Question 97: How is the Word to be read and heard that it may become effective for salvation?

Answer: That the Word may become effective for salvation we must attend to it with diligence, preparation and prayer, receive it in faith and love, lay it up in our hearts and practice it in our lives.

DAY 1:

The Book of Hebrews is a fascinating book. The writer does a wonderful job in showing how Jesus Christ is greater than all of the men, ceremonies, sacrifices, and symbols of the Old Covenant. He also speaks of the greatness of the words of and about Christ and tells us that though God had spoken in past days by prophets, he has now spoken to us by His Son (1:2). He also notes for us in verse 2 that God’s Son is the Creator of the universe.

With that in mind, how should we listen to the words of Christ? Should we pick and choose what we want to hear from the lips of the Lord and His apostles? Should we consider them as the words that come from a mere man? Better yet, should we consider Jesus’ words as those of a mere prophet? Are they to be obeyed or are they merely to be considered and pondered so that we might become enlightened moral creatures?

The writer of Hebrews is very clear that Christ’s words are to be taken seriously, and we are not to consider them as coming from a mere mortal. They are the words of God. In chapter 2 the author tells us that we should give special heed to the things we have heard. He says this concerning the things that came from the Lord (vs. 3). These things he tells us are even greater things than those things that were spoken by angels (vs. 2). This refers back to the Old Covenant of the Old Testament (cf. Deut. 33:1-2; Ps. 68:17; Acts 7:53; Gal. 3:19). Angels were instrumental in the giving of the law at Sinai. Upon that law, when there was transgression and disobedience, there was a just reward or punishment of that disobedience. These were serious and weight carrying words that were delivered unto Moses and Israel. Yet, the writer tells us to give the more earnest heed to the words of Christ.

The term “must” is the word dei (die). This word means, “it is necessary, there is need of, it behooves, is right and proper; necessity in reference to what is required to attain some end; a necessity of law and command, of duty, equity.” It is the proper and necessary thing for us to do. As creatures we should listen to the words of the Creator. It is our duty and we should become obedient to those words and to the giving heed to them.

The phrase “give the more” is perissoteros (per-is-sot-er’-oce). The meaning is, “more abundantly; more in a greater degree; more earnestly, more exceedingly; especially, above others”. What is he comparing the words of Christ to? Verse two tells us that it is in regards to the word spoken of by the angels. Again, this is in reference to the giving of the law. While all of the Old Testament is the Word of God and it is just as important as the New Testament, there is a greater emphasis on listening to the Word of Christ contained in the New Testament because these are the fulfillment of what God said would come in the Old Testament. They are a vindication of His righteousness and holiness. The words of Christ testify to the truthfulness of God. God can be trusted in what He says and the New Testament contains the terms of His covenant, which are also the gospel. The wonderful message of the grace of God is manifested in the incarnation, teaching, life, death, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. This is to be given heed in a greater degree than all other things for it is the power of God unto salvation (Rom. 1:16). The term heed is not the idea of just hearing these words. Rather, the word prosecho (pros-ekh’-o) means, “to bring to, bring near; to turn the mind to, attend to be attentive;

give attention to, take heed; to apply one’s self to, attach one’s self to, hold or cleave to a person or a thing; to be given or addicted to; to devote thought and effort to.” The picture we have of this word is that of a ship being brought safely to shore or to the harbor. In ancient times, as well as, in modern ones, sailing vessels had to have guidance into the harbor or to get to the shore. Today we would use means such as sonar and lighthouses so that those wishing to come ashore might find their way safely in. This might be a very dangerous task in some areas where there are shallow reefs and huge rocks in the water that could literally rip a boat to pieces in a stormy sea. This is the idea being conveyed. We should keep our attention fixed upon the words of Christ because they are able to safely guide us into the safe harbor of God. If we turn away from them then we will be those who make “shipwreck” of the faith. The shoreline of life is strewn with many vessels that have turned away from the lighthouse of the Word of God and have been dashed against the rocks only to discover their immediate and eternal destruction.

The writer continues by stating that if we don’t give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, we are in danger of drifting away. The term drift away is pararrhueo (par-ar-hroo-eh’-o) and means, “to glide by: lest we be carried by, pass by; a thing escapes me; slips my mind.” This word carries the idea from the previous paragraph. If a sailor falls asleep at the wheel when he is most needed to give diligent attention to the bringing the ship into the harbor, then he is in danger of missing the harbor or dock entirely and ramming the ship into the rocks. This is the drifting being spoken of. It is a happy-go-lucky attitude that tends to permeate the modern day church and the culture of America. We hear something about God, Christ, the Bible and the Church almost every day, yet those things seem to be so common place that we don’t give them proper heed. We simply allow them to drift. Unlike Samuel in the Old Testament, we are willing to let many of the words fall to the ground and trample upon them with the feet of indifference (cf. 1 Sam. 3:19). We all have a tendency to drift, don’t we? We all take in some of the word of God and tend to forget about it. This is why we must be reminded of the Word. We must not neglect it or treat it in a manner much like we may treat other things. If I forget to bring home some milk when asked by my wife because it simply slipped my mind, well there is no great damage done. We will simply have to do without milk the next morning. My family will not be in any great danger. Besides, I can always go back out and get some. However, if we fail to take heed to the message of the Lord Jesus Christ and we die in that condition of drifting, then we have nothing to look forward to but utter destruction and judgment.

This is why the writer goes on in verse three to affirm this very thing. He continues from verse two in drawing a parallel between the punishment (just reward) of the Old Testament laws and that which will come under the words of Christ. He says, “How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation?” Escape speaks of the fleeing from the wrath to come. In order to escape there must be an affirmation that there is something to escape from. As we mentioned this past Lord’s Day, there were many in the second tower in New York that did not see any need to leave the building and sensed no danger. This was even affirmed to them by those whom they trusted. But they were wrong…. Dead wrong. Many today are the same way. They see their self righteousness and religious activity as being that which will guide them safely into the harbor of salvation. Some think that focusing only on the “positive” things from the Scripture is what is needed. While others merely mock the words of Christ and ridicule His ministers. They neglect the great salvation of God, provided in Christ, and thus they are in danger of the judgment of God. While many think that judgment is only in the Old Testament and that the God of the New Testament is love and grace, listen to the words of the same writer of Hebrews: “Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace? (Heb. 10:29)”

Listen my friends. This is the gospel preached by our Lord. These are the things He confirmed and He said that His words are those which are the means by which we escape the wrath to come. I pray that salvation would come to you and to those whom you seek to minister to. May the God of grace extend His salvation to your household and glorify Himself in the dispensing of saving grace.

Have you taken the words of Christ lightly? Have they begun to slip your mind? Are they that which you cling tightly to? Have you anchored your soul in them? Are they your guide safely into the harbor? Or are you asleep at the wheel? Are you drifting admiring the view, but unaware of the dangerous coastline of indfference? Even now, are the rocks upon the bow of your ship and ready to tear into the hull at any moment? Awake from your slumber. Take action and heed the word of God. For it is able to save your soul and guide it safely to shore.

DAY 2:

In answering the question this week we are seeing how we should respond to the Word in reading and in hearing. We have made note that we should not be lackadaisical in our response to the gospel. We should rather give a more earnest heed to it. It should not be that which “goes in one ear and out the other”. Rather it is to be that which becomes pressed upon our very souls. The Word is to be attended diligently that it may become for us both an anchor and a guide to keep us from the dangerous and empty philosophies and sins of the world which would seek to make shipwreck of our faith.

Therefore, since we have the words of God written by the apostle Paul, how does he say we should respond to the reading and hearing of the Scriptures? In 1 Timothy 4:13 we read, “Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.” Paul’s hope and desire was to come to Ephesus and see Timothy and the Ephesian elders, but was prevented from doing so and so we have seen in the book of Acts that he met with the elders there on the shores of Miletus. However, Paul did give specific instruction to young Timothy. He is to give attention to three things. The phrase here “give attention” is a present active imperative. This is not optional for Timothy. Nor, might I add, is it optional for you and me. It is a command and that which we should be doing always, not just on Sundays and certainly we should not allow ourselves to think that only the spiritual leaders of the church are the only ones to do this. The word here is prosecho (pros-ekh’-o), which we looked at in Hebrews 2. Timothy is to devote thought and effort to these three things which Paul mentions. He is to turn his mind to them and to meditate on these things. What exactly are these things he is to be so diligent at attending?

First, he is to give attention to reading. That is he is to read the Scriptures. This is not necessarily speaking of the public reading of the Scriptures, though that may be implied, but it seems the necessary meaning is that of private reading. This would be his private study and learning. This term reading is anagnosis (an-ag’-no-sis). It means, “knowing or reading”. It comes from a root word which means to know accurately. Timothy is to give himself to a precise knowledge of the Scriptures. He is to be diligent in learning them and seeing how they fit together, to understand what they are saying, and to see the application of them. There is no doubt that Timothy had a good grasp of what the Scriptures taught because of being taught by his mother and grandmother, but he was to give himself to learning them on his own. This in it self should be an exhortation to us as adults and to our children for us to give ourselves to the Scriptures. The idea of ownership comes into play with the word anagnosis. We need to take the Scriptures for our very own, not simply allow someone else to understand them and then we simply sit by without grasping them ourselves. One who is not doing this in private will not be able to do it for the glory of God in public. A man that does not dwell in the Scriptures and learn from them is a man who will never be able to effectively do the next two tasks (cf. 2 Tim. 2:15). For Timothy’s ministry followed from his study (1 Tim. 4:15-16).

His private study brought about a public ministry. Therefore, Timothy was to take what he had learned and bring it to the people. He was to be involved in exhortation. The term here is paraklesis (par-ak’-lay-sis). This word means, “a calling near, summons; importation, supplication, entreaty; exhortation, admonition, encouragement; consolation, comfort, solace; that which affords comfort or refreshment; persuasive discourse, stirring address; instructive, admonitory, conciliatory, powerful hortatory discourse.” This has to do with how he was to minister. His ministry of the word was with words. It was with tenderness and it was to be done with authority. Exhortation was to be that which called people alongside the word of God. They were to pattern their lives after what the word said and Timothy was to study and explain these things and call the people to them. He was to also call them to them by his life as well. He could not simply preach to them and not do himself, but he must be one, like the parents of Deuteronomy 6, who had them in his own heart.

Exhortation is mentioned throughout the pastoral epistles. Usually these exhortations follow or precede specific instruction regarding doctrine (cf. 1Ti 2:1; 1Ti 6:2; 2Ti 4:2; Tit 1:9; Tit 2:6; Tit 2:9; Tit 2:15). We are even told to do so among ourselves so that our hearts will not become hard due to a pattern of sin that may emerge in our lives (Heb. 3:13). Therefore, let us become those kind of people who constantly remind each other of the word of God and what it has said concerning our duties as Christians. May God be glorified in our exhortation of His people to His Word.

Finally, Paul says that Timothy is to give attention to doctrine. This term doctrine is the word didaskalia (did-as-kal-ee’-ah). It simply means, “teaching or instruction”. This is precisely what the exhortation will come from. Timothy is to be one who is engaged in doctrine. This is an important matter. Today, in the modern church, doctrine has become a four letter word. Doctrine is divisive and cold. It is not warm and friendly opponents say. Nevertheless, it is a divine command to be engaged in doctrine. For those who say that it isn’t important, I have just one question, “Why do you call Jesus Lord and do not do the things He says (Luke 6:46)?” Doctrine is crucial to a right understanding of everything in the Scriptures. Doctrine must be scrutinized. It must be that which is correctly presented and it must be correctly applied. Our churches today are suffering greatly because they have been invaded by those who think it more appropriate to deliver interesting stories, hyper-emotionally charged music, and stage drama, along with various sundry things to appeal to people. Why do they do this? First and foremost they have not understood doctrine. They have not understood the doctrine of man and or the sinful nature. They have not understood the doctrine of God, salvation, justification, predestination and election. They have not understood the holiness of God and the doctrines concerning the gospel itself. Rather they have relied upon the false gospels of the psychologists and the false teachers of our day. Though I cannot judge there hearts, there actions speak volumes of which we can and ought to judge and exhort to sound doctrine.

Doctrine is an important element in the believer’s life. Paul told Timothy that “the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables (2 Tim. 4:3-4).” This seems to be the case throughout the visible church today. Even more we find that the things associated with sound doctrine are scoffed at. Titus 2 for instance seems to lay out clear mandates for older and younger men and women and says that these things are “proper for sound doctrine” (Titus 2:1). Yet today men and women both will not subject themselves to these exhortations from the word of God or from the man of God.

Yet Timothy is called to doctrine. He is called to watch it carefully (1 Tim. 4:16). He is not to take it lightly. This is in fact what the very Scriptures that he proclaims are for (2 Tim. 3:16-17). Yet, today many are attempting to emasculate the Scriptures by ridding it of doctrine. But they cannot. They can only bring judgment upon themselves.

However, let us take heed unto ourselves that we follow not in their footsteps but in the footsteps of those godly men and women who have gone before us and have set an example before us. Let us be exhorted by their lives which spoke of the true doctrines of the Scriptures. May we never fail to read, exhort, and believe and proclaim the doctrines of God’s holy word to both the converted and unconverted that we might bring the greatest glory to God.

DAY 3:

Scripture: Proverbs 8:34; 1 Peter 2:1,2; 1 Timothy 4:13; Hebrews 2:1,3; 4:2; 2 Thessalonians 2:10; Psalm 119:11; James 1:21,25.