1. Last Sunday our lesson was based on the instruction given in vs.14 -- we are to put on love above all these things. 2. Today we are concentrating on the instruction given in vs.16a -- we are to let the Lord's Word dwell in us richly in all wisdom. 3. In our lesson we are studying a number of passages that will help us to comply with this instruction. Discussion: I. THE FIRST THING WE NEED TO DO IS IDENTIFY THE LORD'S WORD
A. Jesus said in John 12:49-50 that He delivered the message the Father gave to Him. 1. The Lord's teaching is the Word of God. 2. We would expect this because Jesus is God's spokesman (Hebrews 1:1-2). B. We learn from Hebrews 9:15 that the Lord's Word is the New Testament. C. We further learn from Hebrews 9:16-17 that Jesus paid a high price for His New Testament to become effective. D. Let us determine how much of the New Testament is the Lord's Word. 1. We are fortunate to have many of the Lord's teachings in the Gospels. 2. However, the Lord's Word is not limited to the Gospels. a. (John 15:15b) Jesus revealed to the apostles everything He had heard from the Father. b. (John 14:26) Jesus said that the Holy Spirit would help the apostles to remember the things He had taught them. c. Paul showed in Ephesians 3:3-5 that the Spirit guided the apostles and prophets as they wrote the Lord's Word. d. A helpful summary statement is found in 1 Corinthians 14:37. 3. We have identified the Lord's Word -- it is the entire New Testament. II. THE BIBLE SHOWS THAT THERE ARE VARIOUS WAYS OF REACTING TO THE LORD'S WORD
A. Certain reactions are to be avoided, including: 1. "refusing to receive the Lord's words" (John 12:48) a. Jesus connected this reaction with rejecting Him. b. Jesus said that His Word will be the standard of judgment at the last day. 2. "changing [altering] the Lord's Word" (Galatians 1:6-9; Revelation 22:18-19). B. Positive reactions include: 1. "continuing [abiding] in His Word" (John 8:31-32) 2. "letting His Word dwell in us richly in all wisdom" (Colossians 3:16) so we can comply with the admonition given in Colossians 3:17 3. "rightly dividing His Word" (2 Timothy 2:15) 4. "looking into His Word and doing what it says" (James 1:25). Conclusion:
1. In closing, let us mention 2 characteristics of the Lord's Word. a. (John 6:63) Jesus said that His words "are spirit, and they are life." b. He also said that His words are everlasting (Matthew 24:35 -- "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away"). 2. The time to receive the Lord's Word is now. 3. By receiving the Lord's Word now and letting it dwell in us richly in all wisdom, we will not have to worry about being judged by it when He returns.
