Quote:
Originally Posted by Josh
I believe that none of the Bible is to be disregarded. All scripture is given by inspiration of God. No it's not all directly for us, but it is all proffitable for us. There are certain things, such as many of the commands in the law, that we aren't to keep. However, much of the Old Testament can still be applied to us, and certainly all of the New Testament.
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Aloha brother Josh,
I agree with much of what you say, however I think a clarification of my position on this issue is in order:
I believe that the entire Bible (Genesis - Revelation) is
for us {Christians} .
2 Timothy 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
Romans 15:4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.
Any Christian who mindlessly
disregards the Old Testament or "
chops up" the Scriptures into - "Books", only for the Jews; or "Books", only for Christians; or "Books", only for Tribulation saints - is not obeying God's command to "rightly divide the WORD of truth".
We are not told to "divide" the Old Testament from the New Testament (as if the Old Testament is
exclusively for the Jews and has no bearing or value for Christians) and we are not told to "divide" the Books of the Bible in such a way as to relegate the Books of Hebrews, James, 1 & 2 Peter, 1, 2, & 3 John, Jude, and Revelation as
exclusively for Tribulation saints and have no application for Christians in the church age (as some Hyper or Ultra Dispensationalists do.) We are commanded to "rightly divide the word of truth"!
Those Christians who would "
chop up" the Bible in such a manner where the entire Old Testament or certain New Testament Books are regarded as "
unprofitable" and not worth our time and effort to study them are hugely mistaken. Conversely, those Christians who seek to "harmonize" all Scripture as if all Scripture is APPLICABLE to Christians are just as mistaken.
God's COMMAND is to: "
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." [
2 Timothy 2:15 ] Studying God's word in this manner is not easy and it does not lend itself to a "school" setting either (no time {or inclination} for a Bible "student" to make an independent inquiry as to whether what is being taught is true - that is according to Scripture.)
But there are some verses that point to HOW we are to "rightly divide the word of truth".
Isaiah 28:10 For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:
Isaiah 28:13 But the word of the LORD was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken.
Here then are the Scriptural "principles" for "rightly dividing" God's Holy word. We are to study the Scriptures and determine (within the context) WHO is speaking; WHO is being spoken to; WHO does the verse (or verses) "apply" to; WHO is obligated to obey; and WHO is this written to? It's all written for us, but it is not all directed at us.
God had other people in the past {besides Christians} that He dealt with for 4,000 years, before the church came into being {and much (but not all) of the Old Testament was directed at them}. And, in the future, there are going to be people in the Tribulation and the Millennium that will need Scriptures that are directed at them {it's not all about "US", you know), and God has supplied them all in One Book (The King James Bible), but some of the verses are not yet in affect.
Isaiah 57:15 For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.
Isaiah 66:1 Thus saith the LORD, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest?
2 For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.
When I did my study on the Biblical Heart of man, approximately 721 verses on the "heart" came from the Old Testament and only approximately 159 verses came from the New Testament. Think how much of the truth about the "heart" of man I would have missed out on, if I had restricted my search to just the New Testament! 