"Always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. Now as Jannes and Jambres resisted Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, disapproved concerning the faith; but they will progress no further, for their folly will be manifest to all, as theirs also was." {2 Timothy 3:7-9} Paul wrote about them in the first century, and they are still alive and well in the twenty-first century-men who believe they are wise but who never truly master the truth.
Many people with whom we have religious discussions seem absolutely oblivious to the need to consider the CONTEXT of a passage. What do we mean by context? It's the passage setting, the subject being discussed, and who is being addressed. Defined, the word means "to weave together." Let's study a few classic examples where failure to consider a passage's correct context inhibits determination of its true meaning.
Eternal security. "And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand." {John 10:28} Many who believe that "once you're saved, you're always saved" quote this passage as if the rest of us don't believe what it says. Every word is true but we arrive at a false conclusion when we fail to also include verse 27: "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me." The verse says if one HEARS the Master's voice, has a RELATIONSHIP with Him (is known by Him), and FOLLOWS Him, no one can snatch him out of His hand. Wait-if you FAIL to hear His voice, do not have a RELATIONSHIP with Him, and FAIL to follow Him-then the wolf can snatch you out of His hand!
The works of the law cannot save. "Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified." {Galatians 2:16} Unfortunately, those who advocate salvation by "grace only" fail to put this passage in its proper context. Who is being addressed? What problem was Paul discussing? Paul was discussing the problem the church was having with some who sought to be saved by clinging to the Old Law. They were trying to require the Gentiles to observe some of the Law of Moses to be saved. Those who were living during the time of Christ's Law could not be saved or justified by Moses' Law. Attempts to do so were destined to fail. Paul went on to say that some had "fallen from grace" (Galatians 5:4) because they were seeking to be justified (acquitted or made right) by means of the Old Law. Because of this, they had become estranged from Christ. Law is not being used in a proper way. Obedience is a must!
Dear readers, we must "rightly divide the word of truth" (2 Timothy 2:15). Peter spoke of those who would "twist and pervert the gospel to their own destruction" (2 Peter 3:16). One can, by lifting a passage out of its proper CONTEXT, one-verse himself into believing many things. Let's handle God's word honorably by not being deceitful and seeking to FORCE conclusions that are not in the passage!