Bible | The Word of God

Theo Logos literally: “God Word”.

John 1:1 is the first place where we find this concept of The Word of God in Scripture. The Theo Logos is the full manifestation of the revelation of God. The only full manifestation of that revelation, apart from Adam & Eve’s relationship in the Garden, is only found in the person of Jesus Christ.

In the Old Testament when the word of the Lord came to the prophets it was revelation through the Holy Spirit or a theophany, a physical presence of God demonstrated as a person or angel – not a book. In the New Testament it is Jesus Christ, and yet in our seminaries and church theologies (from the roots “theo” & “logos”) The Word of God is taught as a book and not a person.

The revelation and presence of Jesus Christ changes people’s lives – it is the Tree of Life. The Knowledge of Good & Evil – including knowledge of Scripture void of an encounter with the Living God – puffs up and destroys. The Apostle Paul wrote, “He has qualified us [making us sufficient] as ministers of a new covenant [of salvation through Christ], not of the letter [of a written code] but of the Spirit; for the letter [of the Law] kills [by revealing sin and demanding obedience], but the Spirit gives life.” (2 Corinthians 3:6 AMP, see also 1 Corinthians 8:)

In the Old Testament the Jews so revered the Lord they dared not speak or even write down His name or seek His presence, so they – out of fear – chose to depend on other people’s revelations, interpretations and the written words Rabbis supplied. This rather than seeking their own relationship with God. And through these choices, the spirit of religion bore itself upon the earth. 

They so revered the holy Scriptures that anytime the Torah was read – they stood at its reading. They worshipped the scrolls and Scriptures. By their actions, the Jewish people of Jesus’ day denied Scripture and crucified the promised Messiah that the Scriptures pointed out. Our primary source of revelation about His character, His nature and the Gospel of the Kingdom of God preached about Jesus Christ. But, knowledge of Scripture alone makes it law. It is the classic problem we find in Deuteronomy when Moses gives the law to the people and as Pastor Robert Morris of Gateway Church teaches, the Jewish people responded – We’ll Do It! We’ll keep every letter of this law AND, if we don’t, let be upon us and our children forever. The Law was meant to point to the fact that we could not fulfill it – that we need God and a Savior to redeem us from the imperfection of sin and our human works. But, the Jewish people said, “We’ll keep the laws – all of them.” Eventually they said, “We want a king, a man to rule over us like other nations have…” And they refused to take God as their king.  The last chapters of the book of Deuteronomy are profound and telling… A people, left to their own devices, led by men who only know the Scriptures but have no encounter with the God of Scriptures will lead people into apostasy – breaking the covenant God made with them.

Though these writings remain sacred. I hold firmly to the fact that Scripture is divinely inspired by the Holy Spirit, making them holy in value. Still, the written words of God (“escribe” in the Greek) were never meant to take the place of the Living God, but rather to reveal Him to us.

By the time Jesus arrived on the scene the religious leaders were so consumed with the Scriptures and their opinions of them they crucified their promised Messiah. (See Matthew 27, John 5) When Paul, Peter, Luke, Matthew, Mark and John wrote of the Scriptures (in modern church language: the word of God) they referred to the ancient writings of the Torah, because in their day, folks like Paul would not have counted his epistles to the churches as such. Yet today, we value our traditions and opinions of Scripture so much that we prefer it over a rich and deep revelation of God through the Holy Spirit.

I believe the Bible contains the inspired, inerrant revelation of God as revealed by the lives of those who lived the experiences with God, and those who authored its 66 books. I believe it is the way that I learn about the true character, nature, plan, power, purpose and love of God for my life… But, I also believe the Holy Spirit can and will give me revelation that not only agrees with the written words of the Bible, but also brings understanding to the words of Scripture. This doesn’t necessarily mean what I hear, see, sense or feel from the Holy Spirit is quoted verbatim.

The Holy Spirit is not a tool to be utilized – He is a person – the third person of the Godhead – to be related to, and He will lead, guide and direct us into all Truth. That Truth is the person of Jesus Christ as revealed in Scriptures.

Knowledge of the law creates a vacuum in our soul if we are not careful to realize that the words of Scripture point to a living experience with The True Word of God, His name is Jesus and He offers you more than Salvation – He offers you the fullness of life that is the Kingdom of God. When I grow to value the written expression about God over the persons of God I enter into idolatry – its formal name is Bibliolatry. Paul said it is having a form of godliness but denying it’s power. (2 Timothy 3:5)

Jesus said this to the Pharisees of His day, “You search and keep on searching and examining the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and yet it is those [very Scriptures] that testify about Me; and still you are unwilling to come to Me so that you may have life. I do not receive glory and approval from men; but I know you and recognize that you do not have the love of God in yourselves. I have come in My Father’s name and with His power, and you do not receive Me [because your minds are closed]; but if another comes in his own name and with no authority or power except his own, you will receive him and give your approval to an imposter.How can you believe [in Me], when you [seek and] receive glory and approval from one another, and yet you do not seek the glory and approval which comes from the one and only God? Do not think that I [am the One who] will accuse you before the Father. There [already] is one who accuses you: Moses, [the very one] in whom you have placed your hope [for salvation]. For if you believed and relied on [the Scriptures written by] Moses, you would believe Me, for he wrote about Me [personally]. But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?” John 5:39-47 (AMP)

It is The Father – whose Kingdom and nature are revealed in Scripture, Jesus – the Truth that sets us free and fulfilled the Scriptures, and Holy Spirit – our guide that leads us into all Truth through a relationship and the Scriptures. Good theology based on a book is limited by the men who interpret and teach it. The Theo Logos is Jesus Christ – the only perfect theology, Truth, that sets you free. Knowing Him makes all the difference. Read it for yourself & let God speak deeply to your heart- He will.

“The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things which are revealed and disclosed belong to us and to our children forever, so that we may do all of the words of this law.” Deuteronomy 29:29 (AMP)