John 5:39-40 (ESV) You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life.
This is a part of a talk Jesus had with the Jewish leaders right after He healed the man at the Pool of Bethesda. Like much of Scripture, there is more than one application to this passage. The first, of course, is to the Jewish leaders. These guys had spent their entire adult lives studying the Scriptures, and Jesus said it’s not enough, not even close. They needed to come to Him for salvation.
The world is filled with people in various groups who think study will bring them favor with God and even salvation. They’re wrong. Jesus says to them exactly what He said to the Jewish leaders here. So far as salvation is concerned, Bible study doesn’t do it. Only Jesus can save you:
Acts 4:11-12 (ESV) This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
So, studying the Bible is an excellent way to grow as a Christian, it does nothing by itself for someone to become a Christian.
Bible study is a work. It’s a good work, but it’s still a work. It won’t save you because we aren’t saved by works:
Titus 3:4-6 (ESV) But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior,
This idea of works bleeds into other areas of our Christian life, of course. We are created for good works but not concerning our salvation:
Eph. 2:8-10 (ESV) For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
So, works are important but have nothing to do with our salvation. Works are the result of salvation not a requirement for salvation. In fact works are expected. They are to be a natural part of the Christian’s life. Visiting orphans and widows, for instance, is one thing the church is expected to:
James 1:26-27 (ESV) If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless. Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.
Rejecting the works God has given to the church is to reject God’s commands. Of course, one Christian can’t do it all, but Christians as a whole cannot long ignore God’s commands. We are expected to do something. We are not thrilling God because of what we do as the Jewish leaders thought. A servant is expected to do the will of the master.
Luke 17:7-10 (ESV) “Will any one of you who has a servant plowing or keeping sheep say to him when he has come in from the field, ‘Come at once and recline at table’? 8 Will he not rather say to him, ‘Prepare supper for me, and dress properly, and serve me while I eat and drink, and afterward you will eat and drink’? 9 Does he thank the servant because he did what was commanded? 10 So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.’ ”
Many of us think, “Well, if I just do this little thing here and another there, God will be pleased,” yet, it is impossible to do more than is expected by God. The blessings we receive don’t come from gratitude for a good job. They are simply God’s grace poured out on His child.
Why is this important?
The first thing we can learn from John 5:39-40 is knowing Jesus is so much more important than knowing about Jesus. I know a bit about the apostle John, but I don’t know him. Jesus said our first priority is Him. After we come to Jesus as He Himself tells us to do, then we can work on knowing more about Him.
Believers Armed and Dangerous 