"Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." 2 Tim 2:15
One of the most important reasons to rightly divide the scriptures, is so that you are not putting yourself or others under the law and also so that you will understand, believe and preach the correct gospel. Let's discuss this.
1) Putting yourself under the law when you don't rightly divide.
Without a clear understanding that we are not under law, but under grace, you will inevitably put yourself and others around you under law.
"... for ye are not under the law, but under grace.” Romans 6:14b KJV
"For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God." Gal 2:19
"I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain." Gal 2:21
"Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?" Gal 3:3
"Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law," Gal 3:13a
"Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster." Gal 3:24-25
2) We also rightly divide so that we are believing and then preaching the right gospel.
Contrary to what most of Christendom teaches, there is more than one gospel in the Bible! There is only one gospel that saves today, known as the Gospel of the grace of God and also as Paul's Gospel. The finished work of the cross is the only way that anyone in any dispensation could be saved because Christ paid the sin debt, however in the Old Testament for example, they were not required to believe in Christ's death, burial and resurrection as atonement for their sins because it hadn't happened yet. Instead, they were to recognize their own sin nature and trust God to save them. They were also to believe whatever gospel was given to them at that time. For Noah it would have been to believe that God was about to flood the earth, and because Noah believed God he therefore also did according to God's will by building the ark. That's just one example. Today we are to recognize our sin nature and then simply believe how that Christ Jesus died for our sins, was buried and rose again for our justification.
The gospel Paul preached includes Christ dying for our sins, his burial, and resurrection.
“…I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, … By which also ye are saved. … how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures;” – 1 Corinthians 15:1-4
Many Christians today preach the gospel of the kingdom, which is Israel's prophetic program. During Christ's earthly ministry, the Jews needed to believe in Jesus's name. They were to recognize their sin nature and believe that Jesus was their Messiah and that therefore the kingdom (a literal kingdom on earth!) was at-hand. As a nation they were also supposed to be water baptized (to be a nation of priests) and to repent (which means have a change of mind) from their unbelief as a work of faith. But, the cross wasn't preached at that time! It had not yet happened! When Jesus told the disciples that He would die they didn't understand a thing!
"31 Then he took unto him the twelve, and said unto them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished.
32 For he shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spitted on:
33 And they shall scourge him, and put him to death: and the third day he shall rise again.
34 And they understood none of these things: and this saying was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken." Luke 18:34
Today, after the stoning of Stephen in the book of acts (Acts chapter 7) after God had given Israel another chance to believe the kingdom gospel, God's prophetic program was put on hold, and He is now forming the church the Body of Christ (ever since Acts 9) to inherit the heavenly places. The risen and ascended Lord Jesus Christ sent the Apostle Paul (in Acts 9) to preach Christ's death, burial and resurrection as atonement for our sins and that by simple faith in this gospel, individual Jews and Gentiles can be saved! Paul was the FIRST ONE to preach this gospel "For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;" 1 Cor 15:3
Gal 1: 11-12 KJB "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."
People really need to ask WHY PAUL? Why did God save Paul on the road to Damascus?
Gal 1:1 KJB "Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;)"
"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." 1 Tim 1:16
Without this understanding you could be believing and teaching another gospel!
Thank you Father God for showing us the truth in your word rightly divided. Thank you also that through simple faith in Christ's death, burial and resurrection as atonement for our sins, we are saved and given eternal life! In Jesus's name, amen.
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