John 5:39-40

[AmericanSamurai]

39 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.
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Wanted to discuss these verses.

 

[HereIStand]

39 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.
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Wanted to discuss these verses.

Sure. Knowledge and study of the scriptures alone won't bring eternal life. Even those having a very highly developed level of knowledge, such the Pharisees had, aren't any closer to salvation relying merely on their own intellects. Only God's grace can open our eyes to the Gospel revealed and proclaimed in the testimony of scripture.

 

[jdbrown]

"But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing." James 1:22-25

 

[twin1954]

39 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.
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Wanted to discuss these verses.

First we know that the Lord Jesus Christ was speaking to folks who knew the Scriptures backwards and forwards. He was speaking to folks who thought that they would know Messiah when He came but John the Baptist said of them that there stands one among you who you know not whose shoes latchet I am not worthy to unloose. John 1:26 They are a picture of natural religion. It sounds good and feels right but it is only a satisfying of the flesh. It makes you feel good but has no saving power or knowledge of God.

Secondly we know that He was talking about the Old Testament Scriptures. The New Testament hadn't been written yet. He took the men on the road to Emmaus through the Whole Old Testament and showed them the things concerning Himself. Luke 24:27 The fact is that the whole of the Old Testament is about Him. From Genesis to Malachi the theme and message is Christ. He was telling these Jews that though they had the literal meaning of the words they didn't understand the message. It is still true today among most who call themselves "Christians".

Third He told them that they would not come to Him that they might have life. He pointed out the real problem with religious folks. It isn't that they can't come, though they can't as He tells us one chapter later, but that they will not. Religious folks will speak of Him and take His name, just as the Jews did about the Messiah, but they will not look to Him alone for all their hope before God.

 

[Iosias]

39 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.
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Wanted to discuss these verses.

What would you like to discuss?

 

[AmericanSamurai]

What would you like to discuss?

The historical context of these verses, and their Theological implications.

 

[Osage Bluestem]

39 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.
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Wanted to discuss these verses.

Jesus is the point of the scriptures. You can know the scriptures backward and forward but if you don't know Christ you don't know anything. That's the problem with the Jews. They know the scriptures but reject the point of the scriptures and are lost as any pagan ever was.

 

[Anoetos]

He was talking to the Jews, particularly the Pharisees and Sadducees.

He was telling them that their knowledge of Scripture would not negate their reprobation.