This is the only verse in the entire Bible where we are admonished to "study" God's word and not only are we told to study the material, but it explains how we are to study it by rightly dividing the word of truth. And almost everyone that is familiar with the verse has no idea what is meant by "rightly divide" the word of truth and will usually say things such as rightly handle or properly explain the word when it clearly says in the verse to "rightly divide" the word of truth.. We can all agree that the Bible is God's word and all of the Bible is truth, what needs to be determined is where are the right divisions in the word of truth that produces unashamed workmanship. The only option would be to wrongly divide or fail to divide altogether with the result being shameful workmanship, and nobody would want to do that, would they?
We have already concluded in the previous post, the Bible contains both Old Testament and New Testament scriptures , what people fail to understand or see is that there is another portion of scripture which is neither Old or New Testament, but that which was kept secret since the world began but is NOW made manifest... that being the "revelation of the mystery"given to the Apostle Paul for usward. What constitutes "right division" is seperating the prophetic scriptures given to the nation Israel from that which was kept secret, the "mystery" information given to the Apostle Paul for us in this present dispensation of the Grace of God. Let's look at the evidence.
The thrust of the prophetic scriptures are focused on the RISE of Israel into their Kingdom on the earth, and through THEIR rise, the Gentiles would be blessed. Even as late as Acts 3, Peter was quoting Genesis 26:4 saying...Acts 3:25 Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed. What the Apostle Peter was preaching was Acts 3:21...spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets (pay attention the last 4 words) SINCE THE WORLD BEGAN. Now, let's look at what the Apostle Paul was preaching...Romans 16:25 Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret ( here are those 4 words again) SINCE THE WORLD BEGAN,...Peter preached what everybody knew, Paul preached what NOBODY knew, that can NOT be the same thing. The keystone in rightly dividing is what Paul explains in Romans 11:11 stating that through the FALL of Israel, salvation has come to the Gentiles. Prophecy and Mystery are mutually exclusive! The fall of Israel was never prophecied or even considered, it was kept secret until revealed to the Apostle Paul. Due to the fact Israel has fallen and is not in view any longer, the doctrines associated with the RISE of Israel into their kingdom cannot be the same as the doctrines associated with the Church, the body of Christ which is a product of their FALL.
Since WE are not Israel rising into their prophecied Kingdom, naturally our instructions are different from theirs and mutually exclusive. We must of necessity pay particular attention to the instructions God has dispensed for our marching orders in this present dispensation of the Grace of God. The Apostle Paul was chosen by Christ to be the Apostle, minister, teacher to the Gentiles during this dispensation which began in the 9th chapter of the book of Acts. Paul retells the events of chapter 9 in Acts 26:13-17....Acts 26:17 Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee,....Paul was sent to the Gentiles! Ephesians 3:1 For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles, ......and what was Paul sent to tell us?....Ephesians 3:2 If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:....how did you get this information Paul?....Ephesians 3:3 How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,......ahhhh...the "revelation of the mystery".....are you beginning to see it yet??
The reason for such confusion today is due solely to the failure to heed to the instruction given us by OUR Apostle, Paul, in which we are told to "rightly divide" the word of truth. In order to due so, of course we must study the word, and we should also adhere to the divisions the Lord has placed in His word and not those divisions based upon tradition. The scriptures are our authority and should be recognized as such.
Paul declares that he was the last to see Christ...1 Corinthians 15:8 And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time......and that Paul was the "me first" to recieve the revelation of the mystery...1 Timothy 1:16 Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting....and that he (Paul) is our pattern.....the due time testifyer...1 Timothy 2:6 Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time. Paul was not preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom as Peter ,James ,John and even Jesus was preaching in the OT books of Mathew, Mark, Luke and John, but rather that which he recieved from the RISEN Lord Jesus Christ.
Galatians 1:11 But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man.
Galatians 1:12 For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.
When Paul met with Peter, James and John in the 15th chapter of the book of Acts as recounted in Galatians chapter 2, a division was made....Galatians 2:9 And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision..........we would be wise in making the same distinction and division......Not only do we see the seperation of the Apostles, but also the seperation of the Gospels. Peter, James and John as well as Jesus was preaching the "Gospel of the Kingdom",...Matthew 4:23 And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people..... Paul alone was preaching what he called the "Gospel of the Grace of God"......Acts 20:24 But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.
This should be a good start for seeing that there are more divisions in the Bible than just OT and NT. The next post will detail the importance of rightly dividing word of truth and why it matters for the understanding of salvation as God is offering it to us today. God has not always dealt with people in the same manner and it extremely important to be on the same page as God as He sets forth in His Word!
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ReplyDeleteamen!amen!
Crystal Clear info for all the Lord's people to cherish.