John 1:1 says, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” Christ is eternally the Word of God; according to time, He came before the Bible, and whether or not the Bible was composed, He remains the Word of God.
As the Word of God, Christ is the definition, explanation, and expression of the Triune God; in His human living on earth, He not only expressed God in His speaking but also in His Being, living, and action. As the Word of God, He is also the speaking of God (Heb. 1:1-2). Often, we are able to learn much about a person by his speaking. Before a person says anything, he may be a mystery to us; however, once he begins to speak, we are able to discern what kind of a person he is. In other words, that person’s speaking is his manifestation. In a similar manner, all that Christ is and has as the Word, God’s speaking, is the manifestation of God.
This Christ who is the Word is also the Son, the expression of the Father, and all that the Word is as the Son is made real to us by the Spirit (John 15:26; 16:13-14). This unsearchably rich Christ with light, life, reality, grace, and much more, can be our reality through the Spirit. Hence, when we apprehend Christ as the Spirit, all that He is and has becomes ours in reality.
Christ is the Word of God, and the Bible also is the Word of God. As such, it functions first to testify concerning our Lord Jesus (John 5:39). Whereas, Christ as the Word of God is the reality of the Bible, the Bible as the Word of God makes Christ known practically. However, we can know the reality of the Bible and the practicality of Christ only by using our spirit; when we come to the Bible, we must use our spirit. To contact the Bible only with our mind is not sufficient. We must realize that our mind is capable only of learning the things of man, not the deep and hidden things of God (1 Cor. 2:11). Therefore, we must use our spirit to contact the Spirit so that God may reveal Himself to us. For this reason 1 Corinthians 2:10 says “to us God has revealed them[the things that He has prepared for those who love Him] through the Spirit.” The key is our spirit!
Christ as the Word of God is realized as the Spirit; the Spirit makes the Son real to us; and the Bible as the Word of God allows us to apprehend the Person of the Word. However, for this apprehension, we need to exercise our spirit. Without the exercise of our spirit, we risk coming to the Bible, yet missing the Person of the Word. Therefore, the key to our contacting Christ as the Word of God and the Bible as the Word of God is our human spirit!
Further reading:
Witness Lee, Conclusion of the New Testament, Messages 22-23 (Print).
Witness Lee, How to Enjoy God and How to Practice the Enjoyment of God, Chapter 6 (Nook, Kindle, iBooks, Print).
(Most references in the Further Reading can also be viewed on www.ministrybooks.org.)
Saints, One spirit with the Lord when coming to the Bible! “the Bible as the Word of God makes Christ known practically. However, we can know the reality of the Bible and the practicality of Christ only by using our spirit; when we come to the Bible, we must use our spirit.”
Thank you for writing this.
What a joy to know that we can contact the reality of the Bible and know Christ practically by our mingled spirit! Eph 3:5 also shows us that we need to exercise our spirit for Christ to be revealed to us.
In the beginning Christ was the Word! He is the definition, explanation, and expression of God! Hard to fathom? The key is the Spirit. Life may be filled with many experiences through the Word. The brothers and sisters will live a Christ filled life this way.
“Therefore, the key to our contacting Christ as the Word of God and the Bible as the Word of God is our human spirit!”
this is enlightening that we can not come to the Bible anyhow or in a drowsy lukewarm way. we must come to the Bible always but we must be keen in our spirit to touch the reality of God’s word, to touch Christ who is God’s word in a practical way.
Oh Lord Jesus strengthen us to come to your word all the time, strengthen us Lord to exercise our spirit to touch you as the reality is in you.amen Lord Jesus Christ how we love you Lord.amen.