I recently wrote about putting your faith in Christ, rather than just good ideas, Biblical principles, or plain hard work. There is nothing wrong with any of these things, and the Bible is full of principles that we are expected and empowered to live by!
Of course… I have more to say about this topic… Let’s revisit some verses from that blog:
“You search and investigate and pore over the Scriptures diligently, because you suppose and trust that you have eternal life through them. And these [very Scriptures] testify about Me! (John 5:38, Amplified Translation)
Jesus is addressing people who have put their faith in knowing Scripture, rather than knowing the Author through His Letter. Falling into this religious delusion enslaves us to perfectly following rules, regulations, and religious traditions. We find in John 5:37-38 how it happens that we end up knowing lots of Scripture, and missing the Author’s heart:
[37] And the Father Who sent Me has Himself testified concerning Me. Not one of you has ever given ear to His voice or seen His form (His face – what He is like). [You have always been deaf to His voice and blind to the vision of Him.]
[38] And you have not His word (His thought) living in your hearts, because you do not believe and adhere to and trust in and rely on Him Whom He has sent. [That is why you do not keep His message living in you, because you do not believe in the Messenger Whom He has sent.] John 5:37-38, AMP
When we lose sight of God’s face, stop listening to God’s voice, and cut off God’s Word from flourishing in our hearts, we fall prey to the belief that reading through the Bible, going to church, and doing other ‘good Christian stuff’ will earn us a spot in Heaven. How do we see, hear and know God? By believing in the Messenger, Jesus. Put your faith in Christ, not what you know or do, and you will be able to see, hear, and know God!
I am often overwhelmed as I study Scripture by one theme I find on every single page. God’s jealous desire to have intimacy with people. That fills me with wonder to my core. Every page, every act, every word, is God’s divine plan to draw us to himself! He wants to write his living word upon our hearts, and transform us into Christ’s image. How near we allow God to get is up to us. Eternal life is knowing God and knowing Jesus. We do not gain eternal life by quoting scripture (even the devil does that), or singing the ‘right’ worship songs, or staying out of the ‘wrong’ places. Let’s say it again:
And this is eternal life: [it means] to know (to perceive, recognize, become acquainted with, and understand) You, the only true and real God, and [likewise] to know Him, Jesus [as the] Christ (the Anointed One, the Messiah), Whom You have sent. John 17:3, AMP
It is not enough to just be familiar with the Scriptures. A Christian’s duty is not to study to know more about the Bible, about God, or about Jesus. It is not enough to search and study the Bible for good ideas and principles to live by. We have access to the source of life. We can approach the Scriptures as rules. We can approach the Word of God as something to be studied and learned. We can approach the truths as things to remember and help others learn.
But that is not enough. We must search the scriptures to find life – a relationship with Jesus. Those who seek to know God will find wisdom, because wisdom is found in Him. Those who seek wisdom apart from God will find good principles to live by. True wisdom is revelation of the Holy One, the kind of revelation and understanding that actually transforms us into Christ’s image!
Thanks for reading! Much love,
