"How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only? Do not think I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuseth you, even Moses, in whom ye trust. For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed Me: for he wrote of Me. but if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?" John 5:44-47
Too many Christians today don't know much about God. The reason is, they don't read the scriptures. The scriptures/writings of Moses and the others is full of the knowledge of God. Jesus makes it clear to those who He was speaking to (religious leaders) that they have gone astray from the scriptures and started their own religious philosophy. It's not just the Jews and the Muslims that strayed from the scriptures and started their own religious system, there are billions across the world that make their own way.
But Jesus was speaking to all who have chosen another path, "For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed Me. But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe My words?"
Why is this important? Because just studying the stories of the Old Testament as a child is not the same as believing and understanding the connection between God and man. The Old Testament points to Jesus as the Saviour of the world. The Old Testament gives the account of the first man and woman and their experiences, triumphs and pitfalls. The Old Testament gives the history of the world from its creation through the birth, crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus and all throughout the Old Testament God gives men and women His prophesies of the future, even the time we live in. From the beginning to the end of the Old Testament is a chord of connection from God to man that needs to be studied and understood. Then with the New Testament giving account of the life and times of Jesus and the Apostles as well as the prophetic book of Revelation, you can have a world view of impending events as well as direction as to when and how we should respond to certain events.
God knows. That's why the whole Bible is so important. You could have a relationship with God that is rewarding and full and wonderful, but it's not likely that it will be all that it can be unless you believe it and it's not likely you will believe it if you don't read it. Jesus instructs those who really thought they knew what was going on to read and believe the writings of Moses. Don't you think this still holds true? I do.
Just a footnote: You don't read the Bible so you can know more than someone else or to wield your knowledge as an axe. You read the Bible to be enlightened, softened, quieted, humbled, made aware of your surroundings and the times you live in, to know God better, to find the truth about your actions and to do something about it, to be made wiser and of greater use to the Master, to find solace in a wicked world, peace in your heart and comfort for your soul.
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