God’s Purpose For Studying His Word - Part 6
2 Timothy 2:15
“15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”
2 Peter 3:15, 16
“15 And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;
16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.”
God is telling us that we will not have any excuse if we choose to twist His Word. There are things in the Bible that are hard to be understood. There are some things we do not presently have full understanding of. Some of those things are the symbolism found in the book of Revelation. We can study these things, but we must also understand that we need to guard against trying to make the Word of God say something we want It to say, rather than allow God to be God.
Rightly Dividing the Word of Truth
We need to be rightly dividing the word of truth. There is a need to understand who is being spoken to and who is doing the speaking. There are parts of the Bible that have direct reference to the nation of Israel. There are promises and commands given to the nation of Israel that are not directed to the churches. There is a false theology being used in our world known as Reconstructionism. Reconstructionism is the false idea that the church has taken over the promises that God made to Israel because Israel failed to believe in God. The Bible does not support that view. As an example, the Sabbath was given to the nation of Israel. That is clear from Exodus 20:8-11; 31:12-17; Nehemiah 9:14 and elsewhere. The Seventh Day Adventists have twisted this command and determined that it is necessary for those who are true believers in God today to keep the Sabbath. Seventh Day Adventism is a cult that teaches heresy.
Some professing Christians want to support drinking of alcoholic beverages. They suggest that what is important is to drink in moderation. They even try to use Jesus first miracle as recorded in John 2 as support for alcoholic drink. The key to understanding that miracle is found in John 2:11 where we read:
John 2:11
“11 This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him.”
Jesus manifested forth his glory with this miracle; and his disciples believed on him.
Habakkuk 2:15
“15 Woe unto him that giveth his neighbour drink, that puttest thy bottle to him, and makest him drunken also, that thou mayest look on their nakedness!”