In the previous posts, we saw that many Christians reject the teachings of Jesus by replacing Him with the Bible from being the authoritative Truth and by replacing His teachings from being the Way to the Father with someone’s words with His name. In this post, we will explore how today’s Christians, replace His words which are life with the Bible.
Jesus, the Life
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
John 14:6
Jesus is our eternal life. Some Christians believe that chanting His name gives us eternal life as deceived by Paul (Rom 10:13). Yet, some Christians believe that just believing in Him will give them eternal life as in (John 3:16; John 5:24) without reading the rest of what Jesus said (John 3:21; John 5:29). In short, many Christians try to desperately find excuses to reject the teachings of Jesus. So, what does it mean by He being the life?
Words of Jesus are life
It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and [they] are life. … But Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.
John 6:63,68
Jesus Himself said that His words are life. Those who believe in Jesus has everlasting life means, believing everything He says about attaining everlasting life without a doubt. But satan is very clever who wants Christians to believe who Jesus really is, that is the Messiah and even want to attribute Him to everlasting life, but reject all His teachings about attaining everlasting life.
Rejecting the teachings of Jesus can sometimes become so obvious for Christians. So, they replace the words of Jesus with something that contains His words but does not give eternal life, that is, the Bible.
Replacing the words of Jesus
But you do not have His word abiding in you, because whom He sent, Him you do not believe. You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.
John 5:38-40
Today’s Christians are like the first century Jews who think that they have eternal life in the Bible, just like how they think that the Bible is the authoritative truth and the way. However, Scripture only testifies about Jesus and cannot give eternal life. If anyone wants eternal life, they need to come to Jesus and have His word abiding in them.
In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. … Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”
John 1:4, 8:12
As we saw earlier, Jesus being our eternal life is about obeying His words that are life. Once again, we can clearly see that this “life” is the light of men and we have this life only by following Him and not walking in darkness.
Replacing the words of Jesus
Take firm hold of instruction, do not let go; Keep her [wisdom], for she [is] your life (Prov 4:13)
Set your hearts on all the words which I testify among you today, which you shall command your children to be careful to observe–all the words of this law. For it [is] not a futile thing for you, because it [is] your life, and by this word you shall prolong [your] days in the land which you cross over the Jordan to possess (Deut 32:46-47)
Only be sure that you do not eat the blood, for the blood [is] the life; you may not eat the life with the meat (Deut 12:23).
In the way of righteousness [is] life, And in [its] pathway [there is] no death (Prov 12:28).
As we saw in a previous post, anyone can use the Bible to prove anything from polygamy to abstinence, crusades to burning on stake and many others. According to the Bible the following are all equated to life.
Wisdom
Law
Blood
Righteousness
Even though certain things in Scripture have specific meanings and reasons, for many bible believers, Jesus being life becomes a matter of opinion and interpretation of what it means among the other things mentioned as life in the Bible. For example, as per scriptures, you can kill the wicked to be accounted for righteousness as in Ps 106:30-31, which will be life according to Prov 12:28. Jesus commanded us to make disciples of Him not, believers of the bible.
Conclusion
The words of Jesus are life. However, Christians reject His words which are life by replacing it with the Bible. Since bible equates several things to life, Jesus being life becomes a matter of opinion and interpretation of what it means among the other things mentioned as “life”. Therefore, let us not reject the teachings of Jesus which are life.
