Part 1 of 16: Introduction to Rightly Dividing The Word Of God

1 Corinthians 10:32
"Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God."

 

In this 16-Part study we'll be doing get both a macro and a micro view of the Bible.  What a huge difference it makes in understanding the Bible when you get a clear view of the big picture.  So let's begin.

In all His dealings with man down through history, in the present and into the future, He is working or dealing with one of these three groups:  The Jews, the Gentiles or the Church.  It's important to know with whom He is dealing or working at any one time because it better illuminates what you are reading.  You can even tell where we are on His prophetic, or kairos, timeline.  

The Jewish people, as you know, sprang from Abraham while Gentiles are non-Jewish UNbelievers.  The Church, however, is made up of both groups who are now neither Jew nor Gentile but an entirely new creation:  SONS!

What does the phrase "rightly divide" mean?  I always though that you are to have an accurate understanding what you were reading.  While that is certainly true, it is an iincomplete understanding.  What Paul meant by "rightly dividing" is this:  

The Holy Spirit has actually "divided" up the Word of God into sections by covenants He has made with whatever group of people He is working or dealing at any one time.  It is critical to understand this.  It will help you to determine the proper context of whatever passage you are studying because, as you will see, CONTEXT IS KING.

For example:  When Israel was finally entering the Promised land, it was inhabited by Giants.  These people were not fully human but demon/human after-flood hybrids.  At that time, it was quite appropriate to pray that they have good success killing every man, woman and child.  You see, it was the devil's plan to pollute the human race with his "hybrids" so he could prevent the virgin birth.  We don't pray that kind of prayer today because there are no more Anakim or Rephaim.  But it was certainly appropriate to pray that in those days.  

(For more on this topic, follow this link:  http://emmausrevelations.blogspot.com/2015/01/as-it-was-in-days-of-noah.html)

Here are a couple of other things to keep in mind when determining CONTEXT:  TO WHOM or OF WHOM is a particular passage written TO or speaking OF.  Don't be like some Christians and put yourself everywhere, thinking that the entire Bible is written or applies TO believers.  The curses of Deuteronomy, for example, absolutely DO NOT apply to the Church.  Remember the phrase, “no more condemnation?"  That means NO MORE CURSE.  They no longer apply to you.

Some parts are written to both unsaved Jews and Jewish believers.  Other portions are addressing the Gentiles (unsaved non-Jews) and some are written to the non-Jewish Church, though there are lessons to be learned and benefits to be gained from all of scripture.

Many well-meaning pastors and theologians miss it right here because they do not know how to rightly divide the word.  It is the #1 factor that leads to misunderstandings, misinterpretations, misapplication and wrong doctrines.  It inevitably has the effect of bringing believers back under bondage to the law.  

WE DON'T NEED ANY OF THAT.

So; with all that in mind, let's begin with a panoramic overview of the Bible in Part 2 of Rightly Dividing The Word Of God.  Please follow the link below if you wish to continue:

http://emmausrevelations.blogspot.com/2014/11/part-2-rightly-dividing-word-of-godof.html