Love Jesus 13

Excerpt from Terry Johnson’s “Yes, Scripture Reading Really Does Change People.”


” … evangelicals shouldn’t require anecdotal testimonies of the transformative power of Scripture reading. After all, we have Scripture’s own self-testimony.

Are we not said to be born again by the “living and abiding word”? Do we not come to faith by “hearing the word of Christ”? Do we not grow by the pure milk of God’s Word?

Are we not sanctified by the truth of God’s Word? Is the Word of grace not able to build us up and give us an eternal inheritance?

Is the gospel Word of truth not constantly bearing fruit and increasing? Is the Word of God not living and active and sharper than a two-edged sword? Is the gospel not the power of God for salvation?

I could go on:

1 Peter 1:23–25
23 having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever,
24 because
 “All flesh is as grass,
 And all the glory of man as the flower of the grass.
 The grass withers,
 And its flower falls away,
25 But the word of the Lord endures forever.”
Now this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you.

Romans 10:17
So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

1 Peter 2:2
As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby,

John 17:17
Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.

Acts 20:32
So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.

Colossians 1:6
… which has come to you, as it has also in all the world, and is bringing forth fruit, as it is also among you since the day you heard and knew the grace of God in truth;


Hebrews 4:12
For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Romans 1:16
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.

Ephesians 6:17
Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

1 Thessalonians 2:13
For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe.

2 Timothy 3:15
… and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

Jeremiah 23:29
“Is not My word like a fire?” says the Lord,
“And like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces?

Isaiah 55:11
So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth;
It shall not return to Me void,
But it shall accomplish what I please,
And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.

1 Thessalonians 1:5
For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit and in much assurance, as you know what kind of men we were among you for your sake.

James 1:21
Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.