THE CENTRAL LINE OF THE DIVINE REVELATION—
GOD’S ECONOMY
SERIES ONE
THE WORD OF GOD
Message Five
The Functions of the Bible
Scripture Reading: 2 Tim. 3:15-17; John 14:16; 1 Pet. 1:23; 1 Cor. 10:11; Psa. 119:105, 11; Prov. 6:23; 1 Pet. 2:2
I. The first function of the Bible is to testify concerning the Lord Jesus; the Lord Jesus is the subject and content of the Bible, and the Bible is the explanation and expression of the Lord Jesus—John 5:39; Luke 24:27, 44, 46: (CWWL, 1932-1949, vol. 3, “Crucial Truths in the Holy Scriptures, vol. 1,” topic 31)
A. The Lord Jesus is the living Word of God, whereas the Bible is the written Word of God; if the written Word, the Bible, did not have the living Word, the Lord Jesus, as its reality, it would be nothing but empty doctrines and letters—2 Tim. 3:16; John 14:6. (CWWL, 1932-1949, vol. 3, “Crucial Truths in the Holy Scriptures, vol. 1,” topic 31)
B. We have the distinct and definite explanation of the Bible with its clear revelation so that we can know and understand the Lord Jesus; if we want to know the Lord Jesus, we must read and understand the Bible—5:39; Luke 24:44. (CWWL, 1932-1949, vol. 3, “Crucial Truths in the Holy Scriptures, vol. 1,” topic 31)
II. The first function of the Bible in relation to us is to make us wise unto salvation; it reveals God’s way of salvation in Christ and our pathway to salvation through faith—2 Tim. 3:15; 1 Cor. 1:24. (CWWL, 1932-1949, vol. 3, “Crucial Truths in the Holy Scriptures, vol. 1,” topic 31)
III. The Bible causes us to be regenerated; the word is planted like a seed of life in us, imparting God’s life into us and regenerating us—1 Pet. 1:23; James 1:18. (CWWL, 1932-1949, vol. 3, “Crucial Truths in the Holy Scriptures, vol. 1,” topic 31)
IV. After being regenerated by the word of God, the Bible teaches, convicts, corrects, and instructs us in righteousness so that we may be complete before God as regenerated men of God—2 Tim. 3:16-17. (CWWL, 1932-1949, vol. 3, “Crucial Truths in the Holy Scriptures, vol. 1,” topic 31)
V. The teachings of the Bible enable us to endure and provide us with encouragement and hope; when we encounter difficulties, we are helped and established by the Bible—Rom. 15:4, 13. (CWWL, 1932-1949, vol. 3, “Crucial Truths in the Holy Scriptures, vol. 1,” topic 31)
VI. Many things are recorded in the Bible as examples for our admonition; when we read the Bible, we can be warned by the experiences of some who went before us, and we can be careful not to follow their example—1 Cor. 10:11. (CWWL, 1932-1949, vol. 3, “Crucial Truths in the Holy Scriptures, vol. 1,” topic 31)
VII. Often the Bible is like a lamp shining in a dark place; if we want to be enlightened and knowledgeable in this dark age, we must understand the Bible and keep the word of the Bible in our hearts so that it can shine and enlighten us—2 Pet. 1:19; Rom. 13:12. (CWWL, 1932-1949, vol. 3, “Crucial Truths in the Holy Scriptures, vol. 1,” topic 31)
VIII. People walking in the dark need a lamp to shine on the path of their feet; if we keep the word of the Bible in our heart, it will become a lamp to our feet and a light to our path—Psa. 119:105; Prov. 6:23. (CWWL, 1932-1949, vol. 3, “Crucial Truths in the Holy Scriptures, vol. 1,” topic 31)
IX. The light from the Bible not only shines upon our feet and path; it also imparts understanding to the simple—Psa. 109:103; Eph. 5:17. (CWWL, 1932-1949, vol. 3, “Crucial Truths in the Holy Scriptures, vol. 1,” topic 31)
X. In addition to containing the power to enlighten, the word in the Bible has the power to cleanse; enlightenment is in contrast to darkness, and purification is in contrast to filthiness; if we read the Bible frequently, we will not only be enlightened but also kept pure—Psa. 19:9; 119:9. (CWWL, 1932-1949, vol. 3, “Crucial Truths in the Holy Scriptures, vol. 1,” topic 31)
XI. The Bible also prevents us from sinning against God; if we store the words of the Bible in our heart, they will constantly remind and warn us so that we do not sin against God—v. 11; Job 36:10. (CWWL, 1932-1949, vol. 3, “Crucial Truths in the Holy Scriptures, vol. 1,” topic 31)
XII. The word in the Bible is the sword of the Spirit; we can apply it by the Holy Spirit to deal with Satan and his messengers; through the word of the Bible, we can defeat the devil, the enemy, who tempts and attacks us—Eph. 6:17-18. (CWWL, 1932-1949, vol. 3, “Crucial Truths in the Holy Scriptures, vol. 1,” topic 31)
XIII. The word of the Bible is as sharp as a sword; it can deal with our spiritual enemies, but it can also divide our soul from our spirit and discern the thoughts and intentions of our heart—v. 17; Heb. 4:12. (CWWL, 1932-1949, vol. 3, “Crucial Truths in the Holy Scriptures, vol. 1,” topic 31)
XIV. The Bible is food for our spiritual life; just as our physical life needs nourishment, our spiritual life needs nourishment; the word is the only thing that can supply nourishment to our spiritual life—Jer. 15:16; Matt. 4:4; Job 2:13:12; Heb. 5:14. (CWWL, 1932-1949, vol. 3, “Crucial Truths in the Holy Scriptures, vol. 1,” topic 31)
XV. The Bible is not only solid food but also milk for our spiritual life. newly regenerated believers must love the word of the Bible and “as newborn babes, long for the guileless milk of the word”—1 Pet. 2:2; 1 Cor. 3:1-2; Heb. 5:12-14. (CWWL, 1932-1949, vol. 3, “Crucial Truths in the Holy Scriptures, vol. 1,” topic 31)
XVI. The word of the Bible washes our outward actions and removes our outward defilement; it also washes us inwardly and frees us from the weaknesses of the old creation, the spots and wrinkles of the old creation—Eph. 5:16-17; John 15:3. (CWWL, 1932-1949, vol. 3, “Crucial Truths in the Holy Scriptures, vol. 1,” topic 31)
XVII. The word of the Bible is powerful; it is like a burning fire and a smashing hammer; the word of the Bible can burn hearts that are ice cold toward God and can completely burn away the things of man, which are contrary to God’s holy nature—Jer. 23:29; 5:14. (CWWL, 1932-1949, vol. 3, “Crucial Truths in the Holy Scriptures, vol. 1,” topic 31)
XVIII. The word of the Bible is like rain, dew, and abundant showers; it waters and refreshes us; the word of the Bible manifests these functions, especially in relation to us as God’s farm, the harvest that God cultivates; the word of the Bible waters and refreshes us so that we can grow and bear fruit—1 Cor. 3:9; Mark 4:20; 1 Cor. 3:6. (CWWL, 1932-1949, vol. 3, “Crucial Truths in the Holy Scriptures, vol. 1,” topic 31)
XIX. The word of the Bible is not only like rain, but it also refreshes like snow; rain comes in the spring, summer, and fall, but snow comes in the winter; the word of the Bible can refresh us in every season of our condition—Isa. 55:10-11. (CWWL, 1932-1949, vol. 3, “Crucial Truths in the Holy Scriptures, vol. 1,” topic 31)
XX. The word of the Bible is like a mirror; it reflects our true appearance and condition; by reading the Bible, we see our real countenance and know our true condition—James 1:23; 2 Cor. 3:18. (CWWL, 1932-1949, vol. 3, “Crucial Truths in the Holy Scriptures, vol. 1,” topic 31)
XXI. The Bible functions in a sweet way to restore and refresh our soul, to make us wise, to make our heart joyous, and to enlighten our eyes—Psa. 19:7-8. (CWWL, 1932-1949, vol. 3, “Crucial Truths in the Holy Scriptures, vol. 1,” topic 31)
XXII. The Lord’s words, the word of the Bible, are spirit and life; the word of the Bible enables us to have Spirit and life; it causes us to receive life from the Spirit and to live according to the Spirit—John 6:63; Rom. 8:4. (CWWL, 1932-1949, vol. 3, “Crucial Truths in the Holy Scriptures, vol. 1,” topic 31)
XXIII. The word of the Bible can spiritually nourish us and also heal our flesh; our soul is refreshed, our heart is made joyous, and our body is healed because of the word of the Bible—Prov. 4:20-24. (CWWL, 1932-1949, vol. 3, “Crucial Truths in the Holy Scriptures, vol. 1,” topic 31)
XXIV. The word of the Bible is our counselor; often the word of the Bible is far better than the ideas or suggestions of any counselor, strategist, or consultant—Psa. 119:24. (CWWL, 1932-1949, vol. 3, “Crucial Truths in the Holy Scriptures, vol. 1,” topic 31)
XXV. The word of the Bible is like a rock; it is reliable and firm; if our life and work are based on the Bible, they will be like a solid and reliable house built on a rock—Matt. 7:24-25. (CWWL, 1932-1949, vol. 3, “Crucial Truths in the Holy Scriptures, vol. 1,” topic 31)