The Living and Powerful Word of
God
Text: Hebrews 4:12
4/13/2015
The Living and Powerful Word of God
• The Hebrew Epistle Stresses the Importance of the Word from the
Beginning to the End. (Hebrews 1:1-3)
• The Hebrews Are Warned Against Neglecting the Word. (Hebrews 2:1-4)
• Toward the End of the Book the Writer Admonished the Listeners Not to
Refuse God’s Word. (Hebrews 12:25)
• The Purpose of the Book of Hebrews Was to Encourage Christians to “Give
the More Earnest Heed to the Things which They Had Heard.” Lest They
Fall Away. (Hebrews 2:1; 3:12)
• These Brethren Had:
– Tasted the Word (Hebrews 6:6)
– Received a Knowledge of the Truth (Hebrews 10:26)
– Were Drifting Away from It (Hebrews 2:1)
• In the Midst of this Discussion the Hebrew Writer Gives Us a Vivid
Description of the Word of God. (Hebrews 4:12;)
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Hebrews 4:12—For wthe word of God is living
and xactive, ysharper than any ztwo-edged
sword, piercing to the division of soul and of
spirit, of joints and of marrow, and adiscerning
the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
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The Word Is Living
• What Does This Mean?
– The warnings, promises and teachings in God’s Word
are ever new or applicable.
• Key Text: Hebrews 3:7-11
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Key Term: TODAY
The point was relevant in Moses’ day.
The point was relevant in David’s day.
The point was relevant in the 1st century.
The point is relevant today.
1 Peter 1:23
The Word Is Active (Powerful)
• God’s Word Has the Power to Create (Hebrews
11:3; Genesis 1:1-26)
• God’s Word Has the Power to Sustain (Hebrews
1:3; Col. 1:16-17)
• God’s Word Has the Power to Prove (Hebrews
2:3-4; Psalm 95:7-11; Hebrews 3:7-11; Hebrews
1:1-2; Hebrews 2:1-2; Hebrews 5:12)
• God’s Word Has the Power to Save (Hebrews
2:4; Hebrews 10:26; Hebrews 12:25)
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The Word Is Piercing
• The Word is described as sharper than any
two edged sword, piercing to the division of
soul and spirit.
– The word is frequently compared to a sword.
(Eph. 6:17)
– It is able to cut deeply, totally, and completely into
man, into the innermost recesses of his being.
(Romans 7:7; Eph. 5:11)
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The Word Is Discerning
It is able to sift out or analyze evidence.
It is able to pass judgment on our motives.
(Hebrews 4:13; 1 Cor. 4:5)
It is able to enable us to discern good from evil.
(Hebrews 5:14)
The point of Hebrews 4: So children of God might
not act in the same fashion as ancient Israel and
fall short of God’s rest.
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Application:
• The Hebrew writer uses the terms “let us” (Ref.
4:16) when He is about to make application.
• When we come together:
– Do we dissect the truth?
– Do we dissect self by the truth?
– Note: The most visible enemies of Christ in the first
century could dissect God’s law, but they failed to
dissect themselves by the law!
• Key Texts: Romans 12:1-2; 1 Cor. 6:9-11
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Application:
• A little boy once asked his dad what a Christian was.
The father replied that a Christian was a person who
loved and obeyed God. He loved his friends and
neighbors and expressed his appreciation for other
Christians. He even loves his enemies and prayed for
them…The father explained that a Christian is kind
and considerate, gentle and courteous in his speech
and in his selfless attitude. He lives a life that is pure
and holy and is a Christian through and through. This
little boy thought for a moment and then asked,
“Daddy, have I ever seen one?”
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