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Bible Study: Lutz, Florida
Rightly
Dividing the Word of Truth
2
Timothy 2:15
Is there more than
one gospel in effect today?
Part
XV
The
Covenant Gospel and Paul’s Gospel of Grace
“House Work”
I’ve
been a Bible teacher for many years. During
those years, I’ve taught children, teenagers, and adults. My teaching style remains pretty much the
same as I when I started way back when, but more to the point the reason I
decided to teach hasn’t changed at all.
I intend to teach what this book says and not opinion.
I
have made the following statement in everyone of my classrooms, at every
campfire setting, and wherever I’ve opened my Bible to teach and I’ve repeated it
often,
“This is not about me or about what I say; it
is all about what the Word of God says.”
To
put it another way hopefully this ministry will encourage you to study your
Bible on your own either at home or in a small group of your
choosing.
Do not rely solely
on the preaching or the teaching of others to direct your decision making.
This
is just one of the reasons we have the Bible.
Why not use it?
Case
in Point:
The
Apostle Paul’s teachings were considered a bit eccentric to those who were
hearing them for the first time; they were considered blasphemy by the Jews. Many members of his audience labeled him a heretic.
But
there was a select group of individuals who eagerly listened to Paul message, and
then afterward they took the time to carefully examine the Word of God seeking
the truth. These were the Bereans of
Macedonia during Paul’s first missionary journey.
Paul at Berea
Acts 17
10: The brothers
immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived
they went into the Jewish synagogue.
11: Now these
Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with
all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.
12: Many of
them therefore believed, with not a few Greek women of high standing as well as
men.
I
believe the Spiritual application is obvious, but here is a Scripture verse
that helps.
Hebrews 13
9: Do not be
carried away by varied and strange teachings; for it is good for the heart to
be strengthened by grace,
You
must recognize that the source of the Truth
is the word of God and the word of God alone. And as students of the word, you must verify by
the Word whether the things preached and taught are true.
*****
Paul in Arabia (37 – 41 AD)
The
Apostle Luke wrote the book of Acts.
However,
Luke doesn’t supply any details concerning Paul’s journey into Arabia. Therefore, we are unable to draw any definite
conclusions.
Since
the Bible does not supply answers to the many questions surrounding Paul’s unexplained
absence, or his activities during those three years, this has given rise to
much speculation and opinion concerning this topic.
- Some insist Paul headed into Arabia and began his ministry there to the gentiles, preaching Jesus to them.
- Some believe Paul headed for Mt. Sinai, met with the Lord Jesus Christ, and once there was tutored (over a period of time) by the Lord; it was at this place where he received the revelation of “the mystery.” (Ephesians 3:2)
These
are opinions and cannot be proved on this side of glory.
So
in keeping with the normal practice of this ministry we’ll leave these opinions
right where we found them and move on. But
we have an important instruction written by the Apostle Paul that I draw you
attention to at this time.
Romans 15
4: For whatever was
written in earlier times (What’s Paul referring to? Paul’s speaking of the Old Testament writings. The entire Old Testament) was written for our instruction…, (or for
our learning)
Why
did I take you there?
We
are to use the entire Bible. The Old Testament
was not written to us gentiles, but it certainly applies to us. My last couple of Bible lessons have been primarily
about Moses and the Apostle Paul and the similarities between these two men of
faith.
I’ve
saved the most striking similarity for last and I think it’s the most obvious.
Three
months after God’s servant Moses delivered the Israelites from their bondage in
Egypt he met with the LORD God (Jehovah, the Creator God, a.k.a. Jesus Christ
in the N.T.) on Mt. Sinai. It was there on
God’s holy mountain that the LORD God made a conditional covenant called the
Mosaic Covenant or the Sinai Covenant (either term is correct) with the nation
of Israel (Exodus 19-24).
The
LORD God chose Moses to be the one to receive these commandments and laws.
God commanded Moses to teach them to the
Israelites.
Obey God and Prosper
Deuteronomy 6
1: “Now
this is the commandment, the statutes and the judgments which the LORD your God
has commanded me to teach you, that you might do them in
the land where you are going over to possess it,
2: so that you and
your son and your grandson might fear the LORD your God, to keep all His
statutes and His commandments which I command you, all the days of your life,
and that your days may be prolonged.
3: “O
Israel, you should listen and be careful to do it, that it may be well
with you and that you may multiply greatly, just as the LORD, the God of your
fathers, has promised you, in a land flowing with milk and honey.
The
nation of Israel agreed to do all that the LORD God commanded.
(Exodus
19:7-8)
Point
of Truth: Moses was God’s go-between or
mediator between Himself and the nation of Israel. God spoke to Moses and Moses relayed the
messages to His people.
Exodus 33
11: Thus the LORD
used to speak to Moses face to face, just as a man speaks to his friend.
No
need to diagnose that Bible verse. It
says what it means and means what it says.
Although,
I dare say, there are more than a few, who dare to add their own “interpretation”
to its rather obvious meaning. Be
careful of such people my friends.
Just so you
know. The information you just read came
right from the Word of God.
It was NOT my opinion. I did not manipulate God’s Word.
I just guided you
through the Bible to locate it. This is
what I do.
I suggest you open
your Bible and review these Bible verses on our own. Search God’s Word for the Truth. It’s important. This is also how you are going to learn and this
is how you retain the knowledge you’ve just acquired.
Now
let’s look at the Apostle in comparison.
Paul
went into the wilderness of Arabia in the years 37– 41 AD this much we know.
But
we also know this:
Galatians 3
1: For I would have
you know, (you
may insert your name here – Paul only writes to Believers and here he writes to
the established church in Galatia) brethren,
that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man.
2: For I neither received
it from man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a (what’s the next
word) revelation (= a showing
or revealing of divine will or truth) of
Jesus Christ.
Paul
adds to this explanation. Please drop
down to verse 15.
15: But when God,
who had set me apart even from my mother’s womb and called me through His (what’s the next
word) grace, was pleased
16: to reveal His
Son in me so that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately
consult with flesh and blood (or with men),
17: nor did I go
up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me (here we see Paul
declaring his apostleship and Paul did not receive tutoring from Peter, James,
and John is what Paul is saying about how to proceed with his ministry); but I went away to Arabia, and returned
once more to Damascus (after his 3 year absence).
18: Then three years
later I went up to Jerusalem to become acquainted with Cephas (Peter), and stayed with him fifteen days.
Now
let’s compare Scripture with Scripture.
Ephesians 3
1: For this reason
I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles –
(Paul
wrote the Books of Colossians, Philemon, Ephesians, and Philippians during his
imprisonment in Rome)
2: If indeed you
have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace which was given to me for you;
(read
this verse again and again if necessary until the meaning becomes clear)
3: that by (what) revelation there was made known to me
the (what’s the next word) mystery,
as I wrote before in brief.
4: By referring to
this, when you read you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ,
5: which in
other generations (or times past) was
not made known to the sons of men,
(Search
your Bible – you won’t find a hint of the things Paul teaches in his writings in
the O. T; not even in Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John. In fact, if you remove the letters of Paul
from your Bible, the Church-Age Doctrines disappear)…
Where
and when Paul received this revelation from the risen Lord Jesus Christ is unknown
to us. We do know Paul received the
revelation of the mystery of grace after he escaped from Damascus (Acts 9:25)
and before he came to Jerusalem (Acts 9:26).
A
lot can happen in three years time.
Just
for perspective sake, Paul could have received this information in a split
second at any given moment in time. How
many of you are familiar with this Bible verse?
Luke
1
37: “For
nothing will be impossible with God.”
I’m not saying this is what happened to
Paul, but who’s to say?
The Bible doesn’t tell us everything we
want to know.
But the Bible tells us everything we need
to know. Amen.
The rest is left to faith. And that my friend stands to reason.
For the Bible teaches us this Truth:
Hebrews
11
6:
And without faith, it is impossible to please Him (God), for he (or she) who comes to God must (what’s the next word folks) believe that He is and that is a rewarder of those who (do what) seek Him.
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GJ Heitzman’s Ministry
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