The Word of Christ is the message that concerns Jesus Christ and comes from Jesus Christ.
Paul says that faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
It is the gospel of the crucified and risen Lord, the teaching He gave, and the word that still dwells in His people.
This word is not one voice among many. It is the word by which God creates faith, rules the church, and will judge the world.
When Paul wrote that hearing comes through the word of Christ, he named the content and the source of the message that produces faith. The word is about Christ: His death for sins, His burial, His resurrection, His lordship. The word is also from Christ: He is the One who speaks in the gospel, who sent the apostles, and whose voice the sheep hear. Colossians tells the church to let the word of Christ dwell richly within, teaching and admonishing one another. Jesus said that the one who hears His word and believes has eternal life. He said His words are spirit and life. Heaven and earth will pass away, but His words will not pass away. The word of Christ is therefore the preached gospel, the teaching of Scripture centered on Him, and the living voice of the Lord who still speaks through what He has spoken. Those who receive it receive Him. Those who refuse it refuse the One who sent the message.
- The word of Christ is the gospel message about Jesus and the word Jesus Himself speaks.
- Faith is born through hearing this word, not through human wisdom or silent religion.
- The word of Christ is to dwell richly in the church, shaping worship, teaching, and life.
- Hearing His word and believing is the way of eternal life.
- His words will not pass away; they outlast heaven and earth.
- The same word that saves also judges those who reject it.
- Christ’s sheep hear His voice in this word and follow Him.
- Gospel Content – Christ died for our sins, was buried, and was raised on the third day.
- Christ as Speaker – The word is His; the apostles handed on what they received from the Lord.
- Means of Faith – Hearing this word is the appointed way faith comes.
- Indwelling Word – The church is to let the word of Christ dwell richly within.
- Words of Life – His words are spirit and life; they give life to the dead.
- Abiding Word – Heaven and earth pass away; His words do not.
- Ruling Word – The church lives under this word in teaching, correction, and hope.
- Romans 10:17 – “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.”
- Colossians 3:16 – “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.”
- John 5:24 – “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.”
- John 6:63, 68 – “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life… Simon Peter answered him, ‘Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.’”
- John 8:31-32 – “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
- John 12:48 – “The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has a judge; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day.”
- John 14:23-24 – “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words.”
- Matthew 24:35 – “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.”
- Luke 6:46-47 – “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you? Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them…”
- 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 – “Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand… that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures.”
- 1 Thessalonians 1:8 – “For not only has the word of the Lord sounded forth from you… but your faith in God has gone forth everywhere.”
- 1 Thessalonians 2:13 – “When you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers.”
- Hebrews 1:1-2 – “Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son…”
- Hebrews 2:1-3 – “Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it… how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation?”
- Acts 8:4-5, 35 – Those who were scattered went about preaching the word; Philip opened his mouth and, beginning with the Scripture, told him the good news about Jesus.
- Acts 10:36 – “As for the word that he sent to Israel, preaching good news of peace through Jesus Christ (he is Lord of all)…”
- 2 Timothy 4:2 – “Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season…”
- Revelation 1:2 – John “bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ.”
- John 10:27 – “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.”
- Isaiah 55:11 – “So shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose…”
Faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. Let that word dwell in you richly. His words are spirit and life. They will not pass away. The one who hears His word and believes has eternal life; the one who rejects His words will be judged by the word He has spoken. Do not treat the word of Christ as one opinion among others. Receive it as the word of God. Preach it. Sing it. Teach it. Keep it. The sheep hear His voice in this word. Heaven and earth will pass away. His words will not. To whom shall we go? He has the words of eternal life.
Entry compiled for the JESUSaves.com Bible Glossary. Optimized for wiki.js Visual Editor.