sf951 - God's Word The Means Of Regeneration

1.         What do we learn from the following verses about the (effects of the) word or words of God?

Genesis 1:3 – power of creation

Mark 4:39 – power over creation

Mark 9:25-27 – power over evil/demons

Mark 5:22-23, 35-36, 41-42 – power over death

John 11:43-44 – power over the grave

John 15:3 – power over sin

2.         What do we learn in the following verses about when men speak the words given to them by God?

Ezekiel 37:1-10 – God works in and through His word to fulfill His purposes.

3.         Last week we talked about regeneration, or being born again.  Consider the following verses.  What do they tell us that God uses to cause spiritual rebirth?

John 6:60-63 – they are spirit and life

1 Peter 1:23 – it bring about the new birth

James 1:18

John 5:25 – the word raises the dead

Romans 10:13-17

What does faith come from? 

What kind of "hearing" is meant here? 

Merely hearing with the ear?  (Clearly not, as we see from v. 16 (and also 18-21)).  No; it is hearing with the heart; i.e., receptivity, willingness, having "ears to hear." 

This is the same thing we see in Gal. 2:2,5 (that is, if you have a version that accurately translates these verses; i.e., not NIV).

The word of God is the means of regeneration. 

Not only does his word carry his message, but the same word works spiritually in us causing us to receive his message.  His word is like a radio signal that somehow carries with it its own receiver; it changes our hearts to cause us to receive itself. 

Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.