I’ve been quoting John 5:39-40 a lot lately:
[39] You search the scriptures, because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness to me;
[40] yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life. John 5:39-40 RSV
'Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill Him,
because He not only had broken the sabbath,
but said also that God was His Father,
making Himself equal with God.'
(Joh 5:18)
Hello
@Bob Estey,
Yes, the two verses you have quoted are ones which always cause me to do a little soul searching. For all our 'searching' of the scriptures are vain, if, in searching we do not find Christ: Yes? For the Scriptures are those which speak of Him.
Looking back to the verse I have quoted at the beginning of my response (John 5:18), we can see to whom the Lord's words were directed. They were Jewish elders and Pharisees, who sought to find any means possible to find cause to have Christ arrested and brought before the council to stand trial, and be put to death. These were religious men, who did indeed search the Scriptures, and who claimed Abraham to be their Father (John 8:33; John 8:37-40) Though the words of John 8 make it clear that the Lord Jesus Christ knew precisely who their father was, for their thoughts and actions manifested him (John 8:44).
* Thinking of
@soul man's OP regarding the two natures in the child of God: and thinking of those men who claimed to have Abraham for their Father, to be his seed, and thereby claiming all the blessings associated with it. The one thing they lacked, according to the words of the Lord, was that
His Word had no place in them (John 8:37).
We who have, by God's grace, believed the word of God concerning His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, have received the engrafted word, which is able to save our souls (James 1:21). God's word has entered into us, and has engendered faith within, faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Faith came by '
hearing' and hearing by
'the word of God'. That is how faith came to us, and that is how faith increases, by reading and believing the word of God. Through the written word, we receive the Living Word, our Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ. That is the new nature abiding within us, born of the sonship-spirit within. whereby we cry
'Abba, Father'.
Praise His Holy Name! We have His Word abiding in us: For the entrance of His Word brings light; the light of the knowledge of God in the face of Jesus Christ. Who is our risen and glorified, Saviour, Lord and Head (2 Corinthians 4:6).
Thank you
In Christ Jesus
Chris