Rightly dividing the truth in the Bible!
1. The one who preach must preach the very words of God. 1 Peter 4:11
If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God.
If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ.
To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.
2. Many distort God’s words to their own destruction. 2 Peter 3:16
Paul writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters.
His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction.
3. Rightly dividing the word of truth. 2 Tim.2:15
Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that need not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
4. This is how you save yourself and your hearers. --> Watch your life and doctrine closely.
Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers. 1 Tim.4:16
A. This is the most destructive and most commonly distorted truth on earth!
1. For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God.
Not by works, so that no one can boast.
For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Eph.2:8-10
2. Abraham believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness. Gen.15:6
3. For the last 500 years, European preachers developed these into one simple message--> Faith alone saved you! Not by works!
B. Yes, not by works! But what works?
1. 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. Gal.2:16
2. Yet, before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad— in order that God's purpose in election might stand.
not by works but by him who calls— she was told:
The older will serve the younger. Just as it is written: Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated. Ro.9:11-13
3. What does the Scripture say?
Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness. Ro.4:3
C. Why did Apostle Paul write the above?
1. Then some of the believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees stood up and said:
The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to obey the law of Moses. Acts 15:5
2. Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord!
It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you.
Watch out for those dogs, those men who do evil, those mutilators of the flesh. Phil.3:1-2
3. Who are to watch out for those dogs? Paul wrote: Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord!
D. To be my brothers in the Lord, there are works to do!
1. Before the Bible declare: Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness. Gen.15:6
2. Abram did these--> The LORD had said to Abram: Leave your country, your people and your father's
household and go to the land I will show you… So Abram left, as the Lord had told him… Gen.12:4
3. By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even
though he did not know where he was going. Heb.11:8
E. James taught us how to rightly handle Eph.2:8-10!
1. You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did.
And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,"
and he was called God's friend. James 2:22-23
2. James concluded with--> For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
3. All we need is read Eph.2:10--> For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works,
which God prepared in advance for us to do. Eph.2:8-10
4. To be saved in the Lord, works are to be done diligently!
Yea, and for this very cause adding on your part all diligence, in your faith add courage, and in courage add knowledge,… 2 Peter 1:5-11
F. Conclusion: Works in Eph.2:8-9 are things you do in obeying the law in the Old.
Works in Ehp.2:10 and James 2:26 are signs of a living body, in this case it is saving faith!
May the Lord bless you and keep you always! Preach this April 19, 2015.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zU9KonPMRZk