Missing The Point

Introduction:

It's really important to understand that you never come to the Word of God empty. You’ll always bring attitudes, and thoughts, and perspectives, and life experience, and ways of thinking about yourself, and ways of thinking about God, and ways of thinking about the meaning and purpose of life--all those things shape the way that you come to Scripture. And it's really important, as we think about walking our way through the entire Bible, to understand there is a huge danger in Bible study, and the danger is that you can be a student of the Word of God and entirely miss the point.

There’s this moment in the life of Christ when He's being followed around by Jewish leaders and these are biblical scholars; they’re scholars of the Old Testament, and they're trying to trap Him. And there's one moment where they’re sort of quoting Scripture to Jesus, and Jesus says this, I think this is so powerful, this is John 5:39, “You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you will have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me.”

He’s saying, don't you understand it? In all of your Bible study and all of your pride of Old Testament literacy and Old Testament theology, you have missed the point of the entire story. These are people who spent hours unpacking the Old Testament, who taught it to their children; it was in their common way of thinking about life. These are people that studied the Messiah who would come; yet when He came, they didn't recognize Him.

The introduction is an excerpt from Paul Tripp Ministries

Missing The Real Scriptural Meaning

John 5:39–40 NKJV

39 You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. 40 But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.

The people searched the Scriptures, looking for life. Yet they would not accept Christ.

It’s easy to point fingers, but the reality of it is people do it all the time.

There is accountability in following Christ.

Could it be they did not accept Christ for fear of what they would be accountable too?

Or could it be they failed to follow out of a desire to be religious according to there own understand of scripture?

What profit is there, if we study the Bible, yet do not accept the teaching of Christ?

It turns to idle time when there is no application from study.

Jesus is teaching us that without application the reading of his word does not produce results.

It takes real application for real change.

Artificial Love

John 5:41–42 NKJV

41 “I do not receive honor from men. 42 But I know you, that you do not have the love of God in you.

Their lack of understanding produced false love.

Their love was based off of what they outlined as right.

Loving God mean loving Jesus.

He should be our everything.

Man’s heart is an open book to God.

There is nothing we can hide from him.

The people failed to understand that Jesus is God and He could see the depth of their hearts.

Nothing is hidden from Jesus.

A Refusal Produces Hard Heartedness

John 5:43–44 NKJV

43 I have come in My Father’s name, and you do not receive Me; if another comes in his own name, him you will receive. 44 How can you believe, who receive honor from one another, and do not seek the honor that comes from the only God?

Philosopher and Charlatans have lead more people away from Christ than could be counted.

Be careful what you listen to.

There are Charlatans among us that would love to tell you a lie.

Many have been overtaken by vain babble.

Jesus referred to the unbelief in a harsh manner.

Challenging them as to how they can believe others and not the true God.

Are we ever challenged in the simple things of Faith. Not in terms of believing that Jesus is the one.

Could it be that we fail to believe that he is able to do the things that we need in life? (Have simple faith)

The Record Is Clear

John 5:45–47 NKJV

45 Do not think that I shall accuse you to the Father; there is one who accuses you—Moses, in whom you trust. 46 For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote about Me. 47 But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?”

The unbelief of the people came from the writings of Moses. (No real application)

If they would have believed the writings of Moses, then they would have known that Jesus was the way.

Genesis 3:15 NKJV

15 And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel.”

Deuteronomy 18:15 NKJV

15 “The Lord your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your midst, from your brethren. Him you shall hear,

The message of Moses was that there would be one that coming who would save the world from Sin.

An understanding of the word of God will produce a love for Jesus.

The more I learn of Him, the more I love Him.

The more you invite Him in, the deeper your love will be for Jesus.

Conclusion:

One may say, “ I’ll never miss the point of Jesus coming to this world.” The reality is that too often we fail in application of why He came.

Do not allow anything to hinder the relationship you have with Christ.

There is power in knowing Jesus in a real and personal way.