Context

[B-A-C]

I recently saw a pretty funny play at a church.

There is a seen where the pastor calls his wife's brother, to find out what things his wife might
want for an anniversary present. His wife just got out of the hospital due to a fall on the ice.
She has a broken leg.
The pastors secretary is in his office when he starts talking about his wife. He says..
"I have been married to Sue for 30 years now, I need to do something about that".

The secretary steps out of his office, and while she is gone, he hangs up on his brother in law
and calls a golf pro shop.
The secretary walks back into the pastors office just in time to overhear him say..

"I've had that old bag for 30 years now, and I need to get rid of her. She's kind of tore up.
I got so mad the other day, I took one of the clubs out and starting beating her so hard
I broke one of her legs."

The secretary almost has a stroke. She steps out of his office again.
He hangs up from the golf shop call gets a call from an auto repair shop, where his car is being repaired.
The secretary walks back just in time to overhear...
"She's got so many miles on her I just need to get rid of her, they don't last forever you know.
It's simply getting too expensive to take of everything she needs. I should just get a new model."

The secretary faints.

Sometimes, the context of the conversation matters..... We sometimes hear bits and pieces of things taken out of context and apply them to what we believe.

There are parts of the Bible written for non-believers. There are parts written for new believers.
There are parts written for those who have been saved for quite a while. There are parts of the Bible that apply to the old covenant, and parts that apply to the new covenant. There are parts that apply to the past and parts that apply to the future. There are quotes in the Bible by people who weren't believers such as Pharaoh, Gamaliel, and even Caesar.

We've gotten good at looking up a quick verse on our computers and cell phones. It has just the words
we need in it. But it seems some of us have forgotten that the context in which that verse was written still matters. What was true for the old testament isn't always the same for the new testament.
What was true in war and self defense situations wasn't the same as the context of "do not kill".
Yet it seems some take some verses for every situation. When in fact, often times they are for a specific situation. Sometimes the exact opposite happens. Sometimes there will be five, six or more verses about a given topic... (say, eternal life for example) and people will attach themselves to only one of the verses related to this subject and then say the other verses don't apply anymore.

Context matters.

 

[Waggles]

We sometimes hear bits and pieces of things taken out of context and apply them to what we believe.

The best example of quoting scripture verses alone and completely out of context from previous themes and doctrine, would have to be:
Romans 10:9-10
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

This has become the New Testament gospel for many today. And is used as a stand alone verse to uphold a new feel good give your heart to Jesus
gospel of salvation. Denying even water baptism, a fundamental commandment by Jesus himself.
These two verses in Romans chapter 10 are only a confirmation of Paul's doctrinal explanation as to what constitutes the gospel
preached by the apostles; thus leading to confession of faith [in water baptism with the expectation of receiving the infilling Holy Ghost].

Chapter 10 follows on after chapter 6: the necessity for water baptism by full immersion
Romans 6:3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the
glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

Romans chapter 8, follows on from chapter 6: the necessity for baptism of the Holy Spirit
Romans 8:9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you.
Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
10 And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead
shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
Which is completely consistent and in context with
1John 3:24 And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him.
And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.

Again quoting Romans 10:9-10 as a stand alone this is the gospel of today is in complete contradiction to the declared gospel
dictated by none less than Peter himself...
Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins,
and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Acts 2:39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.

 

[Bendito]

The best example of quoting scripture verses alone and completely out of context from previous themes and doctrine, would have to be:
Romans 10:9-10
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

This has become the New Testament gospel for many today. And is used as a stand alone verse to uphold a new feel good give your heart to Jesus
gospel of salvation. Denying even water baptism, a fundamental commandment by Jesus himself.
These two verses in Romans chapter 10 are only a confirmation of Paul's doctrinal explanation as to what constitutes the gospel
preached by the apostles; thus leading to confession of faith [in water baptism with the expectation of receiving the infilling Holy Ghost].

Chapter 10 follows on after chapter 6: the necessity for water baptism by full immersion
Romans 6:3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the
glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

Romans chapter 8, follows on from chapter 6: the necessity for baptism of the Holy Spirit
Romans 8:9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you.
Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
10 And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead
shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
Which is completely consistent and in context with
1John 3:24 And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him.
And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.

Again quoting Romans 10:9-10 as a stand alone this is the gospel of today is in complete contradiction to the declared gospel
dictated by none less than Peter himself...
Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins,
and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Acts 2:39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.

Now these are two GOOD posts B-A-C and Waggles here are speaking wisdom...Thank you guys.