Throughout the history of religion there have been two primary types of Religionists: those who reject Scripture and those who misuse it. One leads to mysticism, the other leads to legalism. They both claim superiority by pointing out extremes of the other and they both use portions of Scripture to justify their doctrine, but neither accept the Word of God in its entirety. They use just enough Scripture to prove their point, but not enough to direct you to a true loving relationship with God the Father through the Lord Jesus. The late John Osteen often said, “Religion is like a vaccination, you get just enough so you can’t catch the real thing.”
Everything we have in God is based on the life, teaching, death, and resurrection of Jesus; therefore, it is incumbent upon us to see Jesus as He is. Jesus Himself tells us where to look to see Him as He is: Scripture. The Pharisees searched Scripture, but they had such a twisted concept of God it was impossible for them to see God as He was, which meant they could not see the Messiah as God presented Him. He said these words to them: 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 5:39-40).
The Scriptures He spoke of were from the Old Testament. Any time Jesus or the apostles mentioned “the Scriptures” this is what they meant. While we need the apostles’ teaching to help us find the practical application of God’s Word, neither their words nor the words of Jesus were ever meant to cancel, negate, or do away with anything God’s Word previously said. Their words were all designed to help us properly interpret and apply God’s truth within the bounds of the New Covenant.
There has always been a great effort on the part of Lucifer to discredit and eradicate confidence in the Old Testament Scriptures. There are many reasons for seeking to accomplish this demonic goal, but there could be two primary reasons. All of the morals, values, and ethics needed for man to live an incredible life and to actually have a civil society that works are found in God’s commandments. But possibly the most deceptive reason for moving people to reject the Old Testament is the fact that those Scriptures are the only place we can find God’s account of Jesus and the provisions of the New Covenant.
Through every sacrifice, feast, and ceremony and from furnishing the temple right down to the garments worn by the priests, we have types and shadows of Jesus and His ministry. The moment we abandon Scripture we move into iniquity and idolatry. Iniquity rejects God’s values, morals, ethics, and codes of justice. Idolatry then creates its own philosophical concept of Jesus. The Apostle Peter warned against “private interpretation” of God’s Word. Private interpretation of God’s Word or the work of the cross is a subjective expression based on personal preferences. It rejects God’s report and creates its own (Is 53:1).
As we create our own images and philosophies of the cross we alienate ourselves from the grace of God. Grace always comes through faith (Eph 2:8, Ro 5:2). Faith is the immovable trust in God’s character and motives expressed through His Word, His name, and His Son. This is why the Scriptures say, Without faith it is impossible to please God (Heb 11:6). Everything God has for us is a free gift that is received by faith (trust in God’s character and motives). The word “receive” means to “take hold and bring it unto oneself.” When we trust God’s version of the truth we take hold of it and bring it into our heart. This is what explodes into grace (God’s power) that works in our heart. This is what makes us able to stand, live, walk, and move in our new identity and the power of righteousness.
This entire process is called transformation or metamorphous (Ro 12:2-2). In a metamorphous one is being transformed from the inside out. They are not becoming something they are not; they are manifesting and expressing their true identity. But there is one little catch to this process: we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is (1 John 3:2). My capacity to allow Jesus to emerge and express Himself through me is directly linked to whether or not I see Him as He is, and we can only see Him as He is when we look at Him through God’s Word.
Jesus According to Scripture is a positive, uplifting look at Jesus’ life, teaching, death, and resurrection based on God’s Word. It will open your eyes to many aspects of His character and love you may not have seen. It will change the way you read Scripture and it will inspire new levels of trust and confidence in your Savior!
