Here is a list of the most common verses of Scripture (all from the King James Version) that are most frequently mis-applied and taken out of context by false teachers. This is by no means an exhaustive list but includes the ones I see most frequently mis-applied and taken out of context. I provide the verses taken of context, their “twisted” attributed meanings followed by the true contextual Biblical meaning. I have also included more in-depth teaching videos if the reader so chooses to conduct a “deeper dive” into these verses.
Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. (James 2:17)
The “Twist”: A person is justified (saved) by faith and works. Some false teachers assert that if a person doesn’t demonstrate an adequate ammount of works in their lives that they were never saved in the first place. And others will assert that those who don’t perform an adequate ammount of works can lose their salvation.
The Truth: Both views contradict Scripture since we know with 100% certainty that the The Bible teaches in the New Testament that justification (salvation) is solely by God’s grace alone, through faith alone in Jesus Christ alone (over 200 times in tne New Testament). And since Scripture cannot contradict Scripture we know that justification (salvation) cannot be by faith and works so this verse must have a different meaning which, indeed it does.
James (Jesus’ half brother) is not talking about salvation. He is writing to saved believers. When read in proper context, James is talking about faith in service to others, not a works-based salvation. The word “dead” doesn’t mean non-existent faith but faith that is not being excercised in service to others.
Video Here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hgfxh4horVk&t=242s
He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels. (Revelation 3:5)
The “Twist”: Believers can lost their salvation and have their names blotted out of the Book of Life.
The Truth: When read in proper context, this verse is not saying that born again believers can become “un-born again” and “lose their salvation.” Jesus is explicitly stating that all “overcomers” will be “clothed in white raiment” and will NOT have their names blotted out of the Book of Life. And we know that 1st John 5:5 explicitly defines who the overcomers are: “Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?” Thus, we can conclude that all who have trusted in Christ alone as savior have overcome and will NEVER be blotted out of The Book of Life!
Video Here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7sq9yn-tZ5E
Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. (Matthew 7:13-14)
The “Twist”: False teachers will claim that works are required to enter into the straight gate and narrow way and that those who believe that faith alone in Christ alone is the only requirement for salvation are on the “broad road that leads to destruction.”
The Truth: We know The Bible teaches that justification (salvation) is by God’s grace alone, through faith alone in Jesus Christ alone and that Jesus ALONE is the “straight gate” and “narrow way.” Those who have trusted in Christ alone as savior therefore enter into the “straight gate” and “narrow way” not by works but by faith alone. Those who have not trusted in Christ ALONE as savior but who are trusting PARTIALLY in Christ but MOSTLY in their works are actually the ones who are on the “broad road that leads to destruction”who have not entered into the “straight gate” and “narrow way.”
Video Here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TCch9ehOpWQ&t=92s
Now the works of the flesh are manifest, and they are these: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, quarreling, rivalry, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies envying, murders, drunkenness, revelings, and such like. About these things I tell you again, as I have also told you in times past, that those who do such things shall not inherit the Kingdom of God. (Galatians 5:19-21)
The “Twist” False teachers will take this verse out of context to assert that believers who practice any of these behaviors were either never saved in the first place or can lose their salvation.
The Truth: When read in proper context, Paul is not talking about a “litmus test” for salvation or salvific loss. Paul is merely exhorting born again “saved believers” not to walk in the flesh and to reckon the “old man” dead. He is exhorting those who he recgonizes as “bretheren” to walk in the spirit (their “new man”). This chapter is not about salvation or salvific loss. This chapter is about spiritual growth and how to live the victorious Christian life.
Video Here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=viwinZptKLs
What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? (Romans 6:1-2)
The “Twist”: False teachers will assert that what Paul is saying is that if a believer is still sinning after they are saved they were either never genuinely born again in the first place or can lose their salvation if they continue sinning.
The Truth: Romans 6 is not about salvific loss. It is about spiritual maturity and grwoth. Paul is merely instructing and exhorting those who he recognizes as born again believers to walk in “newness of life” in the recognition of the fact that all belivers are baptized into Jesus Christ are baptized into His death and raised into life with Him and should, therefore, recognize who they are as “new creations” in Christ and walk in “newness of life.” (Romans 6:4)
Video Here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NUrljCFDNlc&t=11s
Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. (1st Corinthians 15:1-2)
The “Twist”: Some false teachers will claim that “believing in vain” means that a person never “truly believed” The Gospel in the first place and were never “truly saved” or that they can “stop believing” and lose their salvation.
The Truth: When read in proper context, we know that those to whom Paul is referring who have believed “in vain” are those who didn’t believe in the ressurection and therefore did not believe The Gospel since the Gospel includes that death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. He explains this explicitily in verses 12 through 14:
“Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.“
We also know with 100% certainty that if a born again believer has a “crisis of faith” and “stops believing” or their “faith grows weak” that they can never “lose their salvation” since 2nd Timothy 2:13 explicitly states, “If we believe not, yet He abideth faithful: He cannot deny himself.” We also know with 100% certainty that no born again believer can ever perish or be plucked from the Hand of Jesus or The Hand of The Father. (John 10:28-31) and can never be separated from The love of Christ (Romans 8:38-39).
Video Here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lABPQLFFdaw&t=81s & here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4UXQm2xzjEg&t=379s & here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kqkq85DOJ8Q&t=20s
Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. (Acts 2:38)
The “Twist”: False teachers will claim that a person must be water baptized to be saved and receive the Holy Spirit.
The Truth: We know that over 200 times in the New Testament that the only requirement for eternal salvation is belief in the finished redemptive work of Jesus Christ alone (Believing in His death, burial and ressurection). Jesus lays these out clearly: “He that believeth in Him is not condemned; but He that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” (John 3:18)
If water baptism were a requirement to be saved then Jesus would have said so but in every single verse that Jesus talks about salvation the only requirement He ever mentions is faith in Him alone.
Like the Lord’s Supper (Communion), Water Baptism is an ORDINANCE of The Church. It is not a requirement for salvation but is something that born again believers SHOULD do AFTER they are saved. Born again believers are immediately sealed by The Holy Spirit and babtized by the Holy Spirit into The Body of Christ the instant they believe The Gospel (Ephesians 1:13-14) and are sealed “until the Day of Redemption.” (Ephesians 4:30) i.e., when they receive their sinlessly perfect glorified bodies at The Rapture of The Church.
Video Here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OHR5JUKFKdI&t=14s
Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. (Matthew 7:21-23)
The “Twist”: False teachers cite this verse to assert that if a born again believer isn’t doing enough works or being obedient enough or sin too much that they can lose their salvation or were never genuinely saved in the first place and will be told by Jesus to “depart from me.”
The Truth: These verses, when read in proper context, are not talking about born again believers “losing their salvation.” These verses are actually talkining about those who thought they were saved but who never were because their faith was in their works and not in Christ alone. They recogzined Jesus as Lord but He was never their savior. Jesus procliams to them, “I never knew you.” If these were born again believers who lost their salvation then Christ would have known them at some point. But Jesus declares to them they He NEVER knew them. Jesus never knew them because they never trusted in Him alone as savior.
Video Here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxNEXGd6xmE&t=19s
For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame. (Hebrews 6:4-6)
The “Twist”: False teachers will use these verses to “prove” that born again believers can fall away by sinning too much or not being obedient enough and lost their salvation.
The Truth: Hebrews 6, when read in proper context, is not talking about salvific loss but forfeiture of spiritual blessings. The author of Hebrews (who I believe to be Paul) is speaking primarily to Jewish believers and exhorting them not to return to Old Testament religious ceremonial practices for the perfection of their flesh. He is exhorting them not to go back to the law and therefore “fall from grace.” He obviously recognizes his audience throughout Hebrews as born again believers (“bretheren”) and has already established in all his letters that salavtion is by God’s grace alone through faith alone in Chirst alone and can never be lost. So, again, Paul is not talking about salvific loss but forfeture of spiritual blessings by going back to the Mosaic Law (mixing law and grace).
Video Here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kIOq-BbZGXs&t=222s
Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. (John 15:4-6)
The “Twist”: False teachers will claim these verses prove a born again believer who fails to abide in Christ can “lose their salvation” (and be “cast into the fire of hell”).
The Truth: Jesus is not talking about salvific loss. He is instructing believers in Him to bear fruit by abiding in Him and explaining to believers that apart from Him that they can’t bear fruit since He is the One (The Vine) who bears the fruit in and through the believer (the branch). And since we know that Scripture cannot contradict Scripture and since we know that Jesus guarantees that no born again believer can ever perish or be plucked from His Hand (John 10:28-31), we can be 100% certain that these verses are not talking about salvific loss.
Video Here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jx-bUuu2w24&t=14s
I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. (Revelation 3:15-16)
The “Twist”: False teachers will assert that if believers are not “on fire for The Lord” then they will be “spewed from His mouth” and they will “lose their salvation.”
The Truth: Jesus is not speaking to individual born again believers. Context is EVERYTHING! Jesus is speaking corporately to the entire Church at Laodidea. He is not telling individual believers that if they are not “on fire for Him” that he will spew them out of His mouth and send them to hell. He is merely saying that although they are saved that because they are relying on their material blessings and status in life that they have essentially excluded Him from their fellowship.
Video Here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u3KZrs_AX3s
Some Additional Video Teachings Refuting Other False Teachings/Twisted Scriptures:
The Gospel is The Plumbline! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-y8XfM7fa5k&t=233s
Does 1 Corinthians 6:9 prove a born again believer can lose their sal?salvation? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0AGN3K_E34o&t=16s
The Danger of Adding The Words “of your sins” to the word “repent” in The Bible: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jm8vprq16dg
This Single Verse Proves That Salvation is a One Time Event and Not a Process: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7I57wp02pro&t=1s
God’s Word explicitly tells us how we can KNOW with 100% certainty we are saved forever!!!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p5OXaosvFF4&t=2s
Once Saved Always Saved IS The Gospel! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ITqAxsM7UQM
Christians Aren’t Supposed to Judge? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ITqAxsM7UQM
The Tribulation is a 7yr period of time & The Church won’t B here 4 any portion of it! B encouraged! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lTslSemxQP8&t=11s
Words and phrases not found in The Bible but frequently used by false teachers. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GjaW4VLh_XM
Why hyper dispensationism (how OT were saved/Tribulation saints will B saved) damages The Gospel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eKkCe7Rw5RA
The vital distinction between “Repentance” & “Repentance of sins” as it pertains to salvation…https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MkeHK4A0Qgc&t=20s
Repentance, Faith & Baptism all happen at ONCE!!!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fcaZrXL4Epc
The “Head-Heart” Gospel is a false Gospel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-9kcBigor70&t=53s
What Obedience Means in Terms of Salvation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ybSrAuVjsis&t=128s
The Good News (how to be forgiven for all your sins past, present & future and spend eternity in Heaven!!!)
- We have all sinned. (“For all have sinned, and fallen short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23)
- The wages of sin is death. (“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6:23)
- You must be perfect to go to heaven. (“But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.” Revelation 21:27)
- Man cannot earn his own salvation. (“For it is by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not of your selves. It is the gift of God. Not by works lest any man should boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9)
- Christ died for our sins. (“For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” 2nd Corinthians 5:21)
- Only BELIEVE!!! (“For God so loved the world He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever would BELIEVE in Him would not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16). “Verily, Verily I say unto you, he who BELIEVES in Me has eternal life.” John 6:47) BELIEVE that the Eternally Existing Son of God, God The Son, Jesus Christ Died for ALL Your Sins past, present & future, was buried and rose again on the 3rd for your justification (1st Corinthians 15:1-4) and that by BELIEVING He did it for you, you receive forgiveness for all your sins and eternal life the NANOSECOND you BELIEVE which you can never lose for any reason! (John 10:28-30)!
- You can know you have eternal life. (“These things I have written to you who BELIEVE on the name of The Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may BELIEVE on the name of the Son of God.” 1st John 5:13)
If you have trusted in Christ alone as savior, congratulations! He promises you that you will never be plucked from His hand, perish or be separated from His love! Saved by God’s Grace alone through faith alone in Jesus Christ alone… FOREVER!!!!
