glory of God—and his entire being was filled with the life of God.
Deu 34:7 (AMPC) Moses was 120 years old when he died; his eye was not dim nor his natural force abated. [Deu 31:2]
He was soo full of life at 120 years of age that he had to be told to go and die.
Deu 32:48-51 (AMPC)
48 And the Lord said to Moses that same day,
49 Get up into this mountain of the Abarim, Mount Nebo, which is in the land of Moab, opposite Jericho, and look at the land of Canaan which I give to the Israelites for a possession.
50 And die on the mountain which you ascend and be gathered to your people, as Aaron your brother died on Mount Hor and was gathered to his people,
51 Because you broke faith with Me in the midst of the Israelites at the waters of Meribah-kadesh in the Wilderness of Zin and because you did not set Me apart as holy in the midst of the Israelites.
To Moses, these sacred words of the Decalogue was his life, and by those words, he prolonged his days. How much more the words of the New Testament with its surpassing and exceeding glory?
2Co 3:10 (AMPC) Indeed, in view of this fact, what once had splendor [the glory of the Law in the face of Moses] has come to have no splendor at all, because of the overwhelming glory that exceeds and excels it [the glory of the Gospel in the face of Jesus Christ].
Our perception and disposition towards God’s word taught or studied can be life to us and prolong our days, causing us to partake in the divine nature and its verities. We can have this, or we can also choose to be unteachable, always learning and never come to the complete knowledge of the truth. The choice is ours.
Deu 30:19-20 (AMPC)
19 I call heaven and earth to witness this day against you that I have set before you life and death, the blessings and the curses; therefore choose life, that you and your descendants may live
20 And may love the Lord your God, obey His voice, and cling to Him. For He is your life and the length of your days, that you may dwell in the land which the Lord swore to give to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
God comes to us through His words. He is our life and length of days. Let us all have the right disposition towards God and His word, for He and His Word are ONE.
