“For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.”
The word of God is powerful and should be handled with respect. When we are negligent in our use of the word of God, we can do a lot of harm to the faith of others and to ourselves.
There is a great deal of patience and mercy that we can find through faith in Jesus for our misunderstandings and misteaching of the word. As Paul the apostle wrote, we “see God as through a glass darkly.”
However, there are instances when a misuse of the word of God becomes so grievous that we might find that the word of God that we negligently wield is turned against us. This is especially true when we use the word of God to make unjust judgements of others (with what judgement you judge, you will be judged) or when we use the word of God to condone sinful living, thereby acting as “Balaam who taught Balak to teach the children of Israel to eat things sacrificed unto idols and to commit fornication.”
Teachings that misuse the forgiveness of God, “turning the grace of God into lasciviousness” are hated by God because the forgiveness of sins was paid with the blood of His Son. We should respect His Son—who is also called the Word of God. We cannot take the salvation we are promised lightly by living a life filled with modern-day idolatry and acceptance of sins that our society want to embrace, like fornication for example.
We should do our best to handle the word of God with care so that we can learn true doctrine—but most importantly—so we can learn what it means to live out our Christianity faithfully. The knowledge that matters most for us is that which conforms us to the image of Christ over the course of our lives. Therefore, there is much room for us to be humble and patient with the secondary doctrines over which we disagree.
If we show a lack of patience in this regard, but instead use the word of God to condemn fellow believers with whom we disagree or otherwise cast them out from our fellowship, then we might be in danger of judgment.
When Jesus returns, it is written that He will “fight with the sword of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming.”
The scriptures also indicate that the word of God is the weapon of the Christian. We too fight with the words of His mouth as the Spirit of God speaks through us and devours our enemies.
All of this is to say that we Christians will have to give an account for what we did with the word of God and the sacrifice of Jesus who Is the Word of God. There is a level of negligence that reveals a wicked heart that does not have real faith. However, for those of us who love Jesus of a truth, we can continue to seek Him in faith so that we are made more faithful to Him and to His teachings.
“And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.”
Suggested Scripture for Reading Pertaining to the Ideas Considered in the Letter to the Church of Pergamos
Note: This scripture list is a work in progress that will be updated as These Things Saith He is completed.
- Hebrews 4
- 2 Timothy 3
- 2 Corinthians 6
- 1 Corinthians 10
- Ephesians 6
- Jude 1
- James 3
- Matthew 10
- Revelation 11
- Revelation 19
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All Current “These Things Saith He” Drafts
The above is the draft version of a chapter to a book I plan to write and publish in a manner that is free of charge to the public.
I wrote in These Things Saith He: Contents that I will publish the drafts here first and offer opportunity for others to share their thoughts before the final work is completed.
I’m open to and greatly value the insight, experiences, and thoughts of my Christian brethren because we are a body knit together in Christ that is meant to work together without over reliance on our leaders. I am not your leader, but I do try to be faithful to what I have received to the best of my ability, and I look to Jesus for gracious judgment of my service and the service of all who truly love Him.
Jesus Alone 