Living in the Word - Rev Paul Taylor, LL.M.

The Gospel of John is unique. St. John Starts off by stating that in the beginning the Word was God and God is the word. The Word is a dynamic and not passive concept. This parallels Genesis. In Genesis the earth is a void (chaos) and the Word of God brings order to the chaos. John using this image show that the word is God. John talks about light and the darkness not be able to comprehend the light. It is the Word that brings the light into the world.

The Word is used through out John's Gospel. John then goes on to say that you can be believe in God. You can believe in Jesus Christ, but if the Word is not in you then you are not a believer.
(cf John 5:38,8:31, 8:37, 8:43 , 14:23, 15:3,15:25)

These passages only skim the gospel of John. The point is that the Word has to be in you and that you have to live according to the Word.
One can be a cradle Episcopalian and know the prayerbook and the hymnal well. For these people the word is something those dreadful bible thumpers talk about.

You can be a Catholic and go to Mass every week. The word is something those awful protestants talk about.
You can be a Baptist and hear the preacher talk about the word and it sounds just great.

You can be a continuer and worship the missal and talk about how catholic you are. What word you say.

You can be born again and raise both hands at every service and sing the hymns from memory. Who needs the word. You have the spiritual connection. It matters not whether the spirit is holy roller or New Age you've got the spirit.

John doesn't mention any of these people. John is there to share the good new of Jesus Christ. John is also judgmental. God loved the world enough to send his only begotten son. John however, correctly points out that if you do not keep the commandments the lake of fire awaits you.

John points out through his Gospel that the Word must be in you.
It matters not what church you belong to. You can even be born again and see the lake of fire because the Word is not with you.

How can you tell if the Word is with you. Do you keep his commandments?
Do you tithe
Do you bring in special offerings into the church
Do you keep the 10 commandments? Or do you say well a 300 hitter makes the hall of fame?

Do you forgive those who have wronged you or do you spend hours dreaming on how to get even?

How do you react when someone cuts you off in traffic. Do you say short prayer or do you issue some sort of statement that would make a drill instructor blush?

When was the last time you helped someone?

What John is driving at is this. If you are of this world you will behave a certain way. If you are living in the Word you will live a different way.

You have to accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. You have to obey his commandments and you must live in the Word.

Difficult as this is you have to remember that Jesus Christ is our mediator between God and man.
Jesus was sent to the world to save us and he is our advocate with the father who sent him.

It is your choice. Who do you serve this day?



AMEN