{"id":1400853,"date":"2025-07-02T12:15:40","date_gmt":"2025-07-02T19:15:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lwrv.org\/resources\/?p=1400853"},"modified":"2025-07-02T17:16:12","modified_gmt":"2025-07-03T00:16:12","slug":"three-distinctions-of-the-word-of-god","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lwrv.org\/resources\/three-distinctions-of-the-word-of-god\/","title":{"rendered":"The Word of God: Three Distinctions"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><em>Rhema. Logos. Graphe. \u2014 Revelation. Formation. Preservation.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When we hear the phrase <em>\u201cthe Word of God,\u201d<\/em> we often default to thinking of the Bible. And that\u2019s not wrong, but it is incomplete. Scripture gives us a fuller, richer picture of what the Word truly is. The Word is not only written, but living. Not only spoken, but embodied. Not only eternal, but personal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In the Greek language of the New Testament, three distinct terms are used to describe the <strong>Word<\/strong>. Let\u2019s begin with a simple framework that help us reflect on this:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>The Written Word<\/strong> \u2014 Scripture (<em>Graphe<\/em>)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>The Eternal Word<\/strong> \u2014 Son (<em>Logos<\/em>)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>The Living Word<\/strong> \u2014 Spirit (<em>Rhema<\/em>)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Each expression of the Word helps us engage with a different dimension of God\u2019s communication. <strong>Graphe<\/strong> anchors us in God\u2019s story. <strong>Logos<\/strong> reveals the fullness of God in the person of Jesus. <strong>Rhema<\/strong> brings revelation that is alive and present. All three work together to shape us into the likeness of the Son.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As we\u2019ve been sitting in <strong>John 17<\/strong> in our teaching series, we\u2019ve seen that the Gospel of John doesn\u2019t just mention these three, he <strong>weaves<\/strong> them together into a single narrative arc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Let\u2019s explore them more fully and then look at how John brings them to life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Instructional Nature of the Written Word<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><em>\u201cNow these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come.\u201d<\/em><br>\u20141 Corinthians 10:11<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Graphe<\/strong> refers to Scripture which is what has been recorded and preserved for our learning. When Jesus, Paul, or any of the New Testament writers refer to \u201cScripture,\u201d they are pointing directly to the <strong>Hebrew Bible<\/strong>, what we now call the <strong>Old Testament<\/strong>. The Law (Torah), the Prophets (Nevi\u2019im), and the Writings (Ketuvim). This was the sacred library Jesus knew, quoted, and fulfilled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The written Word is historical as much as it is instructional. It grounds us in the character of God and in His covenantal faithfulness. It invites us to trust the story we\u2019re part of, to live with wisdom, and to anticipate what God is doing now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Today, under the new covenant, when we say \u201c<em>Scripture<\/em>,\u201d we are referring to both the Old and New Testaments. Both is the full witness of God\u2019s Word through His people, fulfilled in Christ, and passed down and preserved through the apostles. The same Spirit who inspired the Hebrew Scriptures inspired the writings of the early church, giving us a unified testimony of God\u2019s redemptive work from beginning to end.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Architectural Nature of the Eternal Word<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><em>\u201cLong ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son\u2026 through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature.\u201d<\/em><br>\u2014Hebrews 1:1\u20133<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Logos<\/strong> speaks of the Word as eternal, creative, and embodied. Jesus is not just the messenger. He <em>is<\/em> the message. The Word made flesh. The divine logic behind all things. He is the blueprint, the perfect image of God, through whom all things were made and by whom all things are held together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But Logos is not only about origin. It is also about order and <strong>formation<\/strong>. The same Word that created the cosmos also sustains it. Logos is the <strong>spiritual architecture<\/strong> of reality, the divine structure that not only holds creation together but also reshapes us from within.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The eternal Word, as revealed in Jesus is the <strong>form of Truth itself<\/strong>, and it carries the full weight of the Father\u2019s nature and intention. When we encounter Jesus, we are not just hearing truth, we are being aligned with His reality. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Revelatory Nature of the Living Word<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><em>\u201cWhen the Helper comes\u2026 the Spirit of truth\u2026 he will bear witness about me.\u201d<\/em><br>\u2014John 15:26<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Rhema<\/strong> is the Word that is alive in the moment. It\u2019s what the Spirit is saying <em>now<\/em>. It\u2019s not in conflict with Logos or Graphe, but it brings them to life within us. Rhema is how faith is awakened. Paul writes, <em>\u201cFaith comes by hearing, and hearing through the Word (Rhema) of Christ.\u201d<\/em> (Romans 10:17)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These are the words that pierce our spirit during prayer, or when Scripture suddenly becomes personal, or when the Spirit speaks something unmistakable into our present situation. <em>Rhema<\/em> is the <strong>now-Word<\/strong> that flows from the eternal <em>Logos<\/em> and aligns with the written <em>Graphe<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>How John Weaves It All Together<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Since we\u2019re spending time in John 17, it\u2019s worth stepping back to see how the entire Gospel of John weaves together the living dynamics of the Word. John isn\u2019t just telling stories \u2014 he\u2019s crafting a work of art. The Gospel of John is a theological masterpiece that takes us into a literary journey through the movement of revelation, formation, and preservation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>John opens with <strong>Logos<\/strong>: <em>\u201cIn the beginning was the Word\u2026\u201d<\/em> (John 1:1). He starts with eternity, with the preexistent Christ, the divine blueprint of creation. But John\u2019s recognition of Jesus as the Logos was not abstract. It was rooted in revelation. The Logos had been hidden in plain sight through the Hebrew Scriptures\u2014the Law, the Prophets, and the story of Israel. Jesus was the fulfillment of everything they had read, longed for, and lived through.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As the narrative unfolds, Jesus begins to speak. <em>\u201cThe words I have spoken to you are spirit and life.\u201d<\/em> (John 6:63). This is <strong>Rhema<\/strong>. These Spirit-charged present-tense words carry life and power. They awaken hearts, confront broken systems, and invite transformation. Rhema appears in moments of revelation, when something eternal touches the present.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But something pivotal happens in <strong>John 17<\/strong>. As Jesus prepares to go to the cross, He prays to the Father and reflects on what has taken place. He says, <em>\u201cI have given them the words you gave me, and they have received them\u2026 They have kept your word\u201d<\/em> (John 17:8, 6). This is where <strong>Rhema becomes Logos<\/strong>. The words He spoke have now taken root. They have formed something. The disciples are no longer just listeners, they are carriers of the truth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then Jesus prays, <em>\u201cSanctify them by the truth; your word is truth\u201d<\/em> (John 17:17). He is sending them into the world not just with knowledge, but with <em>formation<\/em>. They have been shaped by what He said. As Rhema becomes Logos and they go out, that Logos will multiply in others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>By the end of the Gospel, John makes his purpose clear. <em>\u201cThese are written so that you may believe\u2026\u201d<\/em> (John 20:31). This is <strong>Graphe<\/strong>\u2014the written Word preserved so that others might encounter the same Jesus through testimony. The Word that was spoken became flesh. The flesh became witness. And the witness became Scripture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This progression from <em>rhema<\/em> to <em>logos<\/em> to <em>graphe<\/em> is no accident. It is the movement of heaven into earth, of revelation into formation, of personal encounter into lasting truth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Everything Revolves Around the Son<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>As we take all this in, we are reminded that the <strong>Spirit<\/strong> and the <strong>Scriptures<\/strong> do not stand on their own. Both revolve around the <strong>Son<\/strong>. When either one is separated from Him, we fall into distortion. The Bible without Jesus becomes rigid and lifeless. The Spirit without Jesus becomes unanchored and subjective. But when both are centered in Christ, they lead to transformation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We are invited into the same divine progression \u2014 rhema to logos to graphe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We hear the Word. <br>We are formed by it. <br>And we carry it forward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We are a people shaped by revelation, built on truth, and grounded in story.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We listen for the voice of the <strong>Spirit<\/strong>.<br>We look to the life of the <strong>Son<\/strong>.<br>We return to the witness of <strong>Scripture<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And through all of it, we are being conformed to the image of Christ.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This is the power of the Word of God.<br>And this is the invitation we say yes to together.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Rhema. Logos. Graphe. \u2014 Revelation. Formation. Preservation. When we hear the phrase \u201cthe Word of God,\u201d we often default to thinking of the Bible. And\u2026<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1400858,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"wds_primary_category":126,"footnotes":""},"categories":[126],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1400853","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-kingdom-culture",""],"blockli_fields":{"post_type":"","post_action":"","post_type_icon":"","background_image":""},"bb_bookmark":{"bookmark_id":0,"is_bookmarked":false,"bookmark_date":0},"app_bookmark":{"bookmark_id":0,"is_bookmarked":false,"bookmark_date":0},"comments_count":"0","content_native":[{"type":"core\/paragraph","render":"<p><em>Rhema. Logos. Graphe. \u2014 Revelation. Formation. Preservation.<\/em><\/p>","content":[{"type":"text","data":"<em>Rhema. Logos. Graphe. \u2014 Revelation. Formation. Preservation.<\/em>"}],"data":[],"style":{"textAlign":"left","color":"","dropCap":false,"parent_style":{}}},{"type":"core\/paragraph","render":"<p>When we hear the phrase <em>\u201cthe Word of God,\u201d<\/em> we often default to thinking of the Bible. And that\u2019s not wrong, but it is incomplete. Scripture gives us a fuller, richer picture of what the Word truly is. The Word is not only written, but living. Not only spoken, but embodied. Not only eternal, but personal.<\/p>","content":[{"type":"text","data":"When we hear the phrase <em>\u201cthe Word of God,\u201d<\/em> we often default to thinking of the Bible. And that\u2019s not wrong, but it is incomplete. Scripture gives us a fuller, richer picture of what the Word truly is. The Word is not only written, but living. Not only spoken, but embodied. Not only eternal, but personal."}],"data":[],"style":{"textAlign":"left","color":"","dropCap":false,"parent_style":{}}},{"type":"core\/paragraph","render":"<p>In the Greek language of the New Testament, three distinct terms are used to describe the Word. Let\u2019s begin with a simple framework that help us reflect on this:<\/p>","content":[{"type":"text","data":"In the Greek language of the New Testament, three distinct terms are used to describe the Word. Let\u2019s begin with a simple framework that help us reflect on this:"}],"data":[],"style":{"textAlign":"left","color":"","dropCap":false,"parent_style":{}}},{"type":"core\/list","render":"<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\r\n<li><strong>The Written Word<\/strong> \u2014 Scripture (<em>Graphe<\/em>)<\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<li><strong>The Eternal Word<\/strong> \u2014 Son (<em>Logos<\/em>)<\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<li><strong>The Living Word<\/strong> \u2014 Spirit (<em>Rhema<\/em>)<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>","content":"<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\r\n<li><strong>The Written Word<\/strong> \u2014 Scripture (<em>Graphe<\/em>)<\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<li><strong>The Eternal Word<\/strong> \u2014 Son (<em>Logos<\/em>)<\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<li><strong>The Living Word<\/strong> \u2014 Spirit (<em>Rhema<\/em>)<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>","listItemData":[{"type":"core\/list-item","render":"<li><strong>The Written Word<\/strong> \u2014 Scripture (<em>Graphe<\/em>)<\/li>","content":"The Written Word \u2014 Scripture (Graphe)","data":{"text":"The Written Word \u2014 Scripture (Graphe)"},"style":{"parent_style":{}}},{"type":"core\/list-item","render":"<li><strong>The Eternal Word<\/strong> \u2014 Son (<em>Logos<\/em>)<\/li>","content":"The Eternal Word \u2014 Son (Logos)","data":{"text":"The Eternal Word \u2014 Son (Logos)"},"style":{"parent_style":{}}},{"type":"core\/list-item","render":"<li><strong>The Living Word<\/strong> \u2014 Spirit (<em>Rhema<\/em>)<\/li>","content":"The Living Word \u2014 Spirit (Rhema)","data":{"text":"The Living Word \u2014 Spirit (Rhema)"},"style":{"parent_style":{}}}],"data":{"listType":"unordered"},"style":{"parent_style":{}}},{"type":"core\/paragraph","render":"<p>Each expression of the Word helps us engage with a different dimension of God\u2019s communication. <strong>Graphe<\/strong> anchors us in God\u2019s story. <strong>Logos<\/strong> reveals the fullness of God in the person of Jesus. <strong>Rhema<\/strong> brings revelation that is alive and present. All three work together to shape us into the likeness of the Son.<\/p>","content":[{"type":"text","data":"Each expression of the Word helps us engage with a different dimension of God\u2019s communication. <strong>Graphe<\/strong> anchors us in God\u2019s story. <strong>Logos<\/strong> reveals the fullness of God in the person of Jesus. <strong>Rhema<\/strong> brings revelation that is alive and present. All three work together to shape us into the likeness of the Son."}],"data":[],"style":{"textAlign":"left","color":"","dropCap":false,"parent_style":{}}},{"type":"core\/paragraph","render":"<p>As we\u2019ve been sitting in <strong>John 17<\/strong> in our teaching series, we\u2019ve seen that the Gospel of John doesn\u2019t just mention these three, he <strong>weaves<\/strong> them together into a single narrative arc.<\/p>","content":[{"type":"text","data":"As we\u2019ve been sitting in <strong>John 17<\/strong> in our teaching series, we\u2019ve seen that the Gospel of John doesn\u2019t just mention these three, he <strong>weaves<\/strong> them together into a single narrative arc."}],"data":[],"style":{"textAlign":"left","color":"","dropCap":false,"parent_style":{}}},{"type":"core\/paragraph","render":"<p>Let\u2019s explore them more fully and then look at how John brings them to life.<\/p>","content":[{"type":"text","data":"Let\u2019s explore them more fully and then look at how John brings them to life."}],"data":[],"style":{"textAlign":"left","color":"","dropCap":false,"parent_style":{}}},{"type":"core\/heading","render":"<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Instructional Nature of the Written Word<\/h3>","content":"The Instructional Nature of the Written Word","data":[],"style":{"align":"left","parent_style":{},"header":"h3","fontSize":"21px"}},{"type":"core\/quote","render":"<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\r\n<p><em>\u201cNow these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come.\u201d<\/em><br>\u20141 Corinthians 10:11<\/p>\r\n<\/blockquote>","content":"\u201cNow these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come.\u201d\u20141 Corinthians 10:11","quote_blocks":[{"type":"core\/paragraph","render":"<p><em>\u201cNow these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come.\u201d<\/em><br>\u20141 Corinthians 10:11<\/p>","content":[{"type":"text","data":"<em>\u201cNow these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come.\u201d<\/em><br>\u20141 Corinthians 10:11"}],"data":[],"style":{"textAlign":"left","color":"","dropCap":false,"parent_style":{"layout":"default","parent_style":{}}}}],"data":{"fontSize":"normal"},"style":{"layout":"default","parent_style":{}}},{"type":"core\/paragraph","render":"<p><strong>Graphe<\/strong> refers to Scripture which is what has been recorded and written for our learning. When Jesus, Paul, or any of the New Testament writers refer to \u201cScripture,\u201d they are pointing directly to the <strong>Hebrew Bible<\/strong>, what we now call the <strong>Old Testament<\/strong>. The Law (Torah), the Prophets (Nevi\u2019im), and the Writings (Ketuvim). This was the sacred library Jesus knew, quoted, and fulfilled.<\/p>","content":[{"type":"text","data":"<strong>Graphe<\/strong> refers to Scripture which is what has been recorded and written for our learning. When Jesus, Paul, or any of the New Testament writers refer to \u201cScripture,\u201d they are pointing directly to the <strong>Hebrew Bible<\/strong>, what we now call the <strong>Old Testament<\/strong>. The Law (Torah), the Prophets (Nevi\u2019im), and the Writings (Ketuvim). This was the sacred library Jesus knew, quoted, and fulfilled."}],"data":[],"style":{"textAlign":"left","color":"","dropCap":false,"parent_style":{}}},{"type":"core\/paragraph","render":"<p>The written Word is historical as much as it is instructional. It grounds us in the character of God and in His covenantal faithfulness. It invites us to trust the story we\u2019re part of, to live with wisdom, and to anticipate what God is doing now.<\/p>","content":[{"type":"text","data":"The written Word is historical as much as it is instructional. It grounds us in the character of God and in His covenantal faithfulness. It invites us to trust the story we\u2019re part of, to live with wisdom, and to anticipate what God is doing now."}],"data":[],"style":{"textAlign":"left","color":"","dropCap":false,"parent_style":{}}},{"type":"core\/paragraph","render":"<p>Today, under the new covenant, when we say \u201cScripture,\u201d we are referring to both the Old and New Testaments\u2014the full witness of God\u2019s Word through His people, fulfilled in Christ, and passed down through the apostles. The same Spirit who inspired the Hebrew Scriptures inspired the writings of the early church, giving us a unified testimony of God\u2019s redemptive work from beginning to end.<\/p>","content":[{"type":"text","data":"Today, under the new covenant, when we say \u201cScripture,\u201d we are referring to both the Old and New Testaments\u2014the full witness of God\u2019s Word through His people, fulfilled in Christ, and passed down through the apostles. The same Spirit who inspired the Hebrew Scriptures inspired the writings of the early church, giving us a unified testimony of God\u2019s redemptive work from beginning to end."}],"data":[],"style":{"textAlign":"left","color":"","dropCap":false,"parent_style":{}}},{"type":"core\/heading","render":"<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Architectural Nature of the Eternal Word<\/h3>","content":"The Architectural Nature of the Eternal Word","data":[],"style":{"align":"left","parent_style":{},"header":"h3","fontSize":"21px"}},{"type":"core\/quote","render":"<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\r\n<p><em>\u201cLong ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son... through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature.\u201d<\/em><br>\u2014Hebrews 1:1\u20133<\/p>\r\n<\/blockquote>","content":"\u201cLong ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son... through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature.\u201d\u2014Hebrews 1:1\u20133","quote_blocks":[{"type":"core\/paragraph","render":"<p><em>\u201cLong ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son... through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature.\u201d<\/em><br>\u2014Hebrews 1:1\u20133<\/p>","content":[{"type":"text","data":"<em>\u201cLong ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son... through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature.\u201d<\/em><br>\u2014Hebrews 1:1\u20133"}],"data":[],"style":{"textAlign":"left","color":"","dropCap":false,"parent_style":{"layout":"default","parent_style":{}}}}],"data":{"fontSize":"normal"},"style":{"layout":"default","parent_style":{}}},{"type":"core\/paragraph","render":"<p><strong>Logos<\/strong> speaks of the Word as eternal, creative, and embodied. Jesus is not just the messenger. He <em>is<\/em> the message. The Word made flesh. The divine logic behind all things. He is the blueprint, the perfect image of God, through whom all things were made and by whom all things are held together.<\/p>","content":[{"type":"text","data":"<strong>Logos<\/strong> speaks of the Word as eternal, creative, and embodied. Jesus is not just the messenger. He <em>is<\/em> the message. The Word made flesh. The divine logic behind all things. He is the blueprint, the perfect image of God, through whom all things were made and by whom all things are held together."}],"data":[],"style":{"textAlign":"left","color":"","dropCap":false,"parent_style":{}}},{"type":"core\/paragraph","render":"<p>But Logos is not only about origin. It is also about order and formation. The same Word that created the cosmos also sustains it. Logos is the <strong>spiritual architecture<\/strong> of reality, the divine structure that not only holds creation together but also reshapes us from within. <\/p>","content":[{"type":"text","data":"But Logos is not only about origin. It is also about order and formation. The same Word that created the cosmos also sustains it. Logos is the <strong>spiritual architecture<\/strong> of reality, the divine structure that not only holds creation together but also reshapes us from within. "}],"data":[],"style":{"textAlign":"left","color":"","dropCap":false,"parent_style":{}}},{"type":"core\/paragraph","render":"<p>The eternal Word, as revealed in Jesus is the <strong>form of Truth itself<\/strong>, and it carries the full weight of the Father\u2019s nature and intention. When we encounter Jesus, we are not just hearing truth, we are being aligned with His reality. <\/p>","content":[{"type":"text","data":"The eternal Word, as revealed in Jesus is the <strong>form of Truth itself<\/strong>, and it carries the full weight of the Father\u2019s nature and intention. When we encounter Jesus, we are not just hearing truth, we are being aligned with His reality. "}],"data":[],"style":{"textAlign":"left","color":"","dropCap":false,"parent_style":{}}},{"type":"core\/heading","render":"<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Revelatory Nature of the Living Word<\/h3>","content":"The Revelatory Nature of the Living Word","data":[],"style":{"align":"left","parent_style":{},"header":"h3","fontSize":"21px"}},{"type":"core\/quote","render":"<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\r\n<p><em>\u201cWhen the Helper comes\u2026 the Spirit of truth\u2026 he will bear witness about me.\u201d<\/em><br>\u2014John 15:26<\/p>\r\n<\/blockquote>","content":"\u201cWhen the Helper comes\u2026 the Spirit of truth\u2026 he will bear witness about me.\u201d\u2014John 15:26","quote_blocks":[{"type":"core\/paragraph","render":"<p><em>\u201cWhen the Helper comes\u2026 the Spirit of truth\u2026 he will bear witness about me.\u201d<\/em><br>\u2014John 15:26<\/p>","content":[{"type":"text","data":"<em>\u201cWhen the Helper comes\u2026 the Spirit of truth\u2026 he will bear witness about me.\u201d<\/em><br>\u2014John 15:26"}],"data":[],"style":{"textAlign":"left","color":"","dropCap":false,"parent_style":{"layout":"default","parent_style":{}}}}],"data":{"fontSize":"normal"},"style":{"layout":"default","parent_style":{}}},{"type":"core\/paragraph","render":"<p><strong>Rhema<\/strong> is the Word that is alive in the moment. It\u2019s what the Spirit is saying <em>now<\/em>. It\u2019s not in conflict with Logos or Graphe, but it brings them to life within us. Rhema is how faith is awakened. Paul writes, <em>\u201cFaith comes by hearing, and hearing through the Word (Rhema) of Christ.\u201d<\/em> (Romans 10:17)<\/p>","content":[{"type":"text","data":"<strong>Rhema<\/strong> is the Word that is alive in the moment. It\u2019s what the Spirit is saying <em>now<\/em>. It\u2019s not in conflict with Logos or Graphe, but it brings them to life within us. Rhema is how faith is awakened. Paul writes, <em>\u201cFaith comes by hearing, and hearing through the Word (Rhema) of Christ.\u201d<\/em> (Romans 10:17)"}],"data":[],"style":{"textAlign":"left","color":"","dropCap":false,"parent_style":{}}},{"type":"core\/paragraph","render":"<p>These are the words that pierce our spirit during prayer, or when Scripture suddenly becomes personal, or when the Spirit speaks something unmistakable into our present situation. Rhema is the <strong>now-Word<\/strong> that flows from the eternal Logos and aligns with the written Graphe.<\/p>","content":[{"type":"text","data":"These are the words that pierce our spirit during prayer, or when Scripture suddenly becomes personal, or when the Spirit speaks something unmistakable into our present situation. Rhema is the <strong>now-Word<\/strong> that flows from the eternal Logos and aligns with the written Graphe."}],"data":[],"style":{"textAlign":"left","color":"","dropCap":false,"parent_style":{}}},{"type":"core\/heading","render":"<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>How John Weaves It All Together<\/strong><\/h2>","content":"How John Weaves It All Together","data":[],"style":{"align":"left","parent_style":{},"header":"h2","fontSize":"27px"}},{"type":"core\/paragraph","render":"<p>Since we\u2019re spending time in John 17, it\u2019s worth stepping back to see how the entire Gospel of John weaves together the living dynamics of the Word. John isn\u2019t just telling stories \u2014 he\u2019s crafting a work of art. The Gospel of John is a theological masterpiece that takes us into a literary journey through the movement of revelation, formation, and preservation.<\/p>","content":[{"type":"text","data":"Since we\u2019re spending time in John 17, it\u2019s worth stepping back to see how the entire Gospel of John weaves together the living dynamics of the Word. John isn\u2019t just telling stories \u2014 he\u2019s crafting a work of art. The Gospel of John is a theological masterpiece that takes us into a literary journey through the movement of revelation, formation, and preservation."}],"data":[],"style":{"textAlign":"left","color":"","dropCap":false,"parent_style":{}}},{"type":"core\/paragraph","render":"<p>John opens with <strong>Logos<\/strong>: <em>\u201cIn the beginning was the Word\u2026\u201d<\/em> (John 1:1). He starts with eternity, with the preexistent Christ, the divine blueprint of creation. But John\u2019s recognition of Jesus as the Logos was not abstract. It was rooted in revelation. The Logos had been hidden in plain sight through the Hebrew Scriptures\u2014the Law, the Prophets, and the story of Israel. Jesus was the fulfillment of everything they had read, longed for, and lived through.<\/p>","content":[{"type":"text","data":"John opens with <strong>Logos<\/strong>: <em>\u201cIn the beginning was the Word\u2026\u201d<\/em> (John 1:1). He starts with eternity, with the preexistent Christ, the divine blueprint of creation. But John\u2019s recognition of Jesus as the Logos was not abstract. It was rooted in revelation. The Logos had been hidden in plain sight through the Hebrew Scriptures\u2014the Law, the Prophets, and the story of Israel. Jesus was the fulfillment of everything they had read, longed for, and lived through."}],"data":[],"style":{"textAlign":"left","color":"","dropCap":false,"parent_style":{}}},{"type":"core\/paragraph","render":"<p>As the narrative unfolds, Jesus begins to speak. <em>\u201cThe words I have spoken to you are spirit and life.\u201d<\/em> (John 6:63). This is <strong>Rhema<\/strong>. These Spirit-charged present-tense words carry life and power. They awaken hearts, confront broken systems, and invite transformation. Rhema appears in moments of revelation, when something eternal touches the present.<\/p>","content":[{"type":"text","data":"As the narrative unfolds, Jesus begins to speak. <em>\u201cThe words I have spoken to you are spirit and life.\u201d<\/em> (John 6:63). This is <strong>Rhema<\/strong>. These Spirit-charged present-tense words carry life and power. They awaken hearts, confront broken systems, and invite transformation. Rhema appears in moments of revelation, when something eternal touches the present."}],"data":[],"style":{"textAlign":"left","color":"","dropCap":false,"parent_style":{}}},{"type":"core\/paragraph","render":"<p>But something pivotal happens in <strong>John 17<\/strong>. As Jesus prepares to go to the cross, He prays to the Father and reflects on what has taken place. He says, <em>\u201cI have given them the words you gave me, and they have received them... They have kept your word\u201d<\/em> (John 17:8, 6). This is where <strong>Rhema becomes Logos<\/strong>. The words He spoke have now taken root. They have formed something. The disciples are no longer just listeners, they are carriers of the truth.<\/p>","content":[{"type":"text","data":"But something pivotal happens in <strong>John 17<\/strong>. As Jesus prepares to go to the cross, He prays to the Father and reflects on what has taken place. He says, <em>\u201cI have given them the words you gave me, and they have received them... They have kept your word\u201d<\/em> (John 17:8, 6). This is where <strong>Rhema becomes Logos<\/strong>. The words He spoke have now taken root. They have formed something. The disciples are no longer just listeners, they are carriers of the truth."}],"data":[],"style":{"textAlign":"left","color":"","dropCap":false,"parent_style":{}}},{"type":"core\/paragraph","render":"<p>Then Jesus prays, <em>\u201cSanctify them by the truth; your word is truth\u201d<\/em> (John 17:17). He is sending them into the world not just with knowledge, but with <em>formation<\/em>. They have been shaped by what He said. As Rhema becomes Logos and they go out, that Logos will multiply in others.<\/p>","content":[{"type":"text","data":"Then Jesus prays, <em>\u201cSanctify them by the truth; your word is truth\u201d<\/em> (John 17:17). He is sending them into the world not just with knowledge, but with <em>formation<\/em>. They have been shaped by what He said. As Rhema becomes Logos and they go out, that Logos will multiply in others."}],"data":[],"style":{"textAlign":"left","color":"","dropCap":false,"parent_style":{}}},{"type":"core\/paragraph","render":"<p>By the end of the Gospel, John makes his purpose clear. <em>\u201cThese are written so that you may believe\u2026\u201d<\/em> (John 20:31). This is <strong>Graphe<\/strong>\u2014the written Word preserved so that others might encounter the same Jesus through testimony. The Word that was spoken became flesh. The flesh became witness. And the witness became Scripture.<\/p>","content":[{"type":"text","data":"By the end of the Gospel, John makes his purpose clear. <em>\u201cThese are written so that you may believe\u2026\u201d<\/em> (John 20:31). This is <strong>Graphe<\/strong>\u2014the written Word preserved so that others might encounter the same Jesus through testimony. The Word that was spoken became flesh. The flesh became witness. And the witness became Scripture."}],"data":[],"style":{"textAlign":"left","color":"","dropCap":false,"parent_style":{}}},{"type":"core\/paragraph","render":"<p>This progression from <em>rhema<\/em> to <em>logos<\/em> to <em>graphe<\/em> is no accident. It is the movement of heaven into earth, of revelation into formation, of personal encounter into lasting truth.<\/p>","content":[{"type":"text","data":"This progression from <em>rhema<\/em> to <em>logos<\/em> to <em>graphe<\/em> is no accident. It is the movement of heaven into earth, of revelation into formation, of personal encounter into lasting truth."}],"data":[],"style":{"textAlign":"left","color":"","dropCap":false,"parent_style":{}}},{"type":"core\/heading","render":"<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Everything Revolves Around the Son<\/strong><\/h2>","content":"Everything Revolves Around the Son","data":[],"style":{"align":"left","parent_style":{},"header":"h2","fontSize":"27px"}},{"type":"core\/paragraph","render":"<p>As we take all this in, we are reminded that the <strong>Spirit<\/strong> and the <strong>Scriptures<\/strong> do not stand on their own. Both revolve around the <strong>Son<\/strong>. When either one is separated from Him, we fall into distortion. The Bible without Jesus becomes rigid and lifeless. The Spirit without Jesus becomes unanchored and subjective. But when both are centered in Christ, they lead to transformation.<\/p>","content":[{"type":"text","data":"As we take all this in, we are reminded that the <strong>Spirit<\/strong> and the <strong>Scriptures<\/strong> do not stand on their own. Both revolve around the <strong>Son<\/strong>. When either one is separated from Him, we fall into distortion. The Bible without Jesus becomes rigid and lifeless. The Spirit without Jesus becomes unanchored and subjective. But when both are centered in Christ, they lead to transformation."}],"data":[],"style":{"textAlign":"left","color":"","dropCap":false,"parent_style":{}}},{"type":"core\/paragraph","render":"<p>We are invited into the same divine progression\u2014rhema to logos to graphe. <\/p>","content":[{"type":"text","data":"We are invited into the same divine progression\u2014rhema to logos to graphe. "}],"data":[],"style":{"textAlign":"left","color":"","dropCap":false,"parent_style":{}}},{"type":"core\/paragraph","render":"<p>We hear the Word. <br>We are formed by it. <br>And we carry it forward.<\/p>","content":[{"type":"text","data":"We hear the Word. <br>We are formed by it. <br>And we carry it forward."}],"data":[],"style":{"textAlign":"left","color":"","dropCap":false,"parent_style":{}}},{"type":"core\/paragraph","render":"<p>We are a people shaped by revelation, built on truth, and grounded in story.<\/p>","content":[{"type":"text","data":"We are a people shaped by revelation, built on truth, and grounded in story."}],"data":[],"style":{"textAlign":"left","color":"","dropCap":false,"parent_style":{}}},{"type":"core\/paragraph","render":"<p>We listen for the voice of the <strong>Spirit<\/strong>.<br>We look to the life of the <strong>Son<\/strong>.<br>We return to the witness of <strong>Scripture<\/strong>.<\/p>","content":[{"type":"text","data":"We listen for the voice of the <strong>Spirit<\/strong>.<br>We look to the life of the <strong>Son<\/strong>.<br>We return to the witness of <strong>Scripture<\/strong>."}],"data":[],"style":{"textAlign":"left","color":"","dropCap":false,"parent_style":{}}},{"type":"core\/paragraph","render":"<p>And through all of it, we are being conformed to the image of Christ.<\/p>","content":[{"type":"text","data":"And through all of it, we are being conformed to the image of Christ."}],"data":[],"style":{"textAlign":"left","color":"","dropCap":false,"parent_style":{}}},{"type":"core\/paragraph","render":"<p>This is the power of the Word of God.<br>And this is the invitation we say yes to together.<\/p>","content":[{"type":"text","data":"This is the power of the Word of God.<br>And this is the invitation we say yes to together."}],"data":[],"style":{"textAlign":"left","color":"","dropCap":false,"parent_style":{}}}],"app_access":{"can_access":true,"restrict_message":null},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lwrv.org\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1400853","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lwrv.org\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lwrv.org\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lwrv.org\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lwrv.org\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1400853"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/lwrv.org\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1400853\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1400886,"href":"https:\/\/lwrv.org\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1400853\/revisions\/1400886"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lwrv.org\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1400858"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lwrv.org\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1400853"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lwrv.org\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1400853"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lwrv.org\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1400853"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}