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Taking Up the Sword of the Spirit (Ephesians 6:17b)

By Jeremy Myers
3 Comments

Taking Up the Sword of the Spirit (Ephesians 6:17b)
http://media.blubrry.com/one_verse/feeds.soundcloud.com/stream/713455147-redeeminggod-174-how-to-take-up-and-use-the-sword-of-the-spirit-ephesians-617b.mp3

In the book of Nehemiah we read about how the Israelites returned from captivity to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. They came with the blessing of King Artaxerxes, but not everyone was glad that Israel was returning to their land to rebuild Jerusalem and its walls. There were enemies in the land of Israel who sought to destroy and kill the Israelites, and keep them from returning to the land God had given to them.

Nehemiah was aware of these enemies, and so as he assigned tasks and went about overseeing the rebuilding of the walls, he instructed the workers to strap a sword to their side so that if enemies appeared, they could defend themselves in battle (Neh 4:18).

As we go about our own work as Christians, we too must keep a sword strapped to our side. Not a sword made from steel with which to kill other people—for our struggle is not against flesh and blood—but a spiritual sword with which to demolish spiritual enemies and defend ourselves against all the wiles of the devil.

The spiritual landscape is full of enemies. When Christians lay down their sword and neglect the study and application of Scripture, we end up losing ground to the devil when he comes in and attacks our work, seeking to stop us from building our spiritual walls, defending our moral borders, and rescuing the perishing in our midst.

So we must take up the sword and carry it with us as we follow Jesus into the world. Let us keep our swords at hand. Let us keep them polished and sharp. Let us know how to use them best.

This is the instruction we receive from Ephesians 6:17 as we look at the sword of the spirit. As with every other piece of armor, we will consider the sword in three ways. First, what the sword was and the way it was used by Roman soldiers in Paul’s day. Second, we will learn what the sword is for us as Christians in spiritual warfare. And third, we will discover how we can take up the sword for our use.

The Sword for the Soldier

Everybody knows what a sword looks like. And we have likely all seen pictures or movies of Roman soldiers carrying their sword. The swords that were typically used in Paul’s day were made of iron, and were double-edged. Like many swords, they came to a point, had a hilt, and a guard to protect the hand of the sword bearer. The Roman sword also had a metal knob at the base of the hilt which could be used to bash an enemy in the face or head if needed.

One surprising characteristic about the Roman soldier sword, however, was that the blade was only about 18 inches in length.

Typically, when we think of a sword, we imagine one that is about three to four feet long, such as those carried by European Medieval knights. If you had to choose between a sword that was 18 inches or three feet long, most people would choose the longer sword. But the Roman military preferred the shorter sword.

This was not because they did not have the longer swords. They did. The longer sword was called a rhomphaia or spathe, and was closer to what we would call a broadsword. It was six to eight feet long and was used to hack off the limbs and heads of enemy soldiers.

But due of its size and weight, it had to be used with two hands, which didn’t allow the soldier to hold a shield. And since they didn’t have the full metal armor like the knights had in the medieval times, a soldier without a shield left himself exposed to arrows and spears. So the longer sword was nearly useless for the close hand-to-hand combat style that was common in the days of the Roman Empire.

Therefore, the Roman soldiers were primarily trained in use of the short sword, called a machaira or gladius. This is the sword that Paul refers to here in Ephesians 6:17. This sword was light and could be maneuvered quickly and with ease. It also only required only one hand to use it, which allowed the soldier to carry a shield.

To make a machaira, or gladius, the blacksmith would take a soft core of steel and surround it with several layers of hardened steel. This allowed the sword to be strong enough to inflict serious damage, but also flexible enough to not snap or break in battle.

In training with this short sword, the soldier was taught to stab and thrust instead of cut or slash. The reason is because the cut, even delivered with force, frequently does not kill. It only wounds because of the protective armor and bone. But a stab nearly always penetrates into the body, and when thrust into the torso, as Roman soldiers were trained to do, they had a much higher probability of hitting a vital organ, thereby killing the enemy soldier instead of just wounding him.

This was the same for spears and pikes. While Roman soldiers did often carry spears and pikes, these were only used when the soldiers sought to advance their position against an enemy position. They would form up in a tight unit, which shields interlocked, and then advance forward while thrusting with their spears. Once they arrived at the desired position, they would use the short sword to hold the ground which they had just obtained.

In this way, the sword that Paul mentions here is primarily defensive.

We would think that of all the pieces of spiritual armor, the sword would be the one piece with which the soldier could attack the enemy, but this is not really the case. Even here, as with all the other pieces of armor, the short sword was primarily used for defense. It was not used to advance against an enemy army, but was used to defend a position on the field of battle which had already been gained.

Yes, although the short sword could be used to attack enemy soldiers, it was only used this way when the enemy soldiers advanced upon position that the Roman soldiers sought to maintain. This fits perfectly with the basic Roman military strategy of standing their ground on the field of battle.

Remember, Paul has stated numerous times in the context that our number one task in spiritual warfare is to stand our ground. And now we have seen that for the Roman soldier, even the sword was used to simply stand their ground. It was not primarily a weapon for attacking or advancing, but was simply to defend the soldier as he stood his ground. This tell us a lot about how the sword works for the Christian on the field of spiritual battle.

The Sword for the Christian

What is the sword for the Christian? Paul explains what it is in two ways. First, Paul states that this is the sword of the Spirit, and then secondly, Paul goes on to clarify that the sword is the Word of God. Some have confused Paul’s statement here by thinking that the sword is the Spirit; but it isn’t. Paul clarifies that the sword we use in spiritual battle is the Word of God.

But what is the Word of God?

Though the previous paragraphs have been referring to Scripture, the Word of God, as Paul writes of it here, is not precisely the same thing as the Bible. You see, many people think they have the sword of the Spirit if they have a Bible. But Paul does not agree. You do not have the sword of the Spirit if you own a Bible. You do not take up the sword of the Spirit by having possession of a Bible. We will discuss next about how to take up the sword of the Spirit, but in leading up to that, it is important to recognize that Paul does not use the normal term here for the Word of God.

Typically, when biblical authors want to refer to written Scriptures, they either use the term graphē, which means “writings,” or they use the term logos, which means “word.” Both terms refer to Scripture, in its entirety, as it was originally written down on paper by the original authors.

The graphē, the writings, or the logos, the Word of God, refers to what we call the Bible, as a written revelation from God. It is important to note that the second term, logos, can also refer to Jesus as the living, incarnate Word of God (cf. John 1:1-11). There is a written logos, the Bible, and a living Logos, Jesus, and both are divine revelations from God.

So which terms does Paul use here in Ephesians 6:17? Neither.

Instead, Paul uses the Greek word rhēma. This term differs from graphē and logos in that while these latter two terms refer to the entire written Word of God, rhēma refers to speaking individual verses or passages from Scripture to help or aid in a particular circumstance or situation.

This is how Paul used the word in Ephesians 5:26 when he wrote about the washing of water with the word. The written Scriptures do not cleanse us or wash us unless they are spoken to use and applied to our lives.

So while logos is the written Word of God, rhēma is when the written words of Scripture are spoken into our lives for encouragement, instruction, and correction. As Harry Ironside said: “The Bible is not the sword of the Spirit, it is the armory. There are thousands of swords in [the Bible] and every one of them is powerful and two-edged.”

If Paul meant that the sword of the Spirit was the Bible—he would have used the word logos. But he didn’t. He used the word rhema, which shows us that the sword of the Spirit is the individual verses and phrases and passages of the Bible which we can wield quickly in battle. The individual statements, promises, and truths of Scripture are useful for stabbing and thrusting into the weak spots of our enemy attackers.

Every time you memorize a verse, you have added another sword to your arsenal. Every time you learn a new truth about a verse, you have sharpened the blades on that sword. Every time you learn a new way to apply a verse, you have become quicker and more deadly in using that sword. This is why practice is needed in correctly handling and rightly dividing the word of truth (2 Tim 2:15). And when we practice using Scripture, the Word of God becomes powerful and effective.

It can destroy Satan’s arguments and defend us against his temptations (Matt 4:1-11). Remember, this is how Jesus defeated the temptations of the devil in the wilderness. When Satan came at Jesus with three temptations, Jesus used verses from Scripture as a way to fend of the attacks of the devil. We can do the same thing.

Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 that the Word of God helps us tear down enemy strongholds and the false and deceptive teachings spread by Satan. So you need to know the Word of God to defeat the enemy.

The Word of God can also pierce men’s hearts and show them the truth about their own sin and the only way of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. (Jer 23:29; Acts 2:37; Heb 4:12; Rom 10:17). When we share the Gospel with people, we need to use Scripture. Witnessing without the use of the Word is like trying to win a battle without a sword. The Spirit uses the Word of God to convict sinners and convince them of their need of Jesus Christ (John 16:7-11).

It provides comfort, encouragement, instruction, and correction as Christians (Mark 4:20; 1 Thess 2:13; 2 Tim 2:15; 3:16–4:4; 1 Pet 1:23­–2:2). It is like a scalpel, carefully cutting away all the dead flesh and scar tissue that is left behind from our old way of life. It is a knife that cuts the bonds of sin that trip us up and drag us down. But it is also milk and meat (1 Cor 3:2; Heb 5:12; 1 Pet 2:2), providing us with sustenance and energy to grow strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.

The Word of God does all of these things and more for the Christian who knows how to use it. And since it does all of these things—keeping the enemy at bay, helping us bring light to sinners, showing us how to become more Christlike, the Word of God should be our constant companion. Like a sword, Scripture should always at our side, as a ready defense in times of need.

And just like the people of Israel in the days of Nehemiah as they went about rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem, we need to make sure we always have our sword at our side, as we go about our days and do whatever it is Jesus has called us to do in life. Toward this end, let us consider a few brief ways to take up the sword as a Christian on the field of battle.

Taking up the Sword

Since the Sword of the Spirit is made of the individual promises and truths of Scripture, this means that the only way to take up the sword of the Spirit is to become familiar with the Scriptures.

The only way to arm ourselves with the word of God is to memorize, study, and learn the word of God. We must practice using the Scriptures. We must drill with the Bible. Through endless repetition and training, must learn the forms and stances of the Bible.

study the BibleWe must exercise with the Bible until it is stamped into our minds, so that when it is needed, our muscle memory kicks in and the use of the sword becomes second nature and automatic.

There are no short cuts or fast tracks. The only way to take up the Sword of the Spirit is to spend as much time as you possibly can in the word of God. Read it. Study it. Memorize it. Talk about it. Meditate upon it. Pray through it.

Think about it.

Just as the Roman soldiers spent hours every day drilling with their sword, so also, we must spend plenty of time drilling with ours. This is the only way to take up the sword of the Spirit so that it is ready and available on the field of spiritual warfare.

When I was younger, my parents sent me to summer Bible camp, and one of the activities I remember from this Bible camp were the “Sword Drills” as part of the chapel time. During the sword drill, the camp director stood up in front of the chapel, would shout “Bibles High!” and all of us would raise our Bibles into the air. Then he would shout a verse reference, such as “Ephesians 2:8!” and we would shout the verse reference back to him. Then, after a small pause, he would shout “Charge!” and we would all pull our Bibles out of the air and frantically flip through our Bibles for Ephesians 2:8. The first person to find it would stand up and read it. If they were right, they would get some points for their team. These sword drill were an early way of teaching us to use our Bible and find the swords within them.

It would be helpful, I sometimes think, for adults to do similar sorts of sword drills, but rather than trying to find Bible verses within the pages of Scripture, we would be invited to discuss what sorts of truths or ideas the Bible contains which would help us in the various temptations and troubles that life throws our way.

We could sit in a circle and say, “Very often, we feel like God does not love us and cannot forgive us for some sin we have committed. What truths or verses in Scripture can remind us of God’s infinite love and complete forgiveness?” (Some possible answers: John 3:16; Rom 5:8; 8:38-39; 1 John 2:1-2; 4:7-10).

Or someone could propose this: “A Jehovah’s Witness has just knocked on your door, and he is telling you that Jesus Christ was just a god, but He was not the one and only God. Where would you turn in Scripture?” (Answer: John 1; Mark 2; Luke 18). Or someone could say, “A coworker has gone through some troubling times in her life, and she walks up to you some day, and says, ‘You’re a Christian right? What must I do to get to heaven?’” What would you tell her? (Answer: John 3:16; 5:24; 6:47; 1 John 5:11-13).

Through such sword drills, we are training and practicing with the sword of the Spirit, learning to defend ourselves against the lies and deceptions of the devil. Through such practice with our sword, we are preparing to give an answer to anyone who asks about the hope we have in Jesus Christ (1 Pet 3:15).

We must know the Bible well enough so that we are ready for any challenge that comes our way.  We must take it up in the morning, take it up on our lunch break at work, take it up at night with our family, and take it up as the last thing we do before bed.

Many Christians are weak and ineffective at defending themselves against the attacks of the devil because they have no skill with their sword. We might have the shiniest armor, the newest sandals, a perfect leather belt, and a helmet with no dents or rust, but if they cannot handle the word of truth, then Satan can press his attack with no though of getting harmed or chased off. He can take his sweet time in wearing us down until we fall to the ground from fatigue.

To truly stop the attacks of the devil, we must defend ourselves with a counter-attack, which we can only do with the sword of the Spirit. As we resist the devil in this way, he will flee from us, just as he fled from Jesus (Jas 4:7).

So what can you do? Study Scripture. Memorize Scripture. Learn what the Bible says and apply it to your life. Attend a Bible study. Read books and articles about the Bible. Listen to good teachings about the Bible on the radio or through podcasts.

How to Study the Bible - LadiesAnd you must keep immersing yourself in Scripture, day in and day out, so that you know what the Scripture says and how to apply its promises to your life when lies and deceptions of the devil start to tear you down. If you want to have your sword with you in spiritual battle, you need to be skilled with the Word of God. And the only way to gain skill in Scripture is to practice using Scripture as much as possible.

Roman soldiers knew that their skill with the sword was their lifeline in battle. The better you were with your sword, the greater your chances were of survival. And so that is why the best soldiers spent almost all of their free time practicing with the sword.

The same is true for you.

Spend as much time in the Bible as you can. Fight the good fight. Become heroes of the faith. Take up the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. In this way, you will be able to stand our ground against our enemy the devil for the praise and glory of our commander and chief—Jesus Christ.

Do you want to learn about spiritual warfare and how to put on the full armor of God? If you want to defeat sin and gain victory in your life over temptation so you can better follow Jesus, take my course on the Armor of God as it is explained in Ephesians 6:10-20. This course costs $297, but when you join the Discipleship group, you can to take the entire course for free.

God is Redeeming God, Redeeming Scripture, z Bible & Theology Topics: armor of God, Ephesians 6:10-20, Ephesians 6:17, satan, spiritual warfare, sword of the spirit, temptation, word of god

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The more I study the Bible…

By Jeremy Myers
52 Comments

The more I study the Bible…

The more I study the Bible, the more I realize how little I know about it.

The more I study the Bible, the more I realize how dangerous this book really is.

The more I study the Bible, the more I begin to see why the medieval Catholic church did not allow the average person to read and interpret it.

The more I study the Bible, the more I begin to wonder how much the Bible has truly influenced my theology, versus how much my theology has influenced my reading of the Bible.

The more I study the Bible, the less confident I am in saying that my theology is based on scriptural exegesis.

The more I study the Bible, the more confused I get by it.

Anybody out there know what I am talking about? Please tell me I am not the only one who is beginning to feel this way…

study the Bible

Some History of My Bible Study

Maybe some history is in order…

When I first began this website about 15 years ago, I wanted it to be a place where I posted my sermons and Bible studies. You can still see some of those here: Old Sermons by Jeremy Myers.

Somewhere along the way, my life fell apart, and I began to question a lot of things. To help me sort things out, I decided to question all the theology I had ever been taught. Things were going well, until I started to question everything I had been taught about the Bible…. then everything fell apart.

So I put aside that project, and decided that I needed to just study Scripture and let it re-teach me all my theology…

A few years later, I thought I had finally settled somewhere new, and decided to return to my life goal of writing a commentary on every book of the Bible.

I got half-way through the book of Jonah, when I asked myself the dangerous question, “Did God really send the storm which nearly killed everybody on board the ship?”

This led me off on a wild rabbit trail of trying to make sense of all the violence of God in the Bible in light of the death of Jesus on the cross. However, I eventually gave up (several times) on this as well. Scripture said what it said, and I could find no way around it.

bible study

So now I am writing on something “safe”: The debate between Calvinism and Arminianism. Ha!

The truth is that I think I need to go all the way back to the beginning and start over with the Bible.

What is the Bible?

The problem appears to be that the Bible may not be what I think it is.

Or maybe I can put it this way: The Bible doesn’t do what I want it to do. The Bible does not provide what I want it to provide. The Bible I want does not seem to be the Bible I have.

This is why I have been reading a lot of books recently about Scripture. I know other scholars and theologians are asking similar questions, and I want to know what they are thinking on these issues.

Peter Enns  and HarperOne recently sent me a review copy of his newest book called The Bible Tells Me So. I reviewed this book yesterday.

For now, I found the book incredibly encouraging and hopeful, but at the same time, not too helpful. Or maybe, I just didn’t like the answers that Peter Enns offered, and it will just take some time to come to terms with it.

How Do you Study the Bible?

Do you struggle with Scripture? Where are you at on the whole discussion of inerrancy, inspiration, and the authority of the Bible? Have you read any good books on the topic recently which really helped sort things out for you? Please share your thoughts in the comment section below.

God is Redeeming Theology Bible & Theology Topics: Bible Study, bibliology, scripture, Theology of the Bible, word of god

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Words of Calvinism and the Word of God

By Jeremy Myers
52 Comments

Words of Calvinism and the Word of God

TULIP

As with much of what I write on this blog, my current blog series on Calvinism will eventually become a book. I have decided to call this book The Words of Calvinism and the Word of God. To make sure you get a free PDF of this book when it comes out, please request to get updates from me using one of the forms on this site.

Until then, I will try to update this page with the current list of blog posts on Calvinism. Please note that even though you will be able to read much of the content of this book using the links below, the final version of the book will be altered and updated to reflect additional research and any changes I might want to make to the posts based on the feedback and comments I receive on each individual post.

In other words, please read through the posts and leave comments! I value your input and learn from your suggestions — even if it is just to point out a typographical mistake!

So here are the posts in this series on Calvinism so far:

Introduction to Calvinsim

  • I believe in the Five Solas of the Reformation
  • My Personal History with Calvinism
  • A Brief History of John Calvin
  • A Brief Summary of Calvinism
  • A Summary of Calvinism from Calvinists
  • Calvinism’s TULIP by any other name still doesn’t smell as sweet

Calvinism and the Dictionary

  • Faith
    • What is Faith?
    • Are there Degrees of Faith?
    • Faith is not a Gift; Faith is not a Work
  • Gospel
    • What is the Gospel?
    • Jesus is the Gospel; Calvinism is Not
    • It’s impossible to believe the entire Gospel
  • Salvation
    • It’s possible to believe in Jesus but not be saved
    • I hope I get saved as I write this post (and you get saved reading it)
    • Salvation Confusion
  • Forgiveness – Two Kinds of Forgiveness: One is free; one is conditional
  • Repentance – Repentance is not a condition for eternal life
  • Eternal Life
    • Words that Do Not Refer to Eternal Life: Salvation and the Kingdom of Heaven
    • Words that Do Not Refer to Eternal Life: Inheritance and Reward
    • Words that Do Not Refer to Eternal Life: Justification, Sanctification, and Glorification
  • Grace
    • Scandalous, Outrageous, Shocking Grace
    • Grace is absolutely Free
    • Romans 6:1 as a Litmus Test for Grace
  • Calvinism and the NIV
  • 3 Tactics Calvinists Use Against Non-Calvinists

Total Depravity

  • Total Depravity According to Calvinists
    • Total Depravity as Total Inability
    • Do Humans Have Free Will? Calvinism Says No.
    • Dead in Sin: A Favorite Calvinistic Analogy
    • Is Faith a Work?
    • Is Faith a Gift from God?
    • Does Regeneration Precede Faith?
  • Total Depravity according to Scripture
    • Calvinism and Genesis 6:5
    • Genesis 6:6 and Genesis 8:21 do not teach Total Depravity
    • Are People Born in Sin? (Psalm 51:5)
    • Psalm 143:2 does not teach Total Inability
    • Does Ecclesiastes 7:20, 29 teach Total Depravity?
    • Isaiah 53:6 and Isaiah 64:6 Do Not Teach Total Depravity
    • Does Jeremiah 17:9 teach Total Depravity?
    • John 3:3 Does Not Teach Total Inability
    • John 6:44 is a key text for Total Depravity. Too bad it doesn’t teach it…
    • John 8:43 does not teach total inability
    • John 15:4-5 Does Not Teach Total Inability
    • Is Paul teaching Calvinism in Romans 3:10-12?
    • Paul Does Not Teach Total Depravity in Romans 3
    • Humans have three parts: Body, Soul, and Spirit
    • Romans 7: Did Paul Struggle with Sinful Flesh?
    • Romans 8:7-8, Enmity with God, and Calvinism
    • Can the Unbeliever Understand the Things of God? (1 Corinthians 2:14)
    • Removing the Veil from the Gospel – 2 Corinthians 4:3-4
    • 7 Uses of the word “Dead” in the New Testament
    • What does it mean to be dead in sin? Ephesians 2:1-3
    • The Secret Logic Behind Total Depravity
    • Is faith the gift of God in Ephesians 2:8-9?
    • Are All Gentiles Depraved in the Mind? (Ephesians 4:17-19)
    • If Judaizers are Right, then they’re Wrong (Titus 1:15)
    • Is the World Controlled by the Devil? 1 John 5:19
    • Why 1 John 5:1 does not teach that regeneration precedes faith
  • The Last Word on Total Depravity
    • What I believe about Total Inability
    • What I believe about Free Will
    • What it means to be Dead in Sin
    • Faith is NOT a Work
    • Faith is NOT a Gift from God
    • Regeneration Follows Faith
    • You Can Believe!

Unconditional Election

  • Unconditional Election According to Calvinists
    • The U in TULIP – Unconditional Election
    • Unconditional Election Quotes from Calvinists
    • Calvinist Quotes on Reprobation
  • Unconditional Election According to Scripture
    • Israel is God’s Chosen Nation … but what does that mean?
    • Jesus is the Elect One
    • The Church is an Elect People
    • Some Surprising Truths about God’s So-Called “Election” of Abram in Genesis 12:1-3
    • More Coming Soon!
  • The Last Word on Unconditional Election
    • Coming Soon!

Limited Atonement

  • Posts Coming Soon!

Irresistible Grace

  • Posts Coming Soon!

Perseverance of the Saints

  • Posts Coming Soon!

The Sovereignty of God

  • Posts Coming Soon!

 

God is Featured Bible & Theology Topics: books, Books by Jeremy Myers, Calvinism, Theology of Salvation, TULIP, word of god

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What Christians Say… and What Christians Mean

By Jeremy Myers
9 Comments

What Christians Say… and What Christians Mean

Mike DonahoeThis is a guest post from Mike Donahoe, who runs the “Done with Religion” blog. Here is what he writes about his ministry: 

Done with religion does not mean done with God, but done trying to please God by performance. We no longer submit to man’s rules and regulations, and we realize that the Church is the body of believers and not a place we go. Religion says do this, don’t do that and you will be a ‘good’ Christian. It tries to make us feel like successful Christians based on how well we perform and follow the rules. We want to take our eyes off following man made rules and gimmicks and focus entirely on Christ and living a life like His.

Along with this blog site above, you can connect with Mike on Facebook or Twitter. 

If you would like to write a Guest Post for the Till He Comes Blog, begin by reading the Guest Blogger Guidelines.

So many times what we say and what we mean are two different things.

Church

Take for instance the word “church.” Most of us think of a building where Christians meet every Sunday for an organized, pre-planned service of music, prayer, and sermon by a paid pastor.

In reality, church is better described by the word ecclesia. It’s people. It is people who are following Christ and allowing Him to live and love through them.

Church isn’t a place, a building, or the house of God, and it isn’t at a set time or day.

Christian

church - body of ChristThen there is the word “Christian.” We think of people who love God, go to church, pray, read their bible, and try to do the right things.

Actually, “Christian” is a man-made word that originally was used to describe those who followed the teaching of Jesus and were doing the works of Jesus. Today, rather than being the true sense of following Christ, it is more widely known as a religion. Christians are considered people who believe in Jesus, go to church, follow specific rules, adhere to a set doctrine, pray, read the bible and try to get more people to come to their church.

We think of Christians, Jews, Muslims, Hindu and a host of other religions rather than a way of life walking with Jesus, which is what the word refers to.

Prayer

When we talk about prayer, we generally think of a pastor or godly person saying spiritual sounding words to God. Many times prayers are written out and followed word for word to make people sound more spiritual.

Actually prayer is just talking. Like you would talk to a friend or relative, prayer is talking to God. Not only talking, but being quiet and listening for God to speak to you.

Bible

What about the Bible? Of course, our first thought is a book that God inspired men to write. We think of the Word of God.

word of GodYet if we look closer at John 1:1, we find that the Word is not a book at all. “In the beginning was the word, and the word was with God and the word was God.” So actually, the Word of God is Jesus. He is the inerrant, all powerful, living Word of God.

The Bible is a book that contains God-inspired words which show us the ways of men and the Way of God. It is in the Bible that we read about the Word of God — Jesus Christ, who Himself is the ultimate revelation of God. 

Does that mean we don’t need to read the Bible? Of course not, we can learn a lot about God and ourselves by reading it. What we don’t want to do is make the Bible equal to God. The Bible is not part of the trinity; it is a book.

Worship

The word worship is generally thought of as a time during the service when people are lead into song and outward praise to God by a leader or group, paid to lead people this way. The style of worship also varies greatly from group to group. Many people think worship are songs, or lifting of hands, or dancing. A lot of people think of worship as a church service.

Yet worship is a true sense of reverence and adoring praise to our Father. It is personal and does not need a professional leader. It is a sincere and earnest thankfulness we have for God.

Jesus is the all in all. It doesn’t boil down to our doctrines, beliefs, and man-made efforts. It boils down to following Jesus, allowing Him to live in us and through us. 

What Words Can You Add?

There are many other words we could be discussed, but the point is that it is not as important the word we use, but the true meaning.

What words do you find have confusing usage in some Christian circles? What words can we start using more clearly? 

God is Uncategorized Bible & Theology Topics: bible, church, following Jesus, guest post, prayer, Theology of the Church, word of god, worship

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9 Tips on Preaching from Martin Luther. The 9th is key.

By Jeremy Myers
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9 Tips on Preaching from Martin Luther. The 9th is key.

Martin Luther on PreachingI came across this today, and thought it was a good reminder for all of us who devote our lives to studying and teaching the Word of God.

Martin Luther, in his lifetime, was not very popular. In fact, he was condemned as a heretic by the Catholic church. But here is what Martin Luther said about speaking for God.

Martin Luther said there are nine things every teacher of the Word and every pastor should seek to do:

  1. To teach the Word systematically.
  2. To have a ready wit.
  3. To be eloquent.
  4. To have a good voice.
  5. To have good memory.
  6. To know when to make an end.
  7. To be sure of his doctrine.
  8. To engage body, blood, wealth and honor in the Word.

And 9th (this one is the key to it all) he should suffer himself to be mocked and jeered by everyone.

God is Redeeming Church Bible & Theology Topics: Discipleship, heretic, Martin Luther, pastor, Preaching, Theology of the Church, word of god

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