(I'll bet I have your attention now, Huh?)
All scripture must be understood in its context and I think most Bible students understand that. But I don't know how many times I have been criticized, by people who abuse scripture, for insisting on reading the words in their contexts. They often defend their abuse with cute little phrases like, "Well this is what it means to me." Or worse yet, "This is what the Lord is impressing on my heart." or "This is what the Holy Spirit is teaching me."
It doesn't matter what it means to you. That's irrelevant. The real question is, what did it mean when God gave it? Or what does it mean if you had never been born?
It's God's Word. He is the author and He meant exactly what He meant; nothing more and nothing less. We do not have the right or the liberty to make it say what we like it to say.
