BELIEVING the Word

There are two stages of our interaction with the word of God. During the initial phase of hearing we simply "receive" the information shared. 

This Greek word is "paralambano" - (to take along side) like we say "we'll take that into consideration." In this stage we audibly hear what was said. It is only in the second phase that God's word begins the work of converting the soul. 

In stage two we move from "consideration" to "decision". It is only when we have examined and decided to accept the truth of what we are considering that the word takes root and begins to save the soul. 

The Greek word for this action is "dekomai". We must "dekomai" (receive) the word in meekness that can save our soul. We must "dekomai" receive the love of the truth to be saved rather than deceived and destroyed. Only those who "dekomai" - APPROVE OF, AGREE WITH, DECIDE FOR the truth will be saved by it. 

Those who "paralambano" (take it into consideration) but refuse to "dekomai" (accept and apprpove) the word they hear will experience a judgment worse than Sodom and Gomorah. We should be very careful how we hear - considering the word for a season will fall short of being saved by AGREEING with and APPROVING of the truth. 

Only BELIEVING the word we hear allows the truth of that word to save our soul.