WHEN IS DIVISION GOOD?: PART EIGHT

To summarize, in order to correctly understand God's Word, one must recognize where a particular verse or passage fits in the context of the overall Scriptures. 2 Timothy 2:15 tells the believer to "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. In other words, there are natural divisions in Scripture, such as the seven dispensations, the five judgments, the two resurrections, etc., and if the student does not recognize what God is saying, and to whom He is saying it, the result is error. The context of 2 Timothy 2:15 is clear if one reads the next three verses:

"But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness. And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus; who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some" (2 Tim. 2:16-18).

In order for believers to protect themselves from worthless teachings (vain babblings), and from false doctrine being taught by teachers within the Church, they need to faithfully compare what is being taught with where it fits within the divisions of God's Word. The Apostle Paul commended those at Berea because they "received the Word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily," to see if what he was teaching matched the Word (Acts 17:11). Remember, every cult claiming to follow Christ misuses the Bible to support their error.

So, I ask you, did God tell Enoch to avoid the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil? Did He say to Abraham, "you must keep the Ten Commandments?" Did God tell Jeremiah to build an Ark? Were some of the animals, named by Adam, carnivorous? Was Melchizedek part of the Levitical priesthood? Was David the Messiah? Will born again believers be judged for their sins? Must members of the Body of Christ avoid pork and worship on the Sabbath?

The answer to these questions is NO! Enoch never saw the tree. The Commandments had not yet been given during Abraham's lifetime. God told Noah there would never be a need for another Ark, and the animals were herbivores until after the Ark landed. Melchizedek lived long before the tribe of Levi existed. Jesus is Israel's Messiah. Because we believe, our sins were judged on the cross, and we will be rewarded for our works at the Judgment Seat of Christ. Members of the Church can eat whatever we choose, and we have worshiped on the first day of the week from the birth of the Church, at Pentecost, a Sunday.

Praise the Lord, but also be sure to study His Word; He wants praise to be from faithful students. Tomorrow, Lord willing, I will address another kind of division that is necessary.