Your ShelfYour Projects

THE WORD OF GOD

7%

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Feb 3, 1876

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 47, No. 5.

Read the full edition

THE WORD OF GOD.

By Jos. Clarke

“And his name is called the Word of God.” Rev. 19:13.
Jesus Christ, our Advocate and Intercessor, is called in the Holy Scriptures by a variety of names and titles, each one indicating in itself a separate and distinct office, in which he acts by authority from his Father, Jehovah. He is here called the Word of God, to indicate his authority to make known to man the word or will of God.
He is called the Word of God in John 1:1, 14; and in this connection it is stated that the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us. He is also called the Faithful and True Witness, Rev. 3:14, showing that the Scriptures given by his authority are not to be doubted or denied; nor are they like the works of man, liable to error and deceit. They are not an idle romance of the day, written for display or for profit; but the very book God has provided for man, to guide him aright, to warn him of danger, to instruct, or to reprove, as may be necessary.
“I and my Father are one” is an assertion made by the Lord (John 10:30) to show the perfect agreement existing between Jehovah and himself; and Paul, in Heb. 1:1, 2, states that “God, who at sundry times and in diverse manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son.”
So we must conclude that the Holy Scriptures are the gift of God, through Jesus Christ, who personally interested himself in making known to man those truths which it is most important for him to understand. He did not satisfy himself with merely enlightening the people of a particular age or nation, but he commanded that they should be written and preserved for coming generations.
To this end, the Scriptures of divine truth have ever been committed to the keeping of good men, who have so valued and appreciated them as often to willingly die the most painful death rather than give up the word of God; and many have died in its defense.
It is well known by the best and wisest men that the Sacred Scriptures have ever been the especial care of God; and that while the powers of darkness have often tried to wholly destroy them, their Author has ever found ready means for preserving them from the fury of Satan.
The being here spoken of as the Word made flesh, and dwelling among us (John 1:14,) is certainly a very exalted personage; for he is called “Wonderful, Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.”
Various needless and absurd theories have been brought out from these titles; but when we consider that they signify the offices conferred upon him by his Father, Jehovah, the mystery is explained, and the darkness vanishes. All the fog of theological controversy is blown away by the power of the word. The expression, “My Father is greater than I” (John 14:28), shows two distinct persons, one greater than the other.
What kindness and condescension it is in so exalted a being to make known to man so much concerning himself as is made known in the Bible; so much, and so interesting, and so profitable; oh, is not the word of God a priceless treasure, a vast mine of wealth?
The Word of God was made flesh; that is, the Lord Jesus, who made known to man the Holy Scriptures, impersonated in himself the word and will of God, just as George Washington was a representative in himself of national freedom, or Nero of tyranny. By the same figure of speech, Jesus, in one of his offices, personifies the word of God. He fulfills also the office of advocate, and priest, and king. Truly, fallen Adam’s race found a true friend, and a powerful one, in Jesus Christ.
Now, how shall this subject be made a profitable one to us at this time? let us see, for a moment, what is the conclusion of the above train of reflections.
The word of God, coming to us by inspiration, is in our hands. Forty or fifty cents of American currency will purchase a good, readable copy of this priceless treasure. You and I can read from three to ten chapters per day; we can reflect upon this; we can pray over it; we can speak of it to our associates in the great highway of life. This will preoccupy the mind, and, with proper improvement, may sanctify our hearts, driving out gluttony, lust, and avarice, as darkness flees at the approach of day.
Jos. CLARKE.