 |  |
case of blessing "the Church" is intruded. We will not waste time tabulating error
however; let us seek the "Word of truth".
We have already seen that all Scripture is inspired, but that all Scripture does not
speak (1) to the same people, (2) at the same time, and (3) with the same message.
All Scripture is FOR us, but all Scripture is not ABOUT us. To discover that part of
Scripture which is FOR us, ABOUT us, and TO us we must "rightly divide the Word of
truth". The people addressed in the Bible are divided into three companies, "The Jews,
the Gentiles, and the Church of God" (I Cor. 10: 32). Whenever you open your Bible
therefore, seek at once to discover which of these three classes is addressed.
A.--How can I do this? It seems that I should have to conduct a very careful enquiry
involving much time and ability. Cannot I take the Bible at its face value to mean just
what it says?
B.--If only you would, your difficulties would vanish. I would say to you, "Read the
envelope before you read the letter".
A.--Explain your meaning.
B.--Well, look at the envelope of Isaiah's prophecy (chapter 1:, verse 1) and tell me
whether it is addressed to Jew, Gentile or Church.
A.--(Turns to the passage). It says that it is concerning "Judah and Jerusalem".
B.--Well, that answers the question for you there easily enough. Accept it as "meaning
just what it says". Now look at the "envelope" of James' epistle.
A.--(Turning to the epistle). It is addressed to "The Twelve Tribes which are scattered
abroad".
B.--Again you have your answer, and you will find that somewhere in every book of the
Bible, there will be these identifying marks, enabling you to "rightly divide" the word off
as belonging either to Jew, Gentile or Church of God.
A.--Is there any other important way in which the Word should be "rightly divided".
B.--Yes. Time periods enter in very largely. For example, Matt. 10: 5, 6 says:--
"Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not:
but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel."
If this passage is not to be divided at all, as some would affirm, there never should
have been a single Gentile saved, or even evangelized. Further, if we do not rightly
divide the Word, we shall have Christ contradicting Himself, saying in chapter 10: "GO
NOT", and in 28: "GO YE".