“5Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. 6Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.” (Proverbs 30:5,6)
Every word of God is pure. When we read the Bible, we know that every word we read is a pure word. Therefore we can trust His word, and He will be a shield for us. We do not need to add anything to His word or “substitute” words we think make better sense. God already has everything in His word that He wants to be in His word. If we add something, it might be wrong, and God will reprove us and we could be found to be a liar. God takes His word very seriously.
Psalm 138:2 says of God, “Thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.”
“The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. 7Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.” (Psalm 12:6,7)
The words of the LORD are pure
The words of the LORD are as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.
There is no flaw or blemish in them. They shine with beauty.
“7The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. 8The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.” (Psalm 19:7,8)
The law of the LORD is perfect,
Not one thing doth it lack:
It brings the soul to conversion,
The power of God is not slack.
The testimony of the LORD is sure,
Making wise the simple:
It shows the right and proper path,
So pleasures of sin do not allure.
The statues of the LORD are right,
Rejoicing the heart,
The commandment of the Lord is pure,
To darkened eyes it brings the light.
“So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (Romans 10:17)
How shall one get faith? By hearing of the word of God.
“16For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. 17For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.” (Romans 1:16,17)
The gospel of Christ:
The power of God unto salvation
To everyone who believes, regardless of background or nationality.
The righteousness of God is revealed in it.
This righteousness is received by faith, which comes from the hearing of the word of God (See Romans 10:17) – from faith received by hearing God’s word to faith in Jesus Christ because of the righteousness of God which is revealed by the Gospel. Therefore, the just shall live by faith.
“Is not my word like as a fire? saith the LORD; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?” (Jeremiah 23:29)
A fire consumes. It keeps going. It does not rest. God’s word, once planted in a heart, continues God’s work, burning with conviction and giving a person a thirst for peace and relief, which is found in God and in His Son, Jesus Christ, who is God made flesh.
God’s word is like a hammer that breaks the rock on pieces. The rock is hard and unyielding. At first it seems like the rock is not affected by the blows of the hammer. But, as the hammer is continually applied, the rock is weakening and beginning to break down. At long last, it yields to the force of the hammer. Just so, God’s word can break the hardest heart and the strongest will. It may seem like a person is not affected by God’s word, but it keeps hammering away inside them until they find themselves broken before the Lord and then they yield to Him. Then come peace and rest.
We should never despair after sharing God’s word with someone. God’s word will do its work.
“For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.” (I Corinthians 1:18)
The preaching of the cross is the power of God.
“For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.” (I Corinthians 1:19)
Worldly wisdom will not stand. God will destroy it. Those who are prudent in the eyes of the world and have worldly understanding will be brought to nothing.
The Bible gives the knowledge of God, which is the true wisdom and understanding that people need. “But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD.” (Jeremiah 9:24)
“Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?” (I Corinthians 1:20)
The wisdom of the world is but foolishness in the eyes of God.
“For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.” (I Corinthians 1:21)
Worldly wisdom cannot bring one to know God. The preaching of the cross may seem like foolishness to the world, but it is the power that brings to salvation those who believe.
“22For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: 23But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; 24But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.” (I Corinthians 1:22-24)
No amount of looking for signs and seeking for wisdom that is not God’s wisdom will bring one to Christ. Jesus gave the Jews many signs during His life here on earth, but they did not believe. The Athenians spent their time in nothing else but to tell or to hear some new thing, but they did not believe. It is the preaching of Christ crucified that is the power and wisdom of God.
“Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.” (I Corinthians 1:25)
Thus we see why the preaching of the cross could prevail while signs and worldly wisdom could not. Though it may seem foolish in the world’s eyes, it is wiser than men. Though it may seem that God is weak, yet His “weakness” is strong than men.
“15And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 16All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” (II Timothy 3:15-17)
The Scriptures are sufficient to make a lost person wise unto salvation.
The Scriptures are sufficient to provide a saved person all he or she might need to live a godly life in Christ Jesus.
“3According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: 4Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.” (II Peter 1:3,4)