The (eternally) Deadly Game of "Trump" Passages

Articles From Our Bulletins

Philip C. Strong
12/19/18 - Bulletin Articles

First of all, this is NOT an article about the current U.S. President, or any legislation attributed to him. Secondly, before our vernacular was forever changed, “trump” was a term used in certain card games to indicate a particular suit’s (e.g. hearts or spades) power to “win” over other non-trump cards. It is in this way that I use the term for our purposes here. Unfortunately, some folks seem to want to use “trump” passages in interpreting and applying the New Testament...

Perhaps some examples will help to highlight the problem.

Does John 3:16’s emphasis of the importance of belief to eternal salvation “trump” what Jesus also said in John 3:36, “He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”?

Do the preliminary instructions to the Philippian jailer’s question, “What must I do to be saved?” in Acts 16:30-31 “trump” the fact that Paul and Silas further “spoke the word of the Lord to him” and “immediately he was baptized” in Acts 16:32-33?

Does Ephesians 2:8-9’s doctrine on salvation by grace through faith (rather than works) “trump” the command to walk in good works of Ephesians 2:10; or override James 2:24ff saying that “a man is justified by works, and not by faith alone”?

Surely we can see the resultant problem of picking one (or multiple) “trump” passage(s) in which to place our trust to “win” eternal salvation while ignoring everything else God has to say on the subject. Are we saved “by grace through faith”? Of course! Must we “believe in the Lord Jesus” to be saved? Absolutely! But please also note that those on the day of Pentecost who asked the same question as the Philippian jailer were told by Peter, “Repent, and let each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins,” Acts 2:38a. He further added in his own epistle that “baptism now saves you,” in 1Peter 3:21. Was Paul right in Ephesians 2:8-9 but Peter wrong in Acts 2:38 and 1Peter 3:21? Do Paul’s writings to the Ephesians “trump” his quotation of God’s messenger Ananias to himself as, “Arise, and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on His name,” in Acts 22:16? Or, does looking at ALL of what God’s Word has to say on the subject of “What must I do to be saved?” allow us to see more clearly what Jesus said in the Great Commission, “He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved, but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned,” Mark 16:16?

Friends, we’re not saved by anything alone- not faith alone (James 2:24), not repentance alone (Acts 2:38), not confession alone (Romans 10:8-10, and certainly not by baptism alone (Mark 16:16). In fact, the only way to arrive at salvation by anything alone is by using “trump” passages, or rather a prejudiced interpretation of them, to override and overrule everything else God has said on the subject.

So, what’s the solution? Obviously and firstly, never assume that one verse contains everything God has said AND that you need to know on a particular subject. The Bible simply isn’t written and doesn’t work that way. Secondly, please understand that ANY interpretation or application of a particular verse that disagrees with other clear teaching in the N.T. is wrong. Such an interpretation/application must, therefore, be adjusted to be in harmony with all other N.T. teaching on the subject. There are NO “trump” passages that override others. The ONLY way we will ever “be of the same mind and the same judgment” (1Corinthians 1:10) is to interpret and apply each passage in light of everything else God has said on the subject. He is NOT “a God of confusion, but of peace,” 1Corinthians 14:33. But we create and foment MUCH confusion when we play the eternally deadly game of “trump” passages with our (and others’) souls.

“All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work,” 2Timothy 3:16-17.