“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God” (Colossians 3:16 ESV). Scripture commends itself to us as authoritative, as being the very word of God, of Christ via the Holy Spirit (2 Peter 1:20-21). The apostle Paul emphasized in Colossians 3:16 that the Word must dwell in us (imperative tense), a necessity defined as such by God. This is so, as there is no other work of literature like it among us; it alone is inspired, breathed out by God (2 Timothy 3:16-17). The Bible is the only book that offers us an abundant life today in the midst of trials as well as blessings. It alone offers us eternal life. The Word is integral to Christ Himself, as He is described as being the Word incarnate (John 1:1, 14). So, to better understand the role it should play in our lives, how does Scripture describe Jesus’ use of it? Surely if the Son of God made use of the Word, then it should mean something to us and to our walk with God.
Jesus believed Scripture to be given by God and was therefore authoritative. In the Sermon of the Mount, He pointed out, “For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. Therefore, whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven…” (Matthew 5:18-19).
Jesus pointed out to the Jews of His day that Scripture is about Him. “You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life” (John 5:39-40). The Word focuses on Christ because of Who He is and what He came to accomplish. “I can do nothing on my own. As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is just, because I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me” (John 5:30). This is the basis by which He fulfilled the will of God to offer us salvation, as it is the will of God.
Jesus used Scripture to overcome the temptations of Satan. When tempted by the devil, three times He responded, “It is written” (Matthew 4:4, 7, 10). The use of the term “written” carries the idea of “to stand written.” As Isaiah wrote, and later quoted by the apostle Peter, “The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever” (Isaiah 40:8; 1 Peter 1:24-25). Nothing else can make this promise.
If Scripture, the Word of God, was fundamental to Jesus fulfilling God’s purpose, then how can we deny it a role in our lives, to accomplish God’s purpose for us? It is not outdated, irrelevant, or boring but essential for knowing God, for finding life in the Son and for living for eternity. How tragic that it is readily available and yet easily ignored by so many. Spend time in the Bible, because as one person said, it is great for your soul. “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account” (Hebrews 4:12-13).
