In ancient times God communicated with His people–the Israelites–through His prophets who spoke His Words and recorded them in writing for those who would be His people until the end of the age. Normally He spoke to the prophets through His Holy Spirit, but at times He appeared to various men and spoke with them audibly.

Chapter one verses two and three: In these last days God has spoken to believers through Jesus of Nazareth who, having brought the universe into existence as the Word (Jn. 1:1-4,14), is the inheritor of it. Of great interest to the true believer is the fact that those who walk in obedience to Him are “joint heirs” with Him. At the present time the whole of creation “waits for the manifestation of the sons of God”–His saints (Rom. 8:14-19). Get this vision: GOD’S TRUE SAINTS WILL ONE DAY INHERIT THE UNIVERSE. But note the qualifying words that follow that promise: “IF we suffer with Him” for obedience to Him. It is important that we understand that God’s true saints are hated, despised and rejected by the religious establishment. This Biblical Truth is without exception as numerous Scriptures attest. For example, “ALL who will live godly in Christ Jesus WILL suffer persecution” (1 Tim. 3:12). In Matthew 10:22 Jesus warns those who would obey Him, “… you shall be hated by ALL MEN for My name’s sake, but he who endures (persecution) to the end shall (then) be saved.” See Persecution. In sum: If one who professes to be God’s child is not hated and rejected by Catholics and Protestants, including one’s family (Mat. 10:36), he is not led by the Holy Spirit (Rom. 8:14) and is not a child of God. If a believer is to inherit the universe with Jesus Christ he must “walk as He walked” (1 Jn. 2:6) and “purify himself as He is pure” (1 Jn. 3:3). How? “by the washing of water by the Word” (Eph. 5:26). As I have stated several times, everything comes back to God’s Holy Scriptures–His Truth (Jn. 17:17). See What is Truth? It is the believer’s treatment of God’s Truth that determines his present and future relationship with the Lord.

Verse 3 describes Jesus as having God’s brightness and glory and overall appearance, and as upholding the entire universe with the “Word of His power.” Once again the Lord tells us about the power that CAN BE found in His Holy Word. I cannot say enough about God’s Words. They contain the power to heal the sick, cast out demons, kill vegetation, remove mountains, etc. as numerous Scriptures plainly show. But placing His Words in the hearts of rebellious, faith-dead church members is like handing the keys to an F-16 to a child. That airplane is going nowhere, which is where Truth-rejecting church people are going.

“THE WORD OF HIS POWER” (vs 3) means exactly what it says–His Word contains His power. It is for this reason that He said in the beginning, “Let there be light” and there was light. Light had no choice but to appear. I have had demons tell me they were not coming out of a person. BUT THEY HAD NO CHOICE; THEY HAD TO OBEY MY COMMAND. Which is what I told them. Having no choice, they immediately came out. The Word of God coming from a true saint of God has great power. Indeed, “… nothing is impossible,” “… all things are possible” to him who believes God’s Word and obeys it (Mat. 10:27/Mk. 9:23). Jesus “purged our sins” for the purpose of making these promises real in our lives. He has done all He needs to do. Whether those promises come true for us depends on HOW WE HANDLE HIS WORD. L.J.