2Ti 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God!
A workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
I honestly believe, as a student of the bible, that rightly dividing the Word of God is a progressive process of understanding the Word of God. C.I. Scofield as a student, presents this in his writings. I do have issue with his timing on certain points but agree with his reasoning for the most part. Churches today mix up Gospel of the Kingdom with Pauls’ Gospel of Grace and then wonder why our churches are so empty. Denomination all have twisted Pauls’ teachings in some way. Study Acts and epistle of Paul for yourself, and a different picture will appear.
What is essential is to know who Satan is and What Christ can do for us daily dealing with him. We who are in the body of Christ, know how important it is to have a devotional reading of this progressive Word of God, Rightly dividing his Truth and understanding the dispensation associated with that Living Word.
Today we have 1000 church dominations, who each have their own interpretation of the Bible. Many of them ignore verses that don’t meet their requirements, like for many ignoring the epistles of Paul. The Apostle to Jew and Gentile.
2Pe 3:14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.
2Pe 3:15 And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you.
2Pe 3:16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.
THE JEW, THE GENTILE, AND THE CHURCH OF TRUTH
Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God.
I Corinthians 10:32 Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God:
Whoever reads the Bible with any attention cannot fail to perceive that more than half of its contents relate to one nation: the Israelites. He perceives, too, that they have a distinct place in the dealings and counsels of God. Separated from the mass of mankind, they are taken into covenant with Jehovah, who gives them specific promises not given to any other nation. Their history alone is told in Old Testament narrative and prophecy; other nations are mentioned only as they touch the Jew. It appears, also, that all the communications of Jehovah to Israel as a nation relate to the Earth. If faithful and obedient, the nation is promised earthly greatness, riches, and power; if unfaithful and disobedient, it is to be scattered among all people, from the one end of the earth even unto the other.
Deut. 28:64 And among these nations shalt thou find no ease, neither shall the sole of thy foot have rest: but the LORD shall give thee there a trembling heart, and failing of eyes, and sorrow of mind:
Even the promise of the Messiah is of blessing to all the families of the Earth.
Continuing his research, the student finds mention in Scripture of another distinct body, which is called the church. This body also has a peculiar relation to God and, like Israel, has received from Him specific promises. But similarity ends there, and the most striking contrastbegins. Instead of being formed of the natural descendants of Abraham alone, it is a body in which the distinction of Jew and Gentile is lost. Instead of the relation being one of mere covenant, it is one of birth. Instead of obedience bringing the reward of earthly greatness and wealth, the church is taught to be content with food and raiment, and to expect persecution and hatred; it is perceived that just as distinctly as Israel stands connected with temporal and earthly things, so distinctly does the church stand connected with spiritual and heavenly things.
Further, Scripture shows the student that neither Israel nor the church always existed; each had a recorded beginning. The beginning of Israel he finds in the call of Abram. Looking then for the birth of the church he finds (contrary, perhaps, to his expectations, for he has probably been taught that Adam and the patriarchs are in the church) that it certainly did not exist before, nor during, the earth life of Christ, for he finds Him speaking of His church as yet future when He says
Matt. 16:18 And I say also unto thee, that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
Upon this rock I will build my church. Not, have built, nor am building, but will build.
He finds, too, from Ephesians 3:5 -10, that the church is not once mentioned in Old Testament prophecy, but was, in those ages, a mystery hid in God. Scripturally, he finds the birth of the church in Acts 2, and the termination of its career on the earth in I Thessalonians 4.
Eph 3:5-10 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; That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel: Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power. 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; 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: To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,
1 Th 4:18 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so, shall we ever be with the Lord.
The student also finds, in the scriptural division of the race, another class, rarely mentioned, and distinguished in every respect from either Israel or the church: the Gentiles. The comparative position of the Jew, the Gentile, and the church may be briefly seen in the following Scriptures:
• the Jew
Rom. 9:4-5 Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises; Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed forever. Amen.
John 4:22 Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.
Rom. 3:1-2 What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision?Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God.
• the Gentile
Eph. 2:11-12; For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:
Eph. 4:17-18; This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:
Mark 7:27-28; But Jesus said unto her, Let the children first be filled: for it is not ment to take the children’s bread, and to cast it unto the dogs. And she answered and said unto him, yes, Lord: yet the dogs under the table eat of the children’s crumbs.
• the Church
Eph. 1:22-23; And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.
Eph. 5:29-33; For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.
1 Pet. 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
Comparing, then, what is said in Scripture concerning Israel and the Church, he finds that in origin, calling, promise, worship, principles of conduct, and future destiny that all is contrast. Compare first the calling of Israel with that of the church:
CALLING ISRAEL
Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house unto
a land that I will show thee.
Gen. 12:1 Now the LORD had said unto Abram, get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee:
CHURCH
Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling.
Heb. 3:1 Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;
For our conversation is in heaven.
Phil. 3:20 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:
ISRAEL
For the LORD thy God bringeth thee into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and depths that spring out of valleys and hills; a land of wheat, and barley, and vines, and fig-trees, and pomegranates; a land of oil olive, and honey; a land wherein thou shalt eat bread without scarceness.
Deut. 8:7-9 For the LORD thy God bringeth thee into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and depths that spring out of valleys and hills; A land of wheat, and barley, and vines, and fig trees, and pomegranates; a land of oil olive, and honey; A land wherein thou shalt eat bread without scarceness, thou shalt not lack any thing in it; a land whose stones are iron, and out of whose hills thou mayest dig brass.
CHURCH
And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.
Matt. 8:20 And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.
To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you.
I Pet. 1:4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,
Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwelling- place.
I Cor. 4:11 Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwellingplace;
ISRAEL
And he said, I am Abraham’s servant. And the LORD hath blessed my master greatly, and he is become great; and he hath given him flocks, and herds, and silver, and gold, and men-servants, and maid- servants, and camels, and asses. Gen. 24:34-35
CHURCH
And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God! Mark 10:23
Hearken, my beloved brethren, hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him? James 2:5
ISRAEL
The LORD shall cause thine enemies that rise up against thee to be smitten before thy face: they shall come out against thee one way, and flee before thee seven ways. Deut. 28:7
CHURCH
They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service. John 16:2
ISRAEL
And the LORD shall make thee the head, and not the tail; and thou shalt be above only, and thou shalt not be beneath Deut. 28:13
As a student of the Bible, I agree and much more by C.I. Scofield
To understand this concept of Rightly dividing the Word of God, this link is very good at that Grace Ambassador and there chart that will help you understand. Also here is a video.
About the Author
1 thought on “Rightly Dividing the Word of God”