". . . be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the Name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, [even] by Him doth this man stand here before you whole. This is the stone which is set at nought of you builders, which is become the Head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other, for there is none other Name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." (Acts 4:10-12)
As newborn babes, we are to desire the sincere milk of the Word, that we may grow thereby -- if so be that ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. (I Peter 2:2-3) Unto you therefore which believe He is precious. In our faith journey, we begin to understand that in being born again, we have not been born of corruptible seed but of incorruptible by the Word of God. And, who is the Word? The Word is JESUS, for He alone shall save you from your sins. (John 1:1-18; Matthew 1:21-23)
The "Word" is further emphasized in John, wherein he writes:
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by Him and without Him was not anything made that was made. In Him was life and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not ... And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us and we beheld His glory, the glory of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth ..." (John 1:1-18)
Therefore, when we study the scriptures -- the Word for truth, we are seeking Jesus, and will not, as a consequence, be found wanting. Indeed, when our hearts receive Him with all readiness of mind, the scales of blindness fall away from our eyes, and the glorious light of the Lord Jesus fills our hearts with joy and gladness. We see this in example after example within the scriptures -- "that which is noted in the scripture of truth." (Daniel 10:21) "For it is sanctified by the Word of God and prayer." (I Timothy 4:5) "Thy Word is truth." (John 17:17)
"For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the Word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the Word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe." (I Thessalonians 2:13)
"These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the Word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so." (Acts 17:11)
"And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, [Jesus] expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning Himself." (Luke 24:27)
And they said one to another, "Did not our heart burn within us, while He [Jesus] talked with us by the way, and while He opened to us the scriptures?" (Luke 24:32)
"Then opened He [Jesus] their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures ..." (Luke 24:45)
"When therefore He [Jesus] was risen from the dead, His disciples remembered that He had said this unto them; and they believed the scripture, and the Word which Jesus had said." (John 2:22)
These confirm then for us that the scriptures are for our learning and understanding too. Nothing will be hid from those who seek the Lord with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength. This is why Jesus tells us to "search the scriptures ... they are they which testify of Me." (John 5:39) Moreover, note that those who walked daily with Jesus (when He walked on this earth) and received the revelation of the doctrine of Christ, also understood from the scriptures that Jesus was the fulfillment of prophecy from the old testament.
"Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus." (Acts 8:35)
"And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures ..." (Acts 17:2)
"But all this was done, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled." (Matthew 26:56)
Jesus said, "He that believeth on Me," as the scripture hath said, "out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water." (John 7:38)
As we open up to the scriptures, we discover that these are the living Word. Our foundation -- the absolute, in that we must worship the Lord Jesus in s/Spirit and in truth. Therefore, the scriptures do not contradict one another. How can I say this? Because God is not the Author of confusion. If there is a lack of understanding, it is because we have not searched the scriptures for clarity on that particular point.
Still, the scriptures are full of questions that invite us to delve deeper into His Word, so that we can eat and drink from the same spiritual Rock that the Israelites did (when these passed through the Red Sea) -- that spiritual Rock which was Christ. (I Corinthians 10:1-4) This is why we are encouraged to "study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of truth." (II Timothy 2:15)
But we study the scriptures also so that we do not waver, being tossed to and fro by the whims of this world, and/or by those who concerning the truth have erred. We search the scriptures for clarity so that we too will know that the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal -- "The Lord knows them that are His." And, "Let every one that names the Name of Christ depart from iniquity." (II Timothy 2:19)
This is why it is important that we know and understand the principles of the doctrine of Christ, so that we can go unto perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. (Hebrews 6:1-2)
Herein, we taste of the heavenly gift, and are made partakers of the Holy Ghost, and thus, have tasted the Word of God, and the powers of the world to come. As I stated before, in order not to fall away or be deceived by wolves in sheep's clothing, we study the Word of righteousness for ourselves so that when we are of full age, having received the meat of His Word -- the manna from heaven -- we can have our senses exercised to discern both good and evil. (Hebrews 5:12-14) But I digress somewhat.
Getting back to my original point, note how the scriptures -- the Word of the Lord God, our Saviour Jesus the Christ -- leads and guides us into a deeper knowledge of the heavenly. (Titus 3:4-7) We learn from Jesus' example, wherein He continually relied on scripture. There are many examples that can be cited, but the following samples are given so that we accept His invitation to discover every good thing which the Lord Jesus has for those who trust in Him. So that we will grow in the knowledge of Him, who after His kindness and love, willingly became our Saviour on the cross.
My hope is that one of these scriptures draws you closer in your faith walk, and that in your learning, you will understand, as Jesus so clearly said, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No man cometh unto the Father but by Me. If ye had known Me, ye should have known My Father also: and from henceforth ye know Him, and have seen Him." (John 14:1-12)
1. When Jesus said -- speaking of the Spirit which they that believe on Him should receive -- (for the Holy Ghost was not yet given because Jesus was not yet glorified) -- "If any man thirst, let him come unto Me and drink. He that believeth on Me as the scriptures hath said -- "out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water" the people asked, causing division because of Jesus -- "Hath not the scripture said, "That Christ cometh of the seed of David, and out of the town of Bethlehem, where David was?" (John 7:42)
2. When Jesus said, "For as yet they knew not the scripture, that He must rise again from the dead." (John 20:9)
3. Jesus also said, "But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?" (Matthew 26:54)
4. Jesus said, "I was daily with you in the temple teaching, and ye took Me not: but the scriptures must be fulfilled." (Mark 14:49)
5. And Jesus began to say unto them, "This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears." (Luke 4:21)
6. Jesus said, " ... and the scripture cannot be broken ..." (John 10:35)
7. Jesus said, "I speak not of you all: I know whom I have chosen: but that the scripture may be fulfilled, he that eateth bread with Me hath lifted up his heel against Me." (John 13:18)
8. Jesus prayed, "While I was with them in the world, I kept them in Thy Name: those that Thou gavest Me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled." (John 17:12)
9. "They said therefore among themselves, Let us not rend it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be: that the scripture might be fulfilled, which saith, "They parted My raiment among them, and for My vesture they did cast lots. These things therefore the soldiers did" ... After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, "I thirst." (John 19:24-28)
10. "For these things were done, that the scripture should be fulfilled -- A bone of Him shall not be broken. And again another scripture saith, They shall look on Him whom they pierced." (John 19:36-37)
11. "Men and brethren, this scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake before concerning Judas, which was guide to them that took Jesus."(Acts 1:16)
12. "The place of the scripture which He read was this, "He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened He not His mouth ..." (Acts 8:32)
Conversely, as we similarly understand from the scriptures (which do not lie) not everyone "gladly" receives the Word. In fact, Jesus saith unto the scribes and Pharisees, "Did ye never read in the scriptures, "The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the Head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?" (Matthew 21:42)
Did Jesus not say -- "And have ye not read this scripture; "The stone which the builders rejected is become the Head of the corner ..." (Mark 12:10)
But because of their heart motives, Jesus told them -- "Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God." (Matthew 22:29)
And likewise in another place, Jesus answering said unto them, "Do ye not therefore err, because ye know not the scriptures, neither the power of God?" (Mark 20:24)
Don't become like the latter and sell your birthright for a morsel of bread/meat from those that peddle another gospel. Instead, stand in the offering plate wherein there is liberty. Let him with ears to hear, hear.
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