Rightly
Dividing the Word of Truth
2 Tim 2:15
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman
that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the
word of truth.
Many folks try to make more
of rightly dividing than is there.
“Rightly dividing” (Gr. orthotomounta-orqotomounta) simply means
“to properly discern, understand, and use.”
That should be the goal of every born again man, woman, and child on
planet earth.
It is an easy word to
understand, but seemingly impossible to carry out. At least that is what many want us to think.
Rom 15:4 For
whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we
through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.
The Old Testament is the Old Testament. We must be careful when bring OT principles
and teachings into a New Testament setting.
All of the teachings in the Old Testament are not meant to be
transplanted into the New.
During a concert that Carolyn
and I were giving many years ago, the Church band had prepared a version of a
Praise song, “As A Deer” as a special musical gift to
us. It is a beautiful song. They prepared it for us to sing because I
love that song. We usually did not have
an opportunity to sing it. That surprise
gift has always been appreciated by me.
However, I do not preach or
teach Psalms 42:1, because of understanding.
Ps 42:1 As the deer pants for the water brooks, so pants my soul for
You, O God. (NKJV)
As a Spirit-filled New
Testament Christian that verse does not apply to me.
Living in New Testament times
means that verse does not apply.
Panting for {having a great
desire for} God the Father, panting for {having a great desire for} Christ, and
panting for {having a great desire for} the Holy Spirit are all foreign to New
Testament reality! That speaks of a deep
search for the Trinity.
The truth is…There is
none who understands; There is none
who seeks after God. (Romans 3:11/NKJV)
The truth is that “the Son of
man is come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10)
Romans 3:11 and Luke 19:10
are facts!
Ps 42:1 tells us that as a
deer pants for water, so my soul longs after thee.
Water represents the Holy
Spirit.
As a Spirit-filled Christian,
The Holy Spirit lives within me and flows outward from me.
John 7:38 He
that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow
rivers of living water.
If you believe in, trust
Christ that is also true of you. Living Water, the Holy Spirit is moving
outward from you to those who do not know, are not intimate with, Christ
Jesus. So, Psalm 42:1 is not applicable
to you. It is beautiful, but not
applicable.
Jer 29:13 And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with
all your heart.
Jeremiah 29:13 is a verse
that simply does not apply to
the New Testament times, if it ever did?
Again, Christ said that he
came to seek and to save that which was lost (Luke 19:10).
Christianity is God seeking man,
and not man seeking God.
That is NOT an opinion! It is a biblical fact!
That truth is lost on many
Church members, and in many Churches.
Salvation does not depend on
“our” decision. It depends on God’s
decision.
John 6:37 All that the Father giveth me shall
come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.
1 Cor 12:3b no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the
Holy Ghost.
When you “rightly divide,”
truly understand the Word of Truth, all becomes clear!
You are saved by grace
through faith without any human endeavor!
Eph 2:8-9
8 For by grace are ye saved
through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of
works, lest any man should boast.
“As a Deer” is still a
beautiful song, but it is not theologically accurate!