When I was in Bible school, I often heard that context is very important when studying the Bible. And, I could not agree more. The simplicity of the Gospel confuses many, especially when someone relies on teachings and books alone without truly studying the Bible. Many pulpits today focus heavily on Christian living without giving much attention to doctrine. Don’t get me wrong. I am not saying that preachers and teachers should not preach Christian living. It’s that we, as hearers, should be able to listen to doctrines being preached in the same way that we listen to principles of growing and be Christlike. I will list down some churches that have sound doctrine at the end of this article.
Scripture tells us to study to show ourselves approved unto God, like a workman that does not feel ashamed, rightly dividing the truth (2 Timothy 2:15). Therefore, every Christian should study the Word of God alone, apart from books and preaching that one has heard or read.
If you search YouTube or other writing platforms, one of the most talked-about doctrines is Soteriology, the study of the doctrine of Salvation. And I believe this is the most important doctrine we should focus on because it concerns our eternal destiny. We might be mistaken on other major and minor doctrines and still be in Heaven, but if we don’t get the right doctrine about salvation, no matter how perfect we are with the other doctrines, we will still go to hell.
In the book of John, you see many passages about salvation. Probably, the most cliche verse is John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
Other verses include:
“But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: “ John 1:12
“He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” John 3:18
“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.” John 5:24
“And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.” John 6:35
“And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.” 1 John 3:23
The requirement for salvation is believing in the finished work of the Lord on the cross. We receive Him as our Personal Savior. God is Lord, whether you accept Him or not, so Lordship is about His deity.
What are the common verses and passages from the Bible that are usually misunderstood because they are interpreted out of context?
1. And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Matthew 3:2
Due to the rise of reformed theology, the word “repent,” which is metanoia, a Greek word that simply means “a change of mind,” evolved. Its modern definition becomes “change of mind that leads to a change of action (good, not bad) or change of life are added to suit religions.
If you read the entire book of Matthew, you will understand why John persuaded the Israelites to repent or change their minds. What did they need to repent from?
Judaism was the dominant religion during these times. And what does this religion teach?
What is repentance in Judaism?
(References to these quoted statements are found on the link below)
“In Biblical as well as post-Biblical literature repentance is postulated as the indispensable condition on which the salvation and redemption of the people of Israel, as well as of every individual man,
The full meaning of repentance, according to Jewish doctrine, is clearly indicated in the term “teshubah” (lit. “return”; from the verb ). This implies: (1) All transgression and sin are the natural and inevitable consequence of man’s straying from God and His laws (comp. Deut. xi. 26-28; Isa. i. 4; Jer. ii. 13, xvi. 11; Ezek. xviii. 30). (2) It is man’s destiny, and therefore his duty, to be with God as God is with him. (3) It is within the power of every man to redeem himself from sin by resolutely breaking away from it and turning to God, whose loving-kindness is ever extended to the returning sinner. “Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon” (Isa. lv. 7; comp. Jer. iii. 12; Ezek. xviii. 32; Joel ii. 13). (4) Because “there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not” (Eccl. vii. 20; I Kings viii. 46), every mortal stands in need of this insistence on his “return” to God.
The sinners who have repented are raised and placed among God’s hosts (Yalḳ., Ps. xlv.). Repentance is not an outward act, as Weber (“Jüdische Theologie,” p. 261) endeavors to represent it, but an inner cleansing of the heart (Pesiḳ. 161b). It must be perfectly sincere, true contrition, coupled with shame and self-reproach, and confession (Ber. 12b; Ḥag. 5a; Sanh. 43; Pesiḳ. R. 83; Yer. Ta’an. ii. 65). A striking picture of such repentance is given by Eleazar b. Durdai’a (‘Ab. Zarah 17a). In the same sense, repentance is described in Psalms of Solomon, ix. 6-7; and is dwelt upon, in Wisdom xi. 23; xii. 10, 19; Book of Jubilees, v. 17. It is well analyzed by Philo, in “De Execrationibus,” § 8, as a feeling of shame and self-reproach which leads to a frank and sincere confession and a change of heart and of conduct. “Through it Israel shall be accepted by God their Father and be gathered again from all quarters of the globe, the glory of God marching before them” (comp. Sanh. 97b; Tobit xiii. 6, xiv. 6). “
(https://chosenpeople.com/salvation-as-interpreted-by-judaism/)
(https://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/12680-repentance)
Therefore, Judaism teaches repentance as penitence, the feeling of sorrow or guilt that leads to sincere confession and a changed heart. This is where many get the wrong responses to the Gospel. I read an article that says Jewish can be reconciled to God through repentance (turning away from sin), prayer, and obedience.
This is the call of John to the Jews. They had to change their minds from trusting in their own repentance and obedience for reconciliation with God to trusting in Jesus Christ alone for salvation.
The best example that I could think of is that I once was a Catholic who believed that I would be saved if I did the 7 sacraments and maintained a righteous life until I die. When I repented of that, I now believed that only Jesus can save and keep me until the end. So I turn to God for my salvation, instead of relying on what I could do.
2. For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation, not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death. 2 Corinthians 7:10
Many people use this as a salvation verse to prove that repentance is feeling sorrowful or turning away from their sin. Let’s look at the context of this by looking at the previous verses.
“Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
Receive us; we have wronged no man, we have corrupted no man, we have defrauded no man.
I speak not this to condemn you: for I have said before, that ye are in our hearts to die and live with you.” 2 Corinthians 7:1-3
Here, Paul was addressing the Corinthian church because of their sins. He opened this chapter by saying “dearly beloved.” I don’t think you will call the unbelievers dearly beloved, do you? As Christians, we are to live a life of repentance as stated in 1 John 1:9, but never before salvation. We have to be born again first before 1 John 1:9 applies to us.
3. Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. Revelation 3:20
The context of this is that God was talking to the lukewarm Laodicean church. It is never for them to be saved, but for them to repent and go back to God. This is in no way to be used for spiritual salvation, but to the church so that God would not spew them out of His mouth. It is a verse for the restoration of fellowship with Him.
4. Book of Jonah
This is also one of the defenses used to explain repentance as a change of mind that leads to a change of action. Some people tell me this, “See, they repented of their sins, and God saved them.” Wait, salvation here does not mean spiritual but physical.
“And Jonah began to enter into the city a day’s journey, and he cried, and said, Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown.” Jonah 3:4
The premise of this is that, like Sodom and Gomorrah, if they don’t turn away from their sins, God will destroy them physically. There is not one verse that says they will be saved spiritually.
“And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not.” Jonah 3:10
God saw their works, that they had turned from their evil ways, so He changed His mind and did not overthrow them. Yet eventually, because of their continued wickedness, God wiped them out.
“And it shall come to pass, that all they that look upon thee shall flee from thee, and say, Nineveh is laid waste: who will bemoan her? whence shall I seek comforters for thee?” Nahum 3:7
This can’t be a spiritual salvation book because Ephesians 2:8-9 clearly states that we are saved by grace through faith and not by our good works. If the story of Jonah and Nineveh pertains to spiritual salvation, then it contradicts these verses and all other verses that say we are not saved by any amount of good works.
If you are reading this, I desire for you to be saved according to the Scripture. Only one life, so soon it will pass. Be sure of your eternal salvation today!
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Churches that preach sound doctrines
https://www.northlandchurch.com
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