Miss God's Word or Will as a Christian in Abiding
To "miss God's Word" or "miss God's will" as a Christian abiding in Christ refers to a failure to properly receive, understand, or adhere to divine revelation and guidance. This concept is often understood in terms of spiritual discernment and obedience.
The "Word of God" can refer to the entirety of Scripture, which is considered inspired by God and speaks of Christ [4]. It is a revelation of divine will, making known things that are true, pleasant, and profitable [9]. The apostle Paul, even while imprisoned, affirmed that "the Word of God has not been bound" [1], indicating its enduring power and freedom. For the Word to "abide" in believers means for it to take root in their hearts, influencing their affections, and guiding their actions [3, 6]. This involves not merely intellectual assent but a deep, internal reception of its truths [3].
Missing God's Word can manifest in several ways:
- Lack of Internalization: Adam Clarke notes that some may believe the Scriptures are from God but fail to let them "take hold of their hearts" [3]. This means the Word might be in one's mouth but not in their mind, leading to a lack of salvation or transformation despite exposure to it [3]. David's practice of hiding God's Word in his heart to avoid sin illustrates the desired internalization [3].
- Rejection or Disbelief: Some individuals, like those addressed in John 5:38, may not have God's Word abiding in them because they do not truly receive it [3]. This can extend to actively despising the Gospel, rejecting its ordinances, or disbelieving the Messiah [7].
- Spiritual Dullness: The Bible describes a state where people's hearts become "gross" or "fat," their ears "dull of hearing," and their eyes "closed" to spiritual truths [8]. This willful ignorance prevents them from seeing, hearing, and understanding God's message [8].
- Looking Elsewhere for Salvation: John Gill, commenting on Proverbs 8:36, describes sin as "missing the mark." He identifies Christ as the "mark and scope" of God's counsels, the covenant of grace, and the Scriptures [2]. Those who miss this mark look for salvation through other means, such as the light of nature, the law of Moses, or moral performances, thereby missing God's intended path [2].
"Missing God's will" is closely related to missing His Word, as the Word reveals His will. Abiding in Christ implies that His "words or doctrines abide" in the disciples [6]. This means holding fast to the profession of faith, standing firm in it, and steadfastly adhering to its teachings [6]. When the Word of Christ dwells richly within believers, it furnishes them with spiritual wisdom [4].
The consequences of missing God's Word or will can be severe. Simon Magus, for instance, was told he had "neither part nor lot in this matter" (the gift of the Holy Spirit) because he lacked the grace of the Spirit and sought to purchase spiritual power [5]. This indicates a fundamental disconnect from the blessings and purposes of God. The prophet Jeremiah speaks of lying down in shame and confusion due to sin against the Lord, which includes despising the Gospel and rejecting its truths [7].
Sources
- II Timothy “II Timothy 2:9 (LITV) — in which I suffer ill as an evildoer, unto bonds; but the Word of God has not been bound.”
- Proverbs (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Proverbs 8:36: But he that sinneth against me,.... Or misses the mark, as the word (b) signifies; and which is observed by Aben Ezra; see Jdg 20:16. Christ is the mark and scope of the counsels of God; of the covenant of grace; of the Scriptures; of the Gospel, the truths and promises of it; of the graces of the Spirit, and of all spiritual duties and services; and to whom we are to look for heaven and eternal happiness, Phi 3:14; and such miss the mark who look for salvation elsewhere, either by the light of nature; or by the law of Moses; or by any moral performances, or any rel”
- John (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on John 5:38: Ye have not his word abiding in you - Though ye believe the Scriptures to be of God, yet ye do not let them take hold of your hearts - his word is in your mouth, but not in your mind. What a miserable lot! to read the Scriptures as the true sayings of God, and yet to get no salvation from them! Thy word, says David, (Psa 119:11), have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against thee. This, these Jews had not done. Reader, hast thou?”
- Colossians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Colossians 3:16: Let the word of Christ dwell in you,.... The Alexandrian copy and Arabic version read, "the word of God"; by which may be meant the whole Scripture, all the writings of the Old and New Testament, which are by inspiration of God, were endited by the spirit of Christ, speak and testify of him, and were written for his sake, and on his account, and therefore may be called his word; and are what should be searched into, carefully attended to, diligently read, and frequently meditated upon; and which are able, under a divine blessing, to furnish with all spiritual wisd”
- Acts (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Acts 8:20: Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter,.... Or business of the gift of the Holy Ghost; signifying, that as he had not the grace of the Spirit of God implanted in him, so he should not have any of the gifts of the Spirit bestowed on him; and much less a power of communicating them to others, through laying on of hands: or "in this word"; the word of the Gospel, preached by the apostles; and in any of the blessings published in it, as the forgiveness of sins, a justifying righteousness, and eternal life; and so the Syraic version renders it, "in this faith"; neithe”
- John (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on John 15:6: If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you,.... Abiding in Christ is here explained by his words or doctrines abiding in his disciples; by which are meant his Gospel, and the truths of it. This abides when it comes in power, and becomes the engrafted word; and may be said to do so, when such, in whose hearts it has a place, and has taken deep root, continue to have a relish and savour of it, a true and hearty affection for it, esteeming it above their necessary food; when they hold fast the profession of it, stand fast in it, steadfastly abide by it, and constantly at”
- Jeremiah (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Jeremiah 3:25: We lie down in our shame, and our confusion covereth us,.... As persons overwhelmed with a sense of sin, and so pressed with the guilt of it on their consciences, that they can neither stand up, nor look up, but throw themselves on the ground, and cover their faces, being ashamed of what they have done: for we have sinned against the Lord our God; as by breaking the law of God, so by despising the Gospel; rejecting the ordinances of it; disbelieving the Messiah, and speaking reproachfully of him and his people: we and our fathers, from our youth even unto this d”
- Acts (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Acts 28:27: For the heart of this people is waxed gross,.... Or fat; stupefied with notions of carnal and temporal things, and become hardened against, and unsusceptible of, divine and spiritual things: and their ears are dull of hearing; the Gospel, and its joyful sound; to which they stop their cars, as the deaf adder to the voice of the charmer: and their eyes have they closed; and wilfully shut, against all evidence from facts, miracles, prophecies, and preaching: lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and shoul”
- Hebrews (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Hebrews 6:4: And have tasted the good word of God,.... Not the Lord Jesus Christ, the essential Word of God, who seems to be intended before by the heavenly gift; but rather, either the Scriptures of truth in general, which are the word of God, endited by him, and contain his mind and will; which he makes use of for conviction, conversion, instruction, and comfort; and which are preserved by him: and these are a good word; they come from him who is good; they are a revelation of good things; they make known things true, pleasant, and profitable: or else the Gospel in particular, o”