So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “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 8:31,32 ESV

If you try to run after the Lord without running through the Word, you will find someone else. John Piper

I am about eleven years late listening to a message from John Piper titled, If You Abide in My Word, You Are Truly My Disciples. After taking in Bible teaching concerning abiding in the truth from Steve Lawson, I wanted to glean from more teaching, and this is where I came across Piper’s message on John 8:31, “So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples.”” The entire counsel of Scripture is nourishment to my soul in this dry and weary land, and there are specific passages illuminating the path in this beautiful journey with the Lord. John 8:31,32 is one of those glorious beams of light. Abiding in the Word of God has brought great freedom and greater fellowship with the Lord. This fellowship cannot happen apart from Scripture any more than one can come to saving faith in Christ apart from the proclamation of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

In Piper’s exposition of John 8:31, he emphasized “truly”, making the distinction between real and unreal disciples. Those to whom Jesus spoke in this passage believed in Him, but they were not real disciples. Unreal disciples exhibit an outward discipleship while true disciples exemplify that which “goes down to the root…true disciples do not grow into that role. They go on abiding in His Word.” He made a connection found in John 15 in which Jesus talks of abiding in Him. In John 8:31, Jesus refers to His Word, which Piper states is the sum of all Jesus’ teachings that are summed up in Himself. The word abide means to remain, and “the mark of a true Christian is that we taste and stay. If we want to know Jesus, we must know Him through His Word.”

Listening to these teachings was encouraging, spurring me even more in my study of God’s Word. I want to know God more in His attributes and His ways. I want to know what pleases Him and what grieves Him, what is acceptable to Him, what is forbidden and why. This is fellowship I greatly treasure, and I have found the more I read Scripture and listen to solid Bible teaching, the more I am in awe of Him. Even during corporate gatherings and in simply hearing the Word read aloud, I become overwhelmed by its testimony of the Lord, and at times, it moves me to tears. For a while, I thought something was wrong with me, but I realized that God was satisfying the desire of my heart to be spiritually fed and to be satisfied in Him alone. To meditate on His steadfast love, His mercy, and His grace, among His many other attributes brings great joy and peace. That comes through abiding in His Word.

The Charge of Bibliolatry

You may have heard this phrase at some point, “Well, it isn’t the Father, the Son, and the Holy Bible.” Though I would agree with this statement on its face, this is said in response to those who place a great emphasis on Scripture. When this statement is said, it holds a negative connotation toward the one who holds the Word in high standing with the insinuation they are worshiping the Bible. It has also been said by those who perceive the movement of the supernatural as being attacked by the call for contextual biblical understanding. This is interesting to me for various reasons.

With a statement such as this, one could pose the question as to why it is an issue for Scripture to be referenced in context and to be emphasized appropriately. If we as professing Christians become offended by the proclamation of Scripture in context, then we need to ask why. The Word of God is the more certain word (2 Peter 1:19,20). We can trust it to be God’s very Word spoken and recorded through men who were carried along by the Holy Spirit. This is our foundation of truth. Why would we not want to emphasize the very words testifying of our glorious Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ?

It would seem concerning and perplexing when professing believers take issue with reference to the foundation of our faith, the written Word of God, in its proper context. It is also concerning when the words of fallible men abide more in people than God’s written Word. Equally grieving is the practice of taking the Word of God out of context and assigning meaning it does not possess.

One could say there is a false dichotomy made when stated those who study God’s Word and who spend time in understanding it do not have intimacy with Christ or fellowship with God. This could not be further from the truth as we see with Scripture telling us to abide in the Word and to abide with Christ (1 John 2:3-6, 1 John 2:24, 3:24, 1 John 4:13-15). Colossians 3:16 encourages believers to have the Word of Christ dwelling in them richly. This seems to be alluding to abiding or remaining in His Word. I agree with Piper, “If you want to know Jesus, you know Him through His Word.” More importantly, I agree with the Bible.

I do not worship the Bible. I do have a high view of Scripture, and it testifies of the One I worship and serve. It contains the gospel bringing salvation. Without His Word, you and I cannot possibly worship Him the way He rightfully instructs and deserves. To truly be a disciple, abiding in the Word is necessary.

Listen to this latest podcast episode for a more in-depth discussion on this topic:

The Father, the Son, and the Holy Bible? – The Lovesick Scribe Podcast | Podcast on Spotify