Dangerous Bible Verses
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). Proven to be the most well-known verse in the Bible. It’s a good one, for sure. The key message: Jesus tells us how much God loves us, and the heart of Jesus’s purpose on earth. Even though what it says is true, it is probably one of the most abused verses in the Bible, as well.
Why would I say that? Because many people take it and do the “name it and claim it” thing with this verse. “All you’ve got to do is believe!” they tell people. “But what about when Jesus says…” another person may counter. “No, no, just name this verse and claim it, just believe in Jesus and you are saved” they will state boldly. Why is this dangerous? Because the half-brother of Jesus, James, tells us, “You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe – and shudder!” (James 2:19). Simple mental assent (how we commonly define belief) is not enough. A fuller understanding of true belief, of faith that saves, is that such faith requires action. It requires repentance (understanding our sinfulness and turning to follow Jesus) and baptism (identifying with what saves us: the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus as we submit to water immersion), as Acts 2:38 clearly states. Repentance and baptism result in forgiveness of sins and the gift of God’s Spirit, this text tells us. And once “in Christ” we must live faithfully, following our Lord. We don’t earn anything, it is by grace we are saved, but from beginning to end, the Bible teaches we must follow the leading of the Lord, more than just believing in him mentally. Jesus said, “Why do you call me Lord, Lord, and yet do not do what I tell you” (Luke 6:46).
But what about John 3:16? It’s still true, we just can’t isolate it from other scripture and make it say what we want it to say. A fuller understanding of “belief” would incorporate these other aspects, but when we take a verse and try to make it stand alone, we make it dangerous. A Jew of the first century (Nicodemus, Jesus’ audience in John 3:16 is a Jew) would understand this concept of belief, that true belief acts on what it believes. Lois Tverberg in her book “Walking in the Dust of Rabbie Jesus” says even the concept of biblical love must understand it includes action, not just mental feelings. If you love God, you don’t just push him aside and live the way you want to. True love is more than feeling.
Bible verses must be taken in context, and in coordination with other texts that speak on the same topic. That’s how you would read any other book, why not the Bible? Too often we treat the Bible like some magic book that we can just flip open and find the answer. Occasionally that happens, but that is not good Bible exegesis. “Study to show yourself approved by God” Paul told Timothy (2 Tim. 2:15).
Here’s another dangerous verse. Romans 10:9, 10 says, “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart, one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.” Again, many use this verse in an isolated way to say, “All you have to do is confess and invite Jesus into your heart.” But in context Paul is not speaking to unbelievers telling them how to become a Christian. He is talking to a church, a group already Christian, simply relating an aspect of salvation. Confessing Jesus as Lord and believing in your heart God raised him from the dead is necessary. But just as I wouldn’t say baptism is all that’s necessary for salvation (I Peter 3:21), I won’t say confession and belief are all you need, either.
As we look to the Bible for guidance, let’s consider the whole counsel of God (Acts 20:27), and not isolate verses, making bold statements that go beyond the scope of what the verse teaches us.
Cross Point: Paul told the Ephesian elders, “I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God.”
Why would I say that? Because many people take it and do the “name it and claim it” thing with this verse. “All you’ve got to do is believe!” they tell people. “But what about when Jesus says…” another person may counter. “No, no, just name this verse and claim it, just believe in Jesus and you are saved” they will state boldly. Why is this dangerous? Because the half-brother of Jesus, James, tells us, “You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe – and shudder!” (James 2:19). Simple mental assent (how we commonly define belief) is not enough. A fuller understanding of true belief, of faith that saves, is that such faith requires action. It requires repentance (understanding our sinfulness and turning to follow Jesus) and baptism (identifying with what saves us: the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus as we submit to water immersion), as Acts 2:38 clearly states. Repentance and baptism result in forgiveness of sins and the gift of God’s Spirit, this text tells us. And once “in Christ” we must live faithfully, following our Lord. We don’t earn anything, it is by grace we are saved, but from beginning to end, the Bible teaches we must follow the leading of the Lord, more than just believing in him mentally. Jesus said, “Why do you call me Lord, Lord, and yet do not do what I tell you” (Luke 6:46).
But what about John 3:16? It’s still true, we just can’t isolate it from other scripture and make it say what we want it to say. A fuller understanding of “belief” would incorporate these other aspects, but when we take a verse and try to make it stand alone, we make it dangerous. A Jew of the first century (Nicodemus, Jesus’ audience in John 3:16 is a Jew) would understand this concept of belief, that true belief acts on what it believes. Lois Tverberg in her book “Walking in the Dust of Rabbie Jesus” says even the concept of biblical love must understand it includes action, not just mental feelings. If you love God, you don’t just push him aside and live the way you want to. True love is more than feeling.
Bible verses must be taken in context, and in coordination with other texts that speak on the same topic. That’s how you would read any other book, why not the Bible? Too often we treat the Bible like some magic book that we can just flip open and find the answer. Occasionally that happens, but that is not good Bible exegesis. “Study to show yourself approved by God” Paul told Timothy (2 Tim. 2:15).
Here’s another dangerous verse. Romans 10:9, 10 says, “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart, one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.” Again, many use this verse in an isolated way to say, “All you have to do is confess and invite Jesus into your heart.” But in context Paul is not speaking to unbelievers telling them how to become a Christian. He is talking to a church, a group already Christian, simply relating an aspect of salvation. Confessing Jesus as Lord and believing in your heart God raised him from the dead is necessary. But just as I wouldn’t say baptism is all that’s necessary for salvation (I Peter 3:21), I won’t say confession and belief are all you need, either.
As we look to the Bible for guidance, let’s consider the whole counsel of God (Acts 20:27), and not isolate verses, making bold statements that go beyond the scope of what the verse teaches us.
Cross Point: Paul told the Ephesian elders, “I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God.”