Life in the Word 14 7 of greater importance to dying men, than the statement that the Word of God is a LIVING Word. In Philippians 2:16 we have the expression, “The Word of Life.” The same expression occurs in 1 John 1 :1. It is here used of Jesus Christ, the Incarnate Word, whereas in Phil ippians it is apparently the Written Word that is spoken of. The Written Word and the Incarnate Word are so identified in Scripture that it is not always clear which is referred to. The same things are said of each, and the same characters attributed to each. The fundamental resemblance lies in the fact that each is the revealer or tangible expression of the Invisible God. As the written or spoken word expresses, for the purpose of communicating to another, the invisible and inaccessible thought, so Jesus Christ as the Incarnate Word, and the Holy Scriptures as the Written Word, express and communicate knowledge of the' invisible and inaccessible God. “He that hath seen Me hath seen the Father.” “Believe Me that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me” (Tohn 14:9,11). In Hebrews 4:12 we find the statement that “The Word of God is LIVING and powerful, and sharper than any two- edged sword” (R. V.). Clearly this refers to the Written Word. But the very next verse, without any change of sub ject, directs our attention to the Searcher of hearts (Rev. 2:23), saying, “Neither is there any creature that is not mani fest in His sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.” Again in 1 Peter 1 :23 we read of “the Word of God which liveth,” or more literally, “the Word of God living.” Here again there might be uncertainty as to whether the Incarnate Word or the Written Word be meant; but it is generally understood that the latter is in view, and the quotation from Isaiah 40:6-8 would confirm this idea. From these passages we learn that the Word of God is spoken of as a “living” Word. This is a very remarkable
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