Watch
how Paul defined the word of truth
that he preached: “The gospel (the good news) of
your salvation.”
Ephesians
1:13
In whom ye also
trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation:
in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of
promise,
James
has a “good news” of salvation called the word of truth for Israel.
James 1:18
Of his own will begat
he us with the word of truth, that we [little
flock of Jewish Kingdom saints] should
be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
Paul
has a “good news” of salvation for the gentiles in the dispensation of grace called
“the gospel of the grace of God.”
Acts 20:24
But none of these
things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might
finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord
Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.
There
are two "words of truth" that are “good news” for two groups of people. That is why Paul says to rightly divide the
word of truth.
2 Timothy
2:15
Study to shew thyself
approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly
dividing the word of truth.
All
of God’s word is the word of truth.
There is prophecy truth and mystery truth.
2 Peter
1:19
We have also a more
sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a
light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise
in your hearts:
Ephesians
3:9
And to make all men see
what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the
world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:
You
have to rightly divide the word because even in the grace dispensation there
are some who take this present truth
and apply it to time past and the ages to come.
Hebrews
1:1
God, who at sundry
times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the
prophets,
Ephesians
2:7
That in the ages to
come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward
us through Christ Jesus.
The
issue is justification unto eternal life.
Romans
5:18
Therefore as by the offence
of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness
of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.
They
are saying that everyone from Genesis thru Revelation is justified the same way
before God – by faith alone. That is not
true.
James 2:24
Ye see then how that
by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
A
cursory reading of scripture before Paul and after Paul shows that it is by God’s
grace. (He is always gracious – even
with the blood sacrifice with Adam and Eve was grace.)
Genesis
3:21
Unto Adam also and to
his wife did the Lord God make
coats of skins, and clothed them.
He
should have sent them to hell that moment, but he gave them an opportunity by
giving them the blood offering.
Genesis
2:17
But of the tree of the
knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that
thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.
So
they had to keep offering the blood [works].
Genesis
4:4
And Abel, he also
brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the Lord had respect unto Abel and to his
offering:
Hebrews
says that because of Christ’s sacrifice, there is no longer a need for an offering
blood. He did it once for all on the
cross.
Hebrews
10:10-12
By the which will we
are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. And every priest standeth daily ministering
and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away
sins: But this man, after he had offered
one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;
But
before that, animal sacrifices were required under the Law.
Deuteronomy
12:27
And thou shalt offer
thy burnt offerings, the flesh and the blood, upon the altar of the Lord thy God: and the blood of thy
sacrifices shall be poured out upon the altar of the Lord thy God, and thou shalt eat the flesh.
If
they didn’t offer the blood continually, they could be cut off.
Numbers
9:13
But the man that is
clean, and is not in a journey, and forbeareth to keep the passover, even the
same soul shall be cut off from among his people: because he brought not
the offering of the Lord in his
appointed season, that man shall bear his sin.
When
the bible uses “cut off” in the books
about and for the prophetic program, it means that God would treat them just
like a gentile who had no hope.
Ephesians
2:12
That at that time ye [gentiles] were
without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and
strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God
in the world:
So
back in time past they had God’s grace through their faith plus their works. The only dispensation that does not
include works in order to have justification unto eternal life is the
dispensation of grace.
Ephesians
3:2
If ye have heard of the
dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:
That
is why it’s called grace. It’s grace
because you don’t need to work for it.
Ephesians
2:8-9
For by grace are ye
saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of
God: Not of works, lest any man should
boast.
But
requiring works is not grace; it’s law.
Romans
11:6
And if by grace, then
is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be
of works, then it is no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.
Galatians
2:16
Knowing that a man is not
justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even
we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of
Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no
flesh be justified.
That
is important, because even among grace preachers, some believe that people have
always been justified by faith alone.
That is not true.
Leviticus 4:26
And he shall burn all
his fat upon the altar, as the fat of the sacrifice of peace offerings: and the
priest shall make an atonement for him as concerning his sin, and it shall
be forgiven him.
You
need to rightly divide the word of truth.
That is important because in the book of Acts there are some things that
God is doing in his dealings with Israel, and there are things that he is
writing to Israel that are in line with their works-based acceptance.
Acts 2:38
Then Peter said unto
them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus
Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the
Holy Ghost.
We
today are not under that system.
Colossians
1:5-6
For the hope which is
laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth
of the gospel; Which is come unto you, as it is in all
the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye
heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth:
Romans
6:14
For sin shall not have
dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
Hopefully this helps...Maranatha!
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Click
here for the complete message: 40 Survey of Acts mp3
Click
here for the audio excerpt Word of Truth: Paul
vs. James
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