God Said What He Meant

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

It’s the one verse in all of scripture that tells us how we are to study God’s word. We’re told to rightly divide the word of truth. Yet the vast majority of the church the body of Christ rejects what the last few words of this verse command us to do today. Rather than just taking the final phrase of the verse in context, at face value they wring and twist it like a dish rag trying to make it mean something different; because apparently they don’t believe God says what he means and means what he says. They run to obscure meanings of the original Greek words as defined by man in a lexicon or Greek dictionary such as the one found in the Strong’s Concordance (written by James Strong who also helped pen the Revised Standard Version) and then water that down to mean anything other than what a litteral reading would. But what does that verse mean if we just read it plainly, giving the words the plain obvious meaning.

“rightly dividing the word of truth”

“Rightly” means correctly
“Dividing” means to separate or separating
(The) “word ” (of) means God’s word the KJV Bible
“Truth ” means a fact or reality that is indisputable.

So a litteral reading say: correctly separating the Bible truth from truth. In other words since we know the Bible is the word of God and therefore ALL of it is true we must separate the truths correctly. This is done by reading literally and in context any given passage then believing it means what it says.

It’s simply giving each word and phrase the plain common sense or meaning by looking at who is speaking to whom, when and where they are speaking and referring and why and how. The same who, what, where, when, why and how any grade school child knows from their reading comprehension studies. When you do that then it becomes obvious that there are distinctions in how God has dealt with man and thus differences are found in different portions of his word which is truth. For example we know the book of James is written to the nation of Israel that is scattered throughout the earth. How do we know, a plain reading of the first verse tells us :

James 1:1 KJV — “James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, 👉to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, 👈greeting.”

Since I’m not a member of any of the 12 tribes of the nation of Israel I know that the book of James is not written to me. It’s for my knowledge and understanding of what God’s two-fold plan is but it’s not about me and neither are the doctrines or truths contained in it. When I read it I understand that it’s written to the 12 tribes scattered around the world during Daniels 70th week, explaining to them what God expects of them.

Thus when I go to Paul’s Epistles and read this:

Romans 11:13 KJV — “👉For I speak to you Gentiles👈, inasmuch as 👉I am the apostle of the Gentiles👈, I magnify mine office:”

I see that Paul (I, the who) in this verse wrote to me ” you Gentiles” because he is the apostle of the Gentiles to magnify his office. That’s about as plain. When I read the full context I see that he is telling about the fall of Israel and how through her fall salvation was brought to the world without her but through Christ’s death, burial and resurrection alone.

By just reading what God says and believing he means it I can understand what God is doing today and what my role in that as a member of the body of Christ is. I couldn’t though until I began to obey God’s command in 2 Timothy 2:15 by rightly dividing truth for me a Gentile from truth for Israel. When I did, well we serve one amazingly glorious awesome God and I am just thankful he made a way through the death of his precious Son for me to have a part however small of that plan of His:

Ephesians 1:10 KJV — “That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:”

Can’t Find the Body in the Old Testament

WHAT PAUL PREACHED IS NOT SEARCHABLE IN OLD TESTAMENT

The KJV Scriptures tell us in plain and clear language that what Paul preached is NOT searchable in the Old Testament because it was kept SECRET since the world began.

Please, please, reject the spirit of the world by shunning the words which man’s wisdom teacheth.

And, cling to that which the Holy Ghost teacheth, the spirit which is of God, so that you might know the things that are freely given to you of God.

Believe the book of the Lord, i.e. the KJV Bible, according as it is written, and according to Christ’s revelation of the MYSTERY which God committed to PAUL.

Believe God.

What Paul penned are the words of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. What Paul penned God preserved for us in Romans through Philemon KJV.

God cannot lie.
And, his word (KJV) is TRUTH.

By The Inspiration of God,
Apostle Paul Writes To Us:

Romans 16:25-26 (KJV): “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,
26 But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:”

Ephesians 3:1-10 (KJV): “For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,
2 If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:
3 How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,
4 Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)
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;
6 That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:
7 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.
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;
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:
10 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 Corinthians 2:5-16 (KJV): “That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.
6 Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought:
7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:
8 Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.
12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
15 But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.
16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.”

Galatians 1:11-12 (KJV): “But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man.
12 For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.”

It’s All About Context

In order to understand how to keep our bible studies in context, we must first understand the key to doing so: 2 Timothy 2:15 KJV.

The entire Bible is the word of truth, from Genesis 1 through Revelation 22, and tells us not to add to the Word or subtract from the Word.

Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you.
Deuteronomy 4:2 KJV

What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it.
Deuteronomy 12:32 KJV

For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.
Revelation 22:18‭-‬19 KJV

While it is true those commandments and warnings were given to Israel in those books, not the body of Christ, that is beside the point. The principle behind them stands true in all ages as we will see.

As I am always reminding my son, addition and subtraction are simple math, as is division. Adding and subtracting changes a sum, but division is cool because it increases knowledge about the sum, lets you find out what the sum is made of. God clearly told us to divide his Word for that same purpose, to increase our knoEphesians 1:3 KJV – Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:wledge of the whole.

The sum of the whole Word of truth is the canon of 66 books, which must then be divided to increase knowledge about its contents as it does not speak to just one group of people all the time. It is divided primarily into two groups of books; those for Israel and those for the body of Christ; Two completely, distinctly different groups. They are not adjoined, and one does not replace another; they are different and things that different are not the same.

The bible is perfectly and chronologically divided in the King James Bible in its table of contents.

Genesis through early Acts is time past, prophecy spoken to Israel involving the Law on Earth.

Mid-Acts through Philemon is but now, the mystery hidden in God given to the Body of Christ by Paul our apostle based solely upon His grace and involves heaven.

Finally, Hebrews through Revelation is about the ages to come, again prophecy spoken to Israel and involving the Law and Earth.

We all know that things that are different are not the same. And there is no denying that the PRESENT revelation of the MYSTERY hidden in God is very different from the prophecy spoken of in times past and continuing in the ages to come. But let’s dig deeper to get the full context of just how different.

To understand the context of chapters or verses we are reading, we must first understand who wrote them, to whom they were writing and when the wrote.

When reading about our Savior, a wise rule of thumb to understand is that Jesus wasn’t talking to you. Think about it, He was sent exclusively to Israel while on earth, not to Gentiles.

But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
Matthew 15:24 KJV

At one point in His earthly ministry He even refers to us Gentiles as dogs a couple of verses later (Matthew 15:26).

Jesus had already commanded his twelve disciples that they were also to have nothing to do with Gentiles, but only Israel. He wasn’t talking to us on Earth, ok.

These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
Matthew 10:5‭-‬6 KJV

The Bible books the disciples wrote kept His commandment, therefore they are not to you, Gentile. The disciples exclusively wrote to Israel, just as Jesus told them.

Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Hebrews, Peter, James, Jude, etc … none of this is TO you for doctrine. Read it, of course, it is there for our understanding and knowledge of what God’s two-fold plan is, but those books are not to or about you. Since they aren’t about you there is no need to concern yourself with all of the fear those books cause. They are simply not to the body of Christ, ok.

Again, notice that the earthly program applies specifically to Israel. Jesus taught his twelve disciples (representing the twelve tribes of Israel) to pray as follows:

Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
Matthew 6:10 KJV

Jesus’ kingdom is coming to this earth. The twelve disciples will rule here after they are resurrected (regenerated) because they are not part of the body of Christ which is assigned to heavenly places.

And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
Matthew 19:28 KJV

Israel inherits the earth. But Earth is not our inheritance. We are all about heavenly places in the body of Christ.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
Ephesians 1:3 KJV

And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
Ephesians 2:6 KJV

This is because the body of Christ was formed to replace Satans angels which are the principalities and powers, the spiritual wickedness in high places we learn about in Ephesians 6, among other passages. They are the corrupt of heaven and they will be cast out one day soon when we are caught up to take their place.

See God has two different programs: one of fixing corruption on earth, and another of fixing the problem of corruption in heaven.

Israel was created to fix the problem of sin on earth. The body of Christ was created to fix the problem of sin in heaven. This is why there are differences, major differences. Israel is not the Body, the Body is not Israel.

Hence, why we must rightly divide as we study. We have to pay attention to the who what and when. This how you know Jesus wasn’t talking to you. He was instructing Israel to be a kingdom of kings and priests on earth, not the Body. We will are not going to be on earth or kings and priests at all.

And it’s why Jesus sent Paul to you. Paul was the first member in the body of Christ and he is our pattern. Paul is your apostle for the purpose of heaven.

This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. 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 Timothy 1:15‭-‬16 KJV

It’s all about context!

In order to understand how to keep our bible studies in context, we must first understand the key to doing so: 2 ministry HeTimothy 2:15 KJV.

The entire Bible is the word of truth, from Genesis 1 through Revelation 22, and tells us not to add to the Word or subtract from the Word.

Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you.
Deuteronomy 4:2 KJV

What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it.
Deuteronomy 12:32 KJV

For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.
Revelation 22:18‭-‬19 KJV

While it is true those commandments and warnings were given to Israel in those books, not the body of Christ, that is beside the point. The principle behind them stands true in all ages as we will see.

As I am always reminding my son, addition and subtraction are simple math, as is division. Adding and subtracting changes a sum, but division is cool because it increases knowledge about the sum, lets you find out what the sum is made of. God clearly told us to divide his Word for that same purpose, to increase our knoEphesians 1:3 KJV – Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:wledge of the whole.

The sum of the whole Word of truth is the canon of 66 books, which must then be divided to increase knowledge about its contents as it does not speak to just one group of people all the time. It is divided primarily into two groups of books; those for Israel and those for the body of Christ; Two completely, distinctly different groups. They are not adjoined, and one does not replace another; they are different and things that different are not the same.

The bible is perfectly and chronologically divided in the King James Bible in its table of contents.

Genesis through early Acts is time past, prophecy spoken to Israel involving the Law on Earth.

Mid-Acts through Philemon is but now, the mystery hidden in God given to the Body of Christ by Paul our apostle based solely upon His grace and involves heaven.

Finally, Hebrews through Revelation is about the ages to come, again prophecy spoken to Israel and involving the Law and Earth.

We all know that things that are different are not the same. And there is no denying that the PRESENT revelation of the MYSTERY hidden in God is very different from the prophecy spoken of in times past and continuing in the ages to come. But let’s dig deeper to get the full context of just how different.

To understand the context of chapters or verses we are reading, we must first understand who wrote them, to whom they were writing and when the wrote.

When reading about our Savior, a wise rule of thumb to understand is that Jesus wasn’t talking to you. Think about it, He was sent exclusively to Israel while on earth, not to Gentiles.

But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
Matthew 15:24 KJV

At one point in His earthly ministry He even refers to us Gentiles as dogs a couple of verses later (Matthew 15:26).

Jesus had already commanded his twelve disciples that they were also to have nothing to do with Gentiles, but only Israel. He wasn’t talking to us on Earth, ok.

These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
Matthew 10:5‭-‬6 KJV

The Bible books the disciples wrote kept His commandment, therefore they are not to you, Gentile. The disciples exclusively wrote to Israel, just as Jesus told them.

Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Hebrews, Peter, James, Jude, etc … none of this is TO you for doctrine. Read it, of course, it is there for our understanding and knowledge of what God’s two-fold plan is, but those books are not to or about you. Since they aren’t about you there is no need to concern yourself with all of the fear those books cause. They are simply not to the body of Christ, ok.

Again, notice that the earthly program applies specifically to Israel. Jesus taught his twelve disciples (representing the twelve tribes of Israel) to pray as follows:

Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
Matthew 6:10 KJV

Jesus’ kingdom is coming to this earth. The twelve disciples will rule here after they are resurrected (regenerated) because they are not part of the body of Christ which is assigned to heavenly places.

And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
Matthew 19:28 KJV

Israel inherits the earth. But Earth is not our inheritance. We are all about heavenly places in the body of Christ.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
Ephesians 1:3 KJV

And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
Ephesians 2:6 KJV

This is because the body of Christ was formed to replace Satans angels which are the principalities and powers, the spiritual wickedness in high places we learn about in Ephesians 6, among other passages. They are the corrupt of heaven and they will be cast out one day soon when we are caught up to take their place.

See God has two different programs: one of fixing corruption on earth, and another of fixing the problem of corruption in heaven.

Israel was created to fix the problem of sin on earth. The body of Christ was created to fix the problem of sin in heaven. This is why there are differences, major differences. Israel is not the Body, the Body is not Israel.

Hence, why we must rightly divide as we study. We have to pay attention to the who what and when. This how you know Jesus wasn’t talking to you. He was instructing Israel to be a kingdom of kings and priests on earth, not the Body. We will are not going to be on earth or kings and priests at all.

And it’s why Jesus sent Paul to you. Paul was the first member in the body of Christ and he is our pattern. Paul is your apostle for the purpose of heaven.

This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. 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 Timothy 1:15‭-‬16 KJV

It’s all about context!

Paul Not Peter

Why Divide?

Have you ever wondered why there are so many different denominations? How can so many groups, who all claim to be Bible believing Christians, have so many different beliefs?

They are trying to interpret the Bible instead of allowing the Bible to interpret itself.

Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. 2 Peter 1:20 KJV

The Bible is God’s word and therefore it must be studied God’s way. God did not start any denominations. He is only building one spiritual church.

There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. Ephesians 4:4‭-‬6 KJV

Did you know there is a verse that tells us exactly how to study the word of God?

Notice that it does not say divide truth from error, but rightly divide the word of TRUTH. All scripture is the truth and is FOR us, but it is not all written directly TO us.

God never changes in His person and moral principles, but He has changed in His dealings with man through the ages as He gave progressive revelation. If you don’t understand this, the Bible will be a confusing book to you.

We cannot possibly obey everything in the Bible. Consider the basic issue of what we are to eat:

Adam (creation, about 6,000 years ago) = no meat.

And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat. Genesis 1:29 KJV

Noah (about 1500 years later) = meat without blood.

Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things. But flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood thereof, shall ye not eat. Genesis 9:3‭-‬4 KJV

Moses (about 1000 years later) = clean meats.

This is the law of the beasts, and of the fowl, and of every living creature that moveth in the waters, and of every creature that creepeth upon the earth: To make a difference between the unclean and the clean, and between the beast that may be eaten and the beast that may not be eaten. Leviticus 11:46‭-‬47 KJV

Paul (over 1500 years later) = nothing is to be refused. It should be noted that to teach otherwise in this age is actually considered a doctrine of devils per 1 Timothy 4:1.

Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer. 1 Timothy 4:1‭-‬5 KJV

We must not try to invent our own divisions nor ignore the ones God put in His word. Everybody divides the Bible to a point by the designation of the Old and New Testaments, but we must rightly divide it, by acknowledging the distinctions and details God has placed in His Word. They are so important and put there for our benefit.

There are several distinctions and divisions in Scripture but when you get right down to the meat of it they can be summed up in two major ones: Prophecy and the Mystery.

Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began. Acts 3:19‭-‬21 KJV

Prophecy has been spoken of by the prophets of God since the world began. It deals specifically with one nation of people on the earth – Israel and God’s plans and dealings with them. You find the prophetic program as it is often referred to in the Old Testament as well as the four Gospels, and Hebrews – Revelation. Prophecy began first with the promised seed of the woman in Genesis 3, then it got narrowed to the seed of Abraham and the giving of the covenants which separated one nation – Israel – from the nations, to Moses and the giving of the Law further separating Israel from the Gentiles, on down to the seed of David which is Jesus Christ who came offering that nation their promised kingdom. That’s what the prophecy program is all about.

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, Romans 16:25 KJV

The mystery however is was a secret hid in God since before the world began. Note that carefully cause kept secret since the world began is way different than spoke of since the world began. That means no one knew about the mystery until it was revealed to Paul by the glorified risen Christ after the nation of Israel fully rejected their Messiah and His kingdom at the stoning of Stephen in Acts 7. It is a new and different program dealing not with the nation of Israel alone but with all men both Jew and Gentile alike as equals; All are counted in unbelief and the only hope for salvation any have is through belief in faith of Christ through His shed blood for the redemption of sins and eternal salvation. Only in Paul’s epistles of Romans through Philemon do you find the mystery, the grace of God, the formation of the Body of Christ. It’s just not in the Old Testament, Gospels or Hebrews through Revelation because God wasn’t operating on an all by His grace alone program during prophecy like He is today. Instead salvation was through Israel – you either were a Jew, you became a Jew or you blessed the Jews, and salvation was through grace plus works to show faithfulness to be bestowed at the first resurrection yet future when Christ returns and sets up His kingdom.

The following passages explain this in detail.

For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles, If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward: How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) 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, According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord: In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him. Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory. Ephesians 3:1‭-‬13 KJV

Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church: Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God; Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: Colossians 1:24‭-‬27 KJV

There is one family of God, but there is a difference between God’s earthly people and His heavenly people. If words have any meaning, there must be a difference between the nation of Israel who is destined to reign on the earth over the nations.

Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising. Lift up thine eyes round about, and see: all they gather themselves together, they come to thee: thy sons shall come from far, and thy daughters shall be nursed at thy side. Then thou shalt see, and flow together, and thine heart shall fear, and be enlarged; because the abundance of the sea shall be converted unto thee, the forces of the Gentiles shall come unto thee. Isaiah 60:1‭-‬5 KJV

And the spiritual Body of Christ (neither Jew nor Gentile,) who is seated in heavenly places and is destined to reign there eternally (Eph. 2:6-7; Phil. 3:20; Col. 3:1-4).

If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. Colossians 3:1‭-‬4 KJV

All believers saved today are made members of that body the instant they trust Christ for their salvation by believing the Gospel of God, Christ crucified. That’s the only way to be saved today and if a person is trusting in anything other than that truth then they are still lost as a golf ball in high weeds. Similarly, if a person is saved but fails to recognize and acknowledge God’s plan and purpose for them as members of the Body of Christ in this dispensation of the age of grace then they will not be fruitful members but as 2 Timothy 2:15 points out they will be ashamed, which is where we will pick up next week.

As always my beloved brothers and sisters in Christ may you be eternally gripped in His glorious grace.

Lost Believers

Heartbreakingly it is all to true. Far to many who genuinely believe who Christ is fail to recognize and truly know what exactly He did for them that day on Calvary. They believe that Christ died and rose again but they miss the mystery God had hidden in himself since before the world began, the mystery of the gospel. They miss that it’s God’s grace that His Son’s death would pay for our sins completely totally eternally outside of the nation of Israel!

They miss that there is nothing they can do to save themselves – no work, no repentance, no water baptism, no sacraments, no prayer, no good deed, no law keeping, nothing – in fact believing, trusting, doing or requiring any of these acts condemns a believer today because they are trusting their faith to keep a work not Christ’s faith that He already did it all. It is finished paid in full and you just have to believe He did it all. You can not to one single thing to satisfy God because His perfect Son already did it. Instead of believing the gospel of the good news that he died to pay for all your sins past present and future before you even committed them by His faith in God the Father knowing He would raise Him up again, buried to forever remove them never again to be brought up before God, and raised the third day as He knew His Father would for our justification before God. They fail to believe they are already made complete and whole, already always forever saved in Christ instead vainly attempting to contribute or earn in some way salvation. They believe they can loose their salvation if they fail to repent often, confess their sins, do the acts, believe they replaced Israel, look for a kingdom on Earth. So they are like children throwing away eternal peace, joy and completeness in Christ for eternal damnation because they believe not in the gospel of God’s glorious grace given through the revelation of the mystery as committed to Paul in what he referred to as “my gospel, the gospel of the uncircumcision, whose hope is in heavenly places, choosing instead the kingdom gospel of Jesus on Earth as well as John the Baptist and the twelve, the gospel of the circumcision. But that isn’t God’s plan for saving us today. And if that’s the gospel you believed then I am afraid of you lest you are a list believer.

Paul Taught Us All…

Yep, he did. Today God is forming the Body of Christ, a new creature, and we are his ambassadors here on Earth. The moment we believe in Christ’s death to pay for all our sins ever (all means all past, present and future – after all they were all future when He died to pay for them), his burial to remove them forever,and his Resurrection three days later for our justification before God and giving us eternal life in Him then we are sealed into Him and His death, burial and resurrection. It is a gift we don’t deserve freely given that we could never earn, it is God’s glorious grace! So as members of His body we represent Him here, we are His ambassadors and as such we have a responsibility to learn what is expected of us today and then get busy doing it. The first member of the Body was Paul the Apostle to the Gentiles. The only place in the Bible where you will find the gospel of God’s grace that is the only one that will save us today is in the books Christ instructed Paul to write for us : Romans through Philemon. That is where all of the doctrine and directions Christ expects us to know and follow are found. He gave them first to Paul who then gave them to us. Wanna be a good ambassador today, Paul taught us all!

The Key

This is the first rightly divided teacher we listened to and it was life changing. From the time Wayne got saved he always told me that it seemed like we should be doing what Paul said, however from church and other teachers online we were being told that we were to go straight to the red letters, that the body was the bride, the whole Bible was a love letter to us and every promise in it was meant for us, that we had to be water baptized, had to keep short accounts, saw supposed healing services, etc. I had been saved for a few years at this point and was getting caught up in the whole prophecy / Hebrew roots movements and that never set well with him. For a while he tried to see what I had been taught but never did, after a very hard reality check for me when something I had been taught and believed, convinced myself by wrenching and twisting Scripture didn’t happen., I too began to see that what I had been learning from men was leading me down wrong path. Nothing I had been taught really made sense – one teacher said we were saved by Grace alone but had to be baptized in water for it to be official, another that we had to take sacraments called communion to stay saved, another that we had to keep the law and yet another that I was lost as a ball in high weeds cause I didn’t speak in tongues. It was a hard time for me, but I dove into the Word because it was all I knew to do, it had never let me down. Then one night a video we were watching used a Forgotten Truths clip to make a point (which was very funny cause that video turned out to be by a seventh day Adventist, about as far from grace as it gets) and we saw the key! It had been there the whole time but we just weren’t getting it. 2 Timothy 2:15 was the missing piece and seeing “times past, but now, ages to come” prophecy versus mystery. The rest they say is history, that was about a year and a half ago, and we have grown in our understanding and edification, fully seeing that we are not Israel or the bride, not under law but grace, and we are members of His body, his ambassadors here on Earth until he catches us up to fulfill his plan to reconcile the heavens while he uses Israel to do the same on Earth

Whose Voice is it Really?

In conversation once up at the Big (the Church where we work at) someone mentioned that they felt they had often heard God speak to them, telling them what to do. I was intrigued so I asked how they knew it was God. They felt calmed, felt peaceful, felt secure and hopeful, enlightened, and occasionally convicted. They further explained that it had to be God they heard because when Satan speaks he makes them feel worried, fearful, obsessed, confused, hurried, pushed and discouraged. Hmm, so they felt that anything positive was of God and negative of Satan, that is the common belief of most of Christendom today thanks to the Pentecostal and Charismatic influences that have taken hold in all denominations today. Bet that I could have been talking to most of you who read this, right? Yep, I know, there was a time I coulda had that conversation with myself, and I’d have been wrong. But before you get your nerves all tore outta the frame, keep reading and I’ll show you through Scripture why that kinda thinking is wrong.

Let’s talk about the tone of the voices heard: God was always positive and Satan negative. But is there any doctrinal, dispensational or scriptural backing to this assumption? Did Satan always speak negatively, harshly, causing fear and confusion? Not exactly, think about how he assured Eve in the garden that she wouldn’t surely die:

“And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: Genesis 3:4 KJV”

He was lying through his slimy teeth of course as he hissed that deadly deceptive assurance in her ear, but he was doing so positively, making it sound sure and good.
He even continued by sweetening the pot of poison by offering her enlightenment in the next verse if she ate the forbidden yet oh so tempting fruit.

“For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. Genesis 3:5 KJV”

See, it’s very possible to be encouraged in evil, to be tempted by it, hence the whole temptation thing. in Matthew 4 we see Jesus himself being tempted by the Devil. Psalm 64:5 also says that “they encourage themselves in an evil thing.”.

Passages such as Jeremiah 23:16-18 show that false prophets lead men through a vision to be still and calm saying “no harm shall come upon you” when they needed to skeedadle quick cause harm was about to kick in the door. Which is why God told those specific people who were listening to those false prophets to “give no heed to them.”

In addition to feeling God was always positive my friend at the Big felt Satan’s voice obsesses, worries, condemns, discourages, confuses, pushes, frightens, and rushes. All of these descriptions are negative and invoke feelings of inadequacy and forced change and none of these descriptions refer to any doctrine, dispensation, or source of truth about Satan. They only refer to what a voice makes you feel.

But what if it is the Lord that discourages you from doing something? Shouldn’t you listen?

Moses by direction of God discouraged the children of Israel from going into the promised land at one point, because “the LORD is not among you” and “it shall not prosper” (Num 14:41-42). Those people died who would not be discouraged, maybe they should have listened.

In the Bible God pushes (Deu 33:17), confuses (Gen 11:7), condemns (Isa 54:17; John 3:18), and frightens, striking fear into men’s hearts (Matt 10:28; Rev 14:7).

Oh and then there’s obsession which can be a good thing when it concerns seeking and saving that which is lost (Matt 18:11; 1 Cor 9:22; 1 Cor 16:15; Gal 4:18). That’s the kinda obsessed I wanna be for sure.

Satan often speaks God’s words from other portions of scripture out of context! It is called lying. Besides, your flesh will always be at peace to follow its fallen desires. Paul’s “Oh, wretched man that I am!”. We can’t trust our hearts.

There must be more to knowing God’s voice beyond reliance on how that voice may make us feel. After all, truth can hurt and wrong can feel oh so very good. So how can we know whether the voice is God’s or Satan’s?

It’s easy. You just get a KJV Bible first off, then read it literally, don’t spiritualize it or try to twist it, and most importantly follow God’s instructions telling us how to read it!

Guys, that verse was a life changer when I understood it. Rightly divided the word of truth… it seemed strange at first to think about dividing the word. But then it clicked. Good grief, I divide stuff all the time. Like my son’s books for school, I divide the work in them up into smaller assignments to avoid that deer in the headlights to utter panic to frazzled overload to crash that assigning and entire years work at once would cause. I divide yarn, food, clothes, my time. That’s not just the books, chapters and verses though which are very useful divisions but weren’t part of the originals, they were added much much later. It’s kinda like when I read a book on homeschool methods and I skimmed whole sections because they were for grades or levels we had already passed. Like the part written about kindergarten, I read it quickly because it was informative for gathering general teaching ideas but I really poured over the sections that covered levels my son is currently at. Basically it’s just read it naturally and look at who is talking to whom, why, when and where. If Israel is the focus then it’s not to you directly but to them. Sure you can gain and profit from reading it, you gain a clear understanding of God’s plans for Israel and for us today as members of the Body of Christ.

When you begin to rightly divide you will realize that most of the Bible is written to and about Israel but there are 13 Epistles in the New Testament that God revealed to Paul just for us today. Romans through Philemon are the books where we find what God is doing today and what he expects of us today. It contains the truth of how we can know it is God talking to us, and how to tell when it isn’t.

Long story short here. When Israel stoned Stephen they blasphemed the Holy Ghost which Jesus had said wouldn’t be forgiven them – they balsphemed and rejected God when they asked for a king, Jesus when they killed Him and then that day when they stoned Stephen they rejected the Holy Spirit. Stephen calls it right in this verse:

“Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye. Acts 7:51 KJV”

“One, two three strikes and you’re in time out” I often tell my littles on Sunday’s, that’s basically how God dealt with Israel after this. Christ shown down from glory and saved Paul making him the apostle to the Gentiles and God this set Israel aside for a spell, so far it’s a long time out – 2,000 years (which is what my little act like 2 minutes is) while He completes the other part of His plan to reconcile both heaven and Earth back to Himself. He forms the Body of Christ through the revelation of the mystery He had had hidden in himself since before the world began, Israel is under prophecy which was revealed to the prophets since the world began. So mystery hid in God before world began, prophecy known by prophets since the world began. That’s kinda different, another division.So this division isn’t permanent,one day the body will be complete and caught up to be with our head forever, we are going to take back heaven for God and He will begin dealing with Israel again and finish what had started when Christ came to earth the first time , the coming of God’s kingdom on Earth.

That background there is the key to understanding how God is speaking to us today because it’s not the same way He spoke to Israel in the past it will in the future. See when God saved Paul and gave him the completed revelation of the mystery the signs that had been given during that time to believers (tongues, prophecy, healing, etc.) ceased because they were no longer needed in this age.

Certainly, neither God nor Satan’s voice could ever be discerned by how our thoughts and experiences make us feel. They cannot be discerned by our experiences at all!

When my littles are babies and have yet to learn how to talk they are greatly affected by the tone of a voice. A tone can strike fear into a child’s heart or bring comfort. Either way a baby disregards the actual words being said, they just hear the tone.

Paul gave those tongue-talking Pentecostals the Corinthians who were spiritual babes this advice:

“Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men.” – 1 Corinthians 14:20

Mature men act like men, they are not selfish pleasure seeking individuals avoiding any sacrifice and inconvenience on their flesh. Men take responsibility to learn, understand, study, and sacrifice for the benefit of others.Certainly, neither God nor Satan’s voice can be discerned by how our thoughts and experiences make us feel. They cannot be discerned by our experiences at all!

However children that cannot speak or read go by sights and sounds. This true of adults who are spiritual children as well. This is like the charismatics who listen to God’s voice in the visual circumstances and in the tone of one’s voice.

When we grow in our faith we stop being swayed by feelings and emotions and we listen to the words, we learn where to find them too, in the Book. We hear God’s voice in the doctrinal understanding of the Bible rightly divided. The Bible, not voices, not feelings, just the written inspired and preserved words of God.

The feeling centered perspective on God’s will is a consequence of the Pentecostal problem that teaches wrongly how God speaks. It teaches believers to trust their feelings which are fallible instead of God’s word which is perfect, sure, true, infallible!

God’s perfect plan goes beyond how you feel in your life. His purpose is not to make you feel good all the time but to see you become a fruitful member of His Sons Body. Satan has an evil agenda and it is not always to make you feel bad all the time, he makes sin sound, look and feel really good. God’s will is Biblically revealed and dispensationally considered, for the record Satan’s is too.

Knowing God’s voice (and Satan’s) requires having a copy of God’s complete word of truth: the Bible. Then, we must understand what God said, to whom he said it, and in what dispensational context.

“So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Romans 10:17 KJV”

So I ask, whose really speaking to you? Satan through your flesh, your feelings… or God through His word of truth?

Think On These Things

This is what the Body of Christ ought to be doing as we live as ambassadors of Christ here on Earth sharing the Gospel of God’s glorious grace, the death of Christ to pay for all our sins, his burial to remove them forever, and his resurrection the third day for our justification. Don’t focus on the world and focus on Him!