The BIG Picture (Shorts)

FACT NO. 1—That the Bible MUST be rightly divided in order for it to make sense. Notice what it says: “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, RIGHTLY DIVIDING the Word of truth” (II Tim. 2:15). This is one of the cardinal rules for interpreting the whole Bible. Neglect of this rule or a faulty use of it will lead to only one result, CONFUSION, since our God is not the author of confusion. The reason for a right division of the Bible is because of God’s two distinct purposes: (1) His purpose concerning Israel and the world according to PROPHECY, and (2) His purpose concerning the Gentiles in this present age according to the MYSTERY revealed to Paul. God doesn’t want us to confuse the teaching of these two purposes. He has very graciously given us the key for a proper understanding of this. More FACTS to follow... See this article for even more rightly dividing differences By Robert C. Brock Source:  https://bereanbiblesociety.org/se...

Rom.16:25-26 Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, ... The words "my gospel" are of great interest. Paul personalized the gospel he was preaching. This makes it different to the gospel that John the Baptist, Jesus, and the twelve Apostles taught. They preached the Kingdom gospel, the good news that the Kingdom of Heaven was near. And that was true, as the King was in their midst and He was willing and able to usher in His kingdom if they would repent and believe. But due to the unbelief of Israel's rulers, this kingdom was placed on hold based on Rom.11:25. Paul, on the other hand, was preaching a grace gospel. A gospel where one could place one's trust in the cross-work of Christ and that through His death, burial, and resurrection, (through His work of righteousness, not our attempts), one receives forgiveness and is completely justified before God. In order to recognize the difference between these gospels, one needs to divide them, ...

I’ll fervently teach the Bible rightly divided till the Lord comes. It is an inevitable result of studying the Word according to Paul, 2Tim.2:15. When one studies the Bible, line by line and precept upon precept, one comes to this inevitable conclusion that one must rightly divide prophecy from mystery, law from grace, and Israel from the Body of Christ. Consider this. How can one mix prophecy , which is something spoken since the world began, with mystery , which is something kept secret since the world began? The two are mutually exclusive. Blending them creates a false doctrine because one must twist scriptures to make them fit a different narrative that is imagined in the mind of man. For many years I tried to make sense of the Bible, until I decided to actually study the Bible — and came to the conclusion by my own discernment — that one must rightly divide. When I did, the Bible truly opened up to me for the first time. I’ll never go back to the blended confusions of the past. ...

The reason why we rightly divide, 2Tim2:15 God gives different instructions to different people regarding the same thing. Why? God has different programs in His redemption plan; one for earth and one for the heavens. Both prophecy (Israel) and mystery (All under grace) are correct doctrines within their dispensations. Just as with the dietary laws below, we cannot mix prophecy and grace, else it contradicts. We carefully exercise the instructions given for OUR dispensation. Adam: Gen.1:29 – Every herb bearing seed and fruit yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat. Noah: Gen.9:3 – Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things. Israel: Lev.11:2, 47 – 2 These are the beasts which ye shall eat among all the beasts that are on the earth. 47 This is the law of the beasts... Paul: 1Tim.4:4 – For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: 5 For it is sanctified by the word of God a...

COMMENT: Matt 25:41-61 clearly says that if we don’t do any good works, God will send us to hell. REPLY: The verse mentioned is referring to the ‘Sheep and Goats’ judgement at the end of a 7-year tribulation period. During this horrendous time, believers are required to support Israel in order to gain salvation. However, this passage, and its resulting judgment, is not applicable to the current dispensation of grace, where salvation is obtained through faith in Jesus Christ alone, without the need for good works. It is important to interpret scripture according to the correct times. One cannot take scripture from one dispensation and apply it to another; else you create confusion and false doctrine. Our ‘Mystery’ dispensation ends at the catching up of the Body of Christ to heaven. The scripture you quote is about 7-years later and is part of the ‘Prophecy’ dispensation which does not apply today.

Did you know that Jesus rightly divided the Scriptures? Jesus was a dispensationalist during His earthly ministry, carefully handling Scripture to ensure its validity for His time. Rather than quoting any Scripture, He knew which parts were valid and which were not. For example, verses applicable to His Second Coming could not be forced into His First Coming, as this would be out of context with His current purpose. Psalm 91 and Isaiah 61 were Scripture, but not all of it was to be fulfilled during His First Coming. Jesus understood that it is not enough to be Scriptural; we must also be dispensational.  Those who profess to only follow Jesus in His earthly ministry should therefore take note how He correctly divided the Scriptures, quoting verses in their proper dispensational context. Then, taking this hint, they should conclude that by right division, we follow Paul's doctrine today, as the rest of Scripture, though for our learning, is not for our application today.