Lesson 12-16 Orlando Shootings – What Is the Cause?

Our number one desire for these Bible lessons are for them to be understandable, defendable, and for the Holy Spirit to bear witness that the conclusions are the true, and correct interpretation of the Holy Scriptures.

Guidelines for our Bible studies on this website:

1.  We treat the living words of the living God as spoken by the Lord Jesus and given to the Apostle Paul for the Body of Christ the same importance, as the words of the Lord Jesus recorded in red letters in the books of Matthew – Acts Chp. 8, as what should be known as the instructions to the nation Israel.      
2. We will not be wresting the scriptures against each other, we will look at the verses in their context, and will not try to make the scriptures say anything, but what they say.
3. We will be using the verses out of the Authorized Version, commonly known as the KJV. It is fine if you want to look the verses up in other translations if you like, but we will consider the Authorized Version as our final written authority.
4. We do not and will not use the Greek, Hebrew, Aramaic, or Latin languages to prove any points, or give any indication that the Authorized Version has been incorrectly translated. 

First let me say the tragic event that took place in Orlando on June 12, 2016 was both an act of terrorism and a hate crime.

The direct cause of the event in Orlando was no different from the mass murder/suicide of individuals in 1978 after they joined the Peoples Temple of the Disciples of Christ.

It is the result of a false religion, and it does not matter whether it is one derived from Judaism or Christianity, which teaches false ideals and principles to anyone who will follow and support their cause. The end result is always the same, people hurt, killed, and robbed of any true hope!

Now I am a firm believer that the living words of the living God are simple to understand! The problem most people, believers and unbelievers, have is not with being able to understand the words of the living God, but which verses or part of the Bible applies to them today.

It might surprise you but the killings in Orlando are a direct result of individuals not knowing what scriptures apply to people living in the Year of Our Lord 2016.

This is and always will be a problem as long as people are following the wrong scriptures , whether it is verses out of the Quran/Koran, or verses out of the Old Testament in the Bible, that do not apply to this current time period.

The Quran/Koran, which is the equivalent of the Bible for Muslims, was written between 609-632 AD.

The Islamic faith has only been around since that time period, and as such is younger than Judaism and Christianity.

Islam is considered to be an Abrahamic religion along with Judaism, and Christianity since it claims Abraham as it’s father. It adheres to a religious text that parallels many of the Old Testament Laws.

Muslims do not believe Jesus Christ was holy, or that he was God manifest in the flesh.

The Islamic faith like Judaism rejects the New Testament, and as such the teachings of Jesus Christ as given to the apostle Paul for the believers of this dispensation.

Also extreme prejudice remains, both socially and legally, in much of the Islamic world against people who engage in homosexual acts. In Afghanistan, Brunei, Iran, Mauritania, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, United Arab Emirates and Yemen, homosexual activity carries the death penalty, so it is no surprise that the followers of Islam wouldn’t think it was wrong to kill homosexuals.

This attitude comes from verses in the Quran that speak against homosexuality and support the death penalty. 

Christians and Jews who adhere to the Old Testament also hold similar views.

Now let’s take a look at another dark time in the United States when the Salem Witch Trials were taking place.

The Salem Witch Trials are a good example and demonstration of what happens when religious people fail to understand which parts of the Bible apply to them, and the correct time period in history to which the verses apply.

The Salem Witch Trials were a series of hearings and prosecutions of people accused of witchcraft in colonial Massachusetts between February 1692 and May 1693. The trials resulted in the executions of twenty people, fourteen of them women, and all but one by hanging.

Now the culprits of the Salem witch trials were a group of Calvinist, or today they like to be referred to as Christians of “Reformed Theology”, no matter which name you call it, Reformed Theology or Calvinism, it is one in the same.

Now how did they arrive at the death penalty for being a witch, they simply used the Bible. “Exodus 22 [18] Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live.”

They took one Old Testament verse, and decided to enforce it. The sad part is the Old Testament was written to the Jews, and were laws for the Jews. They were not, and are not, for Christians living in the dispensation of Grace.

When you take Bible verses that do not apply to Christians living today and enforce them, this is the kind of results that you get.

Now let’s look at a few more Bible verses from the Old Testament to give you more food for thought.

Deuteronomy 21 [18] If a man have a stubborn and rebellious son, which will not obey the voice of his father, or the voice of his mother, and that, when they have chastened him, will not hearken unto them: [19] Then shall his father and his mother lay hold on him, and bring him out unto the elders of his city, and unto the gate of his place; [20] And they shall say unto the elders of his city, This our son is stubborn and rebellious, he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton, and a drunkard. [21] And all the men of his city shall stone him with stones, that he die: so shalt thou put evil away from among you; and all Israel shall hear, and fear.

If my mom and dad had been a follower of the Old Testament laws out of the Bible, I have to tell you that I would not be sharing these Bible lessons with you today. I would have met my fate with the elders of the city and would have been stoned to death, glad my mom and dad knew we were not under those Old Testament laws.

Here are some more for your discernment.

Leviticus 20 [8] And ye shall keep my statutes, and do them: I am the LORD which sanctify you.

[9] For every one that curseth his father or his mother shall be surely put to death: he hath cursed his father or his mother; his blood shall be upon him.

[10] And the man that committeth adultery with another man's wife, even he that committeth adultery with his neighbour's wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death.

[11] And the man that lieth with his father's wife hath uncovered his father's nakedness: both of them shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.

[12] And if a man lie with his daughter in law, both of them shall surely be put to death: they have wrought confusion; their blood shall be upon them.

[13] If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.

[14] And if a man take a wife and her mother, it is wickedness: they shall be burnt with fire, both he and they; that there be no wickedness among you.

[15] And if a man lie with a beast, he shall surely be put to death: and ye shall slay the beast.

[16] And if a woman approach unto any beast, and lie down thereto, thou shalt kill the woman, and the beast: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.

I believe if you are still with me at this time, you surely realize that if Christians are going to follow all the laws in the whole Bible, it’s going to be a brutal place to live.

Now most Christians will tell you that not all of those things apply but some of them, actually there is nowhere in the Bible from Acts Chapter 9 and backwards to Genesis Chapter 1, that the Jews or anyone else were ever told that they did not have to keep all of those Laws. 

Jesus speaking in Matt. 5 [17] Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. [18] For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. [19] Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

Jesus was a law keeper and taught nothing in the first four books of the New Testament but the Law, and that the Law was to be kept! Stay with me and I will get to the point of this lesson.

Exodus 31 [15] Six days may work be done; but in the seventh is the sabbath of rest, holy to the LORD: whosoever doeth any work in the sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death.

Now in the verse above we see that if a man worked on the sabbath day or seventh day of the week he was to be put to death. I bet a lot of people reading this have worked on the sabbath day and if you are wondering what day that is, it is Saturday. If you don’t believe me ask any Jew, or Seventh Day Adventist, or Seventh Day Baptist, or Seventh Day Church of God and they will confirm it for you.

As we see more and more people adopt Reformed Theology or Calvinism, we will see more and more people revert back to trying to observe or keep the Old Testament Laws.

Leviticus 20 [13] If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.

Now back to the Orlando incident and root cause, we have a multitude of people that go and take a verse like the one above out of the Bible, and use it to justify their hatred of a certain group of people.

For Christians living in the dispensation of grace, we can rest easy in our confidence that Paul did not encourage such destructive behavior for any human, believers or otherwise.

I wonder why the people who want to enforce the Old Testament laws on people only pick a few of them to enforce?  James said if you keep the whole law yet offend in one point you are guilty of all, in other words you deserve the death penalty.

James 2 [8] If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well: [9] But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors. [10] For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.

Now let’s bring this lesson to a final conclusion.

The Bible is a record of God’s interaction with men and mankind. It only includes enough information for us to come to know the Living God who revealed himself to mankind as the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus is not only the God of the Old Testament, but the God of the New Testament.

The Bible does not contain a record of everything God has done in eternity past. It is a brief summary of some of his dealings with man.

John.20 [28] And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. [29] Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed. [30] And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: [31] But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.

John.21 [25] And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen.

I had group come to my house the other day passing out literature about their understanding of the Bible, and what they believe.

I accepted and read it because I like to know what others believe, this helps me to be able to share with others the truth of God’s Holy Word. 

You see I don’t believe everyone can be teaching so many different things, and everyone be right. I believe there is a right way and wrong way to discern the Bible.

If you read the Bible and claim any and every verse as your verses, you will forever be trapped in Bible ignorance.

You can do this same thing with any novel. Get a copy of Gone with the Wind, go to a chapter pick one line, and say that is your verse, and claim it.  You’re actually better off doing that, than picking random verses out of the Bible that don’t apply to you and trying to live by them today. Doing so can bring harm to yourself and others.

Misapplying Bible verses can have eternal consequences! If you are trying to live by the words of Jesus in Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, and the first eight chapters of the book of Acts you are in for a big surprise.

The instructions for Christians living today are found in the epistles given to Paul by the Lord Jesus after his return to heaven, not the words given to the nation Israel during his time on Earth.

Back to the group that came to my house after reading their literature it was obvious that are trying to reach heaven the wrong way. There were Bible verses in their pamphlet, but not one verse out of the books written by Paul in the Bible, Romans – Philemon.

If I am correct in my belief, teaching, and understanding of the scriptures that the instructions and doctrine for Christians are found in the Pauline Epistles, then it is no wonder that people are confused and Christianity has lost it’s standing in the world.

Brothers and Sisters in Christ, your life is short and if you have been slack concerning Bible study, it is high time for you to get back to studying the living words of the living God or begin studying if you have not in times past.

"The crowd that will not accept one truth will decay to the point that it does not accept one God: many denominations, many translations, many gods."

All of the confusion among Christianity/Christians today can be attributed to the simple fact that the church, the Body of Christ, does not recognize the separate, distinct, and unique apostleship, ministry, and message of Paul.

If you fail to understand, or fail to learn how to rightly divide the word of truth, you can never come to the knowledge of the truth, and sound doctrine.

Romans 10 [8] But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; [9] That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. [10] For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

The words of our Apostle Paul, the Apostle to the Gentiles!

2Tim.2 [15] Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Come join with us as we study God’s Holy Word!

Remember most unsound Bible Doctrine, is sound Bible Doctrine misapplied to the wrong time period, or wrong group of people.

The next lesson is in work, and will be posted when done!  

Please Subscribe by email, and you will be notified when new lessons are posted 

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Contact us at: biblerightlydivided@gmail.com

Lesson 11-16 Bible Verses No Longer Taught or Discussed in Christian Circles

Our number one desire for these Bible lessons are for them to be understandable, defendable, and for the Holy Spirit to bear witness that the conclusions are the true, and correct interpretation of the Holy Scriptures.

Guidelines for our Bible studies on this website:

1.  We treat the living words of the living God as spoken by the Lord Jesus and given to the Apostle Paul for the Body of Christ the same importance, as the words of the Lord Jesus recorded in red letters in the books of Matthew – Acts Chp. 8, as what should be known as the instructions to the nation Israel.      
2. We will not be wresting the scriptures against each other, we will look at the verses in their context, and will not try to make the scriptures say anything, but what they say.
3. We will be using the verses out of the Authorized Version, commonly known as the KJV. It is fine if you want to look the verses up in other translations if you like, but we will consider the Authorized Version as our final written authority.
4. We do not and will not use the Greek, Hebrew, Aramaic, or Latin languages to prove any points, or give any indication that the Authorized Version has been incorrectly translated. 

Recently I was sharing with some of my fellow Christians some verses that you rarely hear used or discussed in Church. I would like to share some of these verses, and why I believe that you don’t hear them taught today from the pulpits of America.

First up we go to 2^nd Corinthians, where our Apostle Paul speaks the following words:

2Cor.11 [13] For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. [14] And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. [15] Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

Now I want you to think, when was the last time you heard a preacher in your Church, on TV, or on the Radio quote the verses above? I have been saved 42 years and do not remember them being expounded or explained from the pulpit in all those years.

The verses seem to me to be very simple as written, and certainly an important subject, as they point out that there are false apostles, deceitful workers, who transform themselves into the apostles of Christ. Surely this is important to the Body of Christ to be aware of false brethren and how to spot them.

Gal.2 [4] And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage:

Paul warned the Galatians about false brethren that had come into the Galatian assembly to bring them back into the bondage of the Old Testament Laws. The reason he knew they were false brethren is by their false teachings that the Galatian believers had to follow the Old Testament Law! In Christ we have been set free, we have been saved by Grace, and those Old Testament Laws have no hold on us. We live the Christian life by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

2Cor.11 [14] And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.

Again as we look these verses they are simple to understand, Satan the enemy of the Lord Jesus and his ambassadors (believers who have received the Holy Spirit), becomes an angel of light. Satan looks like a Christian, a good Christian!

2Cor.11 [15] Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

Continuing with the same line of thought the apostle Paul, speaking the words the Lord Jesus gave him to give to us, he now informs us that it is no great thing if Satan’s ministers also are transformed as ministers of righteousness. Satan and his ministers can look like Christians, very good Christians!

The reason you will not hear these verses expounded in Church today is because the preachers of today cannot tell you how to distinguish between a false brother and a true brother, they cannot tell you how to spot Satan, because a lot of them are his ministers. I know this sounds strange and hard to believe but stay with me.

Many times I’ve heard well-meaning Christians claim to be fruit inspectors. They look down at some poor believer or lost sinner who may have a drinking problem, or some other weakness. These self-proclaimed fruit inspectors typically identify/label such people as Satan’s workers. Well nothing could be further from the truth. A person’s works has absolutely nothing to do with being able to identify Satan and his ministers today in the dispensation of Grace.

Satan and his ministers are some of the best looking, respected, and well behaved people in the world. As far as Christian works, Satan’s ministers appear as being good, and doing good things for others.

Satan and his ministers are focused and determined to corrupt God’s Holy word and deceiving people into thinking that if they are a good person, do go works, etc. that they will go to heaven.

Eph.2 [1] And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; [2] Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: [3] Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. [4] But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, [5] Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) [6] And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: [7] That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. [8] For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: [9] Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Today a person is not saved by keeping the Old Testament Laws, or doing good works, but is saved by placing one’s faith in the Lord Jesus, and believing that he died for our sins, was buried, and three days later rose again! No works, just trusting in Jesus for your salvation, and his shed blood, not works.

Back to the subject at hand how to spot Satan’s ministers of righteousness. Let’s define what a minister of righteousness is.

A minister: is someone who is authorized by a church or religious organization to perform functions such as teaching of beliefs. Righteousness: is an attribute that implies that a person's actions are justified, and can have the connotation that the person has been "judged" or "reckoned" as leading a life that is pleasing to God.

So a minster of righteousness, is a minister teaching people to live a good life that is pleasing to God. There is nothing wrong with people doing good works, unfortunately that is all Satan’s ministers teach, just be good, do good, you’re a good person God is pleased with you.

Satan and his ministers always teach salvation is by works, if you are good you go to heaven, if you are bad you go to hell!

Satan and his ministers of righteousness never teach the truth of God’s word for this dispensation. Salvation is by grace apart from the deeds of the law.

Gal.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.

Now the key to identifying the truth is simple, we go to God’s Holy Word and judge all things by the Holy Scriptures. This is how to determine who the false brethren are, who Satan’s ministers are, it is by their doctrine by the things they teach and say, not their works.

Acts.17 [11] These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

I have a question for you Christian brothers and sisters, are you searching the scriptures daily to make sure what you believe is sound doctrine? If you never open your Bible, and read it and study it for yourself, you make yourself an easy target for Satan’s ministers of righteousness.

Now let’s look at a good way to spot Satan’s workers.

1Cor.12 [3] Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.

The verse above is a key verse that we can use to distinguish a true brother from a false brother. If you want to know if a person is saved, check their attitude or understanding of who they believe the Lord Jesus is. Has the Holy Ghost revealed to the person that Jesus is the Lord? Do they recognize Jesus Christ as the very God of Heaven who indwelt a human body and walked among men? Do they recognize Jesus as the Lord God of heaven and Earth? How a person answers these questions will help you determine if they are in fact a true believer.

Matt.22 [41] While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, [42] Saying, What think ye of Christ? whose son is he? They say unto him, The Son of David. [43] He saith unto them, How then doth David in spirit call him Lord, saying, [44] The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool? [45] If David then call him Lord, how is he his son? [46] And no man was able to answer him a word, neither durst any man from that day forth ask him any more questions.

Jesus asked the Pharisees a few questions. What think ye of Christ? Whose son is he? How they answered these questions is still one of the best ways to determine if someone knows who Jesus is. The Pharisees answered, the Son of David, this seemed like a good answer to them, but Jesus then asked them another question. If he is the son of David, how does David then call him Lord? And we see that the Pharisees had no answer.

That’s because they did not recognize Jesus as the Old Testament God in a human body speaking to them. Jesus Christ is the great “I AM” (Exod.3:14) that lead the Children of Israel out of Egypt. See the two verses below there are way too many verses to be put in a single lesson. Jesus himself and his apostle Paul, in the verses below clearly identifies Jesus as the Old Testament God, the great “I AM”.

1Cor.10 [1] Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; [2] And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; [3] And did all eat the same spiritual meat; [4] And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.

John.8 [56] Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad. [57] Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham? [58] Jesus said unto them, Verily,verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, “I am”. [59] Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.

Notice after Jesus tells the Jews that Abraham rejoiced to see his day, then Jesus tells them that he was before Abraham. Here again clearly letting them know, although he was walking around in a human body for approximately 30 years, the person inside that body was in existence from eternity past. See verses below.

Old Testament Prophecy:

Mic.5 [2] But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.

New Testament Prophecy Fulfillment:

Matt.2 [1] Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, [2] Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him. [3] When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. [4] And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born. [5] And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet, [6] And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.

Summary of this lesson;

Jesus Christ is God and salvation is by grace, not works of righteousness! Satan’s ministers look like and act like good Christians. The way to tell if they are false is by what they teach concerning who Jesus the Christ is!

When you are confronted by professing Christians of all names and denominations, the Jehovah’s Witnesses, Mormons, Mohammad’s followers, Buddhists, Hindus, Confucius’s followers, and you want to determine if they are false brethren, or one of Satan’s ministers of righteousness, simply ask them what they think of Christ?   

If the Holy Ghost has not revealed to them or given them the ability to recognize “Jesus is Lord God of the Old Testament” manifest in the flesh, they simply are not a true brother in the Lord.

The Apostle Paul speaking by the Holy Ghost in 1Tim.3 [16] And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.

The verse above clearly refers to the Lord Jesus Christ, I must also tell you, in the new translations the word “God” has been removed.

Brothers and Sisters in Christ, your life is short and if you have been slack concerning Bible study, it is high time for you to get back to studying the living words of the living God or begin studying if you have not in times past.

"The crowd that will not accept one truth will decay to the point that it does not accept one God: many denominations, many translations, many gods."

All of the confusion among Christianity/Christians today can be attributed to the simple fact that the church, the Body of Christ, does not recognize the separate, distinct, and unique apostleship, ministry, and message of Paul.

If you fail to understand, or fail to learn how to rightly divide the word of truth, you can never come to the knowledge of the truth, and sound doctrine.

Romans 10 [8] But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; [9] That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. [10] For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

The words of our Apostle Paul, the Apostle to the Gentiles!

2Tim.2 [15] Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Come join with us as we study God’s Holy Word!

Remember most unsound Bible Doctrine, is sound Bible Doctrine misapplied to the wrong time period, or wrong group of people.

The next lesson is in work, and will be posted when done!  

Please Subscribe by email, and you will be notified when new lessons are posted 

Remember if you like these lessons, don't just like them, share them!

Contact us at: biblerightlydivided@gmail.com

Lesson 10-16 Christian Unity? Is it Possible? Part 3 Not Likely

Our number one desire for these Bible lessons are for them to be understandable, defendable, and for the Holy Spirit to bear witness that the conclusions are the true, and correct interpretation of the Holy Scriptures.

Guidelines for our Bible studies on this website:

1. We treat the living words of the living God as spoken by the Lord Jesus and given to the Apostle Paul for the Body of Christ the same importance, as the words of the Lord Jesus recorded in red letters in the books of Matthew – Acts Chp. 8, as what should be known as the instructions to the nation Israel.    
2. We will not be wresting the scriptures against each other, we will look at the verses in their context, and will not try to make the scriptures say anything, but what they say.
3. We will be using the verses out of the Authorized Version, commonly known as the KJV. It is fine if you want to look the verses up in other translations if you like, but we will consider the Authorized Version as our final written authority.
4. We do not and will not use the Greek, Hebrew, Aramaic, or Latin languages to prove any points, or give any indication that the Authorized Version has been incorrectly translated.

In our last lesson;

1. We learned that the body of Christ is made up of believers who have believed the gospel as preached by Paul. (The death, burial and resurrection from the dead of the Lord Jesus for the forgiveness of our sins.)
2. We learned that these believers which are many are to function as one body.  
3. We learned that there should be no schism, but that all the members should take care of each other the same.

1Cor.12 [25] That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.

Let’s go to the dictionary and get the definition for schism (a schism is a division among the members of a group that occurs because they disagree on something).

Simply put a schism is caused because members have disagreements about their individual beliefs and instead of being able to let people be at different stages of growth the leadership will break fellowship with those individuals and cause divisions in the body of Christ. 

1Cor.12 [13] For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

Alright let’s look at another principle (a fundamental truth or proposition that serves as the foundation for a system of belief or behavior or for a chain of reasoning) about the body of Christ, the body is composed of believers that have been baptized into the body by one Spirit. On December 16 it will be 43 years that I have been saved. I have had the pleasure of seeing many people added to the body of Christ.  I am sure many of you studying with us have had similar experiences.

It is unreasonable for us to believe that every time a new believer is added to the body of Christ that the new believer is going to understand and have the same knowledge level as a believer that has been saved and studying the scriptures for 10, 20, or 30 years etc.

1Cor.3 [1] And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. [2] I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.

In the above verses we see the apostle Paul tell the Corinthians that they were babes in Christ and could not be fed with meat but he had to feed them with milk. Again this is a good example of how the body of Christ is similar to a physical body, in that a physical body needs milk and meat to grow, so also the spiritual body of Christ needs spiritual milk and meat to grow.

1Cor.10 [1] Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; [2] And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; [3] And did all eat the same spiritual meat; [4] And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.

Heb.5 [12] For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.

Heb.5 [14] But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

1Pet.2 [2] As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:

John 6 [63] It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I (Jesus) speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

The verses above simply confirm the principle that we learned in previous lessons of the Bible Study, believers in every dispensation are to memorize, study and search the scriptures daily to grow spiritually.

Ok we saw in the previous lessons how Satan has used erroneous teachings concerning water baptism and denominations to cause divisions in the body of Christ.

Now let’s look at the leadership roles as defined in the scriptures for the body of Christ, the church of this dispensation.

1Tim.3 [1] This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. [2] A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; [3] Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; [4] One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; [5] (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)

1Tim.3 [8] Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre; [9] Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience. [10] And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless. [11] Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things. [12] Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. [13] For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.

1Tim.5 [17] Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine. [18] For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward.

Tit.1 [4] To Titus, mine own son after the common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour. [5] For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee: [6] If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly. [7] For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre; [8] But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate; [9] Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.

What we find when we look at the directions and qualifications for the spiritual leaders of the body of Christ is that only two offices are listed, one the office of an elder, or bishop, both are one in the same and the office of deacons. Elder or Bishop definition; one having spiritual or ecclesiastical supervision: one of the governing officers of a church, often having pastoral or teaching functions. Deacon definition; a minister or a person who attends to the needs of a congregation.

So what we see is that the body of Christ is to have elders or bishops who oversee the spiritual needs of the body, they were to do this by teaching, holding fast the faithful word, and using sound doctrine to exhort and convince the gainsayers. The deacons were to minister to the body as well by serving with and helping the elders to be able to perform their duties.

Now compare what we just read with what is actually going on today in Christian organizations and circles.

Christian Hierarchy; (Hierarchy; is a system or organization in which people or groups are ranked one above the other according to status or authority.)

If you google Christian Hierarchy you will quickly find a lot of different examples, for sake of this study I am going to use only two examples which really represents the majority of Christian denominations and nondenominational groups as well. I am not trying to offend anyone, but simply want the readers to let the Holy Spirit help us discern truth from error.

Church Hierarchy in order, top down is God, Pope, Cardinals, Archbishops, Bishops, Priests, Deacons, Laity.

Denominational Hierarchy in order, top down is God, Senior Pastor, Associate/Youth Pastor, Deacons, Congregation.

Nowhere in the Holy Bible do you find this pattern for leadership of the Body of Christ. In fact most of the titles above are not even in the Bible.

What a day that will be when we all will be known as Christians, and not the unscriptural denominational names that people attach to themselves.

Time for a story;

I remember as a young child my family members talking about a statement that my Grandmother made after coming home from Church one Sunday afternoon. She was complaining about the new preacher, how she didn’t understand him and his teachings. Today 40 some years after her death I have come to the believe I have the answer to what happened to the Church she loved and where she previously understood the preaching.

Two things happened in the 1950’s which spread all across the United States. People started treating the ministry as a profession. All across the land seminaries became the source of Bible critics, instead of instructing men how to teach and defend the Bible, they taught men to become Bible correctors.

This is just a couple of the many statements attacking the accuracy of God’s Holy Word found in the Revised Standard Version Preface of 1952, “The King James Version of the New Testament was based upon a Greek text that was marred by mistakes, containing the accumulated errors of 14 centuries of manuscript copying.” “the King James Version has grave defects”. “By the middle of the nineteenth century, the development of biblical studies and the discovery of many manuscripts more ancient then those upon which the king James version was based, made it manifest that these defects are so many and so serious as to call for revision of the English translation.”

Anyone should be able to see these statements do nothing but cast doubt on the King James Bible and make one think that until these modern day Bible critics came along, no one had an accurate copy of God’s word. What these modern day preachers have done is destroy the Christians faith in God’s Holy Word and made people think only the seminary trained preachers can understand the Word of God, nothing can be further from the truth.

Back to the subject at hand, another divider of the Christians are the very pastors they pay to bring them the word.

There is nowhere in the teachings of Paul as given to him by the Lord Jesus that the body of Christ should be run or controlled by a pastor. Instead the body of Christ should be guided by Elders and Deacons no wonder the Christian church is so far off course.

These preachers are not defending the Christian faith but defending the doctrines of men and their particular group’s distinctives, and not the sound doctrine found in the Pauline epistles written to the body of Christ.

Satan hates it when young believers, middle aged believers, and old believers fellowship together as this promotes learning. As long as Christian denominations have one man at the top making the decisions, and not spirit led Elders and Deacons guiding the body of Christ there will always be schisms.

Unfortunately, I do not see unity in the body of Christ today. Unity will only come when the Lord Jesus meets us in the air at the end of this current dispensation. 

When you have over 30 different English translations of the Bible and pastors teaching that none of them are to be trusted, it leads one to believe there is no final written authority and it brings all Bible doctrine into question.

"The crowd that will not accept one truth will decay to the point that it does not accept one God: many denominations, many translations, many gods."

All of the confusion among Christianity/Christians today can be attributed to the simple fact that the church, the Body of Christ, does not recognize the separate, distinct, and unique apostleship, ministry, and message of Paul.

If you fail to understand, or fail to learn how to rightly divide the word of truth, you can never come to the knowledge of the truth, and sound doctrine.

Romans 10 [8] But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; [9] That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. [10] For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

The words of our Apostle Paul, the Apostle to the Gentiles!

2Tim.2 [15] Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Come join with us as we study God’s Holy Word!

Remember most unsound Bible Doctrine, is sound Bible Doctrine misapplied to the wrong time period, or wrong group of people.

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