2 Timothy 2:15 is considered a foundational verse of scripture to us, God’s spiritual body, the church (Greek:ekklesia-meaning assembly): Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. Rightly dividing the word is a key standard of practice toward attaining truth. Pontius Pilot asked of Jesus “What is truth?” The universal question still asked today.
In my years, I have found that most people fall into 1 of 5 categories when it comes to the truth.
- They don’t believe it’s available.
- They don’t want to know even if it is available.
- A skeptical veil blinds them unable to hear or believe.
- There are many ways and no One absolute truth.
- They are truly seeking and want to believe.
When someone tells me “I don’t believe the Bible,” I respond, “I know, the Bible wasn’t written for you, the unbeliever, it is written for those who want to know and believe.”
To the end we rightly divide the word, we have truth. When wrongly divided we have error. Most error looks and feels like a contradiction, but if practiced long enough and taught as truth over and over, it becomes acceptable religion. There is contradiction in error and religion but truth has no contradiction. All apparent contradiction in understanding the Scriptures is usually in translation, in the context, or how it was used originally before. Otherwise, it may be just our understanding. Lastly, and most importantly, it is necessary to rightly dividing the periods of ages and administrations to whom the Scripture is addressed. Also, God uses what I call ‘checks and balances’ to confirm or verify elsewhere in the Scripture the identical topic, word usage, or cross reference regarding the subject matter. You will come to love cross referencing as a major tool for illuminating God’s word. However, we must be particularly aware of man-made cross references compared to the one’s the spirit of truth reveals to us.[1]
Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God, which is given to me for you, to fulfil[2] the word of God. Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints. Colossians 1:25-26. Here we are concerned with rightly dividing the periods of time known as ages, generations or administrations. The word dispensation is the Greek word oikonomia, meaning administration. This period to which you and I live according to Scripture, is the church administration, or the New Age of Grace, and as Paul reveals, it’s the age of the Mystery, which he made manifest and understood to the saints, the born-again believers of the church age, all that is revealed and written to us. The main topic of this book, is that which is addressed to us.
Too often people think the entire Bible is addressed to them, but that is not the case. Take for instance Deuteronomy 6:25: And it shall be our righteousness, if we observe to do all these commandments before the Lord our God, as he hath commanded us. Now compare with Romans in the new testament: Therefore, by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference. 3:20-22. If you do not rightly divide the administration period under the law compared to that which is written to us, then you have an apparent contradiction. We are no longer under the law. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believes. Romans 10:4. Romans is written to us, and thank God that righteousness is freely given to us spiritually and not something we work for, because of what Christ accomplished for us.
We must look to see when a letter arrives to whom it is addressed. So, it is when it comes to the word of God. That part which is addressed to us must be applied to us. All the Scripture which does not have our name on it, which is not addressed to us, is for our learning.
How many groups of people can different segments of the word be addressed to? Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God. I Corinthians 10:32.
God lists Judean, Gentile, the Church of God as the 3 categories of people. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. Galatians 3:28. When one becomes born again of God’s spirit then then they are of the Church of God, the spiritual body, and should apply that which is addressed to the church. Unless one understands to whom a passage or a book or section is written, he will never be able to rightly divide the Word of Truth.[3]
The day of Pentecost is recognized as the birth of the church, the beginning of this period. We shall establish that from the word clearly and precisely as we go. For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope. Romans 15:4. That which was written before Pentecost is not addressed to us but for our learning. Now all these things happened unto them for examples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world (age) are come. I Corinthians 10:11. All Scripture before Pentecost is not addressed to us but is for our learning. No one could be born again before Pentecost. This is why the Word says in 1 Corinthians 10:11, that all Scripture before Pentecost is an admonition (advice or counsel) to those of us who belong to the Church of God.
So, is the law in the Old Testament addressed to us? It’s before the Church of God period came, so it’s addressed to the Jew or gentile. Yes, even the Ten Commandments are not written to us, but we can learn from them. Yet many Protestant churches teach as if the Ten Commandments and the Old Testament were specifically to us rather than for our learning. It is especially well to learn the prophecies which foretold of the coming Messiah, but we are not to live under the law or legalism.
Understanding the Old Testament is not addressed to us is reasonably easy to understand. What about the Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Like and John? Are they written to us? To a period before or after Pentecost? Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of (to) the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers. Romans 15:8. Christ came unto his own, the Jews. We are not a member of the circumcision. But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Matthew 15:24. Jesus Christ came to fulfill the law and present himself as the Messiah of Israel. From his birth, ministry, death and resurrection, he fulfilled that which was written and required of him. Had the Gospels been placed at the end of the Old Testament, it would’ve saved a lot of confusion and false teaching regarding the Church of God, which really starts with the book of Romans, the book of Acts being the transition period.
The Gospel period is still under the law but the authority of Jesus Christ. His birth, death and resurrection signified another period or administration, but not yet the Church Age to which you and I belong. Take for instance his words: And Jesus said unto him, no man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God. It is easier for a camel[4] to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire. (Luke 9:62; Mark 10:25; 9:27). Doesn’t sound like much Grace here. Jesus took the law to the extreme in order to show it could not be done by man and that a better way was coming. Yet to this day, pastors quote these verses as if addressed to us, causing conflict and guilt, ignoring the Grace of the Epistles addressed To Us! To them, salvation is an ongoing process of works or grace under a condition, all because they do not rightly divide the word or administrations.
After John the Baptist was killed, Jesus preached the coming of Kingdom of God, that one must be born again of the spirit to enter the Kingdom of God and that holy spirit was to come upon them after his ascension. These messages were the beginnings of the glimpse into the age of The Great Mystery that was to come. Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God. And saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.” Mark 1:14-15. And he said unto them, I must preach the kingdom of God to other cities also: for therefore am I sent. And he preached in the synagogues of Galilee. Luke 4:43-44. Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. John 3:5-6. Then after his resurrection he instructed his Apostles “speaking of the things pertaining to the Kingdom of God. “And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized in holy spirit (no article the and not capitalized in the text). not many days hence. Acts 1:4-5. It’s obvious something wonderful is about to happen.
Jesus stated earlier in the gospels that unless I go unto the Father (am glorified), you cannot receive the comforter, or the holy spirit. So, ten days after his ascension the miraculous happened. And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with holy spirit (no article the, not capitalized in the text), and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit[5] gave them utterance. Acts 2:1-4. This is considered the outpouring of the holy spirit, the new birth Jesus spoke of, and the birth of the Church, the exact beginning of a New Administration, a New Age.
Was this the Kingdom of God which Jesus preached was coming? After all, he said it was near. The following verses confirm that the same generation he preached the coming of the Kingdom of God would be present to witness and experience it. Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom. And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That there be some of them that stand here, which shall not taste of death, till they have seen the kingdom of God come with power. But I tell you of a truth, there be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the kingdom of God. Matthew 16;28; Mark 9:1; Luke 9;27. Did the Kingdom of God come with power? It most assuredly did. Was it now available to be born again of the spirit? Yes, which means we can enter the Kingdom of God! The Kingdom of God came on the Day of Pentecost. If not, then why are we never taught again “The Kingdom of God is coming?” This is why we are not under the “Gospel of the Gospels,” for in that period the Kingdom of God had not yet come.
What about the Lord’s Prayer? Is it addressed to those before or after the Day of Pentecost. Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name, Thy Kingdom come– we cannot pray or ask for this now, His Kingdom has already come! Give us this day our daily bread– now we just thank him for already having given us our food for it says to the church “my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory.” And forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us- this cannot apply to us as our forgiveness is no longer dependent on us forgiving others. Another glaring reason to not be put under the confines of the period of the Gospels: For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. Matthew 6:14. Our forgiveness is not upon a condition but by Grace from the cross and the new birth! To deliver us from evil -has already been accomplished in Colossians 1:13…delivered (past tense) us from the power of darkness. Thank God and His Son Jesus Christ that we are redeemed from the Law of the Old Testament and the Gospels.
Why would our Gospel be the Gospel of the Kingdom of God to Come when it has already come? So, what is Our Gospel? This will be explained in detail in Chapter 10: Our Gospel. For right now just know that before the coming of the Kingdom of God 2,000 years ago, there was no way to access or enter the spiritual realm. God or angels had to materialize in different forms. For the first time the spiritual dimension was opened to all mankind. To become spiritual beings in a spiritual Kingdom. To preach that the Kingdom of God is still future leaves one stuck in the dark ages. For God sees us as already seated in the heavenly or spiritual realms – And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus and that our citizenship is in heaven, the spiritual Kingdom as spiritual beings – But our citizenship is in heaven, and from where we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. (Ephesians 2:6; Phil 3:20 ESV). Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and has (past tense) translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son. Colossians 1:13. To be translated is transmitted us- a transfer of energy from one vibration to another; from one dimension to another- like a beam or a shaft of light materialized out of darkness. To the Kingdom of His Dear Son- Yes, the Kingdom of God has come and that is the Age to which you and I belong. That is what is addressed to us- all the spiritual truths, power and benefits we have NOW is contained in The Great Mystery that was revealed unto the Apostle Paul in the Church Epistles addressed to US! For my reward, The Gospel of this glorious administration (stewardship of this sacred secret) has been given to me. I Corinthian 9:17.
[1] We will be learning how to decipher Scripture by the spirit of truth as one of our major guides of 4D enlightenment. This will give you a major advantage in understanding the underlying synopsis by magnifying the words to your mind’s spiritual eye.
[2] Without a knowledge of The Mystery, the word of God is unfulfilled. misunderstood, and incomplete. From the Greek to perfectly supply.
[3] Romans, I and 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 and 2 Thessalonians, Timothy, Titus, Philemon are addressed specifically to the church. Hebrews and James were addressed to those saved but still zealous for the law. James 1:1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting. People who were saved still seemed to want to be under the law again. Just as they are today. Acts 21:20 And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord, and said unto him, Thou see, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are which believe; and they are all zealous of the law. The Book of Revelations is post Church Age and will be discussed later, but is not written to the church of grace.
[4] It is the word “rope” in Aramaic.” A camel has nothing to do with threading a needle. Rope is compared to thread here in context.
[5] Here the word for Spirit (pneuma) is properly with a capital S as it refers to God who gave them the utterance or words they spoke.