Handling God's Word Faithfully

“For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.” -2 Corinthians 2:17.

God's Word really isn't difficult to understand, but we dare not get lazy, either. Only too many times do I hear about “doctrine” that has been derived from a verse or two, with little consideration of other scriptures which contradict; what we need is the full counsel of God's Word to determine accurate meaning (Acts 20:27).

We must remember that the chapters & verses were put into the Bible to help us with locating and memorizing specific passages; the writing itself came as a whole, without the divisions. The purpose of this blog is to provide an example of how to apply God's Word faithfully, and not to mishandle it. With this in mind, I have chosen to look at the book of I John. This “book” was, of course, a single letter written to Christians generally back in the time of the Apostle John.

Over the years I have sometimes heard I John 5:13 referenced as a “proof” verse for the view of eternal security. Of course I disagree, but the point here is that the proponents sometimes isolate this verse to support their view on the subject. I also know of several other verses in this book that are sometimes mishandled, so I thought I John would be a good example to teach by.

“These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.” -I John 5:13.

We see that our focus verse comes very near the end of this letter, and there are only 8 verses beyond it. John is beginning to summarize it when saying, "these things have I written unto you," also identifying the target of his writing as Christian believers. He says that the purpose of his writing these things was so that the believing readers might KNOW that they are living uprightly before God, and that they truly believe what they profess.

What John is doing by this letter is giving instruction for Christian living, and laying before them doctrines to which they must hold. If they are compliant with these truths they will know that they are on the right track, that they have been saved through Jesus Christ, and that in the end they will have eternal life. So what were some of those things John wrote to instruct them?

1:8-2:2: The need for repentance and forgiveness. 2:15,16: Separation from worldly affection. 2:22: How to identify antichrists. 2:27: Receiving of the holy anointing. 3:1: Our adoption as children of God. 2:3,4 & 5:2,3: The need to keep the commandments. 3:14,15 & 4:20,21: How Christians must love their fellow brethren. 3:16-22: Real love requires action; the role of a conscience; confidence in prayer. 4:1: We need to test the spirits. 4:8,16: "God is love." 4:9,10: God's love toward us. 5:7: Direct verse supporting the trinity. 5:14,15: The need to pray in God's will. 5:16,17: Types of sin we will deal with. All of the information God gives us here, through John, are criteria we can hold ourselves to for certainty that we are walking in real faith.

But there are several verses in I John that seem to tell us (Christians) that we actually do not sin, and there are not a few prosperity teachers who inexcusably promote that view-they should know better! They do exactly what I am warning you not to do; which is isolating single verses without regard for the context they are in, or how the verse relates to the rest of the Bible. You will see these verses in 3:6,9, & 5:18. Here is one sample from I John 3:9;

"Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God."

How could anyone isolate such a verse from the rest of the book? The first chapter talks about our sin, and how even if we do sin after salvation, Jesus is our advocate (2:2). And sin is clearly addressed late in chapter 5, as well. Still, then how can we apply such a verse as 3:9?

What these verses must imply is that the born again Christian does not deliberately sin, but they seek to please God and keep His commandments (3:22). It does not mean, cannot mean, that there are never any points of stumbling. This we can verify by other scriptures such as we find in Romans chapter 7:18-8:1;

"For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin. There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit."

Another verse often misused can be found in 5:4;

"For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith."

An individual inappropriately using this verse might say something like this, "Well, I am a Christian, I'm born of God, so I've overcome the world!" They seem to forget the context of the very chapter this verse is found in! Just look at verse 16 for something to think about...

"If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it."

How do we appropriately apply the Word of God in our lives? I John 5:4 is a wonderful verse of encouragement, and I do not put it down, but this victorious overcoming isn't automatic by any means. Please check out for yourself 2 Corinthians 1:8-10, 7:5. Our faith must grow.

Prayer will always be your first and best tool for scripture understanding. It is by wisdom that we should remember not to be limited due to the chapter & verse divisions; and to consider the overall testimony of both the passage, as well as the rest of the Bible.

"Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." -2 Timothy 2:15.