“Learn the Truth” ( John 8:31-32, WYC ) by Carley Evans

Why do you suppose Jesus tells the believing Jews to “dwell in” His Word? After all, the Word was given to their people first, many years before Jesus’ physical birth. These Jews may argue this point; some do.

Jesus informs them that He is the great “I Am,”(v. 24) “the Beginning, or the first of all thing, the which and I speak to you.” (v. 25) Some Jews listening to Jesus reject this claim, but many believe.

“Therefore Jesus said to the Jews, that believed in him, If ye dwell in my word, verily ye shall be my disciples; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

They believe. Aren’t they already free? Why do they have to “dwell in [His] Word?” They believe. Why don’t they already “know the truth?”

They’ve just heard, just now. They process this awesome good news. They aren’t sure; they need time. They need to sit down at His feet, so to speak, and hear more.

Dwell in His Word. Learn of His yoke; feel how light the burden. These Jews carry a heavy load, the heavy load of the Law of Moses, a task-master and instructor that has finally guided them to the Messiah, who stands before them claiming to be One with God. Jesus’ Word is overwhelming.

Learn the Truth; the truth sets you free.

“At The Beginning” ( John 1:1-2, 14; WYC ) by Carley Evans

Interesting how the Bible refers to God at the beginning as “the word.” “God was the word,” says John. God was a voice speaking in the emptiness surrounding the word. As God spoke, things came into existence so that we recognize that God’s spoken word is all powerful and the creative force inside as well as outside the universe as we know it. The Big Bang may very well have been the voice of God speaking – for something can not be made from nothing. Of course, the particle sparking the mighty explosion that began our universe must have been God’s word.

The Bible also tells us – through John – that God’s word at the beginning was God’s Son so that we understand God’s creative force, the word, is “the glory of the one begotten Son of the Father.”

Later, inside time and space, this word “is made flesh, or man” so as to live among us. In this way, “we have seen the glory of him, the glory as of the one begotten of the Father, the Son full of grace and truth.”

Therefore, grace and truth created the universe. “The word was at God.”

“In the beginning was the word, and the word was at God, and God was the word. [In the beginning was the word, that is, God’s Son, and the word was at God, and God was the word.] This was in the beginning at God. And the word was made man, and dwelled among us, and we have seen the glory of him, as the glory of the one begotten Son of the Father, full of grace and of truth. [And the word, that is, God’s Son, is made flesh, or man, and hath dwelled in us, and we have seen the glory of him, the glory as of the one begotten of the Father, the Son full of grace and truth.]”

“The Word Has Stood The Test” (Psalm 18: 30, NEB) by Carley Evans

“The Lord’s Word has stood the test; He is the shield of all who take refuge in Him.”

John writes, “When all things began, the Word already was. The Word dwelt with God, and what God was, the Word was. The Word, then, was with God at the beginning, and through Him all things came to be; no single thing was created without Him.” (John 1: 1 – 3)

The test of the Word was His life here on earth, and His death on the cross of Calvary. He “stood the test;” and by dying and coming back to life, became “the shield of all who take refuge in Him.”

The Word “makes my way blameless.” (Psalm 18: 32) He “gives me the shield of [His] salvation, [His] hand sustains me, [His] providence makes me great.” (Psalm 18: 35)

“A Zeal For God” (Romans 9: 32, ESV) by Carley Evans

Righteousness pursued “as if it is based on works” does not result in the attainment of that righteousness, says Paul.

A zeal for God is not enough. The cornerstone, who is Jesus Christ, makes those who seek God under their own power, stumble.

“For, being ignorant of the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own, they do not submit to God’s righteousness. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.” (Romans 10: 3 – 4)

We do not bring Jesus down nor do we rise up to Him; instead His “Word is near [us], in [our] mouths and in [our] hearts.” (Romans 10: 8)

Our righteousness is based on faith alone.

“The Good News” (Romans 10: 11, John 14: 6; ESV) by Carley Evans

Paul writes, “For the Scripture says, ‘ Everyone who believes in Him will not be put to shame.’ ”

Jesus says, “I Am the Truth, the Way, and the Life. No one comes to the Father but through Me.”

Paul writes, “The Word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart.” (Romans 10: 8)

Our hearts carry our belief in Jesus as Lord and Savior. With our mouths, we confess our belief. As we privately believe and publicly confess this belief, we are first justified and then saved. “For everyone who calls on the Name of the Lord will be saved.” (Romans 10: 13)

Salvation can’t be that simple, say many. Paul says it is.

Words may emerge from the mouth, but if the heart does not hold the belief behind the words, they do not save. The heart may believe, but if the mouth fails to confess openly this belief before others, then that belief is fruitless.

Paul says, “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.” (Romans 10: 10 – 11)

Then Paul reminds us “how beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” (Romans 10: 15)