10/7/14
16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 2 Timothy 3:16
I had heard someone say recently that there is no new revelation given, because it has all been written down and found in scripture. We are told not to add or take away anything from the written word or else God will take away that person's part in the book of life.
And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. Rev. 22: 19
However, I wanted to draw a distinction here between the logos word and the rhema word, for both are needed and have their place. And we know even from many of the words that Jesus said, that the Holy Spirit will remind us of the things that have been said in scripture, but that He will also speak of things to come. And so, in this sense, new revelation is being given, because it springs forth from the Holy Spirit a 'new word' that doesn't violate scripture, but it illuminates it, and yet speaks of things to come and around us in our lives in perhaps a specific and fresh way that can't be found in the logos word.
When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. John 16:13 ESV
We know that all of scripture has been given to us so that we would be complete and lacking in nothing. We are told that all of scripture has been inspired by God and is useful for training and instruction for us in the ways of doctrine, correction, and reproof. We should know that all of scripture is God-breathed and is timeless to us in its wisdom and counsel.
In it we read about many of the men and women in history who were called to deliver a people, counsel kings, prophesy, and become the father of many, to name but a few. We learn about the many acts of the apostles as they fulfilled what they were to do as disciples of Jesus. We see the life of Paul the chief among sinners, who left his life of zealously persecuting Christians, and later became one of the main proponents of this new movement. We read about the lives of many of the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord to nations, kings, and individuals, and some wrote these inspired messages down to become canonized into part of the Bible as we know of it today. I could go on and on, mentioning about how the Apostle John on the Island of Patmos received revelations about the seven churches and also about many things that are yet to be fulfilled. We learn about creation and the birth of man and woman, and how the generations of man populated the earth. We see history, wisdom, poetry, examples of daily living, and many other subjects that are profitable for us to live a life of faith and love.
When we read the scriptures we are reading God's 'logos' word. Webster defines logos as "the divine wisdom manifest in the creation, government, and redemption of the world and often identified with the second person of the Trinity." God spoke the world into existence by the 'word." It was a creative force. We also have as our example that Jesus was the word that became flesh. For he was the manifested expression of the word that was spoken in the beginning that came to earth in the form of a man that died and rose again.
John 5:39: “You search the Scriptures (the word), for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me.” All the Scripture speaks of Christ- He is the word; it represents him as the one who spoke things into existence.
We also have the rhema word that comes forth from the Holy Spirit. God speaks to us through His Holy Spirit in the forms of prophecy, words of knowledge, wisdom, faith, and tongues. As we should know, a word of prophecy or wisdom, will not violate scripture if it is a true "word." For it will conform to the doctrines and patterns that are found in the general "expression" of scripture. What I mean by that is that a word of prophecy may specifically speak or refer to a certain place (word of knowledge, word of wisdom) in the world today, a person, or an event. We probably won't find a particular place mentioned or referred to in scripture, but the overall message that the prophecy speaks of will be implied in scripture. We will find encouragement, or warning, or counsel, like many of the prophecies that are written down in the books of Isaiah, Jeremiah, and others. Even in the words of judgment or warning, hope and redemption will be found. A rhema word won't be a 'copy' of what is found in scripture. Otherwise, what would the point be? But it will substantiate the words and form that is found there. We need God's rhema word because without it we don't have the voice of the Father speaking to us personally about a given event, person, group, time, or area. It is true that scripture is God-breathed in that it was written down under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit as it was given to man. We are edified, instructed, warned, and counseled as we read it. But as the scripture says,
have such trust through Christ toward God. 5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God, 6 who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. 2 Corinthians 3:4-6
So in this s
ense, without the Holy Spirit, without God's rhema word, we don't have life. We then don't have the living waters that Jesus promised that He would give us as He also did the woman at the well. We can read about God and His Son, but not know him.
So read the word, read the scriptures, study them to show yourselves approved by God. But don't forsake His rhema word, for it is a creative force that comes forth from His throne and will aid us in our daily lives and point us in the right direction and in the days ahead.
Stephen Hanson