The American Wisdom Series

Presents
Pamphlet #4478

John 5:31  If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true.
32  There is another that beareth witness of me; and I know that the witness which he witnesseth of me is true.
33  Ye sent unto John, and he bare witness unto the truth.
34  But I receive not testimony from man: but these things I say, that ye might be saved.
35  He was a burning and a shining light: and ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his light.
36  But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me.
37  And the Father himself, which hath sent me, hath borne witness of me. Ye have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape.
38  And ye have not his word abiding in you: for whom he hath sent, him ye believe not.
My highlighted verse: John 5:39  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.
41  I receive not honour from men.
42  But I know you, that ye have not the love of God in you.
43  I am come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive.
44  How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only?
45  Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuseth you, even Moses, in whom ye trust.
46  For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me.
47  But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words

You see, the Pharisees then and their counterparts today did not and do not follow the scriptures, no, not even the Old Testament. They follow the Talmud, which are the traditions of men, and that is what abides in them, i.e. religion.

[39] Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.
Here's another translation of this verse:
John 5:39
You study the scriptures diligently, supposing that in having them you have eternal life; yet, although their testimony points to me, you refuse to come to me for that life. (N.E.B.)
You must have your eyes and ears opened by the only One who can open them for you, Jesus Christ. You must go to Him and there is no other way. But some, such as these Pharisees, simply refuse Him. For yet others, their religion [church] gets in the way. The mud from their traditional teachings when cast into the water, clouds the entire pool so that they cannot see!

And as verse 39 says, the scriptures do testify of Jesus Christ. Here's just one example:

Deut. 18:15-19
The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken;

[16] According to all that thou desiredst of the LORD thy God in Horeb in the day of the assembly, saying, Let me not hear again the voice of the LORD my God, neither let me see this great fire any more, that I die not.

Imagine this: God spoke directly to our people when they were at the foot of Mount Horeb, led there by Moses. But the people complained to Moses and said they didn't want God to speak to them anymore from that great burning mountain.

So God said, "I hear them LOUD and CLEAR"!

[17] And the LORD said unto me, They have well spoken that which they have spoken.
So guess what our Father promised them? That He would send a Prophet, a FLESH MAN, who would speak His very Words.
[18] I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him.

[19] And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him.

And it shall eventually come to pass that if you don't believe in Him (John 3:16), God will require your very soul, your "it".

To study the Bible is the noblest of all pursuits; to understand it, the highest of all goals.
We pray that with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, you accomplish both.

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