Wonderful Words of Spirit and Life

by Frank Klin and Russell Unterschultz

Come now let us reason together. We are challenged to be Bereans so test the spirits and search the Scriptures preserved and handed down to us by the church in the wilderness to see if these things are so. Study with a friend and pray for discernment because we are promised that wherever two or three are gathered in Jesus’ Name, He is there. Encourage each other. Pray with and for each other. May you be richly blessed as you study His Word.

“And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;” “Holding forth the Word of Life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.”- (Ephesians 4:23; Philippians 2:16)

“For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: but the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.” - (1 Peter 1:24-25)

What is this word of life and word of the Lord? Are they merely words?

Jesus proclaimed, “It is the Spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are Spirit, and they are Life.” - (John 6:63)

This is a remarkable statement.  The sad fact is there are those who do not take our Saviour at His word because the next verse says, ““But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray Him.”

Do we really betray Jesus if we don’t believe His words are Spirit and Life?

Jesus made a solemn pronouncement to unbelievers, “And the Father Himself, which hath sent Me, hath borne witness of Me. Ye have neither heard His voice at any time, nor seen His shape. And ye have not His Word abiding in you: for whom He hath sent, Him ye believe not. Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of Me. And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.” - (John 5:37-40)

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth My word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.”- (John 5:24)

The apostle Peter sheds more light on the precious truth of Christ and His words, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to His abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,” “whom having not seen, ye love; in Whom, though now ye see Him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls. Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.” - (1 Peter 1:3, 8-12)

Did you catch that?  Scripture says the Spirit of Christ was in the prophets of old and through them testified of the sufferings of Christ and the glory that would follow. “Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we Him no more.” - (2 Corinthians 5:16)

The prophet Moses declared, “The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto Him ye shall hearken;” - (Deuteronomy 18:15)

Again we hear from Peter about the Spirit of Christ, “We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not at any time (KJV margin) by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved (prompted) by the Holy Ghost.” - (2 Peter 1:19-21)

Read the testament concerning Jesus given to the prophet Isaiah. “Hearken unto me, O Jacob and Israel, My called; I am He; I am the first, I also am the last. Mine hand also hath laid the foundation of the earth, and My right hand hath spanned the heavens: when I call unto them, they stand up together.” “Come ye near unto Me, hear ye this; I have not spoken in secret from the beginning; from the time that it was, there am I: and now the Lord God, and His Spirit, hath sent Me.” - (Isaiah 48:12-13, 16)

The Psalmist declares, “For the Word of the Lord is right; and all His works are done in truth. By the Word of the Lord were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of His mouth.” - (Psalm 33:4, 6)

David shares with us how he was able to give the above testimony, “Now these be the last words of David. David the son of Jesse said, and the man who was raised up on high, the anointed of the God of Jacob, and the sweet psalmist of Israel, said, the Spirit of the Lord spake by me, and His word was in my tongue. The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spake to me, He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God.” - (2 Samuel 23:1-3)

Notice the words “the Spirit of the Lord said”, “the God of Israel said”, “the Rock of Israel spake.”  These words were all spoken through Christ.  Read the following verses.

“Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; and were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; and did all eat the same spiritual meat; and did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.” - (1 Corinthians 10:1-4)

By what power has the Son of God spoken through the ages?

Jesus exclaimed, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me.”  “Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak unto you I speak not of Myself: but the Father that dwelleth in Me, He doeth the works.” “If ye love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you for ever; even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth Him not, neither knoweth Him: but ye know Him; for He dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.” - (John 14:6, 10, 15-18)

“Howbeit when He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth: for He shall not speak of Himself; but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak: and He will show you things to come.” - (John 16:13)

In the margin of my Bible the words: “He shall not speak of Himself” also translates as: “He shall not speak on His own authority”

Continuing on with the verse, “He shall not speak on His own authority; but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak…”

These words in John 16:13 are telling us that the Holy Spirit speaks only the words that He hears from an authority higher than Himself.

Now we know that the Holy Spirit is the representative of Christ on earth. And of Christ we read, “For I have not spoken of Myself; (Marginal reading means: I have not spoken of My own authority) but the Father which sent Me, He gave Me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. And I know that His commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto Me, so I speak.” – (John 12:49-50)

Now put these things together. Christ is the word of God. Christ is the Spirit of truth. Christ is the representative of His heavenly Father. And according to John 12:49-50, Christ does not speak on His own authority, but only speaks the words which His Father gives Him. The same is declared for the Spirit of Christ.

While Christ ministers in the sanctuary above, He sends His Spirit (which He receives from His Father) to be His representative on earth.

“Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send Him unto you.” - (John 16:7)

Let’s visit Moses again as he was inspired to write, “I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put My words in His mouth; and He shall speak unto them all that I shall command Him. And it shall come to pass, whosoever will not hearken unto My words which He shall speak in My name, I will require it of him. - (Deuteronomy 18:18-19)

In the previous verses Jesus was speaking through Moses in the authority of His Father and because He was given that authority it was as if the Father Himself was speaking the words. Therefore, the Holy Spirit, being the representative and personal presence of Christ, speaks only the words given by the Father through the Son to the human recipient.

“He that hath received His testimony hath set to His seal that God is true. For He whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto Him. The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into His hand.” - (John 3:33-35)

“Acquaint now thyself with Him, and be at peace: thereby good shall come unto thee. Receive, I pray thee, the law from His mouth, and lay up His words in thine heart.” - (Job 22:21-22)

“And when He putteth forth His own sheep, He goeth before them, and the sheep follow Him: for they know His voice. And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.” - (John 10:4-5)

Pray that we are not of those who betray our Master, deny His words and are led astray by strangers because Jesus promises, “He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before My Father, and before His angels.” - (Revelation 3:5)

Peter knew who came to them on the day of Pentecost, “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; and He shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began.” - (Acts 3:19-21)

It was the Spirit of Christ that brought to Peter’s remembrance the words of his Saviour for Jesus Himself had said, “All power is given unto Me in heaven and in earth…” “and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.” - (Matthew 28:18, 20)

When we repent He promises, “Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. A new heart also will I give you, and a new Spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put My Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in My statutes, and ye shall keep My judgments, and do them. And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and ye shall be My people, and I will be your God.” - (Ezekiel 36:25-28)

We have a choice, to take Jesus at His word or not.  Our Saviour pleads, “See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil; In that I command thee this day to love the Lord thy God, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commandments and His statutes and His judgments, that thou mayest live and multiply: and the Lord thy God shall bless thee in the land whither thou goest to possess it.” “I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:” (Deuteronomy 30:15-16, 19)

“And so it is written, the first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening Spirit.” “For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.” “For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.” - (1 Corinthians 15:45, 22; Romans 5:17)

“But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.” “Then shalt thou delight thyself in the Lord; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken.” - (John 20:31; Isaiah 58:14)

Sing them over again to me, wonderful words of life;
let me more of their beauty see, wonderful words of life;
words of life and beauty teach me faith and duty.

Refrain:
Beautiful words, wonderful words, wonderful words of life.
Beautiful words, wonderful words, wonderful words of life.

Christ, the blessed one, gives to all wonderful words of life;
sinner, list to the loving call, wonderful words of life;
all so freely given, wooing us to heaven.
(Refrain)

Sweetly echo the gospel call, wonderful words of life;
offer pardon and peace to all, wonderful words of life;
Jesus, only Savior, sanctify forever.
(Refrain)
{Philip P. Bliss, 1838-1876}

For Scripture studies such as, “Live Out Thy Life Within Me”, “Temple of the Comforter”, “Communion & Fellowship”, “The Word ‘Spirit’ in Scripture”, “Spiritually Minded vs the Flesh”, “The Gift”, “By Beholding We Are Changed”, and “He Shall Baptize You With the Holy Ghost” click on the word "Blue"