heir
TOL Subscriber
I don't believe the "word of truth" as it concerns us is the word of God, the Bible. The word of God is already rightly divided. It's layed out exactly as God wants it to be.The word of truth is the word of God, the Bible.
Believing the Bible is an excellent start, for sure! I'm glad to hear you say that. As to "the word of truth", it is specific. Paul defines it as "the gospel of your salvation"! Check it out!You rightly divide it by believing what it says instead believing of what people say that it says and by shunning profane and vain babblings, such as "God is a Dispensationalist".
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,
It is the gospel of Christ!
Paul declares it here:
1 Corinthians 15:1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; 2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. 3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
It (the gospel of Christ) is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth (although no longer to the Jew first and also to the Greek, but to all men 1 Timothy 2:4-6 KJV, Titus 2:11 KJV).
Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
So what does Paul mean when he writes to rightly divide it? First of all, there's more than one gospel in your Bible. If you don't separate out the gospel that is "the gospel of YOUR salvation" as mentioned in Ephesians 1:13, from others, you could be believing the wrong gospel that is not the gospel that is the power of God to save you in the dispensation of the grace of God.
For example, you could think that your gospel (good news) is that you need to be water baptized for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38 KJV), sell all that you have (Matthew 19:21 KJV, Acts 2:45 KJV), endure to the end to be saved (Matthew 24:13 KJV) wait for the times of refreshing that shall come from the presence of the Lord (the second coming) that your sins may be blotted out (Acts 3:19-21 KJV). But, that's NOT your gospel (good news)! And it is not the the gospel of YOUR salvation, the power of God to save you today!
As shown above, the gospel that is the power of God to save you is the gospel of Christ; how that Christ died for our sins and that He was buried and was raised again the third day (1 Corinthians 15:1-4 KJV)! It was given by revelation of Jesus Christ to the apostle Paul (Galatians 1:11-12 KJV) to usward (Romans 11:13 KJV). Paul was given the dispensation of the grace of God for YOU gentiles (Ephesians 3:1 KJV). Paul was given the form of sound words that we are to hold fast to today (2 Timothy 1:13 KJV). That would be Romans through Philemon.
Our good news must be divided out from other good news in the Bible. Failure or flat out refusal to rightly divide the word of truth causes nothing, but confusion and will most certainly cause you to lose reward at the judgment seat of Christ (assuming you're saved 1 Corinthians 3:10-15 KJV).
I hope this helps you.