"the words of eternal life" (jn 6:68)
"Search the Scriptures." —John 5:39
You are reading this book, One Bread, One Body, to "search the Scriptures in which you think you have eternal life" (Jn 5:39). You are right in your belief that the Scriptures will lead you to eternal life. "These [things] have been recorded to help you believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, so that through this faith you may have life in His name" (Jn 20:31). "If you believed Moses," that is, the first part of the Bible, "you would then believe" Jesus because the first part of the Bible and the whole Bible are about Jesus (Jn 5:46). "But if you do not believe what" Moses wrote and what the other Biblical authors wrote, "how can you believe what" Jesus says? (Jn 5:47)
"Faith comes through hearing, and hearing through the word of God" (Rm 10:17, our transl). St. Jerome said: "Ignorance of the Scriptures is ignorance of Christ" (Catechism, 133). During this Lent, "humbly welcome the word that has taken root in you, with its power to save you" (Jas 1:21).
Prayer: Father, may I devote myself to the Church's teaching, especially in the Bible (see Acts 2:42).
Promise: "The Lord relented in the punishment He had threatened to inflict on His people." —Ex 32:14
Praise: Charles' life changed forever when by the grace of the Holy Spirit, he suddenly was able to read the Scripture with understanding.
Reference: (To share the words of eternal life with others, some helpful teachings are on our recording, Biblical Counseling. Order, listen to, or download our series starting with CD 13 A-1 or DVD 13A on our website or order our tape series starting with audio AV 13 A-1 or video V 13A.)
Rescript: †Most Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Auxiliary Bishop, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, October 12, 2016
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