Back Up A Verse Or Two

There are so many wonderful verses in the Bible that Christians know and quote. They are great encouragement, reminders, and comfort to us. They only problem is that sometimes, when we haven't read the text around them in a while, we start taking them out of context. The majority don't do it intentionally, but it is still doing it.

While reading today, I came across one of these verses which will help to end that vicious cycle. We all have hear John 8:32 "You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." That's a great verse. Christians tend to look at this as a cry of freedom for those who chose to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, and that's true. But - there is an IF right before Jesus says this. Let's back up and start at verse 30. Pay close attention to whom Jesus is speaking to and what the "if" declares:

As He was saying these things, many believed in Him. So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in Him, "If you continue in My word, you really are My disciples. You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."
John 8:30-32


Jesus was not talking to the masses in general here. He was speaking directly to those who had declared that He was the Messiah. So why did He feel the need to add, "If you continue in My word, you are really My disciples"? Emphasis Mine Isn't just believing that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and came to die for our sins enough? No. It really isn't. How can I say this? Let's look at the book of James. I will use several verses to show you the context, but pay special attention to the verse 19, which I highlighted.


James 2:14-20
 ¹⁴ What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith, but does not have works? Can his faith save him?
    ¹⁵ If a brother or sister is without clothes and lacks daily food, ¹⁶ and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, keep warm, and eat well," but you don't give them what the body needs, what good is it? ¹⁷ In the same way faith, if it doesn't have works, is dead by itself.
    ¹⁸ But someone will say, "You have faith, and I have works." Show me your faith without works, and I will show you faith from my works. ¹⁹ You believe that God is one; you do well. The demons also believe—and they shudder.
    ²⁰ Foolish man! Are you willing to learn that faith without works is useless? 
(See also Matthew 8:29 and Luke 4:34)


Even the demons believe and know He is the Son of God, but that does nothing for them. They had made their choice when they sided with Satan, and their works deceived them. I'm not saying that we should base everything on works, for then we try to earn our way into heaven. "For by grace you are saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God's gift—" Ephesians 2:8


So what do we do with these two seemingly opposing truths? 


1. We believe, by faith, that Jesus Christ is the Son of God who came to pay the price for our sins cleansing us by His blood sacrifice so that we can enter into the presence of our Holy God for eternity.
2. We humble ourselves, knowing there is nothing we can do to earn the gift which is freely given to us by Jesus the Messiah.
3. We prove our faith by submitting ourselves to His will daily and produce much fruit through the studying and living out of His Word. (John 15:8)


The root of where we fall short as Christians is in choosing which few verses of Scripture we will cling on to. 


I'm putting out a challenge for you today: Think of one of your favorite Scriptures which you quote to yourself quite often. Go look it up, and read the entire chapter in which it is placed. If it is one of the very first verses, read the chapter before it as well. If it is one of the last, read the chapter after. 


Now, take some time to ponder whether you have been quoting the context correctly.