Lots of people search the Scriptures. But not all of them search therein for the same thing. The Lord and Savior Jesus Christ declares that all who "search the Scriptures" should find that "these are they which testify of Me" (John 5:39). Seekers of Him find this to be true, for they find Him in "all the Scriptures" (Luke 24:27, 44f). On the other hand, seekers of other things search the Scriptures in vain.

The legalist searches Scriptures in vain for a code of law or conduct, or other rules and regulations, by which to order his life in the hope of thereby earning acceptance before God. The believer finds in Scriptures that "Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes" (Romans 10:4). The moralist searches Scriptures in vain for some ethical principle by which to pattern his life and find acceptance with God. The believer finds in Scriptures that in Christ alone is found acceptance with God (Ephesians 1:4-6), and that Christ is the pattern for his life (1 John 2:6; Philippians 2:5ff).

The sacramentalist searches Scriptures in vain for some religious ritual through which salvation may be conferred upon him, although he generally thinks he has found it in baptism. The believer finds in Scriptures that Christ is both His savior and salvation (Matthew 1:21; Psalm 27:1), and that baptism is the answer of a conscience already made good by Christ (1 Peter 3:21). The sectarian searches Scriptures in vain for the church he loves and of which he is a member. The believer finds in Scriptures the Christ he loves and of whom he is a member (1 Corinthians 6:15; 12:12-27), and that he is a member of the church Christ loves (Ephesians 5:23-32).

The sabbatarian searches Scriptures in vain for his weekly day of physical rest for his physical body. The believer finds in Scriptures that Christ has given to him an everlasting spiritual Sabbath-rest for his eternal soul (Matthew 11:28f; Hebrews 4:1-11). The universalist searches Scriptures in vain for proof texts to bolster his contention that Christ died for the salvation of every mortal. The believer finds in Scriptures that both God and His Christ declare He died "for many" (Isaiah 53:11f; Matthew 20:28; 26:28; Hebrews 9:28), and that they for whom Christ died are "His people" (Matthew 1:21; Isaiah 53:8; John 10:11; 15:13; Acts 20:28; Ephesians 5:25), and that every one for whom Christ died is saved for all eternity (Ephesians 1:3-14). The skeptic searches Scriptures in vain for mistakes. The believer finds in Scriptures Christ the Truth (John 14:8), and that He is "God, who cannot lie" (Titus 1:2; Numbers 23:19; Romans 3:4). The dogmatist searches Scriptures for facts to bolster his theology. The believer finds in Scriptures the "doctrine of Christ" - His theology (1 John 2:9).