www.scatteredchristians.org
Another Sermon for the Starving Bible Believing Christians All Over the World Wide Web
2005 - Touchet Baptist Church, Touchet, Washington - Pastor Mike Paulson - 2005
Expounding the way of God more perfectly - Acts 18:26 - with the Scriptures Rightly Divided - II Timothy 2:15

The Word of Truth
Rightly Divided
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed,
rightly dividing the word of truth.
But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.
II Timothy 2:15,16

Truth - exact accordance with that which is, or has been, or shall be; true state of facts or things; exactness; conformity to rule.

Common wrongly divided examples:
Psalm 15:2
Psalm 25:10
Psalm 85:11
James 5:8
I Peter 3:4
I Peter 3:15
Revelation 17:17

Truth about truth:
Psalm 33:4
Psalm 54:5
Psalm 86:15
Psalm 89:14
Psalm 91:4
Psalm 96:13
Psalm 98:3
Psalm 100:5
Psalm 115:1
Psalm 117:2

Wisdom concerning truth:
Proverbs 3:3
Proverbs 12:17
Proverbs 12:19
Proverbs 22:21
Ecclesiastes 12:10


Truth Pleases God
Truth is no good if not rightly divided!
Truth is no good as a testimony if we don't walk it properly!
Truth is no good if we lack belief of the truth!
Truth is no good if we lack trust of the truth!
Truth is no good if it lacks reality!
Truth is no good if it is a bad testimony!
Truth is no good if it shows a wrong Biblical application!

The goal for truth is in the conclusion as we walk through to the end of II Peter 1:19-21 - 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:  Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.


Take heed unto that light that shineth in a dark place,
until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts!

The Word of Truth
Genesis to Revelation
Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow

I.  God's Own Voice
John 17:17
Genesis 3:8-19, etc.

II.  Old Testament - the Law
Psalm 119:142 -  Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and thy law is the truth.
Psalm 119:151 -  Thou art near, O LORD; and all thy commandments are truth.
Psalm 119:105 - Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
Psalm 119:130 - The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.

III.  Gospels - Christ Himself
John 1:14 - And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
John 1:17 - For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.
John 14:6 -  Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

When Christ departs, He sends us the Comforter as a "guide," NOT as the truth!
Romans 5:5 - And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
John 14:16-18 - And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;  Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.  I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.
John 16:13-15 - Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.  He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.  All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.

IV.  Jews
Great Commission - Matthew 28:19,20; Mark 16:15-20
Acts 13:46,47- Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.  For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth.

V.  Paul
Acts 13:47 - For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth.
Acts 26:25 - But he said, I am not mad, most noble Festus; but speak forth the words of truth and soberness.
II Corinthians 4:2 - But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.

Turn Gentiles towards the light
Acts 26:18 - To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.

Speak words of truth
I Thessalonians 2:13 -  For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.
II Corinthians 6:7 - By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,

Truth of the gospel
Galatians 2:5 - To whom we gave place by subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you.
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,
Colossians 1:5 - For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel;

Yes, the heart is involved, but with the Holy Spirit as a guide, not in our heart as our final authority!
Romans 10:8-10
II Corinthians 1:22
II Corinthians 4:6
Ephesians 3:17
Philippians 4:7
Colossians 2:2
Colossians 3:16

Pastors, teachers, evangelists, etc. through the local church - pillar & ground of truth - as a guide, teacher, etc.
I Timothy 3:15; Ephesians 4:11-15, etc.

Preaching
Romans 10:17 - So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
I Corinthians 1:18,20; etc.

Must hear, believe and know that gospel of truth!
II Thessalonians 2:13
I Timothy 2:4
I Timothy 4:3
Ephesians 1:13

VI.  The Book - That Which is Perfect
I Corinthians 13:10 - But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.

The Light! - Us Christians with the King James Bible
Psalm 119:105 - Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
II Corinthians 4:6 - For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 5:8 - For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:
I Thessalonians 5:5 - Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.

Properly applied - spiritually - His words - inspired by Himself, preserved, written, preservation continues, published!
Psalm 119:142 -  Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and thy law is the truth.
Psalm 119:151 -  Thou art near, O LORD; and all thy commandments are truth.
Psalm 119:105: Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
Psalm 119:130: The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.

We must have the Scriptures to know the difference between right and wrong, etc.
II Timothy 3:16,17; Hebrews 4:12,13; Psalm 12:6,7; etc.

VII.  The Holy Spirit! - In the heart as truth, not just a 'guide,' etc.
I John 3:19-24
I John 4:1-5
I John 5:18-21

VII.  Millennium and beyond
Hebrews 10:16
Hebrews 8:10-12