Seeing Christ in the Scriptures

“Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.” Or, “Search the scriptures … they are they which testify of me (Jesus).” John 5:39

Let’s look at verses 39 and 40 together:

“Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. 40 And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.” John 5:39-40

The Holy Scriptures have as their Grand Subject the Son of God. Like the pharisees, the religionist of His day, those who hear it and don’t repent, coming to Jesus, forfeit the blessing of His salvation.

Here the Son of God is correcting the Jewish leaders of His day. The religious people Jesus was speaking to here knew the law/Word of God, yet vainly thought they could mentally assent to and keep the letter of the law of God without coming to know the living LORD Himself – the Person. To this type of heart, He will never reveal himself. They were hardened in heart and didn’t want to repent of their sinfulness which would be a prerequisite for knowing God, who is holy (Mark 7:1-23; John 15:22, etc.).

A wise man once stated; It is one thing to know the Word of God, it is another thing to know the God of the Word.

God gave to us His Word as a window through which we see Him (Luke 24:27, 44-45). He is integrally involved in opening our understanding that we might know Him more intimately:

“Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? And beginning at *Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.” Luke 24:25-27

“And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures.” Luke 24:44-45

“Moses,” “the prophets,” and the “Psalms” always refer to the written Word of God, namely the Old Testament Scriptures (Acts 24:14; 26:22; Ephesians 2:20, etc.).

When the Scriptures are opened, Christ is revealed – brought forth into focus on the center stage of our hearts. God is all about opening to us His Word that we might behold a glimpse of Jesus Christ.

Several verses in the New Testament Scriptures reveal that Jesus Christ is the “Word” of God (John 1:1, 14; 1:2; Rev. 19:13). Jesus is the divine Person who is revealed in all the Scriptures, from Genesis to Revelation. He is the central Theme of all of Scripture.

Jesus Christ is the revelation of God – the Word of God, that is, God’s expression to man (John 1:1, 14:9; Heb. 1:1-3). The personhood and nature of God is clearly revealed to us in the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ who is “the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person.” (Hebrews 1:3) He chose to reveal Himself to us through words. The Lord Jesus Christ, who is the Word of Life, and has given to us His eternal Word, is the perfect and permanent portrait of God.

“…he that hath seen me hath seen the Father…” John 14:9

May God open our hearts through His Word and by His Spirit, that we might know and love Him supremely. The Psalmist prayed and we should also pray this; “Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.” (Psalms 119:18)

**THERE ARE so many who claim to have a revelation or a word from God. God gave us HIS revelation, tangible to us, in HIS WORD – the 66 glorious books in the blessed, divinely inspired canon of His written Word! His written Word is final divine authority, period! He says His written Word is even more authoritatively divinely authenticated than is His own audible voice speaking to us from Heaven. Am I making this up?

“We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: 20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. 21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” 2 Peter 1:19-21

The reason we read, study, and meditate upon the words of God is to see Jesus more and more.

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

—— OUR KNOWLEDGE OF GOD IS LIMITED TO OUR PERSONAL KNOWLEDGE OF HIS WORD AND YET, KNOWING THE LETTER OF HIS WORD DOES NOT GUARANTEE OUR PERSONAL KNOWLEDGE OF HIM. THE AFFECTIONS OF OUR HEARTS MUST OF NECESSITY BE ENGAGED (PSALMS 27:4, 8; JEREMIAH 30:21; COLOSSIANS 3:1-3; PHILIPPIANS 3:10, ETC.). “THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE HOLY” IS ONLY POSSIBLE BY THE INITIATING GRACE OF GOD AND OUR VOLUNTARY PARTICIPATION WITH CHRIST – BEING DEAD AND BURIED WITH HIM AND RAISED UP BY HIM (PROVERBS 9:10; 30:3; ROMANS 6:3-4; PHILIPPIANS 3:7-10; 2 CORINTHIANS 4:10-12; 1 JOHN 4:9-10, 19, ETC.). KNOWING THE LORD IS TO BE MUCH MORE THAN INITIAL SALVATION. IT INVOLVES A “DAILY” SETTING ASIDE OF SELF AND TAKING UP THE CROSS TO WALK WITH JESUS, WORSHIPING HIM BOTH “IN SPIRIT AND IN TRUTH” – THAT IS, KNOWING HE WHO “IS A SPIRIT” IN THE SPIRIT AND ACCORDING TO HIS HOLY TRUTH – WORD (JOHN 4:23-24). PLEASE SHARE.

God’s purpose for giving us His written Word is manifold, beginning with the transmission of divine information to us, so we can know Him and His ways and will etc.

Jesus IS the Word and how does Scripture tell us He chose to reveal Himself to us?

He reveals Himself to us through His Word and Spirit. That’s who we know about Him and can know Him.

What do you know about Jesus and how did you find those things out about Him? In what book is John 3:16 found? The koran? WHY did Jesus give us the parable of the Word, the seed, the heart soil if hearing the Word to know Him isn’t important and isn’t the way He reveals Himself to us? What are the 4 pillar purposes God gave us His Word?

“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17

For a topical study of deeper proportions on this subject, see The Blood of Jesus.  Christology – The Study of Christ!

If you truly desire to know more about how to really know the LORD, go here okay:  Born Again: What is It?

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PEACE with GOD

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