The Word of God
God has chosen to express His nature, will, and purpose through language—through words. God is one who speaks. His word is true. His word embodies and transmits His life. His word is . . .
Jesus, the Christ who is Lord
He is the Word (John 1:1). Jesus is the Word made flesh (John 1:14). He is the Son through whom God has spoken, through whom He made the worlds (by speaking – Genesis 1). The Son is the one who upholds the worlds by His word (Hebrews 1:1-3).
His words are spirit and they are life (John 6:63). Forever, He will reign as King of Kings and Lord of Lords as His name is The Word of God (Revelation 19:13-16).
The Scriptures
All scripture (the Bible) is inspired of God; it is filled with His life and truth (II Timothy 3:16-17; John 17:17). His Word is established forever; the sum of God’s Word is truth (Psalm 119:89, 160). While it is written in various literary forms, its message as intended through its original writers is fully authoritative for application to life and practice in all eras. Its singular Author is God; His word endures forever; it is timeless and always timely.
The Speaking Word
When the written word of God, the Scripture, illuminates itself, our decisions, our prayer, or our conscience, we may refer to it as “speaking to us.” The Holy Spirit may bring to our remembrance a portion of the Scriptures so that it “speaks” to us according to the situation at hand. The timeless written word is communicating in a timely way. The light and life of the Word points the way forward and guards us from straying from the will of God (Psalm 119:105; Proverbs 29:18; Jeremiah 25:12-14 & Daniel 9:2)
The Prophetic Word
The prophetic words in the scriptures are fully dependent upon and linked to the two great commandments of love for God and others (Matthew 22:37-40). Prophecy of scripture is confirmed by the testimony of Jesus Christ (II Peter 1:19-21; Revelation 19:10). Similarly, prophecies as a manifestation of the Holy Spirit speaking through a believer are confirmed by their effect (I Corinthians 14:3), the testimony of Jesus, and their consistency with the full counsel of the scriptures.
The Confirming Witness
Christ is the express image of the person of God; He and the Father are one (Hebrews 1:3; John 10:30). All interpretation and application of the Scriptures, and prophetic words, must be consistent with the character and words of Christ (Revelation 19:10). Impressions of how the Word of God may be “speaking” must be validated by the full scope of scripture, the character of Christ, and wisdom from above (James 3:13-18). The truth of God’s Word in any of its various expressions is validated and confirmed in the mouth of two or three independent witnesses (Deuteronomy 19:15).
