Pastoral Musings

Pastoral duties have me busy presently, but I could not pass this up.

One of the most foolish things that we hear today is the idea that Scripture is incarnate.

It is not.

God the Word, Jesus the Christ, is incarnate.

Scripture is inspired, but not incarnate.

The closest that Scripture comes to being incarnate is in its being fulfilled in Christ.

The next closest Scripture comes to being incarnate is by being wrapped in Moroccan leather, or something similar.

I do not say that irreverently. I say it seriously. We cannot make Christ and Scripture so totally one that we do not distinguish between them.

The Son of God came to us in flesh. Scripture came via the Spirit in a text.

The Word of God John 1:1-4,14

See also Rev 19:13

logos – The word of outward form by which the inward thought is expressed and made known: also the inward thought or reason itself.

A saying, speaking, that which is said or spoken

logos never mans a word in the grammatical sense, as the mere name of a thing…but rather as the thing referred to, the material, not the formal, part.

The power of the mind, which is manifested in speech, reason…

Liddell & Scott Lexicon

Logos is common for reason as well as speech. RWP

It therefore signifies both the outward form by which the inward thought is expressed, and the inward thought itself… Vincent’s Word Studies in The New Testament

It is interesting to note that words are the expressions of the heart. “Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.” (Matt 12:34) KJV

Logos is also translated as follows:

intent (Acts 10:29)

matter (Acts 15:6)

shew (Col 2:23)

The above things speak of a substance, essence, and personality. This shows that the Word is the expression of the heart of God, the matter of God, shewing the substance of God, is thus the essence of God and is in every way God.

Closely associated with Christ being the Word is the statement “ I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.” (Rev 22:13) KJV “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.” (Rev 1:8) KJV Words are always associated with the alphabet. Jesus is the beginning and ending of the expression of God. There is no pre-alpha or post-omega. He alone is God’s perfect, eternal thought and expression of Himself. Christ is the eternal expression of the Almighty, eternal God. From A to Z, Jesus is such a perfect expression of God that He is indeed God in person, character, and essence.

It is thus no surprise that we read, “God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high.” (Heb 1:1-3) KJV The Son is of the exact nature, or substance, or essence of God the Father. He is the radiance of the glorious brilliance, majesty, and beauty of the Father. Those who see Him see the Father (John 14:9). Why is this so? It is so because the Son is of the same essence and character as the Father. He is the perfect representation of God, because He is God.

As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine, Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do. Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:  From which some having swerved have turned aside unto vain jangling; 7 Desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm.  (1Tim 1:3-7) KJV

Note that Paul’s exhortation is that Timothy teach the people to NOT listen to anything that is not edifying them in the faith.

This makes demands upon us as hearers of sermons.  Those demands are those of study, meditation, and learning.  The people in the pew should already have been immersed in the Word when the come to sit under the preaching of God’s Word.  They should be able to discern good from evil and sound doctrine from profane doctrine.

One can only know that they are being edified in the fa

The Word of God

See also Rev 19:13

logos – The word of outward form by which the inward thought is expressed and made known: also the inward thought or reason itself.

A saying, speaking, that which is said or spoken

logos never mans a word in the grammatical sense, as the mere name of a thing…but rather as the thing referred to, the material, not the formal, part.

The power of the mind, which is manifested in speech, reason…

Liddell & Scott Lexicon

Logos is common for reason as well as speech. RWP

It therefore signifies both the outward form by which the inward thought is expressed, and the inward thought itself… Vincent’s Word Studies in The New Testament

It is interesting to note that words are the expressions of the heart. “Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.” (Matt 12:34) KJV

Logos is also translated as follows:

intent (Acts 10:29)

matter (Acts 15:6)

shew (Col 2:23)

The above things speak of a substance, essence, and personality. This shows that the Word is the expression of the heart of God, the matter of God, shewing the substance of God, is thus the essence of God and is in every way God.

Closely associated with Christ being the Word is the statement “ I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.” (Rev 22:13) KJV “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.” (Rev 1:8) KJV Words are always associated with the alphabet. Jesus is the beginning and ending of the expression of God. There is no pre-alpha or post-omega. He alone is God’s perfect, eternal thought and expression of Himself. Christ is the eternal expression of the Almighty, eternal God. From A to Z, Jesus is such a perfect expression of God that He is indeed God in person, character, and essence.

It is thus no surprise that we read, “God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high.” (Heb 1:1-3) KJV

Deut 8:3
He humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the Lord doth man live.
(KJV)

What is the most important thing to us in life? Perhaps we have our eyes focused upon some special person, a particular possession, or a position in life. The question, however is this: What will these things do for us? Nothing. In the end, these things will perish, but the Word of God endures forever (1Pet 1:25).

What will the Word of God do for us?

It is by the Word of God that we are born again (1Pet 1:22).

It is the Word of God that nourishes our souls (Deut 8:3).

It is the Word of God that keeps us from sin (Ps 119:9-11).

It is the Word of God that will make us the people that God wants us to be (2Tim 3:16,17).

This being so, let us regularly partake of God’s Word that we might profit thereby.

Just musing…

“All that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” (2 Tim 3:12-17) KJV

How must the child of God approach Scripture? One must approach Scripture as being profitable in the changing of our hearts and lives. Scripture will teach us, show us our error, correct our error, and direct our lives into that life which pleases God. Ultimately Scripture will fit us to fill the place that God would have us to fill.

Too often we approach Scripture as something that is optional, irrelevant, or even out dated. Many people feel that their lives can be enriched by psychology, material things, earthly pleasures, etc. and seldom turn to the Word of God for what they need. It is no wonder, then, that God is not pleased with us.

Let us recover our commitment to the profitable nature of God’s Word, embrace its truths, and allow the Holy Spirit to use Scripture to transform us into that which will give glory to the Lord (See 2Cor 3:18).

Just musing…