We have seen how Paul teaches in 1 Corinthians chapters 12 and 13 that the miraculous gifts found among believers in Corinth would be passing away.  As a result, no one should assume that those gifts would be permanent.  God would be giving something far better, namely, the fullness or completion of the Word of God.  We saw how that was accomplished through the writings of the apostle Paul. But beginning with today’s study in the Word of God Rightly Divided we start a four part series of studies on what I am calling “The Transition: The Glorious Sweep of God’s Abundant Grace”.  What we will see is how God’s plan regarding the manifestation of his abundant grace was implemented.  That plan required the setting aside of the nation of Israel as the centerpiece in God’s working, a working that began with the preaching we consider today, that Israel’s promised Kingdom was “At Hand”.  John the baptizer preached that message as did Christ himself and the Twelve.  It was that message that led directly to Pentecost once the death and resurrection of our Lord had occurred.  Israel’s promised Kingdom WOULD be established, but it would be a work of the Lord in his timing and not the timing of mankind, even the Twelve.

Paul’s teaching in 1 Corinthians 12 & 13 highlight not only the temporary nature of those sign gifts and other miraculous gifts if the Spirit, but also the reason why they were soon to pass away.  That reason was that through Paul the completed word of grace would be completed and then there would not longer be a reason for these gifts.  Even the gift of apostleship would pass away when the apostle himself was martyred.  With that teaching in mind, Paul teaches so powerfully (in Philippians 4, for example) that those that reject the Word of God Rightly Divided will suffer the consequences, whether in this life or in the next.  In addition, those that love grace and its fullness — and love his appearing, will be blessed greatly in this life and eternally.  Amen.

Based on Paul’s teaching on spiritual gifts in 1 Corinthians 12 - 13, we have seen how what was true then when he was writing was in the process already of changing.  Before long those gifts of the Spirit mentioned in chapter 12 would be gone, whether ceasing of their own accord or being perhaps dramatically terminated.  Even the gift of prophecy was included.  But we know from other references (such as in chapter 14) that prophecy continued for a time.  Paul’s teaching was intended to comfort the believers when they saw that those gifts were passing.  They had had such a dominant role in the church in Corinth so their passing would have been troubling indeed.  On a final note though, when God removed those gifts as the word of grace became compete, that is, full, there was no longer a need.  Full maturity in Christ was then available to all members of Christ’s Body Church as taught there in those final verses in chapter 13. Praise God, to know oneself as known by Christ.  What a great gift this truth is, the Word of God Rightly Divided .  The signs, wonders, and miracle gifts have no purpose in God’s economy today!  Amen.

Today we look carefully at Paul’s primary teaching on the gifts of the Spirit to members of the Body of Christ.  Miraculous powers were indeed given to believers under Paul’s ministry.  But, he teaches in 1 Corinthians chapters 12 through 14 that these special gifts from the Spirit would be given and useable only for a short time.  He teaches that they were appropriate only for that time of “the partial” revelation of God’s word.  When “the perfect” or“the completed” revelation was available (through Paul, of course), then those special gifts would no longer be given or even used if given previously.  Many have wanted to tie this revelation to the Second Coming of Christ, but that does not make sense in this context.  Col. 1:25-29 is about that completed giving through Paul of that special “secret” revelation previously kept hidden but now revealed.  Summarizing that, Paul writes there of “the Christ in you [Gentiles], the hope of glory.  That is God’s work today with great power as Paul writes in Col. 1:29.  This explains the teaching about the “maturity” of that revelation concerning the Dispensation of grace itself found in 1 Cor. 13:11-13.  Now “we know even as we are known”.  This correlates as well with Paul’s final words to Israel recorded in Acts 28:25-29.  With Israel set aside, there was no more need for any miraculous signs, since primarily they were for the Jews.  Praise God for his unspeakable gift.

1 Corinthians chapters 12 through 14 provide the teaching on the miraculous gifts of the spirit that were given to believers in the early Church which is His Body. Signs, wonders, and miracles were common during Christ’s earthly ministry and continued during the early Acts period after the death and resurrection of our Lord.  They provided authentication of the messenger and the message as the Kingdom Gospel was preached to the Jews (Mk. 16). But when Paul was raised up as apostle of the Gentiles, there was a continuation of signs and wonders and Paul himself exhibited them authenticating his apostleship.  But believers saved through Paul’s preaching were given special gifts as well and that is the focus in these three chapters.  Paul teaches there that those particular gifts were to be given and used only temporarily.  So they would be passing away and the implication is that that would be sooner rather than later. Otherwise the exhortation would be somewhat meaningless.  Next time we will get to the detailed teaching as to why these gifts would no longer be exercising the work of God.  But in summary, it was so God’s abundant grace might be fully displayed apart from the Kingdom Law and its preaching.  For no longer was the coming Earthy Kingdom with its earthly powers in view but rather a heavenly citizenship with a correspondingly great difference in how godly power would be manifested.  Now that power was to be exhibited through weakness as the apostle Paul so gloriously demonstrated in his life (2 Cor. 12).

Today our focus is on the gospel of the Kingdom and the signs and wonders that accompanied its preaching.  This is so clearly revealed in the gospel accounts we shall examine in today’s Bible study.  This working the Lord God was so different than what Paul preached according to the revelation given to him.  He exhorts believers today to follow or imitate him as he imitates Christ.  So, the conclusion must be that following Christ independently of Paul’s leadership and examples is not only wrong but cannot lead to honorable Christian service.  In the gospels and in the Acts history as revealed in the early chapters we see that the preaching of the Kingdom absolutely did authenticate Messiah and his coming Kingdom “with signs following”.  That is true whether in the sending forth of the 12, of the 70, at the “great commission”, or after Christ’s resurrection.  Paul’s gospel was never of this sort, though there were gifts of miracles, etc. given to believers for some time.  For good reason, those did pass away however, as we will see in our next study. 

Today we begin what is anticipated to be a three part series on why those who Rightly Divide the Word of Truth should be dedicated to “follow Paul” as he exhorts in his several letters. Our focus this time is on how Paul describes that “following” or “imitating”.  He specifically mentions first of all in 2 Tim. 3:10-12 “doctrine” and then adds a number of very practical items relating to our walk.  He finishes the list with persecution and sufferings together with Christ.  In most of the other references we consider here Paul also teaches either directly or indirectly that doctrine provides the only solid foundation for life and that that doctrine is all about Christ Jesus.  On that basis he then adds the practical matter of enduring the burdens of this life that shall come upon all who would desire to live godly in Christ Jesus.  These teachings are amplified in 2 Cor. 4 where we spent much of our time in this lesson.  The power in these personal statements of the apostle are encouraging for us all, or should be, whatever our circumstances.  Amen.

In today’s study our goal is to carefully unpack this key verse in chapter 2 where the exhortation is to be diligent in the “Right Division of the word of truth”!  It seems like a strange request perhaps, but in the context it is easily grasped.  Paul’s central focus here is on the false teachers arising in even the church at Ephesus.  Timothy is to wage warfare against them lest the purity of the message of grace Paul had delivered to them was tarnished irreparably.  Right Division (literally, to cut straightly) will bring, he promises, the approval of Almighty God, since Right Division alone can properly reveal “the Truth” and the Dispensational Plan of God.  Only Right Division will protect the message of abundant grace.  The law in all of its forms has been set aside.  That is the clear message in this letter.  Timothy also is exhorted to be “never ashamed” of Paul or his gospel, no matter what comes.  Even Paul’s martyrdom, and what follows after that, should bring boldness in the faith and never shame or compromise in its bold testimony.  Amen!

We continue today in Paul’s second letter to Timothy, chapter 2.  With anticipated spiritual war coming, false teachers abounding, and ministry challenges on every side, Paul exhorts Timothy (and all of us too) in what may be his most important challenge, to “be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus”.  He also commands his son in the faith to raise up others also who will propagate this precious faith to even more who are enabled also to teach.  The multiplication principle here surely applies in all times and periods and especially in our current day as the darkness continues.  He adds in this chapter that a proper devotion to the ministry requires  that one leave behind all worldly associations and desires and that such a separation promises eternal fruit as its reward.  For Timothy’s encouragement he adds a teaching in verse 10 about election and then closes the section with our theme verse on the necessity always to “rightly divide the word of truth”.  Of course this is a reference to the dispensational aspects of God’s word.  We add amen to this challenge!