Rightly Dividing The Scripture
“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15
“Rightly dividing” means to cut straight or right. It means to properly identify and set forth every part. It has to do with the proper appropriation of all scripture, without undue emphasis on some part, while neglecting or depreciating other parts.
“Rightly dividing” is not about the elimination of any scripture, but is about the understanding of it all. It is not about dividing up something of different or diverse teachings; but “rightly dividing the word of truth”: the = singular. Thus, it is about studying “all scripture” to see how it all comes together as one truth = “One Lord, one faith,” etc.
“Rightly dividing” is studying unto the discovery of the harmony, the infinite, unchangeable, infallible, eternal dimensions of “all scripture.” It is seeing how it all has the same principles and demonstrates the same things. It is discerning how the Old Testament was the foreshadowing of the New Testament, and how the N.T. is the fulfilling of the O.T. and in no way the destruction of it. It is about seeing the eternal dimensions of God’s Word, that it’s principles have not, nor will not ever pass away. It is about knowing that the truth of yesterday is still the truth of today, and the eternal standard of judgment for all.
“Rightly dividing” is about accepting God’s laws on the inspired Bible: that “all scripture is given by inspiration and is profitable (proper) for doctrine” (2 Timothy 3:16-17) and that “no scripture is of any private interpretation.” 2 Peter 1:19-21
Man’s position towards the inspired scriptures is that people cannot properly understand the Bible without first subjecting it to man’s own rules of interpretation. Man’s rules of interpretation are not about “rightly dividing” the scripture, but always about elimination of obligation to accept “all scripture.”
When “all scripture” is studied unto “rightly dividing the word of truth,” you have a complete set of checks and balances to prove all things, unto understanding what the will of the Lord is. When or where all scripture is studied to rightly divide the word of truth, you will not find doctrinal error on salvation, baptism, the New Testament Church, separation, etc. But where “all scripture” is not studied to rightly divide the word of truth, you can have and do have a departure from every doctrine of the scriptures, beginning with the plan of salvation. For example, those who teach salvation through baptism, have first eliminated the baptism of John as being New Testament baptism. When man eliminates scriptures, he can justify anything– even women preachers and homosexuals. Think about it.
SHARING
The Rage Of The Heathen
“Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?” Psalm 2:1
The leader of Iran continues to deny the holocaust, and also to call for the destruction of Israel (and the United States.)
Ezekiel 38 refers to Iran (known as Persia in the scriptures) as being one of many nations with evil intent against Israel in the latter days. Iran, Libya, and their other allies will fight against Israel, but to their own ruin.
The leadership of Iran is devoted to religious Jihad. They, like the Taliban, Al-qaeda, Hamas, and other radical Islam sects, believe in violence and bloodshed to accomplish their objectives. They only use negotiations to gain concessions from those they seek to destroy.
What makes radical Islam so determined to have their way at all costs, is not just a fight for territory, wealth, or sovereignty, but to them this is a matter of securing their eternal soul salvation. They are driven to fight to the death for their ideological beliefs. Unless they are converted from these beliefs, there is no changing or stopping them apart from death. That is why negotiations will not work with their mindset as it is. They have nothing that they will compromise.
According to those who have researched it, the belief of the leadership of Iran is that their god (their messiah) is to return to Earth to establish a one world Islamic kingdom. But before he returns, there is to be universal war and bloodshed. So, the leadership of Iran believes it is their mission to bring about this violent outbreak of war and bloodshed against those who are not a part of Islam, so as to prepare the way and hasten the return of their messiah. So, in their minds, terrorism, violence, and mass killings are acts of holiness, the will of their god, in order to effect his return to rule and reign on Earth.
In light of their beliefs, it is easy to understand their defiant ramblings, while rejecting reason and efforts put forth for conciliation.
Yes, the rage of the heathen is driving our world into violence and war. These are just the beginning of sorrows as spoken of in Matthew 24. Are you ready for Jesus to come?
SHARINGIn Patience
“In your patience possess ye your souls.” Luke 21:18
“Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience.” James 5:7,8,10
Consider the patience of Job, while waiting for answers and deliverance from his inexplicable circumstances.
Joseph was betrayed and sold into slavery by his own brothers. For 13 long years, he waited for deliverance from bondage and imprisonment, but it came in glorious fashion.
David suffered for approximately 7 years, while Saul hunted him, seeking to kill him, even though David had been Saul’s most valuable servant. But by patient waiting, David traded his cross for a crown.
Jeremiah, who saw nothing but the decline and captivity of his nation, had to commit his keeping patiently into the hands of the Lord.
Elijah had to patiently endure the famine, as he faced the continual impenitence of unreasonable and wicked men.
In every generation, God’s children have had to wait upon the Lord, as they have been beset with incorrigible people and circumstances. Noah persevered in building the ark in the midst of the moral corruption and spiritual reprobation of his world.
Satan has, and will continue to fly up in the face of God’s children, doing everything he can to provoke us. IN PATIENCE – REMEMBER: the reason things bother us is because we care, and caring is a wonderful virtue. It is when evil no longer bothers us, that we have lost our savor.
“For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.” Hebrews 10:36
“I waited patiently for the Lord; and he inclined unto me and heard my cry. He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. Blessed is that man that maketh the Lord his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.” Psalm 40:1,2,4
Repentance
GOD COMMANDS ALL TO REPENT: “And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men everywhere to repent” Acts 17:30 Thus, to really believe God is to do it.
REPENTANCE IS ESSENTIAL TO HAVE GOD’S FORGIVENESS: “I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.” Luke 13:3 The Bible offers no salvation from sin that is not accompanied by repentance on the part of the guilty sinner.
“And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.” Luke 24:47 Repentance is turning from our sin condition unto God for forgiveness. Remission of sins is God forgiving us of the sin condition we have turned from in turning to God for salvation.
REPENTANCE IS AVAILABLE TO ALL, BY THE GRACE OF GOD, WHO CHOOSE IT.“Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.” Acts 5:31 “When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.” Acts 11:18Repentance is not a work, it is a gift. It is something available to man from the grace of God. Apart from this gift of God’s grace, repentance would be beyond man.
However, the very nature of what repentance is, means it cannot be an irresistible work of God upon man. “But they rebelled, and vexed his Holy Spirit” Isaiah 63:10 “And the Lord said, My Spirit shall not always strive with man” Genesis 6:3 “Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye.” Acts 7:31Repentance is what God makes possible for a sinner who believes God’s Word that he is a lost sinner, who accepts the Holy Spirit’s work of convicting him of his guilt as a sinner before God, and who is willing to trust Christ to save him from his sins. Since repentance is the gift of God’s grace to all who will accept it, it can never be regarded as a work of man whereby he merits God’s salvation. “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9
REPENTANCE IS WHAT ENABLES THE SINNER TO HAVE A COMPLETE CHANGE OF MIND ABOUT THEMSELVES, UNTO A COMPLETE TURNING FROM THEIR SIN CONDITION UNTO THE LORD FOR HIS SALVATION: “Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.” Isaiah 55;7 “And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.” Luke 18:13
HAVE YOU REPENTED? IF NOT, WILL YOU – LEST YOU PERISH?
SHARINGThe Reviving Of Our Spirit
“For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.” Isaiah 57:17
“Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.” Romans 3:27 Human pride and the work of the Holy Spirit have always been distinctly different, of different origins and ultimately, with different results. God dwells with him that is of a contrite and humble spirit, and revives the spirit of the humble and contrite ones. All man made religion has it’s foundation on self. It’s hope of salvation rests on the merits of self. It’s religious expression is a zealousness in proclaiming what one’s own self is and does. It’s spirit is in respect of that which is a demonstration and projection of it’s participants.
But in the exercise of that which has the consciousness of the Holy Spirit, there is a carefulness – “That no flesh should glory in his presence. That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.” 1 Corinthians 1:29,31 Thus, we know that the spirit of the humble, unassuming, has more sanction from heaven than those who are burning their own religious fires.
What man respects is different than what God respects. Man discredits him that is of a contrite and humble spirit. Man takes pleasure in that which is showy, boisterous, lofty, judgmental, assertive, loud, egotistical, sensational, preeminent, and self vindicated. Man criticizes the contrite and humble as being too dull, too poor, and too inferior, With God, however, those that exalt themselves shall be abased, and those that humble themselves shall be exalted.
“The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise. O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth they praise.” Psalm 51:17,15The need today is not for self assertiveness, but for prayerfulness unto being led and enabled by the Holy Spirit to both recognize when and what we are to do. We don’t need to try to make a name for ourselves. We don’t need to try to gain the admiration of others. We need to beware of reaching for positions wherein we think we are standing tall. Rather, we need a conviction of sin unto a belief that without Christ, we are nothing and can do nothing.
It is such a blessed release to reach the end of ourselves unto reaching forth for the grace of God to lift us up. It is turning from filthy rags unto beholding the glory of God. Only when we turn away from ourselves are we turned unto the Lord. This God will bless.
SHARING
