“And the Father Himself, which hath sent me, hath born witness of me. Ye hath neither heard His voice at any time, nor seen His shape. And ye have not his word abiding in you: for whom He has sent, him ye believe not. Search the Scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they that testify of me. And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.” (John 5:37-40 KJV)
What is Jesus saying here? How about here…
“Not everyone that sayeth to me, “Lord, Lord”, shall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in Heaven. Many will say to me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not Prophesied in Thy name? Have we not cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And I will profess unto them, “I never knew you. Depart from me, ye that work Iniquity. Therefore whoso heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man that buildeth his house upon a rock: and the rains decended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon the house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.” (Mat. 21-25 KJV)
Scripture interpretation is often debated. Scripture is often worshipped. I would like to ask people to notice the three things that are common to all these passages of scripture listed above, and below. There are three common body parts that are mentioned in all these verses. What are they?
They are the tongue, the ear, and the eye.
Those that know me, know I often use the phrase “Bible worshipper”, and quote Romans1:25. What is a “hearer” of a word, or a “doer” of a word?
What does the written word say to “do”?
The Gospel is a simple message, with dire consequences. We are all headed to our doom, thanks to a thief, liar, and murderer. We need a Saviour. Jesus came, died, and rose again. Then what happened?
What is the “stumbling stone”, or the “Rock laid in Sion, that has become a Rock of offence, and a stumbling stone”? (Romans 9:33)
Some people will stumble at the simple message of the Gospel, and therefore, God gives them over to exactly what they search for. If they realize the simple message is that Jesus lives, and is the only authority to get this ball rolling, and that the Scripture says this…
that first, and foremost, you will have to find the risen Jesus. Not find a story about Him, but Him.
He has sent me, weather you believe this or not, and will send you also. The first thing you will learn about God is that none of us are special, and Paul is no better than me, or you. Paul even said that.
Two verses before you can get started:
Then said Jesus to them again, “Peace be unto you; as My Father hath sent me, even so I send you.” (John 20:21 KJV) This was after the resurrection. This is the witness that Jesus speaks of also in Acts 1:8. “You will receive power once the Holy Ghost is upon you, and ye will be witnesses unto me…”Now in 2nd Corinthians 13:1, and 2nd Timothy 2:2; both say that this is a “passed on”, by word of mouth, written word, and the laying on of hands…a very powerful witness. One that can, and more importantly must be, seen with your eyes, and heard with your ears (John 20:21)…
or else you bear a “false” witness.
You can not witness to a resurrected Jesus, that you have not seen with your eyes, nor heard with your ears, period.
John 20:21?…read on after verse 21, and don’t be Thomas.
This is enough on this. The Scripture “speaks” for itself. Or does it? Bible worshipping is a prophecy, and a stumble at words. Written, and spoken, but the trick is, who is speaking to you?
Even better, is anyone at all literally speaking to you the words of God?
“In the law it is written, with men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, sayeth the Lord.” 1st Cor. 14:21 (KJV) and “For with stammering lips and another tongue will He speak to His people. To whom He said, “This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest, and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear. But the word of the Lord was unto them precept upon precept, line upon line, line upon line, here a little, and there a little, that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken”. Isaiah 28:11-13 (KJV)
Precept? Look at the word precept above. What is “precept”? It means your mind is already made up, and therefore, a closed door.
“The Lord is with you, while ye be with Him; and if ye seek Him, He will be found of you; but if ye forsake Him, He will forsake you” 2Chronicles 15:2 (KJV)
“But if from thence thou shalt seek the Lord thy God, thou shalt find Him, if thou seek Him with all thy heart and with all thy soul”. ( Deuteronomy 4:29 (KJV)
“But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that commeth to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that dilligently seek Him.” (Heb. 11:6 KJV)
Now. One last thing to ask yourself, if you happen to believe the Bible is the end of the road in your search. This one verse should ring a bell. I begs me to ask you a question.
“Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to hm, and will sup with him, and he with me.” (Rev. 3:20 KJV)
Question: How can a book knock on a door.
Can you hear with your ears, the voice of a book, so as to answer this door?
Can a book come in to your room for a visit?
To you that have not witnessed the resurrection first hand…a really big question, and one best not taken likely.
Do you want to meet the risen Jesus, or not?
This is the entire message of the Gospel. He that seeks Jesus with their entire being, their soul, and all their heart…can find Him, because He is alive.
It boils down to how important it is to you. The truth of this should scare you.
“Even as I was sent, so I send you…The Father Himself hath sent me. Ye have neither heard His voice at any time, nor seen His shape…and finally, our destination…Jesus says, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man commeth unto the Father, but by me.” This is the end game. And Deuteronomy 4:29 ought to be your new favorite verse. I’ll say it again. The truth of this should scare you. “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of all wisdom, knowledge, and understanding”
Is your room empty? Is anyone missing in it?
It is my desire that the first audible words you hear from Jesus, when you meet Him for the first time, are not, “Depart from me, because I never knew you”.
-Peace all