In the previous articles, the Word of God; the Bible and that the Bible is intended for the born again believer, who walks after the Spirit, were discussed. Only a born again believer is able to comprehend the spiritual things of the Kingdom of God, that is written in the Bible. The Word of God is our spiritual daily bread, for the spirit of man. Only by renewing your mind with the Word of God and applying the Word to your life, your spirit will mature and you will walk as the new creation. Walking as the new creation means, that you will walk the same way, as Jesus walked upon this earth. In this article, the purpose of the Bible and the Word of God in the life of a born again believer will be discussed.
What is the purpose of the Bible?
The Word gives life
Jesus answered and said: It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God (Mat 4:4, Luke 4:4)
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not (John 1:1-5)
Jesus is the Word, Who became flesh. He told the Pharisees, that if they really had known the scriptures, they would have believed in Jesus the Christ, the Son of the living God. Because the scriptures testify about Jesus, the Messiah. He alone can redeem man and give eternal life.
The Father Himself, which has sent me, has borne witness of me. You have neither heard His voice at any time, nor seen His shape. And you have not His word abiding in you: for whom He has sent, Him you believe not. Search the scriptures; for in them you think you have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. And you will not come to me, that you might have life (John 5:17-40)
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that hears My word, and believes on Him that sent Me, has everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life (John 5:24)
Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world (John 6:32,33)
Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that comes to Me shall never hunger; and he that believes on Me shall never thirst (John 6:35,47, 48, 51)
It is the spirit that quickens; the flesh profits nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life (John 6:63)
Eternal life
Jesus; the living Word came to this earth, so that everyone who would accept His words, believe in Him, and become born again, would receive eternal life. Jesus came first for the Jews; God’s people after the flesh, but because they rejected Him, salvation came to the Gentiles.
Through Jesus, and by His blood, the new covenant came into existence and replaced the old covenant.
In that He saith, A new covenant, He hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away (Hebrews 8:13)
Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel: Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called. That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed (Romans 9:6)
The sons of God, who are born of the Spirit of God, are the children of the promise.
Everyone, who believes in Jesus, accepts Him as their Saviour and Lord, becomes born again, and walks in His commandments, shall receive eternal life
The Word of God is a shield for the born again believer
Every word of God is pure: He is a shield unto them that put their trust in Him (Proverbs 30:5)
The Word of God gives peace
Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid (John 14:27)
Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them (Psalms 119:165)
These things I have spoken unto you, that in Me you might have peace (John 16:33)
If you read, believe, renew your mind and apply the Word to your life, then you will experience real peace. But as soon as you leave the Word of God, even if it is just a little bit, then you will become agitated, worried, and experience turmoil. Therefore it is important to stay in the Word of God all the days of your life.
The Word of God equips the new creation
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 Timothy 3:16-17)
The Word of God is meant for the new creation. The purpose of the Bible is to equip the new creation. The purpose of the Bible is to ensure that the spirit of the new creation will mature so that the new creation shall grow up into to image of Jesus Christ and become like Him. Therefore the Word of God is profitable for:
- doctrine (learning, teaching)
- reproof (proof, conviction, evidence)
- correction (a straightening up again, (figuratively) rectification)
- instruction in righteousness (education, training; by implication, disciplinary correction, chastening, nurture (so that the new man shall walk in holiness and righteousness))
The Word of God gives faith
So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God (Romans 10:17)
The Word of God divides soul and spirit
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 (Hebrews 4:12-13)
We all shall give account for our walk and our works on the Day of Judgement. Nothing shall be hidden from Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is the Word and everyone, who is born on this earth, shall have an encounter with Him; as Saviour to receive eternal life, or as Judge to receive eternal death.
That’s why it is important to make Jesus Christ; the Word, the Center of your life, and take His words and apply them to your life. Only the Word of God will expose and bring all the things of the darkness, to the light. He shall reveal the truth.
If you want to walk in the truth, then you will have to renew your mind with the Word of God, so that your old way of thinking (like the world) will be transformed into the way God thinks.
When you renew your mind with the Word of God, you shall think the way God thinks and act the way God wants you to act; like Jesus; the Word.
Only the Word of God divides the soul (flesh) and spirit.
All those lies of the world that are built up in your mind, which you believed for all those years, shall be exposed and shall be brought into the light. You shall become aware of all the lies of the world. By believing the Word of God above the words and lies of the devil; the world, and by acting upon the Word of God, you shall destroy these evil strongholds.
Your spirit shall grow up, and your spirit man shall mature into the image of Jesus Christ, and shall reign over your flesh (body and soul)
The Word of God is the sword of the Spirit
And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God (Ephesians 6:17)
Another purpose of the Bible is that the Word of God is also the Sword of the Spirit. It is the spiritual Sword of the new creation and is very important in your daily spiritual warfare. Every person, who becomes a new creation in Jesus Christ, has automatically entered the spiritual battlefield.
There is no such thing as a believer, who doesn’t experience spiritual warfare. If you don’t experience spiritual warfare and don’t discern the spirits and the spiritual kingdoms, then you haven’t become a new creation in the spirit yet. Therefore the first step will be to believe, repent, and become born again by water and Spirit.
Every new creation, has to deal with the powers, principalities, and rules of the darkness of this world and spiritual wickedness in high places, just like Jesus had to deal with them.
Jesus resisted and overcame the devil time after time, with the Word of God. The Word of God is also your Sword.
Only with the Word of God you can overcome, and be an overcomer. There is no other ‘tool’ that you can use. That’s why it is important to get to know the Word of God. So that, you won’t be tempted, nor be seduced and misled by the lies of this world and wrong human doctrines.
Without the knowledge of the Word, and without applying the Word of God in your life, you will be defeated. You won’t be strong enough to overcome the world; principalities, powers, rulers of the darkness of this world and spiritual wickedness in high places and resist the temptations of the devil.
Spiritual warfare
Your warfare is not carnal, but spiritual. The spiritual realm is your battlefield. Your job is not to attack people; flesh and blood, but powers, principalities, rulers of darkness, and spiritual wickedness that have taken possession of people. They even may use people to attack you, seduce you, and tempt you into sin.
When your eyes become spiritual, which means that you grow up in the Word of God, with the help of the Holy Spirit, you shall know what is right and what is wrong and what is good and what is evil. You shall be able to discern the things of the spiritual world (which is behind the visible world).
When people try to provoke you, you stay calm and be silent. You’ll be able to let go when people attack you with lies or false accusations. You’ll be able to forgive when people say mean painful words to you or don’t treat you correctly. When people try to lead you into sin, you will discern the temptation and walk away.
When you walk after the Spirit, you will discern the spirits. Because of the fact, that you will discern the spirits, you will be able to be silent, stay calm, let go, forgive, walk away, etc. just like Jesus did. Because you will not be led by your feelings and emotions, but by your spirit.
Your power is not carnal, therefore you will not use the methods of this world. You’ll use the spiritual weapons because you have become a spiritual new creation, who operates in the spirit. You will use the spiritual armor of God, speak the Word of God, and pray.
Two kinds of prayer
There are two kinds of prayer; carnal prayers (prayers out of feelings, emotions, wishes, desires, selfishness, your own will etc) and spiritual prayers (prayers out of the will of God, the Word, inspired and controlled by the Holy Spirit)
The devil is afraid and hates believers who pray ‘spiritual prayers’ and who attack his kingdom with the Word of God. Because they are dangerous for his kingdom.
He knows the power of the Word of God because the Word has disarmed him and overcame him.
The devil will try everything to keep you ignorant, by keeping you away from the Word of God. He will try to seduce you by using entertainment, wrong doctrines etc.
He will also try to seduce you by using dreams, visions, and prophetic words. For example, he shall show the importance of praise and worship music, and let you think that it is the most powerful weapon in spiritual warfare, instead of the Word.
But Jesus didn’t resist and defeated the devil in the wilderness by singing spiritual songs. NO! Jesus overcame the devil by the power of the Word!
Only the Word of God will separate the soul and spirit. By the Word you shall be able to discern the truth from lies; what is good and what is evil. The Word of God is profitable to teach, reproof, correct, and instruct in righteousness. The Word is your Sword, which you have to use in order to be an overcomer. The Bible; the Word of God is the daily bread for the spirit of the new creation. Without the Word, the spirit of the new creation will starve, and will not grow up into the image of Jesus Christ.
The purpose of the Bible; the Word of God, for the believer, is to become like the Word; Jesus
“Be the salt of the earth”
