How to rightly divide the Word of Truth (Part 5)

6 “To whom are the scriptures, you are reading, addressed?”

As we pursue our quest to rightly divide the scriptures that we are studying; It is imperative that we ascertain: “To whom are those scriptures addressed?”

If we fail in this task, the Bible will continue to be a mystery to us: a book of apparent contradictions and flaws. On the other hand, if we succeed: it’s scriptures will reveal to us a masterpiece of spiritual truths that mesh together like a hand in a glove: Spiritual Perfection.

2 Timothy chapter 3 verse 16.

“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, (God breathed) and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.”

Every scripture from Genesis chapter 1 v 1 to Revelation chapter 22 v 21 is indeed “God breathed”, however not all these scriptures are addressed to the Church of grace: of which we are a part. Failing to comprehend this spiritual principle is the main reason why the Bible is a closed book to many Christians today: they cannot understand the scriptures: therefore they find it extremely difficult to believe them.

Romans chapter 15 v 4

“For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.”

Our dear brother Paul, speaking by the spirit of God, to the Church of the Romans in the New Testament states plainly that scriptures written, aforetime, in the Old Testament, were for our learning only, not necessarily for our application.

1 Corinthians chapter 10 verse 11.

“Now all these things happened unto them(Israelites) for ensamples(examples): and they are written for our admonition (learning), upon whom the ends of the world are come(coming).

The Apostle Paul states categorically, that all scriptures revealed before the New Testament came into force, were written to the Israelites(Jews)for their application, but to the Church of grace for our learning only.

Does this mean that we should ignore the Old Testament completely? Absolutely not. However, where scriptures from the Old Testament are at odds or contradict with those in the New Testament, we must allow those New Testament scriptures to have the regnancy.

I spend a lot of time studying the Old Testament. Therein are fabulous accounts of wonderful men and women who loved our Heavenly Father, who had the holy spirit upon them(not in them, as we do) and consequently saw many signs, miracles and wonders in their ministries. I learn of their heart for the Father, their disciplined lifestyles, their study of the scriptures and above all their addiction to prayer and fellowship with our Father. I also learn of the rejection of these prophets, constantly, by the children of Israel and their constant descent into various captivities; caused largely by the hardness of their hearts and their propensity to whore after other Gods.

To summarize: When I study the Old Testament I always have my filters on. If I read verses that contradict New Testament scriptures revealed to the Church by the Apostle Paul and others, I simply discount them and lay them to one side: the remainder I learn from.

Romans chapter 10 verse 4.

“For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.”

Those that believe in Christ are free from the Mosaic and Levitical laws; and yet we have many ministries today, mega ministries, in America whose core beliefs are, for example, tithing and water baptism: both, originally, addressed to the Israelites, not to the Church of grace. Both are works of the flesh: of which we could boast; and I believe have no part in the Church of grace.

I have already written concerning tithing in my “Thought for today” section on my website, and I will be sharing on water baptism in the near future.

There is no question that the scriptures of the Old Testament, from Genesis chapter 3 verse 24 to Malachi chapter 4 verse 6 were written exclusively to the Israelites, later called the Jews.
The overall subject matter of these scriptures is the future coming of a Messiah who would redeem them from their sins.

Acts chapter 5 v 31

“Him(Jesus Christ) hath God exalted with His right hand to be a prince and a saviour, for to give repentance TO ISRAEL, and forgiveness of sins.”

For example:

Exodus 1 verse 1

“Now these are the names of the children of Israel which came into Egypt…”

Leviticus 1 verse 2

“Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them…”

Numbers 1 verse 2

“Take ye the sum(number) of all the congregation of the children of Israel…”

Deuteronomy1 verse 1

“These be the words which Moses spake unto all Israel on this side Jordan in the wilderness…”

Isaiah chapter 1 v 1

“The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz which he saw CONCERNING Judah and Jerusalem in the days of Uzziah….”

Jeremiah chapter 3 verse 12.

“Go and proclaim these words toward the north, and say, Return, thou backsliding Israel, saith the Lord…”

Ezekiel chapter 3 v 4

“And He(God) said unto me(Ezekiel) son of man, go, get thee into the house of Israel, and speak with my words unto them.”

Hosea chapter 4 v 1

“Hear the word of the Lord, ye children of Israel….

Amos chapter 1 v 1

“The words of Amos, who was among the herdsmen of Tekoa, which he saw concerning Israel in the days of Uzziah the king of Judah…”

Micah chapter 1 v 1

“The Word of the Lord that came to Micah the Morashite…which he saw CONCERNING Samaria and Jerusalem.”

These Old Testament books and scriptures were not written to the Church of grace or the Gentile, but exclusively to the Children of Israel. To them were given the precepts of the Mosaic Law and the Levitical Law.They WERE God’s chosen people.

Ezekiel chapter 18 verse 27.

“Again, when the wicked man turneth away from his wickedness that he hath committed, and doeth that which is lawful and right( Old Testament scriptures), he shall save his soul alive.”

This God breathed scripture was written to the Israelites only. By keeping the law, EVERY part of it, they could live a righteous lifestyle and enjoy a lawful relationship with God. They would however be judged according to their keeping of the works of the law in the end times.
The Gentiles, regarded as dogs by the Israelites, were excluded from this promise.
The Church of grace, that we are a part of, can only learn from this scripture as it is at odds with all New Testament scriptures on the subject.

Ephesians chapter 2 verses 8 and 9.

“For by grace are you saved through faith: and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God. Not of works, lest any man should boast.”

The Israelites could only receive righteousness in their lives by keeping the works of the law. We in the Church of grace, are saved by grace through faith: NOT by works.

Philippians chapter 3 verse 9.

“And be found in Him (Jesus Christ), not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith.”

I love to read the Old Testament scriptures. Every verse is God breathed. However, the vast majority of these scriptures were written to the Israelites(Jews) alone. I can learn from them; but when they contradict New Testament scriptures I must lay them to one side.

So what about the 4 gospels?

Are they written to the Israelites only, or to the Church of grace also?

Romans chapter 15 verse 8

“Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the Fathers(Israelites).”

Jesus Christ’s ministry was solely to the children of Israel. He kept the law, was circumcised, knew the Old Testament scriptures and where to find them in the scrolls. He taught in the synagogues, and visited the Temple in Jerusalem on a daily basis. His healing and deliverance ministry was to the Jews alone; there were 2 exceptions: The centurion with the sick child and the Syrophoenecian woman, whose daughter was possessed by a devil spirit.

He did however proclaim the coming of the Kingdom throughout His ministry. He taught on the coming spiritual new birth, salvation through faith in Him. He uttered many future prophecies that have come to pass in the Church of grace and that will come to pass after His second coming. Accordingly, we must sift through the God breathed scriptures in the gospels to discern “to whom” is each scripture addressed. Then we can begin to rightly divide the scriptures.

Ephesians chapter 1 verse 7.

“In whom( Jesus Christ)we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.”

We all agree that only the blood of Jesus can wash away our sins, yet, how many churches recite weekly the “Lord’s Prayer”?
” …forgive us our trespasses AS WE forgive those that trespass against us.”

Our sins can only be washed away by the precious blood of Jesus: not by our forgiveness of others.
This scripture was spoken to the Jews before the Lord’s precious blood was spilt at calvary. We can learn from this scripture, yet, with the coming of the New Testament we discern that it is not written to the Church of grace.

James chapter 1 verse 13.

“Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, nor tempteth He any man.”

The Lord’s Prayer pleads:”……..lead us not into temptation..” This prayer was spoken to the Jews before the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus: The Scripture in James was revealed to the Church because of His sacrifice. There is no contradiction when we discern “To whom” the scripture is addressed.

Hebrews chapter 9 verses 15-17.

“And for this cause He (Jesus Christ) is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first(Old) testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator(Jesus) For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator lives.”

Now we see what a mistake it was to include the 4 gospels in the New Testament. Yes, the Lord Jesus taught about the coming of a New Testament, but it took His death, for us, to enable it to come to pass. Just as with a legal will today; the death of the person involved empowers their last will and testament. However it usually takes months before monies, assets etc are distributed. So it was with the New Testament. It was empowered on Calvary’s Hill yet it did not fully come into force, actually, until the day of Pentecost, some 50 days later.
Why?
You will have to ask that question when you meet the Lord Jesus when He returns.

Hallelujah and Amen.🙌

Our dear Lord Jesus, prophesied of the coming of the Kingdom and the New Testament to the Jews.
Our brother Paul preached that same gospel of Christ and, inspired by the Holy Spirit, he wrote the seven Church epistles and the personal epistles which detail the salvation and inheritance that was available, not only to the Jews, but now miraculously to the Gentiles also.
Praise Him.

So, should we neglect to read the gospels? Absolutely not!
Therein, we see illustrated our Lord Jesus’s ministry, the miracles performed by way of the Holy Spirit.
We see the love of God in manifestation.
We see the relationship that He had with our Heavenly Father and finally we see His selfless sacrifice that enabled Gentiles to enter into a spiritual relationship with our Heavenly Father.
However, because He was sent to the Jews alone while the Old Testament was still in force: any statements or verses that are at variance with or contradict New Testament scriptures in the book of Acts and the Epistles must be set aside as they belong to the Old Testament and not the New.

And so we arrive at the books of the Bible that are written, by and large, to those who are partakers of the New Testament.

I believe the term”The Acts of the Apostles” to be a misnomer. I believe that it should rightly be named” The Acts of the Holy Spirit”
This book begins with the coming of the Holy Spirit and the giving of that spirit, firstly, to the 12 Apostles, and then to many others who believed that their sins were washed away, not by water baptism, but by the precious blood of Jesus, on that day of Pentecost.

Acts chapter 2 verse 4

“And they(the twelve) were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”

The book of Acts is not only the spiritual spine that details the transition from Judaism and the Old Testament Law to the beginnings of Christianity; that depicts where and when the Apostle Paul wrote, as inspired by the Holy Spirit, the Epistles of the New Testament, but also it provides those that have received the gift of the holy spirit with a blueprint of how to activate that spirit, and allow the manifestations thereof to flow through them by simple faith.

For those who desire to see signs, miracles and wonders in their ministries the “Acts of the Holy Spirit” is required reading.
Likewise the ministry of our Lord Jesus in the gospels.

1 Corinthians chapter 11 verse 1.

“Be ye followers (imitators) of me, even as I also am of Christ.”

Paul encourages us to follow(imitate- the Greek word mimites) the spiritual lifestyle of our Lord Jesus, as he did.

John chapter 14 verse
12.

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that believes upon me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.”

Amen and Amen!

Let us now turn to the Church epistles:
There are seven in number.
Seven is the number that denotes spiritual perfection in the scriptures.

2 Timothy chapter 3 verse 16

“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.”

If you have accepted Jesus as your Saviour and believe that He has washed away your sins, and have received the gift of the Holy Spirit: these seven Church epistles are addressed to you. They are for right doctrine(teaching) reproof, correction (when we stray). They are written to you for instruction in righteousness.

I encourage you to read all the Bible, yet I believe that we, as born again Christians, must study and meditate on these scriptures which are specifically addressed to us.
To the man of body, soul and spirit they are the Holy Spirit’s guidelines for right doctrine and instruction in righteousness in this age of grace. It is important to note that each of the seven church epistles are and were encyclical, and were distributed to and shared with all the other Churches.

Romans chapter 1 verse 1 and verse 7.

“Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an Apostle, separated unto the gospel of God.”

TO all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.”

Are you beloved of God?
Are you called to be saints(sanctified ones)?