The key to understanding your bible...

2 Timothy 2:15
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

The study below is from Trusting the Lord and explains Right Division--the key to understanding your bible. (To listen to the audio of this message, click here)

  

How Many Times

It is evident in the bible that God went to every possible end to make it known that he put a difference between the nation of Israel and all the other people of the earth in TIME PAST. It is also plain that God went to every extent possible to make us know that today he is not dealing with Israel, and that Israel is fallen, cast away and "Loammi," or "not God's people," as the prophet Hosea said in Hosea 1:9.

But blindness, in part, has happened to Israel for a reason and for a season. It was so that God could offer salvation to unworthy, rebellious, sinful people like you and I. Not on the basis in which he dealt with Israel in time past, but on the basis of his love, mercy and grace.

In order to make the message of grace known to the world, God called a sinful, hate-filled rebel of a man named Saul of Tarsus, and revealed things to him for us today that were never before known. It is called the "preaching of Jesus Christ according to the revelation of the mystery."

It is amazing how little attention religion pays to the fact that just as God put a difference between Israel and all other nations in time past, he has also put a difference between the preaching of the gospel of the Kingdom by the 12 Apostles, and the preaching of the grace salvation message by Paul.

Over and over, the bible repeatedly says that Paul's message was a secret, and kept secret since the world began, that it was hidden, that it was not made known, and that nobody knew it before Paul.

The message the Lord revealed to Paul beginning on the road to Damascus in Acts chapter nine, and by the abundance of visions and revelations from the Lord that Paul received sits in stark contrast to the conditional, tribulation, endure to the end message of the gospel of the Kingdom, as preached in Matthew, Mark, Luke and John and by Peter in the book of Acts.

Today's salvation message was so hidden and unknown, that not only did the Devil not know it, but nobody on the planet knew it or had ever heard of it, or even thought of it. The very fact that people who had once cursed rather than blessed the seed of Abraham could now be saved apart from, and even in spite of the fact that Israel was concluded in unbelief.

So, sometimes you just have to wonder how many times God has to say it. Religion seems to stumble blindly along with their look good, feel good things as if they do not have a clue.

How about you? Have you really searched these things out and studied them? God doesn't do things or say things without a reason, and time and again in ordinary, easy to understand words, God has told us of his love, mercy and grace, and how he wants all men to receive it...free, without cost or obligation, but as a gift, by grace.

Romans 6:23

For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Take the time to ponder over these next few verses. There is something very important written in them:

Galatians 1:1-12

But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Paul's Gospel was KEPT SECRET:

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 since the world began,

Paul's Gospel was HIDDEN:

1 Corinthians 2:7

But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:

Paul's Gospel for today was NOT MADE KNOWN:

Ephesians 3:5

Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;

Paul's Gospel for today was HID IN GOD:

Ephesians 3:9

And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:

Paul's Gospel for today was A MYSTERY:

Colossians 1:26

Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:

Paul's Gospel for today was UNSEARCHABLE:

Ephesians 3:8

Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;

Yes, the Apostle Paul has both a unique ministry from all the other Apostles....and most certainly a unique message...different from that of the others. It was not until Jesus Christ appeared to Paul and gave him this special and unique ministry and message that we were ever told to "rightly divide the word of truth." BUT NOW it is an absolute necessity in order to avoid the religious trap of compromise and confusion which is the lot of most of religion today.

2 Timothy 2:15
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

All scripture references are from the Authorized Version, the King James Bible.

 

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