In II Timothy 2:15 we are commanded to “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” What is “the word of truth,” and how do we “rightly divide the word of truth?”
In Ephesians 1:13-14 we are told that the word of truth is the gospel of our salvation. In these two verses, we are told that we are sealed with the Holy Spirit after our belief of the gospel of our salvation, and that this sealing is the earnest (pledge) of our inheritance until we are redeemed.
Ephesians 1:13-14
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,
14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.
Our gospel is recorded in I Corinthians 15:1-4. Our gospel (good news) is that Jesus Christ died on the cross for our sins, He was buried and He arose from the grave on the third day.
I Corinthians 15:1-4
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.
Our Apostle Paul tells us in I Corinthians 15:1-4 that we are saved when we believe the gospel. Paul tells us in Ephesians 1:13-14 that we are sealed by the Holy Spirit when we believe the gospel. Paul tells us in I Corinthians 12:13 that the Holy Spirit baptizes us into the “body of Christ.”
Paul tells us in Galatians 1:11-12 that the gospel that he preaches came by divine revelation from Jesus Christ. Paul says that he did not receive it from man, meaning that he did not learn his gospel from Peter and the 11, nor from prophets, priests, or any other man.
Galatians 1:11-12
11 But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man.
12 For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.
We know that there are two gospels recorded in the New Testament. Paul refers to these two gospels in Galatians 2:7. At that time, there was a gospel for the circumcision (Jews) and Paul’s gospel for the uncircumcision (Gentiles).
Galatians 2:7 But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter.
The gospel for the Jews was the gospel of the kingdom, which was a promise of an eternal earthly kingdom, as recorded in Daniel 2:44. Paul’s gospel of the grace of God promises an eternity in heaven, as recorded in II Corinthians 5:1.
Paul tells us in II Timothy 2:15 that we won’t have to be ashamed if we “rightly divide the word of truth.” By simple reasoning, we understand that we will be ashamed if we do not “rightly divide the word of truth.”
In Galatians 1:6-9 Paul chastised the Galatians for being tempted to believe another gospel, and pervert the gospel of Christ. Are we tempted today to pervert the gospel of Christ? Are we tempted to do something other than believe in the finished cross work of Jesus Christ for our salvation?
Are we tempted to add to or take away from the gospel? Are we tempted to believe that we can lose our salvation after we have been sealed by the Holy Spirit? Are we tempted to add water baptism as a precondition of our salvation, when we know that the Holy Spirit baptizes us into the “body of Christ?” Are we tempted to ask God for forgiveness of sins that were forgiven on the cross 2000 years ago?
In Galatians 1:6-9 Paul says that any man that preaches any gospel other than the gospel of Christ is to be accursed. Paul also adds himself and angels from heaven into the warning of being accursed as well when he says, “But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.”
Galatians 1:6-9
6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel.
7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
9 As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.
Please do not be tempted to believe any other gospel. Please believe the gospel of the grace of God, and be saved by your belief of this gospel. Please ask your family and friends to also believe the gospel and be saved.