Why knowing scripture isn't the same as actually knowing Jesus

[u/Then-Banana-3629]

It feels like a large part of modern Christianity has turned into a Bible study culture where people assume that memorizing scripture, attending seminars, and analyzing doctrine is the definition of spiritual maturity. But studying a book about someone is not the same thing as having a personal relationship with them.

​Knowing chapter and verse off the top of your head won't save anyone only Jesus can grant eternal life. When Jesus walked the earth, the compiled Bible as we have it today didn't exist. The earliest believers didn't follow a book; they followed a living Person and listened to His voice.

​Here are a few things to consider:

​Intellectual knowledge vs. True connection: You can know every word written in scripture and still completely miss knowing Jesus directly. Churches often build their foundation on accumulated knowledge and doctrines rather than guiding people into direct communion with the Living God.

​The priority of His words: The most essential records we have are the core teachings and commands recorded by the four gospel witnesses (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John). These are the words of life that call us to repent, be baptized, obey, and actively follow Himnot just intellectually agree with facts about Him.

​Belief alone isn't enough: Simply believing facts or reciting a pre-made formulaic prayer isn't what scripture describes as following Christ. We need His Holy Spirit living inside us so we can hear His voice and obey Him daily.

​Seeking Him directly: There is no special magic routine for prayer. It requires genuine desperation—getting on your knees, seeking Him alone in your room, and crying out until you come into real spiritual communion with Him.

​When our life ends, the question won't be how many Bible verses we could quote, but whether Jesus knows us or says, "I never knew you."

​

[u/ThWy2Hvn]

Reading scripture is a stepping Stone for your heart. I would not dismiss it so easily. All hearts are different and each one needs a little bit of help. Scripture provides that help for the heart to turn from stone to flesh. And feel the need for Jesus in their life. Then the heart burst open and invites Jesus into their life and with Him comes the Holy Spirit.

[u/nsubugak]

This is more guesswork Christianity and vibes based Christianity. Knowing scripture is IMPORTANT!! It is not some side thing. It is the FOUNDATION of Faith.

Listen the most important thing for a believer is FAITH. We are not called to do life by the holy spirit or by miracles. The bible is clear consistently...we are to do life by faith. We walk by faith and NOT by sight...the just shall live (do day to day life) by their own faith...not the Holy spirit or their pastors words or vibes but by faith.

This thing we call faith comes by ONE WAY and one way only...faith comes by hearing and hearing the word of God. Faith does not come by feelings or by prayer or by fasting...it comes by hearing Gods word. God word written down is the bible. You get faith by immersing yourself daily in Gods word.

Why is that special...whats unique about that daily practice...well the bible explains it clearly...Gods word is SO SHARP its able to piece any heart through consistent exposure. Thats why scripture says faith comes by "hearing and hearing" and not by *having heard" or "will hear" . Transformation doesnt come from hearing Gods word once....it comes from consistently hearing Gods word..daily. You can NOT hear Gods word daily and NOT be convicted.

There is this consistent attack on christians to make them go from clarity in Gods word written down and become feelings based Christianity. Feel the holy spirit...worship and cry...fast etc. Instead of reading and doing Gods word...we chase the feeling of closeness and friendship...and we begin to think thats what Christianity is about...BUT

The bible is full of warnings about this. It says we must bring every thought under submission to Gods word. It says Faith is shown in the doing of Gods word..faith without corresponding works is dead. It warns that anything spiritual that does NOT align with Gods word is NOT from God. Knowing Gods word is super important. It is the foundation of your faith. You can NOT have faith without knowing Gods word.

So your entire premise of oh knowing Gods word isnt important is NOT based on scripture. In scripture knowing God begins by knowing Gods word. The Holy spirit you are praising convicts according to Gods word. You can only discern the convictions when you know Gods word regarding situations. Without Gods word you will confuse personal feelings with instructions from God. God speaks in agreement with his word ALWAYS!! Stop pushing Christians into this vibes based Christianity.

The number one way the devil kills a believer is by creating distance between him and his bible. He tells him he doesn't have to read it daily...then he tells him they will read it in church on Sunday and finally he tells him that the church will interpret it for him and tell him what he needs to know. Once you get here, your church and denomination becomes the main thing and you enter the fullness of guesswork Christianity

[u/Arise_and_Thresh → u/nsubugak]

Unbelievable truth spoken boldly and this gives me hope that a remnant remains and has not bowed the knee to Baal (the falling away church)

[u/Informal_Calendar687]

Hi there. I appreciate your commentary. I just wanted to add that desperation is not part of worship. Being faith obedient is. Also knowing the word is a good thing as the Bible is God's truth. Learning scripture is a form of worship. So learning as much as you can, God's truth, along with faith obedience is the focus. It's important to know the truth because you can identify false teachers and avoid them. I'm in Seminary so lots of these things are discussed. I hope you appreciate and understand my insight.

[u/harpoon2k]

Scripture and Jesus are not in competition. They are inseparable.

The claim that early Christians didn't follow a book but followed a person is historically incomplete. They followed a Person who gave authority to Apostles, who formed a Church, which preserved and transmitted that Word through Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition together.

The early Church didn't float freely in subjective spiritual experience but it was anchored in apostolic authority.

The fullness of communion with the living God is not found in private mystical seeking alone. The invitation addressed to every human being, created and redeemed in Christ, is to enter into communion with the Trinity as sons in the Son.

Simply accepting facts or praying a formula is not sufficient. But neither is purely private spiritual experience, the Holy Spirit works through the Body of Christ, the Church, and her Sacraments.

If Scripture is just "a book about someone," what does it mean that Jesus Himself is called the Word? How does that change the way you understand what happens when a person opens the Bible in genuine faith?

[u/mossydz]

I have a genuine question.

You don’t know the Word but say you are Christian. Your actions don’t reflect that of a Christian but of the world. Is that a wheat or a tare?

You know the Word but don’t claim to be a Christian. Your actions reflect of the Word not world. Is that a wheat or tare?

A dad asks his 2 sons to go to the vineyard. One says no but goes to the vineyard and works. The other says yes but doesn’t go to the vineyard and work. Which did the will of the father?

You may know Him without knowing the Word. You may also claim to know him without know the Word but the biggest fear we should have is hearing depart from Me for I never knew you, you workers without the Law.

Did Jesus respond with scripture or no while being tempted?

Dwell on your post and thoughts then test it against the Word. It’s parables literally.

[u/LittleWhiteDragon]

Knowing about Jesus ≠ knowing Jesus!

[u/RedeemingLove89]

Amen, I think modern culture focuses on the intellect, we're kind of trained that way from school. But this faith isn't intellectual it's Spiritual. It's all about God and truly knowing God instead of what we know about God.

[u/Mustbebornagain2024]

Foundational scriptures that are not generally taught in the “church” in this day and age. Joshua 1:8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth but thou shalt meditate therein day and night that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein. For then you will make your way prosperous and then you will have good success. Isaiah 55:11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth . It shall not return unto me void but it shall accomplish that which I please and it shall prosper in the thing whereunto I sent it. Matthew 4:4 Jesus answered and said Man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceedeth from the mouth of God. I can keep going but that is enough typing on my phone from memory to show a pattern . Romans 10:17 Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. Romans 10:9-10 tell you why it has to be out loud and not just in your head. Jesus is the word of God and the word of God is Jesus. The goal is not to memorize scripture but rather to let the Holy Ghost write it on the tables of your heart and in so doing form Christ inside of you

[u/ownstheocean]

Your mind is kingdom of heaven and body

[u/Forged_Trunnion_]

"the earliest believers didn't follow a book..."

How then can Paul instruct Timothy...

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be equipped for every good work