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Forms
of the Word of God (I) The discussion at hand
should be framed as such: Are there two forms of the Word of God?
One form of the Word of
God, is the scriptures
and would be manifest in a variety of ways. These means would of
course be written by hands and read by eyes of the flesh, as well as
audible wavelengths that are enunciated by mouth and heard with ears
of the flesh. These all happen in this first creation. Let us call
this the Physical Word. The other form is a
spiritual speaking of God and a spiritual hearing by his elect. This
happens unknown in this earthly realm. Let us call this the
Spiritual Word. Both forms are from God and
are true. The scriptures support both forms. Before going any
further, let me immediately remove one topic from discussion on this
matter. We must advocate that the only revelation and authority that
comes to a believer while he lives in this first creation in the
flesh, is the Bible. To believe that the word is spirit does not
mean one has any tendencies found in the charismatic world. We also
are commanded by God to proclaim the things of scripture to all in
the world. This position being
examined by Zin Yi on his recent Bible studies is one that both
he and I heard someone speak about 2 years ago. Like many who
are hearing it recently, we too felt uncomfortable about it.
However we heard a mixture of some statements that were untrue
as well as some that were true. The true statements that we
heard have caused us to discuss and ponder many scripture since
that time. Many of the verses that I went to disprove this
teaching would be the ones that many hearing it now will also
bring to the forefront. However by considering them without
trying to defend a position that we have held for a long time,
they might not be the ones that can be used after all. When I
post a letter on the LR, I always endeavor to make my points in
as brief a manner as I can. I like to "keep it simple" But as
many realize, this subject may take more than one posting. The
subject reminds me of the issue of baptism. For those that
believe that water baptism has substance, there appears to be
many verses to support their position. However, after prayerful
consideration and critical examination, we can show that the
real substance is spiritual and independent of the physical. The
physical is a shadow of the spiritual. This letter is how I see
things and may or may not be an accurate representation of what
Zin Yi is teaching. I am more than willing to be corrected. If
you want to know exactly Zin Yi's teaching, go to
zinyi.com. Now I would like to
show that the scriptures reveal a spiritual form of the Word
that speaks directly to our spirit. This is not a dream or voice
in our head like a charismatic person would want. Rather there
is a direct Spirit-to-spirit communication going on unbeknownst
to us in the flesh. Rom 8:16 The
Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the
children of God: This verse shows a direct
Spirit-to-spirit link between God and his elect. This is not even
something that we realize is going on. The only way that we know
that it is happening is because we read it in the scripture. The
reason that we believe the things of the Bible is because we are
saved. Further in this chapter of Romans we again see that there is
a communication of the Spirit that is not perceivable in this
earthly existence. Rom 8:26 Likewise
the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we
should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh
intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Another example would be
during the rising of Lazarus. Jn:11 41 Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me. 42 And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me. 43 And when he thus
had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. In this dramatic
resurrection of the physically dead, Jesus is demonstrating the
resurrection of the spiritual soul. He very plainly shows us that
the "physical words" being enunciated from His mouth were not
needed, but were for the benefit of those in the flesh. He thanks
the Father for hearing Him spiritually! This Spiritual Word is seen
in this verse: "hearing by the word of God". (Ro
10:17b) This Spiritual Word is what
gives the elect their hearing, and it works completely independent
of the Physical Word. Christ tells us Himself that this Word that
saves is spiritual in John 6. Joh 6:63 It is the
spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that
I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. To me this verse
unequivocally shows that the saving word is spiritual, and is not
dependent on the physical. This verse is not showing
that the words being enunciated from his fleshly body are spirit. We
know this because he is saying the flesh profits nothing. If the
source of His words (His flesh) profits nothing, then the physical
words don't profit anything either. He is making us aware of the
unseen Spiritual Word. Another way to show that
the Spiritual Word is the true substance and separate from the
shadow, the Physical Word, would be to demonstrate with the
following. 2Co 4:18 While we
look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are
not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things
which are not seen are eternal. In other words, the things
of this first creation are not going to last. That would include
written words on a page as well as the audible wavelengths that come
from the enunciations of our mouth. They will all be done away with
at the arrival of the new heavens and new earth. That is why the
Physical Word cannot be spiritual, it then would be temporal. The
word has to be eternal in order to have the following verse to be
true. 1Pe 1:25 But the
word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by
the gospel is preached unto you. The written word is the
shadow of the eternal Spiritual Word that saves. This really should
not be a strange statement. The Physical Word is not Christ; it is
what tells of Christ. Christ illustrated that truth himself. Joh 5:39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. Lk 24:44 And he said
unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was
yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written
in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms,
concerning me. They testify of Him, they are not He. Think about all the verses
that show the importance of the Blood of Christ. 1 Peter 1:9 But with the
precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without
spot: We all know that we are not
redeemed by the physical blood of Christ, but recognize that the
verse is pointing to the spiritual death of Christ. Likewise when
Christ was saying His words were spirit, he was not speaking of the
physical, but the unseen eternal spiritual. We all know that there can
be two men who hear a perfect and accurate preaching from the Bible,
but yet one can become saved and one will remain in unbelief. What
was the difference in the man who was saved? Most of us would say
that the Spirit of God was active. We then understand that the
difference was a spiritual one not of this earthly creation. I also
used to think that somehow God would "apply" the Physical Word to
that man's heart. How would this happen? Why would the Holy Spirit
go from being spirit and somehow attach and intertwine itself to
these audible wavelengths? Then what? Convert Himself back into
spirit so that the elects "spiritual ears" could hear the Spiritual
voice of God? How are physical words applied to a mans heart (his
soul)? What about the following verse. Joh 10:3 To him the
porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own
sheep by name, and leadeth them out. When did Christ call my
name? Does anyone remember hearing Christ call his name? Are the
scriptures exaggerating? No they are true, there is a
Spiritual Word heard only by quickened spirit, unbeknownst to us in our flesh! Ro 8:16 The Spirit
itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children
of God: Mark Manning |