Christian Foundations (7) - The Centrality of the Word of God
There are 7 Foundational Doctrines in Hebrews 6:2: “The FOUNDATION of (1) repentance from dead works and (2) of faith toward God, (3) of DOCTRINE, (4) of BAPTISMS, (5) of laying on of hands, (6) of resurrection of the dead, and (7) of eternal judgment.” The doctrine of DOCTRINE (the TEACHING of God's Word) refers to the Bible's teaching on the importance and centrality of the WORD of God in our lives, and therefore the necessity of receiving right teaching and having correct doctrine. God's WORD is TRUTH (John 17:17), and the mark of true disciples of Christ is that they abide in His Word by hearing and obeying it (Matthew 28:18-20). In this way we grow spiritually and experience freedom from sin (John 8:31-32, 1Tim 2:4, 1Peter 2:2). God's WORD is our SPIRITUAL FOOD, and so it is necessary for our spiritual strength and growth (Matthew 4:4): “My WORDS are SPIRIT and LIFE” (John 6:63). God’s Word contains His life, Spirit and energy: “The WORD of God is LIVING and POWERFUL” (Hebrews 4:12). “ALL SCRIPTURE is given by INSPIRATION of God (literally: ‘God-breathed’), and is profitable” (2Timothy 3:16). “The WORD of God which LIVES and ABIDES FOREVER” (1Peter 1:23). “FAITH comes by hearing, and hearing by the WORD of God” (Romans 10:17). “Blessed are those who HUNGER (for God's WORD) and THIRST (for the SPIRIT of God) for righteousness (from God), for they shall be FILLED” (Matthew 5:6). God provides: “WINE that makes glad the heart of man, OIL to make his face shine (the HOLY SPIRIT), and BREAD (the WORD), which STRENGTHENS man’s HEART” (Psalm 104:15). We must EAT the WORD of God: “Man shall not LIVE by BREAD alone, but by every WORD that proceeds from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4). The process of EATING the Word is MEDITATION. This involves (1) VERBALISING it, (2) PERSONALISING it, (3) VISUALISING it, and (4) MEMORISING it. This way you will digest it, and it will become part of your soul (Joshua 1:8, Psalm 1:1-3). Hearing God's Word is the one necessary thing for your life (Luke 10:39-42).
We are like PLANTS or TREES, growing from God’s SEED planted within us, when we received the Gospel: “born again of incorruptible SEED through the WORD of God which lives and abides forever” (1Peter 1:23). In 1Corinthians 3:6,7, Paul said: “I PLANTED (the seed, by preaching the Gospel), Apollos WATERED (the seed, by teaching the Word), but God gave the increase (growth).” As we consistently meditate on God's Word, we receive the continual watering of the Holy Spirit, which causes us to become strong, stable and fruitful (Psalm 1). The Parable of the Sower (Matthew 13, Mark 4, Luke 8) reveals that the Kingdom of God operates through the SOWING of the SEED of the WORD of God. The SOIL represents a man’s HEART. “The SEED is the WORD of God” (Luke 8:11). “The sower SOWS the WORD” into men’s hearts (Mark 4:14). The Parable reveals 4 kinds of soil (heart condition), and it reveals how to become good soil that brings forth much fruit. The WORD of God has to have FIRST PLACE in your life if you want to produce good FRUIT. If you believe that God’s Word contains His Power to produce good results, you should give it your BEST ATTENTION. Those who are GOOD SOIL put the WORD FIRST, by keeping on HEARING (receiving the WATER of) the WORD, giving their full ATTENTION to the WORD, and as a result they bear GOOD FRUIT, 30,60 or 100-fold, depending on the MEASURE of ATTENTION (of HEARING) that they give the WORD. Thus Jesus' main point of application that He made with a loud voice at its climax was: ““He who has EARS to HEAR (the Word), let him HEAR and KEEP on HEARING (the Word)” (Luke 8:8). Later when He gave the interpretation of the Parable, He also gave the interpretation (explanation) of His main point in Luke 8:18: “Take heed therefore HOW you HEAR (what measure of attention you give to hearing the Word). For whoever has (EARS to HEAR), to him more (blessing, fruit and growth) will be given; and whoever does not have (EARS to HEAR), from him will be taken even what he seems to have.” Likewise Matthew 13:12: “Whoever has (EARS to HEAR the Word) shall more (life, blessing, growth) be given in abundance, but whoever has not (EARS to HEAR the Word), what he has shall be taken from him (by satan).” Likewise Mark 4:24: “The MEASURE (of ATTENTION) you use (in HEARING the Word), it (blessing, fruit and growth) will be MEASURED to you, and to you who HEAR (the Word) shall MORE (fruit) be GIVEN.”
We are like PLANTS or TREES, growing from God’s SEED planted within us, when we received the Gospel: “born again of incorruptible SEED through the WORD of God which lives and abides forever” (1Peter 1:23). In 1Corinthians 3:6,7, Paul said: “I PLANTED (the seed, by preaching the Gospel), Apollos WATERED (the seed, by teaching the Word), but God gave the increase (growth).” As we consistently meditate on God's Word, we receive the continual watering of the Holy Spirit, which causes us to become strong, stable and fruitful (Psalm 1). The Parable of the Sower (Matthew 13, Mark 4, Luke 8) reveals that the Kingdom of God operates through the SOWING of the SEED of the WORD of God. The SOIL represents a man’s HEART. “The SEED is the WORD of God” (Luke 8:11). “The sower SOWS the WORD” into men’s hearts (Mark 4:14). The Parable reveals 4 kinds of soil (heart condition), and it reveals how to become good soil that brings forth much fruit. The WORD of God has to have FIRST PLACE in your life if you want to produce good FRUIT. If you believe that God’s Word contains His Power to produce good results, you should give it your BEST ATTENTION. Those who are GOOD SOIL put the WORD FIRST, by keeping on HEARING (receiving the WATER of) the WORD, giving their full ATTENTION to the WORD, and as a result they bear GOOD FRUIT, 30,60 or 100-fold, depending on the MEASURE of ATTENTION (of HEARING) that they give the WORD. Thus Jesus' main point of application that He made with a loud voice at its climax was: ““He who has EARS to HEAR (the Word), let him HEAR and KEEP on HEARING (the Word)” (Luke 8:8). Later when He gave the interpretation of the Parable, He also gave the interpretation (explanation) of His main point in Luke 8:18: “Take heed therefore HOW you HEAR (what measure of attention you give to hearing the Word). For whoever has (EARS to HEAR), to him more (blessing, fruit and growth) will be given; and whoever does not have (EARS to HEAR), from him will be taken even what he seems to have.” Likewise Matthew 13:12: “Whoever has (EARS to HEAR the Word) shall more (life, blessing, growth) be given in abundance, but whoever has not (EARS to HEAR the Word), what he has shall be taken from him (by satan).” Likewise Mark 4:24: “The MEASURE (of ATTENTION) you use (in HEARING the Word), it (blessing, fruit and growth) will be MEASURED to you, and to you who HEAR (the Word) shall MORE (fruit) be GIVEN.”