God's Word: Efficacious, Powerful, and Very Sharp

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. And the word became flesh and dwelt among us... " John 1:1-2, 14a.

Throughout the book of Acts we witness the power of God's word when it is heard, believed, preached, acted upon, and lived out. We are told this many times throughout the Word itself, and we witness it daily in every place.

The Bible is God's written revelation to His people, His word. It is referred to as the sword of the Spirit in several places.

Hebrews 4:12; "For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart."

Ephesians 6:17; "And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;... "

Psalm 149:5-9; "Let the saints (Christians) be joyful in glory; Let them sing aloud on their beds. Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a two-edged sword in their hand, to execute vengeance on the nations, and punishments on the peoples; to bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron; to execute on them the written judgment - this honor have all His saints." Praise the Lord!"

God's word always brings judgment and conviction, it never returns to Him void, but always accomplishes His purpose.

When Jesus was arrested in the garden of Gethsemane, in an effort to defend his Master, and perhaps himself, Peter drew his carnal sword and struck off the ear of Malchus, a servant of the high priest. But Jesus rebukes Peter, tells him to put his sword away, and then heals the ear.

Later in the Acts 2, Peter, in contrast, preaches from the word of God, using the spiritual sword. He has put away his carnal sword, being obedient to His Lord. This new sword, similar to Peter's carnal sword, strikes first at the ear, it is heard. But after he has preached it into their ear, notice the deeper wound it causes in Acts 2:37.

"Now when they HEARD this, they were CUT TO THE HEART, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, 'Men and brethren, what shall we do?"

Another example of hearing God's and being cut to the heart is found in Acts 7:54 after Stephen preaches the Word extensively to the high priest and Jewish leaders.

"When they HEARD these things they were CUT TO THE HEART, and they gnashed at him with their teeth."

In the former account above we see a response of humility and meekness, a response of sorrow and repentance, a response of peace and love, a strong desire to make things right. This is a work of the Holy Spirit to appropriate salvation and blessing on souls of men.

In the latter account we witness a response of self righteousness, arrogance and pride, anger and violence, hatred and bitterness, etc. They gnash at him with their teeth. This they will do forever, if they do not turn. Jesus described hell as eternal gnashing of teeth. This response is blasphemy of the Holy Spirit and if continued cannot and will not be forgiven.

The word of God will always cut to the heart and kill its hearer. What kind of death will it bring? A death with and in Jesus (crucified with Christ) and subsequent resurrection to life/peace/joy/forgiveness/righteousness; or a Christ-denying everlasting death, where the fire is not quenched and the worm never dies, eternal burning desire eternally unfulfilled, the blackness of darkness forever, and ever.

Jesus Christ is the true Stone, which the builders rejected, and He says; "Whoever falls on that Stone will be broken, but on whomever it falls, it will grind him to powder." Luke 20:18. Also notice the response to this saying in verse 19.

DR