The Logos, the Rhema, the Holy Spirit, & the Will of God

 

            In the beginning was the Word [logos], and the Word [logos] was with God, and the Word                         [logos] was God.                           John 1:1

The basic meaning of logos, most often translated as “word,” is “the expression of thought, not the mere name of an object.” In a more formal sense, it is divine revelation and declaration, the thoughts of God revealed to men by the Holy Spirit. In 2 Timothy 3:16-17, All Scripture [graphe] is inspired by [the Spirit of] God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work. The Holy Spirit has inspired the writers of Scripture to record the words of God for all of mankind to consider:  So, we have the prophetic word [logos] made more sure, to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts. But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one's own interpretation, for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God (2 Peter 1:19-21).

Since the church had its roots in the Gentile world, the Jewish concepts and mindset central to the New Testament writers did not address Hellenistic ideas of John’s day, including the Logos principle. It means “word” or “reason” in Greek, and the typical Greek mind saw life through the lens of the world as a place of order and reason. This order was created and managed by logos, which was understood to be the mind of God. This same mind of God dwelling inside man allows him to think rationally. John took this mindset and addressed it by defining this mind as Jesus Christ and by stating that this mind has become a man. Also, the Greek mind (as defined by Plato) conceived of two worlds: the material world in which we live and the immaterial and unseen world. It was the unseen world, the real world, while the material realm was made of shadows and copies, not real. Jesus is the incarnation not only of the mind of God but also of reality! The life of Jesus is a window into the mind of God, His priorities, and His realities.

Sword of the Spirit

For the word [logos] of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.                   Hebrews 4:12

And take THE HELMET OF SALVATION, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word                         [rhema] of God.                  Ephesians 6:17

Hebrews 4:12 reveals that the logos is living and active, judging the thoughts and intentions of the heart. It is the Holy Spirit, as the sword of the Spirit, who teaches the logos in personal application as a rhema. The sword of the Spirit points to the Holy Spirit’s power to inspire, illumine, and apply the text. The Spirit “moved” the human authors (2 Peter 1:21) and continues to bring conviction (John 16:8) and spiritual understanding. Consequently, the words of Scripture have a divine source, and their effectiveness stands on the Spirit’s ongoing operation in the life of the believer. Without the work of the Holy Spirit, the logos cannot produce a personal faith in the believer.

For indeed we have had good news preached to us, just as they also; but the word [logos] they heard did not profit them, because it was not united by faith in those who heard (Hebrews 4:2).

The Word of God and Faith

So, faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word [rhema – the doctrines and promises of God revealed and taught in the Scriptures] of Christ. But I say, surely, they have never heard, have they? Indeed, they have; "THEIR VOICE HAS GONE OUT INTO ALL THE EARTH, AND THEIR WORDS [rhema] TO THE ENDS OF THE WORLD."              Romans 10:17-18

But what does it say? "THE WORD [rhema] IS NEAR YOU, IN YOUR MOUTH AND IN YOUR HEART"—that is, the word [rhema] of faith which we are preaching.           Romans 10:8

Paul clearly saw the relationship between faith and the Word of God as taught by the Holy Spirit. For a believer’s faith to be affected, he must believe that the words are true and can change him from the inside. They represent the word of faith that can mold and shape the heart into the image of Christ. They are the voice of God speaking to humanity in the most intimate ways to confirm what is true and real, versus the deceptions of the enemy and the world system. As James observed, Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word [logos] implanted, which is able to save [deliver] your souls (James 1:21). When the believer accepts the words of God as illuminated by the Holy Spirit with humility, the words become implanted within his frame of reference and builds his faith in God.

Eat My Flesh, Drink My Blood

Then the Jews began to argue with one another, saying, "How can this man give us His flesh to eat?" So Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh [sarx – flesh of a living being] of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in yourselves. He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. For My flesh is true food, and My blood is true drink. He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him. As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who eats Me, he also will live because of Me. This is the bread which came down out of heaven; not as the fathers ate and died; he who eats this bread will live forever."            John 6:52-58

The above teaching of Jesus is among the most troubling and controversial matters He addressed as He prepared His disciples for the road ahead. This event happened early in His public ministry, long before the Last Supper and His introduction of the communion (Eucharist) celebration. The Roman Catholic Church has adopted the doctrine of transubstantiation to accommodate the above passage in light of the central theme of the Mass as the actual changing of the elements (bread and wine) into the body and blood of Jesus. It is easy to manipulate the teachings of the Scriptures to accommodate a private interpretation that was never intended. In Leviticus 3:17, 'This shall be a perpetual statute throughout your generations in all your dwellings: you shall eat neither fat nor blood.'" The eating and drinking of His body and blood are intended to be spiritual and not physical. Just as good food and drink sustain physical life, so Jesus, the real (reliable) spiritual food and drink, sustains His followers spiritually. His flesh and blood give eternal life to those who receive Him.

These things He said in the synagogue as He taught in Capernaum. Therefore, many of His disciples, when they heard this, said, "This is a difficult statement; who can listen to it?" But Jesus, conscious that His disciples grumbled at this, said to them, "Does this cause you to stumble? What then if you see the Son of Man ascending to where He was before? It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words [rhema] that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life. But there are some of you who do not believe." For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who it was that would betray Him. And He was saying, "For this reason I have said to you, that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted him from the Father." As a result, many of His disciples withdrew and were not walking with Him anymore. So, Jesus said to the twelve, "You do not want to go away also, do you?" Simon Peter answered Him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have words of eternal life. We have believed and have come to know that You are the Holy One of God."                        John 6:59-69 

The old covenant is a religious expression based on the enforcement of the Torah by the leadership of the people and focused its attention on the believer’s outward activity. Jesus was introducing a new life, motivated and empowered by the Holy Spirit. The spiritual life is not measured by the material, but is viewed from eternity, where it is born (John 3:3, 5) and will return. Through this teaching in John 6, Jesus was emphasizing spiritual understanding, as taught by the Holy Spirit. It requires faith, a willingness to trust what He has spoken as true. Jesus noticed that some of the disciples (other than the twelve) did not believe, withdrew, and were not walking with Him anymore. In John 8:47, Jesus said, He who is of God hears the words [rhema] of God; for this reason, you do not hear them, because you are not of God. Peter understood that “You have words of eternal life. We have believed and have come to know that You are the Holy One of God."                           

The Word of God and the Holy Spirit

But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come.                John 16:13 

BUT THE WORD [rhema] OF THE LORD ENDURES FOREVER." And this is the word [rhema] which was preached to you.                           1 Peter 1:25

But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient [hupakouo – listen closely with an intention to follow] from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed [paradidomi – passive voice, delivered to you].                  Romans 6:17 

who also made us adequate [hikanoo – rendered competent] as servants of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.      2 Corinthians 3:6

The Holy Spirit has been commissioned by the Father and the Son to be our teacher, only speaking what has been disclosed to Him by the Father and the Son. It is the eternal Word of God, as revealed by the Son of God during His First Coming. This teaching is ordained and explicitly prepared for each believer based on his abilities and opportunities, and becomes the basis of his judgment at the Judgment (Bema) Seat of Christ. The Holy Spirit personalizes our relationship with God so that the fulcrum of the believer’s spiritual success is his heart attitude when hearing from God. It is through the new covenant and not the old covenant that the believer is rendered competent and capable to fulfill God’s will.

Sanctified

For He whom God has sent speaks the words [rhema] of God; for He gives the Spirit without measure [metron – in limited degree].                        John 3:34

so that He might sanctify her [the church], having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word [rhema].                   Ephesians 5:26

For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. Now may the God who gives perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus, so that with one accord you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.                          Romans 15:4-6 

John 3:34 tells us that the Holy Spirit was given without limitation to be His spokesman after Jesus ascended. The Holy Spirit would be used to sanctify and set apart the church for His purposes through a cleansing by the rhema. Paul writes in Romans 15 that perseverance is necessary, strengthened by the encouragement of the Scriptures, so that we might have hope. When the believer is truly a student of the Holy Spirit in His daily walk, he becomes part of a holy community of faith, the Body of Christ in fulfilling God’s plan for His church on earth.

Living Forever 

The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever.

       1 John 2:17

I now rejoice, not that you were made sorrowful, but that you were made sorrowful to the point of repentance; for you were made sorrowful according to the will of God, so that you might not suffer loss in anything through us. For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation, but the sorrow of the world produces death.        2 Corinthians 7:9-10

For whoever does the will of God, he is My brother and sister and mother."               Mark 3:35

Eternal life is centered on the will of God. When the believer decides he wants to prioritize God’s will above all else, he has found the highest quality of life, both here on earth and in eternity. That decision may require being made sorrowful to the point of repentance, a change of mind that allows the will of God to take charge. Those who are not open to this process will never be delivered from the influences of worldliness and self-centeredness, which will result in spiritual separation from God. Doing the will of God brings the believer into his spiritual family, the universal Body of Christ.

Transformed 

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove [dokimazo – confirm by testing] what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.                 Romans 12:2

For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised.                           Hebrews 10:36

Therefore, those also who suffer according to the will of God shall entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right.                          1 Peter 4:19

Proving or confirming the will of God is the end result of a transformation, a total change caused by a renewal of the mind instituted and carried out by the Holy Spirit, and testing. Doing the will of God is not a series of short sprints, but a marathon, an attitude of endurance, since it will be constantly tested by God’s enemies. The believer has the promised end in all of its glory in view as he lives his life in doing what is right; there will be some suffering at times, but also an assurance that he cannot be snatched from the Father’s hands (John 10:29). 

Possessing the Vessel 

For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that is, that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each of you know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, not in lustful passion, like the Gentiles who do not know God; and that no man transgress and defraud his brother in the matter because the Lord is the avenger in all these things, just as we also told you before and solemnly warned you. For God has not called us for the purpose of impurity, but in sanctification. So, he who rejects this is not rejecting man but the God who gives His Holy Spirit to you.                1 Thessalonians 4:3-8 

Sanctification is the present-tense form of salvation as a setting apart from the world for God’s purpose. It requires the avoidance of certain sinful activities in particular, including sexual immorality and all forms of impurity. The believer is instructed to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, not in lustful passion. The believer lives his life as a representative of God, demonstrating a holiness, not in perfection, but in devotion to God’s plans and purposes. The Holy Spirit is God’s administrator in the current age, convicting the world concerning sin, righteousness, and judgment (John 16:8). As the believer attends to the leading and guiding of the Holy Spirit, he is brought into the perfect will of God. The search is over!

for the words [rhema] which You gave Me, I have given to them; and they received them and truly understood that I came forth from You, and they believed that You sent Me.      John 17:8