Jesus and the Word

 

Twenty-three Comparisons and Contrasts
(if you’re on a mobile phone, you may want to switch to “desktop” mode to see the side-to-side comparisons)

 
 
 
 

The Word

  1. The Bible in written text is called THE WORD OF GOD - Written by roughly 40 authors in different locations and cultures over 1500 years, the Bible remarkably tells a single story: God’s pursuit of us who bear His image. Every Christian tradition recognizes and reveres the core 66 books of the Bible, though some traditions include a few more. Most importantly for Christians, Jesus unequivocally affirmed the infallibility of the Old Testament (John 10:35b) and promised the New (John 16:12-15). There is so much to learn about the archaeological evidence, extensive manuscripts, internal consistency, scientific foreknowledge, historical accuracy as well as the incredible statistics of fulfilled prophecy (300+ prophecies of Jesus more than four centuries before His birth). And if you ask, the Holy Spirit will work within you a deep assurance that the same God who made the stars breathed out the words of Scripture. 

  2. God SPEAKS through the Bible -  Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets…(Hebrews 1:1)

  3. The Word is FULLY HUMAN - For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. (2 Peter 1:21, see also Luke 1:1-4)

  4. The Word is FULLY DIVINE - All Scripture is breathed out by God… (2 Timothy 3:16) / The word of the Lord came to me… (Jeremiah 1:4) / Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says, “Today, if you hear his voice, (Hebrews 3:7 quoting Psalm 95) / But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen…what God has prepared for those who love him”— these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit (1 Corinthians 2:9-10)

  5. The Word is HOLY - From infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. (2 Timothy 3:15) / the gospel of God, which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures. (Romans 1:1-2)

  6. The Word makes us HOLY - Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. (John 17:17) / …the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word. (Acts 10:44) / For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, for it is made holy by the word of God and prayer. (1 Timothy 4:4-5) /

  7. The Word is TRUE - The sum of your word is truth, and every one of your righteous rules endures forever. (Psalm 119:160) / Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. (John 17:17) / Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. (Proverbs 30:5 / 2 Samuel 22:31) / And now, O Lord God, you are God, and your words are true (2 Samuel 7:28)

  8. The Word is GOOD - …and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come (Hebrews 6:5) / …for I give you good precepts; do not forsake my teaching. (Proverbs 4:2)

  9. The Word is BEAUTIFUL - I will delight in your statutes…Your testimonies are my delight…If your law had not been my delight, I would’ve perished in my affliction….Oh how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day…Your testimonies are wonderful…My soul keeps your testimonies; I love them exceedingly. (Psalm 119:16, 24, 92, 97, 129, 167)

  10. The Word is POWERFUL - By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, their starry host by the breath of his mouth. (Psalm 33:6)

  11. The Word will JUDGE us - The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has a judge; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day. (John 12:48)

  12. The Word PREACHES THE GOSPEL
    And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “In you shall all the nations be blessed.” (Galatians 3:8)

  13. The Word brings SALVATION - Receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. (James 1:21)

  14. The Word shows us the WAY - Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths. (Psalm 25:4) / And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting! (Psalm 139:24)

  15. The Word brings LIFE - You have been given a new birth. It was from a seed that cannot die. This new life is from the Word of God which lives forever. (1 Peter 1:23)

  16. The Word brings WISDOM and KNOWLEDGE - For the LORD gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. (Proverbs 2:6) / Your commandment makes me wiser than my enemies, for it is ever with me. I have more understanding than all my teachers, for your testimonies are my meditation. (Psalm 119:98-99)

  17. The Word brings COMFORT and ENCOURAGEMENT- For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. (Romans 15:4)

  18. The Word brings PEACE - Great peace have those who love your law; nothing can make them stumble. (Psalm 119:165) / Let me hear what God the Lord will speak, for he will speak peace to his people, to his saints; but let them not turn back to folly. (Psalm 85:8) / You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. (Isaiah 26:3) / I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

  19. The Word is NEAR - For this commandment that I command you today is not too hard for you, neither is it far off. It is not in heaven, that you should say, ‘Who will ascend to heaven for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?’ Neither is it beyond the sea, that you should say, ‘Who will go over the sea for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?’ But the word is very near you…so that you can do it. (Deuteronomy 30:11-14)

  20. The Word is ETERNAL - Your word, LORD, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens…every one of your righteous rules endures forever. (Psalm 119:89, 160) / The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever. (Isaiah 40:8)

  21. The physical text of the Holy Scriptures (though the Word is eternal: see #20 above) HAD A BEGINNING - If we go by modern scholarship, the earliest written Scriptures (possibly Genesis, but most likely the Book of Job) are dated no earlier than about 15 to 20 centuries before Christ.

  22. The Bible is to be NEVER WORSHIPPED (the sin of Bibliolatry) - The physical text of the Holy Scriptures is to be revered, cherished and defended as a window through which we see God. But the Bible did not die on a cross for our sins…it tells us of the One who did.

  23. The Word is a TREASURE - I have not departed from the commandment of his lips; I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my portion of food. (Job 23:12) / Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart, for I am called by your name, O Lord, God of hosts. (Jeremiah 15:16) / ….and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come (Hebrews 6:5)

Jesus

  1. The living, incarnate Jesus is called THE WORD OF GOD - “The name by which he is called is The Word of God.” (Revelation 19:13) / In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1) / “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth; we have beheld his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father.”  (John 1:14) / “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life—the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us— that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.” (1 John 1:1-3)

  2. God SPEAKS through Jesus - …but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son…through whom also he created the world. (Hebrews 1:2)

  3. Jesus is FULLY HUMAN - For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus” (1 Timothy 2:5) / … one man Jesus Christ (Romans 5:15,17)

  4. Jesus is FULLY DIVINE Looking for…the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ (Titus 2:13) / …the Word was God. (John 1:1) / he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God. (John 5:18) / In [Christ] all the fullness of deity dwells bodily. (Colossians 2:9) / Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. (1 John 4:15)

  5. Jesus is HOLY - For it was fitting for us to have such a high priest, holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners and exalted above the heavens (Hebrews 7:26) / What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God.” (Mark 1:24)

  6. Jesus makes us HOLY - "So Jesus also suffered…to sanctify the people through his own blood." (Hebrews 13:12) / Christ…made us pure and holy, and he freed us from sin (1 Corinthians 1:30) / Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her…by the washing of water with the word (Ephesians 5:25-26)

  7. Jesus is TRUE and is THE TRUTH - Jesus said to him, “I am…the truth…” (John 14:6) / And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life. (1 John 5:20) / Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.” (John 18:37)

  8. Jesus is GOOD -  I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep…I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep.(John 10:11,14-15)

  9. Jesus is BEAUTIFUL - In that day the branch of the LORD shall be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the land shall be the pride and honor of the survivors of Israel. (Isaiah 4:2) / This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. (1 John 3:16)

  10. Jesus is POWERFUL - He is the radiance of the glory of God…and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. (Hebrews 1:3)

  11. Jesus will JUDGE us - I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom (2 Timothy 4:1)

  12. Jesus PREACHES THE GOSPEL - Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” (Mark 1:14-15)

  13. Jesus brings SALVATION - And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. (1 John 4:14)

  14. Jesus shows us the WAY and is THE WAY - “I am…the way…” (John 14:6) / so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. (Acts 9:2)

  15. Jesus brings LIFE and is THE LIFE - our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, (2 Timothy 1:10) / “I am…the life…” (John 14:6)

  16. Jesus brings WISDOM and KNOWLEDGE - Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. (Colossians 2:2b-3) / …Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God (1 Corinthians 1:24) / You are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption (1 Corinthians 1:30)

  17. Jesus brings COMFORT and ENCOURAGEMENT - Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction…(2 Corinthians 1:3-4)

  18. Jesus brings PEACE and is OUR PEACE - For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called…Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6) / Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. (Romans 5:1) / For He himself is our peace (Ephesians 2:14) / Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. (John 14:27)

  19. Jesus is NEAR - But you are near, O Lord, and all your commandments are true. (Psalm 119:151) / And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age. (Matthew 28:20) / ...be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5) / “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me” (Revelation 3:20).

  20. Jesus is ETERNAL - Jesus said to them, “… before Abraham was born, I am.” (John 8:58) / He is the true God and eternal life. (1 John 5:20) / …having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God (Hebrews 7:3)

  21. The physical humanity of Jesus (though He is eternal: see #20 above) HAD A BEGINNING - …she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. (Matthew 1:18) / And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger (Luke 2:7)

  22. Jesus is to be FOREVER WORSHIPPED as God the Son, the Second Person of the Trinity, the Eternal Logos (John 1:1-2) - they shall call his name, Immanuel, which means, “God with us” (Matthew 1:23) / In [Christ] all the fullness of deity dwells bodily (Colossians 2:9)

  23. Jesus is THE TREASURE - the unsearchable riches of Christ (Ephesians 3:8) / for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. (Romans 10:12) / And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:19) / Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Matthew 6:19-21) / The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. (Matthew 13:44) / But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. (Philippians 3:7-11)