(11) “Now the parable is this: The seed is the Word of God. (12) Those by the way side are they that hear – then cometh the devil and taketh away the Word out of their hearts – lest they should believe and be saved. (13) They on the rock are they which when they hear – receive the Word with joy – and these have no root – which for a while believe – and in time of temptation fall away. (14) And that which fell among thorns are they which when they have heard – go forth and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life – and bring no fruit to perfection. (15) But that on the good ground are they which in an honest and good heart – having heard the Word – keep it – and bring forth fruit with patience.” [Lk.8:11-15]
(105) “Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet – and a light unto my path.” [Ps.119:105]
Here is an accurate gauge by which we may determine if we have truly been born from above by what Paul referred to in Col.1:5 as the “Word of the truth of the gospel”. Peter speaks of the same thing in 1Pe.1:23 when he literally says: “Having been born again – not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible – by the Word of God which liveth and abideth forever!” And, then he goes further on and explicitly declares from vs.25: “And this is the Word which by the gospel is preached unto you”.
The apostle James was Holy Spirit inspired to write of our regeneration from Jas.1:17-18 of his epistle: “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above and cometh down from the Father of lights – with whom there is no variableness neither shadow of turning. (18) Of His own will – begat He us with the Word of truth….” Now this verse is more literally rendered – “Having willed – He begat us” Or, in other words, He brought us forth to new life in our Lord Jesus Christ! And then he urges us from vs.21: “Wherefore…(or, consequently) lay apart (or, put away) all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness (or, all moral dirtiness and surplusage of depravity) and receive with meekness the engrafted (or, the implanted) Word – which is able to save your souls!”
The Spirit of Christ – the living Word of God – who is the incarnated eternal Son of God – according to the eternal purpose of God the Father – causes us to receive a regenerating revelatory experience that we are, indeed, His eternally loved and chosen sinner-saved-by-grace-children. We come by grace to understand that we – and He – have been personally united with Him – in His beloved and only-begotten Son! Ro.8:16-17 plainly tells us that: “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit – that we are the children of God (17) and if children – then heirs – heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ…” Before the magnitude of the majesty of our all holy – all-glorious sovereign God – we are all — nothing but little children. But, we are His little children! And, especially, while we are here in this fallen-in-sin world – we “grow in the grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ…”
How do we grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior?
By constantly feeding on His wonderful Word! We ever abide in the words of our Savior. Jesus said in Jn.15:3 – “Now ye are clean through the Word which I have spoken unto you.” Then He went on and said from vs.7 “If ye abide in me and my words abide in you – ye shall ask what ye will and it shall be done unto you.” It is no wonder that the Psalmist was inspired to descriptively declare: “Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet – and a light unto my path!” Everything wonderful about being in Christ – is descriptively declared in the treasures of His wonderful Word! Amen.
For Christ’s Glory Only!
John Carpenter
