Never Stop At One Verse

[Christ4Ever]

And certain [men] came down from Judea and taught the brethren, "Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved." Acts 15:1 NKJV

Does today’s scripture “feel funny” to you? It should, as it contradicts the biblical message of salvation by grace alone.

The quote is 100 percent accurate but, when read by itself, misleading. The words were spoken by tradition-bound Jews who wanted the new Gentile Christians to obey the Old Testament’s ceremonial laws. This demand brought the mission team of Paul and Barnabas “into sharp dispute and debate with them” (Acts 15:2). Later in the chapter, other church leaders also disagreed. “Why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of Gentiles a yoke that neither we nor our ancestors have been able to bear?” the apostle Peter asked. “No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are” (Acts 15:10-11).

When you’re reading scripture, never stop at one verse—the surrounding passage will always provide important context. And if you see Bible verses anywhere—on internet posts or T-shirts or even in devotional books like this—stop and ask yourself, “Is that being used correctly?” Then dig in to scripture to be sure.

The Bible can’t tell us everything about God but does contain all we need to know for salvation and Christian living. Be sure to study and obey it.

Prayer: Lord, guide me into an ever-deeper understanding of Your Word.

 

[Hekuran]

And certain [men] came down from Judea and taught the brethren, "Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved." Acts 15:1 NKJV

Does today’s scripture “feel funny” to you? It should, as it contradicts the biblical message of salvation by grace alone.

The quote is 100 percent accurate but, when read by itself, misleading. The words were spoken by tradition-bound Jews who wanted the new Gentile Christians to obey the Old Testament’s ceremonial laws. This demand brought the mission team of Paul and Barnabas “into sharp dispute and debate with them” (Acts 15:2). Later in the chapter, other church leaders also disagreed. “Why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of Gentiles a yoke that neither we nor our ancestors have been able to bear?” the apostle Peter asked. “No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are” (Acts 15:10-11).

When you’re reading scripture, never stop at one verse—the surrounding passage will always provide important context. And if you see Bible verses anywhere—on internet posts or T-shirts or even in devotional books like this—stop and ask yourself, “Is that being used correctly?” Then dig in to scripture to be sure.

The Bible can’t tell us everything about God but does contain all we need to know for salvation and Christian living. Be sure to study and obey it.

Prayer: Lord, guide me into an ever-deeper understanding of Your Word.

Don't even read a chapter of the Bible on its own. Most of the book of Job is elegant poetic discussion of the ways of God regarding suffering. And at the end of it, God tells the philosophical theologians that all they've said is wrong

After the Lord had said these things to Job, he said to Eliphaz the Temanite, “I am angry with you and your two friends, because you have not spoken the truth about me, as my servant Job has. So now take seven bulls and seven rams and go to my servant Job and sacrifice a burnt offering for yourselves. My servant Job will pray for you, and I will accept his prayer and not deal with you according to your folly. You have not spoken the truth about me, as my servant Job has.” So Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite did what the Lord told them; and the Lord accepted Job’s prayer.
Job 42

 

[Curtis]

John 5:39 “You search the Scriptures because you think they give you eternal life. But the Scriptures point to me! (NLT)

The "scriptures point" to the one who gives eternal life.