In a previous study I mentioned the importance of being established in sound grace doctrine in the book of Romans, and that we are to rightly divide the scriptures. Rightly Divided Bible Study is essential to understanding the scriptures. I will be doing a more thorough study series regarding Rightly Divided Bible Study but let's briefly look at some verses:
2 Timothy 2:15 KJV
Study [we are to study God's word, not just read it occasionally, but to really study it out verse by verse] to shew thyself approved unto God [being approved unto God means that we are functioning in the way that God wants believers to function, and that can only be accomplished by getting sound grace doctrine in our inner man, believing it and obeying it; we also want to earn rewards for the heavenly places], a workman that needeth not to be ashamed [many believers will be ashamed at the judgment seat of Christ in heaven because they did not rightly divide and some even refused to rightly divide and they were thus not allowing Christ and His word to work in and through them effectually], rightly dividing the word of truth [we are to divide truth from truth; Israel's truth in the prophetic scriptures written specifically to them, and our truth for the church the Body of Christ in the dispensation of grace in Paul's Epistles of Romans through Philemon].
The divisions in the Bible are explained clearly by Paul.
✝️Time Past (prophecy) | Genesis to Early Acts. In times past God was dealing primarily with Israel. Gentiles had been put aside after the tower of Babel when they were not thankful to God, did not glorify God and did not like to retain God in their knowledge (see Romans chapter 1). He would then later form the nation of Israel, to be a peculiar people unto himself and they would be used to reconcile the earth unto Himself (in the ages to come). The Lord Jesus Christ would also be born as a Jewish man (he is both fully God and fully man); born of a virgin, would suffer and die for the sins of Israel (and for our sins too!), etc as prophesied throughout the books of Genesis through Malachi. It was even understood that gentiles could also be saved by going through Israel. However, it was NOT known nor ever prophesied that their would be a mystery dispensation (our current dispensation of grace), that Jew and Gentile would be on equal footing, that people would be saved by grace through faith FREELY without works of faith for salvation, and other mysteries that Paul speaks about regarding our mystery program. These things were kept HID in God until it was first revealed to our Apostle Paul.
Ephesians says that in times past the Gentiles were without God in the world.
Ephesians 2
11 Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; 12 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:
You can go through Paul's Epistles and look for his mentioning of "times past" to learn more.
✝️But Now (mystery) | Romans through Philemon. Acts is a transitional book. The "but now" that Paul speaks about deals with our current mystery dispensation. Ephesians 2:13-17 says,
But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. 14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; 15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; 16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: 17 And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh."
It is in Paul's writings alone that we find the doctrine, position, walk and destiny of the Body of Christ. While all Scripture is for us, all Scripture is not written to or about us. This is the key to understanding the Bible.
You can go through Paul's Epistles and look for his mentioning of "but now" to learn more.
✝️Ages to Come (prophecy) | Hebrews through Revelation. The ages to come includes the continuation (God will pick up where He left off with Israel after the church the Body of Christ is raptured out) of God's prophetic program with Israel. This will include the 7 year tribulation on the earth, the millennial reign of Christ on the earth, the resurrection of the saints in Israel's program, the judgment of the nations, the great white throne judgement of unbelievers, etc. But the ages to come also includes information for us in that we will be in the heavenly places after the rapture and we will be part of the dispensation of the fulness of times etc. Ephesians 2:7 says
That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
You can go through Paul's Epistles and look for his mentioning of "ages to come" to learn more.
✝️Building the House (the spiritual, godly edification process).
As we learn to rightly divide the scriptures and are established in foundational doctrines in Romans, then we can continue to "build the house" which is the godly edification process in the books of Romans through Philemon (it's really God and His word rightly divided that builds the house of edification in us, but we have to be willing to study). Today God is building, or forming, the church the body of Christ. Each individual believer is also to build sound grace doctrine in their inner man (Christ and His word being formed in us). Paul is the masterbuilder who laid his foundation on top of Christ, "according to the revelation of the mystery".
1 Corinthians 3:10
“According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.”
You can study the words "build", "built" "building", "edify" and "edification" in Paul's Epistles to learn more about this.
✝️Studying The Whole Bible
2 Tim. 3:16 says,
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for DOCTRINE, for REPROOF, for CORRECTION, for INSTRUCTION IN RIGHTEOUSNESS.
As we grow in understanding God's word rightly divided, we can also study other books in the Bible outside of Paul's Epistles with the understanding that it is for our learning, but not written specifically to us.
✝️As we learn to rightly divide, there are other important Bible study techniques to learn and incorporate into our personal Bible study time.
For one, ask yourself these questions when studying scripture.
• WHO is speaking and to whom?
• WHAT are they speaking about?
• WHEN are they speaking about?
• WHERE, and in which context?
• WHY are they speaking about it?
• Does it apply to me?
There are many other Bible study techniques that you can learn and incorporate into your own personal Bible study time. My friend and sister in Christ Deborah Johnson has a book about Bible study techniques called "Exploring the Bible Using Study Tools” that you could purchase from Amazon or download the free version on her website at http://christianlifecoachsupport.squarespace.com/classes
✝️Believing God's word so that Christ can live in and through you.
The most important thing to Bible study is to decide that you are actually going to believe it. You can't yeild to doing God's will if you don't believe what you are learning! As you learn, you can choose to believe and as you believe it, you can choose to obey it. This allows Christ and His word to live in and through you as a believer. This is profitable to God and is godly living. This also will lead to rewards in heaven.
✝️ Other Helpful things
There are other helpful ways to study scripture, but these should come as secondary study options. Your primary study time should be you just reading and studying scripture on your own (remember, the Holy Ghost teaches us as we study). Additional techniques can include reading grace commentaries and devotionals, attending group Bible study, church services and watching or listening to Bible studies by grace preachers and grace Bible study teachers. Always make sure to watch, read and listen to Bible study teachers and preachers who are "Midacts Pauline Grace Rightly Divided KJV only." These are the people who preach The Lord Jesus Christ according to the revelation of the mystery. When we listen to those who aren't, we put ourselves at spiritual risk of being swayed away from sound grace doctrine.
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