context

1. context

2. We must use God’s word in context. • Text without context is pretext. • Psalm 14:1 “There is no God.” • Matthew 27:5 …and went and hanged himself. • Luke 10:37 “Go and do likewise.”

3. We must use God’s word in context. • Text without context is pretext. • “"No man CAN come to Me, except the Father which has sent Me draw [Gk: ‘drag’] him: and I will raise him up at the last day" (John 6:44). This verse is plain: "No man CAN…" come to Christ of his own will. It is the Father "dragging" him that is the cause of one coming to Christ, not his own supposed free will.”

4. We must use God’s word in context. • Text without context is pretext. • “"Or despise you the riches of HIS goodness [‘His goodness;’ not our free will] and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God LEADS [God’s ‘leading’ is the CAUSE] you to repentance?" (Rom. 2:4). Where is the ‘free will’ in this statement? "God LEADS…" is the cause of repentance, not free will.”

5. We must use God’s word in context. • The Bible must harmonize.

6. Scripture doesn’t contradict Scripture. • Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. • James 2:24 You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.

7. We must use God’s word in context. • The Bible must harmonize. • We must distinguish between the covenants.

8. We must distinguish between the covenants. Adam Genesis 2:15-17 Then the LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it. 16 And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; 17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.” Noah Genesis 6:13-14 And God said to Noah, “The end of all flesh has come before Me, for the earth is filled with violence through them; and behold, I will destroy them with the earth. 14 Make yourself an ark of gopherwood; make rooms in the ark, and cover it inside and outside with pitch.

9. We must distinguish between the covenants. Abram Genesis 12:1-3 1 Now the LORD had said to Abram:“Get out of your country,       From your family       And from your father’s house,       To a land that I will show you.   2 I will make you a great nation;      I will bless you       And make your name great;       And you shall be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you,      And I will curse him who curses you;       And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

10. We must distinguish between the covenants. Abraham Genesis 17:9-10 And God said to Abraham: “As for you, you shall keep My covenant, you and your descendants after you throughout their generations. 10 This is My covenant which you shall keep, between Me and you and your descendants after you: Every male child among you shall be circumcised; Children of Israel Deuteronomy 4:7-8 “For what great nation is there that has God so near to it, as the LORD our God is to us, for whatever reason we may call upon Him? 8 And what great nation is there that has such statutes and righteous judgments as are in all this law which I set before you this day?

11. We must distinguish between the covenants. The Whole World • Hebrews 8:7-13 • Galatians 3:19-29 • Hebrews 10:19-22 Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, 21 and having a High Priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.

12. We must use God’s word in context. • The Bible must harmonize. • We must distinguish between the covenants. • Consider the audience and their circumstances.

13. Consider the audience and their circumstances. • The Revelation • 1:4 John, to the seven churches which are in Asia: • The OT Prophets • Ezekiel 1:1-3; 2:3-4 • Societal Customs • Romans 16:16 Greet one another with a holy kiss. The churches of Christ greet you.

14. We must use God’s word in context. • The Bible must harmonize. • We must distinguish between the covenants. • Consider the audience and their circumstances. • Consider immediate and broader context.

15. Consider immediate and broader context. Romans 5:18 Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life. We are born guilty of Adam’s sin.

16. Consider immediate and broader context. Romans 5:12 Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned— Romans 2:6 who “will render to each one according to his deeds” Ezekiel 18:20 The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not bear the guilt of the father, nor the father bear the guilt of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself.

17. We must use God’s word in context. • The Bible must harmonize. • We must distinguish between the covenants. • Consider the audience and their circumstances. • Consider immediate and broader context.

18. Use God’s word honestly. 2 Timothy 2:15 (ESV) 15Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.

19. Obey the Gospel tonight! • Believe – John 8:24 • Repent – Luke 13:3 • Confess – Matthew 10:32-33 • Be Baptized – Mark 16:16 • Be Faithful – Revelation 2:10