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"Search the Scriptures"

By Jay Pearson

On a sabbath day in Jerusalem Jesus ask a lame man, “Wilt thou be made whole?” The man responded with the reason he couldn’t be made whole. The man believed to be made whole someone would have to carry him to the edge of a pool and be the first to enter it for healing.

Jesus said, “Rise, take up thy bed, and walk.”

The man did and was made whole on the sabbath. This set off persecution against Jesus because the Jews were so well informed of the scriptures they knew Jesus had done contrary to scripture.

Jesus responded with, “My Father worketh hitherto, and I work.”

This really ticked the Jews off because they were well-aware of the scriptures and Jesus had not only broken the sabbath, but had made himself equal with God because he called him his Father.

John 5:19:
Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.

Jesus continued to expound the truth of the Father and the Son’s relationship and his authority from the Father. Then in John 5:39 he said:

John 5:39
Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.

(I like to call that his left hook before his knockout straight right punch in verse 46)

John 5:46
For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me.

The elders and leaders of the Jewish religion elevated their knowledge of the written scriptures above Jesus and the words he spoke. Jesus Christ was sent by God and made the Word of God in the flesh. He has now returned to heaven and again the Word is with God. Jesus is the Word, not a version, not italicized or punctuated; no language study or interpretation required either. He is the Word.

The written word is for our learning, knowledge, and understanding of God’s guidance for our walk with him and his explanation of his Son, Jesus Christ.

Psalm 119:11:
Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

Psalm 119:105:
Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

Proverbs 2:6:
For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.

Jesus Christ is the Word. There are no written Bible version of the scriptures old or new that equal Jesus Christ. There are no versions of the Bible that can save you. Jesus Christ only can save you. Romans 10:9,10 can lead you unto salvation by guiding you to the Lord. Then the Lord is the one who saves you. The Lord gives wisdom revelation to those who seek him with a pure heart. Out of his mouth comes knowledge and understanding. The written scripture is a wonderful document for guidance and an expression of truth. Jesus Christ is the Word. Search the scriptures for in them you think you have eternal life and the scriptures testify of Jesus Christ.

John 15:5:
I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

Matthew 22:29:
Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.

1 Corinthians 1:24:
But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.

Beware of men who elevate the Bible above Jesus Christ. Jesus is the Word of God. All scripture is revealed by Jesus and the Holy Spirit and is given by the inspiration of God. Jesus said without me you can do nothing.

Many a man tried to substitute the written scriptures above God's Son, Jesus Christ, men like the Pharisees, Sadducees, the Jewish high priests, and even Saul. It didn’t go well with them. They were all well-versed on the written scriptures possibly more than any of us. Saul truly thought he had it all figured out till he met the Lord on the road to Damascus. He found that Jesus Christ was above his intellectual knowledge of the scriptures. Many of the elitist in the Jewish religion, the elders were interested in using the scripture to maintain power, prestige, and control. Their purpose was evil. In Paul’s case he was doing his deeds out of ignorance. He had words to back up his actions. He did not have the Word. Paul had words not the Word. Then the Word paid him a visit.   

2 Peter 1:20:
Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.

2 Timothy 3:16:
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

2 Timothy 2:15:
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Jesus Christ is the Word of truth and all scripture is given by inspiration of God.

Search the scriptures. The written scripture is so important for our learning, guidance, and understanding. Search the scriptures and pray for the Spirit to guide you into the truth. Your intellect and desire alone are not sufficient to interpret God’s Word.

John 15:5:
I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

Proverbs 2:6:
For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.

Let us lift up the name of the Lord. Jesus Christ the Son of God and Jesus Christ the Word of God. He is our Lord and savior.

John 5:39:
Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.

Jesus is our savior and the only way to eternal life.

John 14:6:
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

John 17:17:
Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

John 1:1:
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

John 1:14:
And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

Search the scriptures for without him, Jesus Christ, you can do nothing. Search the scriptures with the Lord and prove all things and hold fast to that which is good.

John 15:5:
I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

Eternal life is not on paper, your I-pad, your phone, the NIV, or any other version of the Bible. Eternal life is in the Lord Jesus Christ.

John 5:39:
Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.

1 John 5:20:
And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.

 


Presented January 7, 2018 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana