237. The Word Of God Unbound.

Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil-doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound. - 2 Timothy 2:9.

THE resurrection of Christ was Paul's sheet-anchor. Enlarge upon verse 8, wherein he mentions it as the essence of the gospel. He himself is suffering and bound, but he is not without comfort. His great joy is that the word of God is not bound.

I. IN WHAT SENSES THIS IS TRUE.

"The Word of God is not bound"—

1. So that it cannot be made known.

· The ministers who preach it may be imprisoned, but not the word.

· The book which contains it may be burned, but the truth abides.

· The doctrine may become almost extinct as to open testimony, and yet it will revive.

2. So that it cannot reach the heart.

It will not be hindered of its divine purpose:

· Through the obduracy of the sinner, for grace is omnipotent.

· Through absence of the means. The Holy Spirit can reach the conscience without the hearing or reading of the word.

· Through actual derision of it. Even the scoffer and skeptic can yet be convinced and converted.

3. So that it cannot comfort the soul.

· Conviction of sin will not hinder consolation when faith is given.

· Constitutional despondency will give way before the light of the word.

· Confirmed despair shall be overcome, even as Samson snapped the cords wherewith he had been bound.

4. So that it cannot be fulfilled.

· Providence will carry out the promise to the individual.

· Providence will perform the threat to the rebellious.

· Providence will achieve the prophecies of the millennial future.

5. So that it cannot prevail over error.

Infidelity, ritualism, popery, fanaticism shall not bind the gospel so as to retain their mischievous power over men. The gospel must and will accomplish the purposes of God.

II. FOR WHAT REASONS THIS IS TRUE.

The word of God cannot be bound since:

1. It is the voice of the Almighty.

2. It is attended by the energetic working of the Holy Ghost.

3. It is so needful to men.

As men will have bread, and you cannot keep it from them, so must they have the truth. The gospel is in such demand that there must be free trade in it.

4. It is in itself a free and unbound thing, the very essence of liberty.

5. It creates such enthusiasm in the hearts wherein it dwells, that men must declare it abroad. It must be free.

III. WHAT OTHER FACTS ARE PARALLEL WITH THIS?

As the binding of Paul was not the binding of the word of God, so:

· The death of ministers is not the death of the gospel.

· The feebleness of workers is not its feebleness.

· The bondage of the preacher's mind is not its bondage.

· The coldness of men is not its coldness.

· The falsehood of hypocrites does not falsify it.

· The spiritual ruin of sinners is not the defeat of the gospel.

· The rejection of it by unbelievers is not its overthrow.

Rejoice, that the word of the Lord has free course.

Arouse yourselves to work with it and by it.

Accept its free power, and be yourself free at once.