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Why did the Jews read the Old Testament and keep
its words close to their hearts for such a long time?
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Search the scriptures; for in them ye think
ye have eternal life: and they are they which
testify of Me. (John 5:39)
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We read the Scriptures in order to receive eternal
life. The Bible bears witness of Jesus, and we read
it to come to know Jesus and, through Him, to receive
eternal life.
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But these are written, that ye might believe
that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God;
and that believing ye might have life
through His name. (John 20:31)
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John's Gospel, too, was recorded in order that we
might believe that Jesus is the Christ and receive
eternal life. If we consider all 66 books of the Bible,
few of them put as much emphasis on the matter
of eternal life as John's Gospel does. Who is Jesus?
He is the Son of God, the Christ, or "anointed
One," promised in the Old Testament. It's through
faith in Him that we receive eternal life.
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And this is life eternal, that they might know
Thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ,
whom Thou hast sent. (John 17:3)
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This promise of eternal life is so very holy! If it
weren't for this promise, what hope would there
be for us in our lives?
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And I give unto them eternal life; and they
shall never perish, neither shall any man
pluck them out of My hand. My Father,
which gave them Me, is greater than all;
and no man is able to pluck them out of
My Father's hand. (John 10:28-29)
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"No man is able to pluck them out of My Father's
hand." Do you think that the devil can snatch us
away? No one can snatch us away, because God is
greater than all things and fills all things. Christians
also must die somehow, somewhere, but all those
who have come to realize and believe that God loves
them so much that He has forgiven all their sins will
meet in the eternal kingdom of heaven, wherever that
may be. It isn't possible for any of them to be omitted,
since they have eternal life. When we drift away
from God, however, when we sin or do something
for which we should be disciplined and don't confess
what we have done, we feel pain in our hearts.
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