The following "Question" was asked by a member of the congregation at Grace Community Church in Panorama City, California, and "Answered" by their pastor, John MacArthur Jr. It was transcribed from the tape, GC 70-23, titled "Questions and Answers--Part 51." A copy of the tape can be obtained by writing, Word of Grace, P.O. Box 4000, Panorama City, CA 91412 or by dialing toll free 1-800-55-GRACE. Copyright 2001 by John MacArthur Jr., All Rights Reserved.
Question
My question has to do with the Word of God. In Hebrews 4:12, we’re told that the Word of God is powerful, active, and living. My question to you is this: Does the Word that saves and sanctifies a believer’s life rest in the Word itself or is the Word of God the instrument by which the Holy Spirit regenerates and sanctifies an individual?
Answer
Yes, that’s a correct way to understand it. It is the truth not on the page,
but effectively operative in the life by the Spirit. So it is the Word and the
Spirit. The Word sitting on the page doesn’t display the power and that’s proven
by the fact that you can go to a liberal seminary where people aren’t Christians
but they’re Bible scholars and it has virtually no impact on their life. You can
take a person who’s a brand--new, baby Christian and they read a verse of
Scripture and it has a profound effect upon their life because of their
conversion and salvation and the Spirit of God being resident in their life. So
that is the correct way to understand it: it is the Word empowered and energized
by the divine Spirit.
Added to Bible Bulletin Board's "MacArthur’s Questions and
Answers" by:
Tony Capoccia
Bible Bulletin Board
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