Holy Bible, Book Divine - Hebrews 4:12 - Sermons from the Baptist Faith and Message

Written by Lucien Coleman

Part 1 of the series: 19 Sermons on The Baptist Faith and Message.

The Baptist Faith and Message sets forth "certain definite doctrines that Baptists believe, cherish, and with which they have been and are now closely identified." You may read The Baptist Faith and Message on SBC.net. This sermon series by Lucien Coleman originally appeared in Proclaim! magazine.

Introduction: Mr. Kwak showed up at an English Bible study taught by an American missionary in Korea, saying, “I really don’t care about religion. I don’t believe in God, and I don’t want to. The only reason I want to attend this class is to practice my English.”

Baptist Faith & Message (2008)

One evening, as the study group explored the biblical evidence of God’s love for the world, the missionary saw tears streaming down Mr. Kwak’s face. He looked up and said, “No one has ever loved me so much. If God did this because of His love for me, then I must love Him back.” The word of God had pierced his soul (Heb. 4:12).

1. The Word of God

What is the Word of God? Hebrews 1:1–2 provides a clue. The key words are “God spoke.” God spoke to Moses on Mt. Sinai. God spoke through the prophets. God spoke in the person of Jesus Christ. And, God speaks today through the Scriptures.

The Bible is God’s appointed channel of communication with the human race.

If God speaks to us through a sermon, it is because the Bible is preached.
If God speaks to you in prayer, it is because the Bible has taught you the language of prayer.
If God speaks to you through nature, it is because you have learned from the Bible the vocabulary of faith.

2. A Living Word

The Word of God is a living Word, an active Word, a penetrating Word (Heb. 4:12). It is a living Word because its Author is the living God. Wherever a preacher proclaims it, or a seeking soul sits down to read it, or a Bible study group examines it, the living God is there to interpret His message. Jesus said that this would happen (John 16:13–14).

3. An Active Word

It is an energetic Word. (The Greek adjective energes in Hebrews 4:12 [“powerful” in KJV] means, literally, “at work.” (Eric Partridge, Origins, 182)

By His word the creating God made heaven and earth (Ps. 33:6).
By His word the saving God brought His people out of Egypt.
By His word the reconciling God called the church into being.
By His word the energizing God empowers His people to carry out His purpose in the world.

His purpose is to reconcile the world to Himself (2 Cor. 5:19). The instrument of His purpose is His reconciling word. He has entrusted this word of reconciliation to all who have received it by faith (2 Cor.5:19).

4. A Penetrating Word

Like a two-edged sword, the Word of God can penetrate to the core of our being (Heb. 4:12), but only if activated by a response of faith. The Word of God “did not profit” the Israelites in the wilderness because the message was not “mixed with faith in them that heard it” (Heb. 4:2).

5. An Illuminating Word

God’s Word sheds light (Ps. 119:105). As a lamp is to light, so is our relationship to the Word of God. The lamp cannot contain the light, but it can send its rays into dark corners.

About Professor Coleman

Professor Lucien Coleman retired in 1993 after twenty-seven years of teaching Religious Eductation at Southern Seminary and Adult Education at Southwestern Seminary. Before teaching served as a pastor in Kentucky. He holds degrees from Southern Seminary and the University of Kentucky. He and his wife, Bobbie, live in Parker County, Texas. They have three children, fifteen grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.

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