Relying on a Single Verse and Leaving the Other Verses

The lecture warns about the dangers of reasoning from a single verse and neglecting the rest of Scripture. One must read the whole Bible and collect the verses to form a complete theological understanding instead of clinging to a single letter that leads to an incomplete or biased understanding.

Practical examples from the Bible
The speaker mentions many examples: taking Romans 5:1 alone is not enough to determine the concept of justification; it must be placed next to other verses (such as Romans 2:13, James 2:24, the Pharisee and Tax Collector example) to understand the relation between faith, works, and repentance. Also the love verses in 1 John are understood within the system of faith, baptism, and life in the Spirit.

The theological and spiritual dimension (from a Coptic Orthodox faith perspective)
The Orthodox tradition affirms that theological truths are derived from the totality of texts and the church mystery; the sacraments (baptism, chrismation, Eucharist, repentance) are works of the Holy Spirit and not merely human actions, therefore they must not be reduced to isolated verbal statements.

Clarification about “free”, “by faith” and “by works”
Divine gifts are given freely by the work of redemption, but there are apparent and hidden conditions (repentance, faith, baptism, fruits of the Spirit). Faith is not a substitute for tangible works but guides and bears fruit in them, and the mysteries are effectuated by the operative grace of the Spirit.

Practical conclusion
We must not take a verse in isolation; the letter alone kills as Scripture says, and theology requires gathering the verses and interpreting them within the churchly and spiritual tradition. An integrated reading shows the synergy of faith, repentance, sacraments, and works as the path to true salvation.

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