1. RIGHTLY DIVIDING THE WORD OF TRUTH (2Tim 2:15)

a) Study – ~Strive, Be zealous, diligently endeavor~

b) “To show thyself approved unto God” – This is what we are to strive for – Rom 12:1, Col 1:28.

c) “A workman that needed not to be ashamed” – What you do matters – 1Cor 3:12-15.1Cor 15:58, 1Cor 16:10, Eph 2:10.

d) “Rightly dividing” – This is part of the work and it must be done RIGHTLY – Rom 16:17, 1Tim 1:3, 4:13,16.

i. Rom 3:21, 7:6, 8:1, 16:25-26, Eph 2:11-13, 2Cor 5:16,

e) “The word of truth” – The word of God - John 17:17, 2Thess 2:13.

ii. Start here – Eph 1:13, Col 1:5 – Matt 9:35, 1Cor 15:1-4, Gal 2:7, 3:8, Rev 14:6-7.

f) Conclusion – We should strive to shew ourselves approved unto God which starts with knowing right doctrine which comes from dissecting the word of God rightly.

2. GLORY IN THE CROSS (Gal - 6:14)

a) “God forbid” - ~Refuse to allow, don’t let happen~

b) “That I should glory” – ~boast, joy/rejoice - We glory in things all the time, food, sports teams, accomplishments. God forbid.

c) “Save in the cross of Jesus Christ” – We should glory in this – 1Cor 1:17-18, Eph 2:16, Col 1:20, 2:14

d) “The world is crucified unto me” – because you are a new creature – 2Cor 5:17, Eph 2:1-5, 5:7-11.

e) “I unto the world” – Because you are crucified with Christ – Col 2:20, Rom 6:2-3.

f) Conclusion – We should look to glory in God and in the cross of Christ, not things of this world because we are dead to them.

3. DIE TO SELF (a popular phrase)

a) Comes from 1Cor 15:31 because the phrase (die to self) is not found in scripture

b) 1Cor 15:30-31 – Die daily means he literally was in jeopardy of dying on a daily basis – Acts 20:24, 2Cor 1:8-10, 11:23. Paul was often in danger or close to death.

c) The principle is good, but not accurate – We die to the flesh or rather, are already dead to the flesh and just need to reckon it true – Rom 6:11, 7:4.

d) Conclusion – Acknowledge who you are in Christ and walk in who he has made you to be.