Topical Bible: Spiritual Life is Maintained by The Word of God

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The concept of spiritual life being sustained by the Word of God is a foundational tenet in Christian theology. The Bible, regarded as the inspired Word of God, serves as the primary source of spiritual nourishment and guidance for believers. This entry explores the biblical basis for the belief that spiritual vitality is maintained through engagement with Scripture.

Biblical Foundation

The Bible frequently emphasizes the importance of God's Word in sustaining spiritual life. In the Old Testament, Deuteronomy 8:3 states, "He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your fathers had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD." This passage highlights the necessity of divine revelation for spiritual sustenance, equating it with physical nourishment.

In the New Testament, Jesus reiterates this principle during His temptation in the wilderness. In Matthew 4:4, He responds to Satan's challenge by quoting Deuteronomy 8:3: "But Jesus answered, 'It is written: Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'" Here, Jesus underscores the sufficiency and necessity of God's Word for spiritual life.

Role of Scripture in Spiritual Growth

The Word of God is instrumental in the believer's spiritual growth and maturity. In 2 Timothy 3:16-17, the Apostle Paul writes, "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for instruction, for conviction, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, fully equipped for every good work." This passage affirms that Scripture is divinely inspired and serves as a comprehensive guide for living a life pleasing to God.

Furthermore, the Word of God acts as a means of sanctification. In John 17:17, Jesus prays for His disciples, saying, "Sanctify them by the truth; Your word is truth." The transformative power of Scripture is evident as it purifies and sets believers apart for God's purposes.

The Word as a Source of Strength and Comfort

The Bible also provides strength and comfort to believers in times of trial and tribulation. Psalm 119, the longest chapter in the Bible, is a profound meditation on the beauty and efficacy of God's Word. Verse 105 declares, "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." This imagery conveys the guidance and clarity that Scripture offers in navigating life's challenges.

Additionally, Romans 15:4 states, "For everything that was written in the past was written for our instruction, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures, we might have hope." The Word of God is a source of hope and encouragement, sustaining believers through the vicissitudes of life.

The Indwelling Word and Spiritual Vitality

The internalization of God's Word is crucial for maintaining spiritual vitality. Colossians 3:16 exhorts believers, "Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God." The indwelling Word fosters a vibrant spiritual life, characterized by wisdom, worship, and gratitude.

Moreover, James 1:21 encourages believers to "humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save your souls." The implanted Word has the power to transform and preserve the believer's spiritual life, leading to salvation and ongoing sanctification.

Conclusion

The Word of God is indispensable for maintaining spiritual life. Through Scripture, believers receive instruction, correction, encouragement, and hope. The Bible serves as a lamp and guide, providing the necessary sustenance for spiritual growth and vitality. As believers internalize and live by the Word, they experience the transformative power of God's truth in their lives.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Deuteronomy 8:3
And he humbled you, and suffered you to hunger, and fed you with manna, which you knew not, neither did your fathers know; that he might make you know that man does not live by bread only, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of the LORD does man live.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Matthew 4:4
But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

The Work of the Holy Spirit in the Material Universe.
... to be the abode of man, Father, Word and Holy ... the Holy Spirit, but that they are
maintained in being ... Not only is spiritual life maintained by the Spirit of God ...
/.../torrey/the person and work of the holy spirit/chapter vi the work of.htm

The Life of Mr. David Black.
... office-bearers, and had discharged his spiritual calling in ... the misery and grief
of this life, and the ... holy man, who had so faithfully maintained the interest ...
/.../howie/biographia scoticana scots worthies/the life of mr david.htm

Jesus Life-Giver and Judge.
... Him from ordinary men, that He maintained throughout His ... It was by a wholly inward
and spiritual process the ... thirty-eight years of deadness, found life on the ...
/.../xiii jesus life-giver and judge.htm

Life in Christ
... that our spiritual life is consciously maintained. ... far-reaching, much-comprehending
word "life." Bearing the ... is univeral, in application to all spiritual life. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 17 1871/life in christ.htm

The Morning Watch in the Life of Obedience.
... Without obedience there cannot be the spiritual power to enter ... with God in the morning
watch, the life of obedience cannot possibly be maintained. ...
/.../murray/the school of obedience/iv the morning watch in.htm

Sharing Christ's Life
... was the Word, and the Word was God, and the Word was with ... The assurance, then, that
the spiritual life of the Christian must be maintained because Christ ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 60 1914/sharing christs life.htm

The First Order of Production Maintained by the Heretics is ...
... Chapter XIII."The first order of production maintained by the ... time young, then in
the prime of life, and then ... For how can He be a spiritual being, who cannot ...
/.../irenaeus/against heresies/chapter xiii the first order of.htm

Spiritual Condition of the Congregations. --The Seven Churches in ...
... but not its inward power of faith and life. Hence it was on the brink of spiritual
death. ... errorists predicted by Paul, and faithfully maintained the purity of ...
/.../history of the christian church volume i/section 50 spiritual condition of.htm

Theological Studies. Religious Life.
... These he maintained could not come from outside, because ... and to the composition of
those spiritual treatises that ... through nine editions during his own life-time ...
/.../chapter x theological studies religious.htm

Blessed Prosperity Meditations on the First Psalm.
... the Word of GOD, and have not their taste corrupted, and their spiritual constitution
destroyed ... So with the man of GOD whose life is maintained by hidden ...
/.../taylor/a ribband of blue/blessed prosperity meditations on the.htm