Hebrews 4 Lesson

In Hebrews Chapter 4, we see the Bible described as:

1. Living,
2. Active,
3. Sharper than any two-edged sword,
4. Piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit,
5. And able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 

These five truths are important for Christians to understand.

Why?

Because understanding the meaning and significance of these five truths will change the way that we look at the Bible forever!

Our focus verse for today’s lesson is taken from the Book of Hebrews:

• “The word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.” – Hebrews 4:12-13.

Notice the use of the words “His” and “Him” in the above passage. 

Their use tells us that the Word of God is a “He,” and not an “it.”

Just like the Holy Spirit is a “He,” and not an “it.”

THE WORD OF GOD IS ALIVE

Hebrews 4:12 tells us that the Word of God is alive!

To understand what this means and why it is important, we will begin by defining the word “alive.”

According toDictionary.com, the word alive means:

• “In a state of action; in force of operation; active; full of energy and spirit.”

This definition tells us that the Bible is not a listless, lethargic, book of fiction.

Quite the opposite!

The Bible is:

1. Active,
2. Full of energy,
3. Full of spirit.

In the Apostle Paul’s second letter to Timothy, he wrote:

• “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.” - 2 Timothy 3:16-17.

This scripture does not say that “some” or “most” of the scripture in the Bible is inspired, it says that “all” scripture is inspired.

And it is not just inspired, it is inspired by God!

God was meticulous about His work, carefully constructing every word that is found in the Bible. 

He knew exactly what He wanted to include in it, and He knew exactly what He did not what to include in it. 

Consider the following scripture from the Book of Revelation:

• I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues which are written in this book;and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his part from the tree of life and from the holy city, which are written in this book.” - Revelation 22:18-19.

There is nothing missing, or nothing unnecessary in the Bible. 

God loves it exactly as it is.  

And because the Bible comes directly from God, it is always in alignment with God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit, and we can trust it. 

GOD, JESUS, THE HOLY SPIRIT, AND THE BIBLE ARE ONE

In Virtual Bible Study’s lesson on the Holy Spirit, we talked about how God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit are always in alignment, and that they never contradict one another. 

From our study today, we see that the same is true of the Bible. 

Below is a passage from that lesson:

• “There is a special relationship between God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit.   As we have discussed, they are always in agreement and never contradict one another.  

Jesus said:

• ‘I and the Father are one.’ – John 10:30.

There are multiple passages in the Bible where God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit are all mentioned, including these three:

1. ‘Go, therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.’ - Mathew 28:19,
2. ‘The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all.’ - 2 Corinthians 13:14,
3. ‘To those who reside as strangers, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, who are chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood: May grace and peace be multiplied to you.’ – 1 Peter 1:1-2.

From today’s lesson, we see that we can add the Bible to the list of things that come from God, are always in alignment, and never contradict one another.

CONCLUSION

The Word of God is alive!

It is:

1. Active,
2. Full of energy,
3. Full of spirit.

Anyone who doubts the power of God’s word should look at the following statistics.

According to the Guinness Book of World Records, there have been more than five billion copies of the Bible printed to date.  (Source: mrpnews.org)

Why does the Bible continue to be the best-selling book of all-time year after year?

Because those who read the Bible and do what it says to do see for themselves the awesome power of God!

And if we read the Bible and apply the lessons learned to our lives, we will be pleasing to God, and we will inherit eternal life!

What could be more important than that?

We will end today’s lesson with the following words written by the Apostle Paul to the Romans:

• “For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.” - Romans 15:4.