Q & A Time

On my e-mail (magnifiedword@aol.com), I am usually on the ‘answering end’ of Bible questions. But this evening, I e-mailed a few Bible questions to some of my friends. I am hoping to receive answers from these fellow Bible students. After all, we’re supposed to study, not just for ourselves, but also to help each other. The subjects in my letter briefly covered issues that are basic to understanding what the gospel is, and the men who preached it, as well as when the resurrection of the dead will take place. I believe it is important to be clear on these doctrines. For many years, I unintentionally misused verses. Under the banner of ‘Rightly Dividing,’ I was guilty excessive wrongly dividing in many areas, making two of nearly everything. Now I am admitting my errors, and trying to correct them. My questionaire was designed to produce thoughtful responses from my brothers and sisters in Christ. I hope it works.

Heb 10:24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:

I still believe we should rightly divide the word of truth, but the context of 2 Tim 2:15 (so-called ‘right dividers’ theme verse) actually has to do with the timing of the resurrection. Two men put it in the wrong place and overthrew some people’s faith. It is certainly a lesson for us not to be caught unprepared for what lies ahead.

I still believe Paul is the apostle of the Gentiles, but the context of Rom 11:13 has to do with the cutting off of the Gentiles when their fulness comes in, and salvation for Israel.

But now I believe the main division in the scriptures is between the old and the new testaments, because those are the two things that are consistently contrasted in the scriptures (Heb 8:6-9,13, 9:15-18; 7:19,22; 2 Cor 3:6-11; Rom 7:6, 2:28-29; John 1:17).

2 Cor 3:6 Who also hath made us
able ministers of the new testament;
not of the letter, but of the spirit:
for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.

This is David Dowell, saying, "Think about it!"

Holidays or Holy Days?

Whatever you do .... or don’t do .... during this ‘season’ ....

Col 2:16-17 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: 17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.

1 Cor 10:31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

.... my prayer is that you will have an intense interest to listen to the scriptures and not change them. For nearly thirty years, I was swept away with dividing Paul out of the rest of the Bible, when close comparison of his writings with other prophets actually reveal that he often speaks of the very same things as they do. I hope you will use the audio and/or text messages on my website www.magnifiedword.com to help you ‘think about it.’ You will see verses linked together in ways that are probably unfamiliar to you, but never-the-less, make good sense. We have been so focused on things that are different .... that we have overlooked many things that are the same. Any reasonable student of God’s word should not be afraid to ‘check it out.’ It certainly won’t hurt you to investigate issues for yourself.

2 Cor 13:7-10 Now I pray to God that ye do no evil; not that we should appear approved, but that ye should do that which is honest, though we be as reprobates.
8 For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth.
9 For we are glad, when we are weak, and ye are strong: and this also we wish, even your perfection.
10 Therefore I write these things being absent, lest being present I should use sharpness, according to the power which the Lord hath given me to edification, and not to destruction.

Remember who among you was faithful to the KJV with the verses concerning what God, through PAUL, calls the office today:

1 Tim 3:1 This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.

Phil 1:1 Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:

Whatever you have heard .... or not heard .... about changes I have made .... get it straight from the horse’s (or pig’s) mouth .... so to speak!
I still believe in the importance of rightly-dividing, however, I am convinced by verses that I (we) have been creating divisions that God did not make. On judgment day, we will alone stand before God, to have our works either approved or not .... so we ought to be careful to let the scriptures say what they say (2 Pet 1:20) .... without interference, tampering, or wresting (2 Pet 3:16).

Now that I have accepted 2 Tim 3:16 as it is written ....

2 Tim 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

.... I am able to close my blog with application from John:

3 John 1:2 Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.

I hope you and your family will purpose to win souls to Christ in 2010.

This is David Dowell, saying, "Think about it!"