“Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly”

by Leonardo Neitzel

In October 2012, Lutheran Church–Canada (LCC) congregations and individual members in Winnipeg and other areas are celebrating the first year finished of a two-year Bible reading plan. With the help of the Holy Spirit, and inspired by LCC’s 2011 national convention’s theme—“in your light we see light” (Psalm 36:9)—we resolved to read God’s Word on a regular basis—individually, congregationally, or in families and groups of friends—“letting the Word of Christ dwell in us richly’’ (Colossians 3:16).

On October 3, 2011 we started into the first chapter of Genesis. Today we are reading through the Prophet Isaiah. It is important to mention that this is not a competition; it’s nor a race for personal achievements or trophies. Some are behind the proposed schedule, some are on target, and some may even be ahead in their reading. Others are just thinking of getting started. The point is not to discover who’s “best,” but instead to make the Word of God our precious companion in our daily life. We want to read, abide in, meditate, learn, and grow spiritually through the Word of our Lord on a regular basis.

We have experienced and witnessed amazing blessings in the first year of our two-year journey through the Bible. “The Word of God in us” is without doubt helping us to see that we need not be ashamed, as the Holy Spirit helps us to “correctly handling the Word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15). It helps us to grow in our Christian walk and witness, bringing about the results promised by our Lord: “So is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it” (Isaiah 55:11).

Luther and the Holy Scripture

The front page of Luther's German translation of the Bible, 1541 edition.

As we celebrate the Lutheran Reformation, we praise and thank our Lord God for His servant Martin Luther. Luther couldn’t have done a thing without having the Word of God in his life. The Holy Spirit led him through that Word to see the Light, to find Christ and salvation. He struggled with the Lord in the Word day and night. He worried particularly over the word “righteousness.” Luther knew he was not righteous on his own. Then, when studying “righteousness” in Romans 1:17, was suddenly understood: he was embraced and saved by Christ’s righteousness—saved through His suffering, death, and resurrection. This is how Luther later remembered that ‘Tower experience’ (1516/17):

I meditated night and day on those words until at last, by the mercy of God, I paid attention to their context: “The justice of God is revealed in it, as it is written: ‘The just person lives by faith.’” I began to understand that in this verse the justice of God is that by which the just person lives by a gift of God, that is by faith. I began to understand that this verse means that the justice of God is revealed through the Gospel, but it is a passive justice, i.e. that by which the merciful God justifies us by faith, as it is written: “The just person lives by faith.” All at once I felt that I had been born again and entered into paradise itself through open gates. Immediately I saw the whole of Scripture in a different light. I ran through the Scriptures from memory and found that other terms had analogous meanings, e.g., the work of God, that is, what God works in us; the power of God, by which he makes us powerful; the wisdom of God, by which he makes us wise; the strength of God, the salvation of God, the glory of God.

Inspired and encouraged by Luther’s Sola Scriptura (“Scripture alone”), we are bold to be the people of God who hold fast to the Word of truth, “not ashamed of the Gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes” (Romans 1:16). The Reformation calls us to steadfastness in the Word in a world antagonistic towards that Word.

The people of this world have lost their connection to God; they are adrift on tormented and raging seas. All kinds of sea monsters rise up to drown them—immorality, violence, unbelief, egocentrism, worship of self, and others. These people cannot survive without a compass—the Only Compass, the Word of life. They cannot survive with an anchor—the Only Anchor, Jesus Christ. Through Holy Scripture, we know the unfortunate, final destination of all who reject Christ. But on the other hand, we know the blessing, treasure, and abounding wealth here and in eternity promised to those who let the Word abide in them and believe in the One spoken of in Scripture.

Our congregations and the Holy Scripture

God’s people are called to join in the proclamation of the Word of God and to persevere in the fellowship of believers, in prayers, and in the breaking of bread (Acts 2:42). Lutheran liturgy and services are founded on the unchanging Word and are Christ-centered. We rejoice over the forgiveness we receive from God through ministers following our corporate confession of sin. We rejoice in sharing the peace of Christ with one another. The Scripture passages appointed to read in our services are treasures which keep us focused on Jesus Christ and on the doctrines of the Christian faith. Our pastors’ sermons are well balanced with Law and Gospel, are Christ-centered, and encourage us in our Christian life and witness. Our hymns are a source of comfort, strength, and joy. For no less reason did King David confess: “O LORD, I love the habitation of your house and the place where your glory dwells” (Psalm 26:8).

The Holy Spirit is active through our hearing and He helps us to echo the Word in daily life.

As we depart from worship, we are called to put the Word into practice. The Apostle James admonishes us, saying, “Be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves” (James 1:22). The Holy Spirit is active through our hearing and He helps us to echo the Word in daily life. It is not difficult for someone to find out whether a Christian’s words and actions are directed by the Word of God or by himself—whether his actions are substantiated by his faith or whether they are just self-promoting empty talk. His words and actions are a witness of what is or is not on his heart. Jesus tells us that “out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks” (Matthew 12:34), and Martin reminds us what faith in the heart looks like in outward practice:

Faith is a divine work in us that transforms us and begets us anew from God, kills the Old Adam, makes us entirely different people in heart, spirit, mind, and all our powers, and brings the Holy Spirit with it. Oh, faith is a living, busy, active, mighty thing, so that it is impossible for it not to be constantly doing what is good. Likewise, faith does not ask if good works are to be done, but before one can ask, faith has already done them and is constantly active.

Those who abide regularly in God’s Word on an individual basis and in families, in reading and meditating, in teaching and transmitting it to their children glean many blessings for this life and for eternity. This is what we have witnessed through the Bible reading plan we are currently engaged in. It helps to keep us connected to Christ and to one another, as we study God’s Word together.

Some congregations have started larger Bible study groups based on the reading plan. Our prayer is that the Holy Spirit continues motivating LCC members to make Bible reading a priority in their lives. As our physical body needs to be nurtured to live, so does our soul through the Bread of Life. And when you come across difficult passages, take note and bring your questions to your pastor. He’s there to help you better understand the Scriptures.

We are nearing Advent now, and the beginning of a new Church Year. What a wonderful thing it would be for our church and family to commit to a journey through the Holy Scriptures on a regular basis. It is one of the best ways in which we can spend our time—sitting at the feet of our Lord, in His Word, in His fellowship, receiving His shining Light as He directs us through this life on our journey to eternity.

What a wonderful thing it would be for our church and family to commit to a journey through the Holy Scriptures on a regular basis.

The heavens rejoice when God’s people take the Word of God seriously in their lives—when they are faithful and committed to studying and meditating on it. This can only benefit individual Christians personally and the Church in its mission and ministry at large. When we pay heed to the Word, we grow up. “We will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Him who is the Head, that is, Christ” (Ephesians 4:14-15).

The Holy Scriptures in daily witness

As the Christian abides in God’s Word, the Holy Spirit immerses us more deeply in the love of Jesus Christ, and we are enabled to love and appreciate His love more fully. The Holy Spirit leads the Christian to absorb the Word, to memorize it, and then to remember it in times of need. Silent reflection on God’s Word, or the uttering of it becomes a normal part of the Christian’s life. It becomes easier to chase away the devil’s temptation, just as Jesus did when He was tempted: “Away from me, Satan! For it is written. . .” (Matthew 4:10).  As King David writes, “The mouth of the righteous man utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks what is just. The law of his God is in his heart; his feet do not slip” (Psalm 37:30-31).

Likewise, the Christian becomes better equipped for his prayers as he prays God’s Word. He will have greater knowledge of Scripture, and a greater ability to transmit and convey comfort and strength to those in need; to admonish lovingly those who err; to apply God’s Word to people (and themselves) in major (and minor) life situations. The Christian learns to rely on God’s Word rather than his own understanding. He will let God be God through His Word as he transmits it. As the author of Hebrews says: “For the Word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12).

In 1532, Luther wrote: “For some years now, I have read through the Bible twice every year. If you picture the Bible to be a mighty tree and every word a little branch, I have shaken every one of these branches because I wanted to know what it was and what it meant.” We would do well to imitate Luther in this way.

For some years now, I have read through the Bible twice every year. If you picture the Bible to be a mighty tree and every word a little branch, I have shaken every one of these branches because I wanted to know what it was and what it meant.

It was the power of the Word and the Holy Spirit in Luther’s life that led him to faith in Christ. It was the Word which led him to reject error and to proclaim anew the Gospel of Jesus Christ. As we abide in this same Gospel, we must not keep it to ourselves alone. Luther worked to confess it to the world, through his teachings and translation of Scripture. We learn from him anew that the way to heaven is through the Word—trough faith in the merits of Jesus Christ on behalf of all sinners. Luther proclaimed faithfully this Word in his preaching, teaching, and writing. And his legacy is left to us who now bear his name: to immerse ourselves in God’s Word, and to confess Jesus and His Gospel throughout the world, so that many may, at last, come to believe in Him.

– SDG –

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Rev. Dr. Leonardo Neitzel is Lutheran Church–Canada’s Executive for Missions and Social Ministry.

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