CONTEXT & RIGHTLY DIVIDING THE BIBLE

The importance of CONTEXT, as it relates to "rightly dividing" the scriptures may be seen from the following application:

1 John 1:9 says, `"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness".

This statement by the apostle John, is NOT a part of the new birth that Jesus spoke of in John 3. It was written to Christians.

There is a "good confession" that the sinner must make, and it is just that, a CONFESSION!

It is not an ADMISSION of the sinner about himself. Why is this important?

Would not teaching the sinner that his CONFESSION is an ADMISSION of being a sinner, make his salvation dependent on own works (i.e., his own merits); rather than upon Christ?

Doesn't this rationale seem a little odd, in view of the prevalent mindset toward Ephesians 2:8, that salvation is NOT by "works"? Do these views harmonize, or contradict?

The "good confession" is about JESUS (cf. Acts 2:36); NOT an admission of a sinner, that he is a sinner.

Context is VERY important as it relates to rightly dividing God's word (2 Timothy 2:15).

One passage, if properly taught, will not "combat" another passage. Truth harmonizes, it requires diligent study.

1 John 1:9 must harmonize with Ephesians 2:8. Both were written to Christians; not sinners. To apply 1 John 1:9 to a sinner, rather than a child of God, is a huge error in the matter of salvation, both for the teacher, and the pupil!

11/282018

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