The Context Of Scripture

Rightly Dividing The Word II: The Context Of Scripture

Isaiah 28:10

10 For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little

When we study or teach the Word from the point of view of a precept, we study or teach principles, doctrines or a subject matter. When we study or teach the Word line upon line, we

study or teach a verse, a chapter or a book. When teaching line upon line, we must focus on each word, phrase or statement. The difference between line upon line and precept upon precept is the destination. Where does the study take you?

Ephesians 3:1-2

1 For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,

2 If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward

Line upon Line:

The prisoner of Jesus Christ

– what does it mean to be a prisoner of Jesus Christ.

Gentiles

– identify who the Gentiles are in this particular verse.

Dispensation

– a time period and the method by which God deals with people in that time period; permission to break a rule.

Grace of God

– what is the grace of God?

In studying precept upon precept, you must stay within the boundaries of the principle, doctrine or subject matter. For example, if you are studying or teaching on love, you will compile

scriptures that speak on love. There is one thing that we need to know in this lesson, and that is God has the right to intrude during our studying or teaching. In other words, you may be studying one subject and God may interrupt and start you on another subject, that is His sovereignty. We cannot exclude Him during our studying or teaching. We must be sensitive to the Holy Spirit during these times. Those who are legalistic will miss the voice of God, if they do not start to exercise this principle. It is alright to be disciplined; however, do not discipline yourself against the Holy Ghost.

Let’s use the principle of precept upon precept to establish the doctrine of walking in the Renewed Mind. We will study this in greater detail in the next chapter. However, we want to lay a

foundation here; and we will start with a scripture that is most misunderstood in the Church. The scriptures will reveal that the renewal of the mind is something God does, and renewing the mind is NOT a process. Renewal of the mind is what God did at salvation.

Romans 12:1-2

1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

Line upon Line:

Brethren establishes the fact that Paul is talking to the Church; the elders of the Church. He is instructing them

to:

1) Present their bodies a living sacrifice.

2) As holy

3) Acceptable unto God (holiness)

4) This is a reasonable service (this is expected of you because you are born again).

This establishes a present spiritual state as well as ability.

In other words, Paul is addressing what they are able to do as born-again believers. Now that the first verse has been defined, it sets the precedence for the second verse; keeping it in context;

2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Because the second verse has been taken out of context most of the time. The first verse establishes the context.

1. Be not conformed to the world

2. Be transformed

3. By the renewing of your mind

If we had this verse without the first verse, this would be a process. However, because we have the first verse, it declares

that we are able to walk in the second, we are able to manifest not being conformed to this world and, we can display the transformation of our new mind.

A principle that we must learn as theologians, we must never teach or define the operations of God based upon our own direct or indirect experiences. In other words, it is unlawful to look at our lives, even after being saved, and define the operations of God. We define the operations of God based upon how the scriptures define them. For example, because we have not seen, or we have not walked in our renewed mind does not mean it is not renewed.

Colossians 2:10

10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power

Line upon Line:

Complete in Him – in Jesus Christ, we are finished; lacking nothing.

II Timothy 3:16-17

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

17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

All scriptures are inspired by God and if you learn the scriptures, you will not err. They were given to keep us inside the boundaries of the faith that has apprehended us. It is that which keeps us on

a righteous path. Even better, scripture is the Word of God, The Word is also Spirit. Therefore, the Word has been written on the hearts of the sons of God. For this is the covenant that I will

make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to

me a people (Hebrews 8:10).

Romans 2:14-15

14 For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves:

15 Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another