Revelation V
I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book. (Revelation 22:18-19 ESV)
These Very Words
It is an old phrase, with its origin in I Thessalonians 32:13, but many churches have been returning lately to reciting: “This is the very word of God!” after scripture is read.
It is a good phrase.
Because the Bible does not merely contain the word of God. The Bible is not simply an example of the word of God. The Bible is not a summary of the word of God. The Bible is not a way for us to connect with the word of God.
The Bible… from Genesis to Revelation is the very word of God.
And the way to receive it is not through a picture, or a cartoon, or a movie, or a work of art, or anything other than the actual words of God, as He wrote them in His scripture.
Don’t add to them. Don’t take away from them.
Read them… absorb them… study them… accept them… learn them… obey them.
Because they are the very words of God.