The Value of the Word of God I. Introduction A. We recognize that all things have some sort of value B. The question tends to be: how valuable is a given object? 1. Value sometimes considered by how expensive or inexpensive the object is 2. Other times, value considered by necessity of object for existence C. In large part, value is a subjective quality 1. One person's junk is another one’s treasure! 2. Some things are more valuable in the sight of some than others 3. A "necessity" to one is unnecessary to another! D. Seeing these things to be true in our world, how shall we evaluate the Word of God? E. How valuable is the Word of God? 1. How does God value His Word? 2. How valuable shall we consider it? 3. Are there consequences to not finding it valuable? F. Let us consider the matter II. God's Word as Life-Giving A. When we consider what God says about His Word in Scripture, we see clearly that He considers it as giving life B. Genesis 1 1. God speaks the creation into being 2. In a very real sense, all things that exist-- including mankind-- does so because of God's word C. Deuteronomy 8:3 1. Moses teaches Israel the lesson of the manna 2. Manna: foodstuff that descended from heaven, sustaining Israel through the Wilderness (cf. Exodus 16) 3. Why the manna? To show Israel that man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from God's mouth! 4. Man, therefore, is sustained by God’s Word D. Deuteronomy 30:11-15 1. Israel is charged to choose "life" or "death" 2. "Life" involves following the commandments of the LORD-- His word! E. Deuteronomy 32:45-47 1. Moses again emphasizes the connection 2. God's word is life! F. A theme seen also in Psalm 119:25, 107 G. Present also in the New Testament 1. John 5:24: Belief in Jesus' word leads to eternal life 2. John 6:68: Peter confesses that Jesus has the words of eternal life 3. Acts 5:20: Gospel message considered "words of this Life" 4. Philippians 2:16: "word of life" H. Throughout the Scriptures, therefore, God’s word and life are connected 1. In the OT, rather physically: remaining in the land and being blessed dependent on hearing and obeying God's Word 2. More spiritually understood in the NT: by considering God's Word and obeying it, one will obtain eternal life in the hereafter I. How valuable is life? That is how valuable God's Word is! III. The Son as the Word A. The connection between God's Word and life is made more strongly with Jesus the Son of God as the Word of God 1. John 1:1-3, 14 2. 1 John 1:1 B. Jesus the Christ is considered God’s Word made flesh 1. This has great power in its meaning! 2. God's Word is no longer some abstract production of the mouth or pen, but is flesh and blood! C. Deuteronomy 8:3 / John 6:27-58 1. Jesus invites the Jews to "eat His flesh" and "drink His blood" to have eternal life 2. He calls Himself the "bread of life" 3. Compared to the manna God provided 4. Hard sayings indeed, often misunderstood! 5. Yet remember Deuteronomy 8:3: man lives by the word of God 6. Jesus is the Word of God in the flesh! 7. Thus, to "eat His body" and "drink His blood" is to "feast" on God's Word! 8. Hence, His body and blood "true food" and "true drink" (John 6:55) D. Jesus as Life 1. John 1:3-4: the Word as agent of creation; the Word as having life within it, and the life as the light of men 2. As the Word of God brings life, thus Jesus the Christ brings life (John 10:10)! 3. John 3:16, etc. 4. One must believe in Jesus the Word if one truly believes in God's Word (cf. John 5:39-40)! 5. John 11:25: Jesus is the resurrection and the life 6. John 14:26: Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life 7. John 20:31: we have life by believing in Him, the Word of God! E. Jesus, the Word of God 1. The Scriptures have great value for us (2 Timothy 3:16-17) 2. Yet our eternal life is based on following the Word of God, the Son! 3. Hence, 1 Corinthians 11:1, 1 John 2:3-6 4. We must "consume" the Word of God by doing what He says and walking as He walked 5. We learn of the Word of God from the revelations of the Scriptures (John 20:31) F. But the Word of God only provides life if we recognize His value and heed Him! 1. John 5:28-29 2. John 5:39-40 G. What shall we do with the Word of God? IV. God’s Word as Powerful A. God's Word is described not just as life-giving but also as powerful B. Ephesians 6:17 1. Sword of Spirit the Word of God 2. The "offensive" weapon in our armor C. Hebrews 4:12-13 1. God's word as sharper than two-edged sword 2. Deeply penetrating and incisive 3. Living and active! D. Revelation 1:16, 2:12, 16 1. Jesus as possessing the sharp two-edged sword 2. Can use it to "make war" 3. Proceeds from His mouth! E. Revelation 19:15, 21 1. A similar description 2. Jesus as conquering, defeating enemies by His word F. The power of God's Word is evident 1. It can be wielded as a sword and can lay low God's enemies 2. Basis of judgment: John 12:48 G. As the standard by which all will be judged on the final day, is not God's Word of great value? V. The Nature of the Value of God's Word A. We can see how valuable the Word of God is! 1. It provides life 2. As manifest in Jesus, provides the way, life 3. Great power B. But how is it that God's Word provides value? C. Consider two examples in the world 1. An ancient vase: very valuable and expensive, normally placed in a position of honor, encased; not designed to be touched or handled, but viewed and appreciated from afar 2. Water: although rather inexpensive, quite valuable, for without it, life could not continue; must be consumed and used in order to provide value D. Is God's Word as the vase or as the water? 1. Too many consider it as the vase: they realize that the Word has great value, but just place it in a position of honor, view it from afar 2. No basis to understand God's Word as valuable in that sense! 3. The Bible makes clear that God's Word is valuable as water is valuable! 4. John 4:10-14, John 6:27-58 E. God's Word only provides value when consumed and put into practice! 1. 2 Timothy 2:15: need to know it and handle it properly 2. Hebrews 5:14: need to practice it F. Just as we cannot continue to live without consuming water, we cannot expect to have eternal life if we do not consume God's Word! VI. Conclusion A. We have seen that God's Word has great value! 1. Life is in it 2. Jesus, as God's Word, is most precious 3. Great power B. Its value is not in being viewed from afar and appreciated, but in its consumption and use! C. Do we truly honor and respect God's Word? D. By our practices, do we show our appreciation for all that God has done, consuming God's Word and living faithfully? E. Can we please God if we do not show proper reverence for God's Word, learning of Jesus and God's message and putting it into practice in our lives? F. Do we not recognize that we can find life only in God's Word, and that we will be judged by it on the last day? G. Let us devote ourselves to God's Word and live! H. Invitation/songbook