ÒWhat about this verse?Ó — 1 Peter 1:20

 

When confronted with the plain truth of God, those religious people who oppose the gospel of the grace of God tear a passage of Scripture from its context, and smugly ask, ÒBut what about this verse?Ó Hear this word from God and learn what it means. — "No prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation." That statement found in 2 Peter 1:20 simply means that anyone who honestly interprets any passage of Holy Scripture interprets it contextually.

 

            I cannot and do not desire to stop the cavils of people who will not bow to the Word of God; but I do want to help you who may be confused and disturbed by those who point to, or partially quote certain verses of Scripture as proof texts against the blessed doctrine of the gospel you have learned to love.

 

No verse of Scripture is to be interpreted privately, isolated from its context, or from the context of the whole Word of God. If we are honest with the Scriptures, we always endeavor to interpret them contextually. We do not pull isolated verses or phrases from the Word of God and use them to prove or disprove anything. Instead, honest people read and study the Scriptures, asking God the Holy Spirit to teach them the truths contained in the passage they are reading, and to show them how that passage meshes with the rest of Scripture.

 

That which is the biggest obstacle to the unbelieving religionist is the greatest joy to the child of God: – Particular and Effectual Redemption. Therefore, the unregenerate, in their vain attempts to prove that ChristÕs blood was, after all, shed in vain for some, love to point us to texts with the words ÒallÓ and ÒworldÓ in them. Do not allow them to disturb you. There is not a single word in Scripture, interpreted contextually, that even hints at the remote possibility that ChristÕs may have died for some who perish under the wrath of God in hell.

 

The plain, clear, universal testimony of Holy Scripture is that Christ died for, effectually accomplished, and infallibly secured the eternal salvation of GodÕs elect, for whom alone he makes intercession as their great High Priest (John 17:9, 20). Every text where the atonement is taught declares that fact with unmistakable clarity. There are no exceptions. (Read a few of them: Isaiah 53:8-11; Matthew 1:21; John 10:9-18; Romans 5:8-11; 8:33-34; Galatians 3:13-14; Hebrews 1:1-3; 9:11-12; 10:10-14; 1 Peter 2:24-25; 3:18; Revelation 1:5-6; 5:9-10.)

 

Every Old Testament type of redemption, grace, and salvation show that these things were designed by God for a specifically chosen people. The innocent victims in Eden were slain and made clothing for Adam and Eve. NoahÕs ark was built to save eight souls. The ram caught in the thicket was sacrificed for Isaac. The paschal lamb was slain for Israel alone. The high priest wore only the names of GodÕs chosen upon his breastplate. The tabernacle, the altar, and the mercy-seat were established nowhere, except in Israel.

 

This is the teaching of Holy Scripture: — God loved and chose, Christ died for and redeemed, and the Holy Spirit regenerates and preserves the world of his elect, all the elect, and none but the elect.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Don Fortner

 

 

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