To avoid error do what this verse recommends. 2 Timothy 2:15
I heard a pastor teach that the Word is good but that a relationship to Jesus is more important. I disagree with that statement on the basis of this question. How do you get to know about Jesus? The error presented in that argument suggests that it’s interchangeable or one is more important than the other. John chapter one says this about the Word.
“IN THE beginning [before all time] was the Word (Christ), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God Himself. [Isa. 9:6.] He was present originally with God. All things were made and came into existence through Him; and without Him was not even one thing made that has come into being. In Him was Life, and the Life was the Light of men. And the Light shines on in the darkness, for the darkness has never overpowered it [put it out or absorbed it or appropriated it, and is unreceptive to it].”
John 1:1-5 AMPC
Trying to separate Jesus from the Word would be like trying to separate wet from water. To me that’s the enemy’s deceptive plan, he wants us ignorant of God’s Word. To neglect either is dangerous. They’re one and the same. You cannot separate the Word from a relationship with Jesus, because it’s the Word that leads us to Him and it’s the Word that shows us who He is. Unfortunately, we do not yet have the privilege of walking and touching Him physically as the apostles did. But we get to do that by studying His Word. Jesus said , blessed are those who have not seen (what the people were witnessing) yet believe. John 20:29
Take this scripture for example. Psalm 138:2 His Word is magnified above His name. Why would He say that? In this life all we have to live by is His Word. The prayer of Nehemiah and even most Of David’s Psalms speaks to His Character, they wouldn’t know these things were it not for the written Word and their personal relationship and experiences with Him. They had the Written Word as well as their personal relationship with God- not either or but both. They can never be separated. God delights in hearing His Word being prayed or recited back to Him.
If we try to separate them we’re doing ourselves a disservice.
Knowing God independently of His Word is like having an acquaintance. You know enough about him to get along with him, but not enough to be intimate. Your relationship with God is based upon your knowledge of Him which can only be found in His Word. There’s no amount of prayers that can replace time spent in His Word. As a matter of fact we pray better when we know the Word.
Do you know that 99% of the time when God speaks to us He refers to or uses His written Word? We will never know Him intimately independent of His Word. You want intimacy with God? Know His Word.
Being ignorant of God’s Word is the enemy’s dream. That’s why he always uses the Word in the form of a question, checking your knowledge or lack thereof so he can twist it to sow doubt. He did it with Eve and Jesus. The difference between the two encounters was Jesus was convinced of the Truth He knew and His intimacy with the Father. Eve was not. No one can tell me about my daughter, and here’s why: We’ve spent a lot of quality time together.
As believers We don’t just spend time in prayer we spend time with the Word. The Holy Spirit then takes what we’re reading, gives us revelation and points us to Jesus.
As we get to know Him, we’ll draw closer to Him. Paul instructed Timothy to study to show himself approved unto God not man. By studying the Word he’d become a workman for God who is not ashamed of his relationship with God, and because of studying the Word, he’d be able to discern with accuracy what the Word teaches and share its truths accordingly. As I have often said, the error you know becomes your truth. We don’t get to wing it! We need to study it. The false teachers know their rhetoric -we need to know our truth. His Word is Truth!
So can we have Jesus without the Word or the Word without Jesus? Maybe. If you’re seeking information and not relationship like Satan. Information to be used as a trap or lure. But if you’re seeking Him, it’s impossible to have one without the other. They function as a team. A powerful one at that. That’s why we’re transformed the minute we open up our hearts to both. The entrance of His Word brings light, revelation light. The Word is a mirror, it clearly shows us who we really are, but if you’re honest about what you see you’ll be transformed by it. It’s Undeniably the most irresistible experience a seeking heart will ever find. Jesus and His Word are One.
Father in Jesus Name teach us to avoid error by spending time with You in Your Word. Help us by the Holy Spirit to discern what is Truth, Your Truth. In Jesus Name.🙏
Written by permission of the Holy Spirit
W. Tennant