I recently starting reading another book. Many people consider reading a book or maybe a commentary Bible study. Although our apostle Paul does teach that there is a need for teachers today, reading books is not Bible study. Reading commentaries is not Bible study. Bible study is reading the Bible and using scripture itself to instruct you. To many this is a foreign idea. Many Christians struggle to learn from scripture due to the lack of understanding of the flow of programs in scripture. The covenant theology in all denominations today makes it hard to see the big picture of scripture. Why? Because there is actually two “motion pictures” in scripture. One you could call the major feature and the other a short film. Without separating the big picture from the short film no clear understanding of God’s programs is possible. Sure seminaries teach what they think based on their tradition, but most Christians wonder how preachers can extrapolate so much material from so few verses. This is easy when you just read a few verses and then just ramble on for 45 minutes. If you were to understand that 90% of your Bible is for your understanding but NOT your doctrine for today the Bible would become clear and understandable in a short period of time. If you were to understand that the 10% of the Bible written by the apostle Paul was in fact written directly to you other than a few sections where Paul is addressing Jews, the Bible would come alive and a new and understandable book. Separating the major motion picture of Israel and their Messiah from the short film of Paul and the Gentiles is the key to understanding your Bible WITHOUT the need for commentaries and shelves of books. Sadly today, the shift of ALL the major denominations away from a literal interpretation of scripture has left Christians shocked at the idea of rightly dividing the Bible by the audience SPOKEN TO. You would think a concept so simple as paying attention to WHO is being spoken to in the Bible would be required learning in 1st grade discipleship? Actually Christians have been indoctrinated with the opposite of the common sense approach to scripture. We have been taught how to defend our current position and curse any attempt to challenge what we believe. Oddly Christians can’t even seem to open their eyes enough to see the confusion in Christianity around them that they are right in the middle of. The Bible is a closed book to most Christians because of the arrogance found in Christianity today. I am willing to challenge any position I currently hold, are you? I am willing to allow scripture to change my beliefs, are you? This is what people say, but by and large they are not willing to challenge anything they believe. So Christianity will stay fractured and confused. Separate God’s two programs found in scripture and learn what the Bible actually teaches for yourself. Or, continue to mix the two features God asked you to keep divided and keep Christianity divided. Yes, understanding the Bible actually is this simple.   

The current state of Bible translations available is quite frankly insane! Every new Bible version coming out always claims to be easier to read and in “modern” or “updated” English. People sitting around in Sunday school classes comparing what each version says or preachers saying foolish things like “I like the way this version says it” WHAT? SERIOUSLY? Who gave you the option of picking and choosing the way YOU want it to sound? Are you kidding me?  But that’s it, isn’t it? Were back to picking and choosing. Christians that don’t know their Bible sit and listen while people teach them how to pick and choose only the verses that prop up their agenda. This is NO different than turning on CNN and watching the news for an hour. You will hear ONE SIDE of the story. Let me fill you in on the truth of the matter. It’s NOT A TRANSLATION ISSUE. What the new versions have done is to continually water down the doctrinal passages to the point that we can “all get along.” So called translators continue to create versions that come closer to the general “idea” of where most Christian theology falls. The problem IS NOT the translation! The problem is BELIEF. Christians have a BELIEVING issue. Please read this next sentence very intently. If you can’t believe EVERY verse in the Bible EXACTLY AS WRITTEN, then you should find a way in which you can. And trust me, you WILL NOT find this in ANY denomination today. Why? They ALL have an agenda they need to keep in place. I attended a denomination for about 40 years of my life. Sunday after Sunday of we are right and the others are wrong teaching. I had to get rid of decades of this denominational proof texting to properly understand the bible AS WRITEN. I understand you think you are a Bible believer because the preacher tells you that you are. I’m asking you about all the verses that don’t get read at your church. I’m asking you about the fact that so many verses you read you don’t understand, and they don’t seem to fit into your denominations position very well. I’m asking you about the fact that churches have so many different opinions on healing, tongues, baptism, works, the Holy Spirit, miracles, dreams, doctrine, and the list goes on. That new version WILL NOT help you come to terms with all the questions you have. Modern Christianity’s answer? Spend 45 minutes to an hour singing praise and worship songs. Then spend 30 minutes on a shallow lesson that keeps the masses happy and of course avoid doctrine at all costs. I remember one of the very few times we did a doctrinal series where the focus was doctrine. The name of the series was called “Baptist Distinctives.” Tell me, how can you take a real look at what you believe and determine if you are standing it the truth by studying the distinctives of YOUR OWN position? YOU CAN’T! It was around this time I was studying the positions of all the other denominations. I challenge people to study the doctrinal position of other denominations all the time. What will you find? That they ALSO have Bible verses to prove their doctrines, and they teach DIFFERENT things than you do. How is this possible? That’s the point of this whole blog. YOU MUST find a way that EVERY verse in the Bible makes sense and fits perfectly with every other verse in scripture. Most would say this is impossible. This is the sad state of Christianity today, as it has been for 2000 years. I leave you with one verse.
Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. I Corinthians 1:10
This is IMPOSSIBLE in denominational Christianity. This is possible by becoming a Bible believer. This means learning to rightly divide God’s programs in scripture as God separates them himself. You can only learn this by following the only Apostle Jesus sent to you, your Apostle Paul. To bring honor and glory to Jesus today requires us to follow the plan Jesus revealed to Paul. There is NO other way.                

The other night I was flipping channels on the TV and ran across a program about cults. I decided to watch for a while and found out about a so-called cult down in Tennessee called the “Twelve Tribes.” A young lady that had escaped the cult was the focus of the show. She described her life within this strange group of Christians. They lived in a commune and were led by a charismatic man who taught they were bringing in the kingdom. The so called “expert” the show used to describe cults described them as “taking the Bible literally.” Wow. Don’t I tell you all the time I take the Bible literally? YES I DO. So what gives? Doesn’t pretty much every church tell you they take the Bible literally? YES. There is a fine line between this group that has a TV program about them calling them a cult and every major denomination found in the US today. And a fine line it is indeed. Let’s read a few verses together.
And all that believed were together, and had all things common; And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, 
Acts 2:44-46
Your church no doubt claims to be a “New Testament” church as pretty much every major denomination does today. Churches today take pride in calling themselves “New Testament Christians.” How can you with any integrity claim to be a new testament Christian and not sell all your possessions and live in a commune with only other Christians just like this cult does? I thought you claimed to take the Bible literally? This verse VERY clearly tell us that is exactly what they did back in the so-called New Testament times. See, this is where the rubber meets the road. Christians claim to take the Bible literally and claim to be a new testament Christian but really only take the verses literally that they choose to. Your pastor would use some slick talking to explain away the need to take this verse literally today no doubt. This is the plain, clear, and obvious difference between a right divider of the Bible and every denomination and non-denominational church today. Churches claim to take the Bible literally, but they only do when it’s convenient. The difference between a right divider of the Bible and all of Christianity today is I actually DO believe this verse literally. I do not pick and choose which ones to believe and which ones to skip. These verses were written in Acts chapter 2. Your apostle Paul, the ONLY Apostle sent to gentiles was not saved till Acts 9. I believe this verse EXACTLY as it stands because I know that this doctrine IS NOT for the body of Christ today. Most of Christianity believes their church started in Matthew 16/18 or in Acts chapter 2. These same churches pick and choose which verses they want to believe because they don’t want to be called a cult like the group in Tennessee. As a Bible believer that rightly divides my Bible according to the instructions MY apostle Paul gave me I know I can believe these verses EXACTLY as they stand because at THAT TIME the little flock of Israel were waiting for the tribulation to start, hence the reason for selling all their possessions and living communally. I believe the words exactly as they are written because I know they are not my doctrine for today. I also DO NOT claim to be a “New Testament” Christian. Why? Because according to the Bible LITERALLY, the New Testament belongs to ISRAEL and JUDAH.
Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:  Jer 31:31
I am not a New Testament Christian because the New Testament belongs to Israel. I would ask those today that claim to take the Bible literally, why do you claim to be a “New Testament” Christian when the Bible tells us plainly that it belongs to Israel. Here’s why: This cult calls itself the “Twelve Tribes” for the same reason Christians today call themselves “New Testament Christians.” Both this cult and every major denomination today has assumed things God promised to Israel. The difference is how much you assume. As a right divider of the Bible I leave to Israel EVERYTHING God promised to Israel. YES, this includes the New Testament. We live in the age of Grace that our Savior Jesus Christ revealed to Paul. Were there some strange/wrong things going on inside this cult? Yes. Rightly dividing the Bible brings clarity and harmony to the confusion being taught in so much of Christianity today. Maybe it’s time to stop picking and choosing and start believing it as written. Jesus’ earthly ministry was to Israel, Jesus called the Apostle Paul to sent him to you. It is that simple. We are NOT building a kingdom, we are building the body of Christ. Jesus will return and build HIS kingdom HIMSELF.

The results of Christians ignoring the mystery revealed to Paul are devastating. The purpose for the body of Christ is to be working together in the same mind towards the same goal. The outcome of centuries of Seminaries, Bible colleges and pastors teaching men only to defend their position instead of letting the BIBLE have free course has created the fractured, bickering and prideful condition of the church today. Sure they say they are Bible believers, but they have been taught how to interpret the Bible through the filter of their tradition. The result is the ignorance of the manifold wisdom of God. The manifold wisdom of God that Christians are ignorant of was shown in the mystery revealed to Paul. This is how God used Satan himself to bring about the age of grace where everyone can be saved by grace alone. Jesus NEVER taught salvation by grace alone while he waked this earth. Jesus revealed this message after his resurrection to the apostle of the Gentiles.
And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:  Eph. 3:9-11
Instead of the church teaching the manifold wisdom of God to principalities and powers in heavenly places, the church is ignorant of this wisdom and how God brought it about. Our pride, arrogance, and tradition has blinded us to the CLEAR teaching of God’s word and keeps us bound by the tradition each pastor learns from the previous. You know…..They CAN’T all be right! Every denomination CAN’T be right! So who is? Well the one you are a member of, of course. Wrong! Actually the words in scripture are right. Of course you hear this all the time. The difference? We teach EVERY VERSE. Your pastor, and SS teacher teach the ones that support their tradition and ignore the ones that don’t. If you don’t think this is true you are naive indeed. I challenge you to study the doctrine of the denominations you believe to be wrong. What you will find is they have verses to prove what they believe just like you do. How do you not know this? Well, that’s the point. One of our purposes is to be educating the principalities and powers in heavenly places. What the church is doing to proving our pride and arrogance to them every day. We ignore clear verses to hold our tradition. I’m teaching a series on the Gentile exceptions. From the calling of Abraham to the calling of the apostle Paul ANY Gentile dealt with is an exception to the rule that God is dealing solely with ISRAEL. This INCLUDES Jesus’ earthly ministry. When I explain the Biblical FACT that Jesus had NO ministry to Gentiles during his earthly ministry people run as fast as they can to one of the exceptions to call Jesus a liar. Jesus said he didn’t but today Christians don’t seem to mind ignoring those clear verses to run to the woman at the well or the centurion so they can hold to their tradition. So what about God’s manifold wisdom? Christians DON’T KNOW IT. Christians are oblivious to God’s manifold wisdom by which God made Satan look like a fool.
But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.  1 Cor. 2:7-8
God’s manifold wisdom (The mystery revealed to Paul) is untaught, unpreached, unheard, unsung, and any other “un” word you can make up. The manifold wisdom of God is never taught in the vast majority of churches today because of the Allegorical interpretation of scripture found in EVERY denomination today. So sad that the mystery which reveals the manifold wisdom of God is NEVER taught to make room for your tradition. Let me make this as clear as I know how. If you believe that Jesus was speaking to you in the Gospels, then you believe the allegorical interpretation of scripture. Why? Because Jesus said he wasn’t. Jesus DOES have a ministry to Gentiles. You find this ministry in Paul’s books alone. Paul DID NOT continue where Jesus and the 12 left off. Why? Because he says so. Please take your nose out of that theology book and read the words the only apostle sent to you in scripture left you, and then choose to believe them, not ANYONE else. Why? Because Jesus gave Paul his message and ministry after his earthly ministry to Israel was done. If you mix these two separate and distinct ministries you are only left with confusion.

With a title like this I would imagine even the casual Christian might be interested in this blog. Sad but true that most have little interest in learning beyond a weekly visit to Sunday school. So are there aliens in the Bible? The “law of first mention” might shed some light on this subject.

Remember, O LORD, what is come upon us: consider, and behold our reproach. Our inheritance is turned to strangers, our houses to aliens. Lam 5:1-2

So, yes there are actually aliens in the Bible. They were living in Israel’s houses. I enjoy a good alien movie from time to time. So what planet were these aliens from? Earth! Sorry to ruin the excitement. The beginning of the book of Lamentations will help clarify.

Judah is gone into captivity because of affliction, and because of great servitude: she dwelleth among the heathen, she findeth no rest: all her persecutors overtook her between the straits. Lam 1:3

YOU are the aliens found in the Bible. Gentile nations are the aliens God allowed and even used to bring judgement to Israel. Read the entire book of Lamentations for background. So does Israel ever defeat the aliens?

And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets: Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. Hebrews 11:32-34

YES, Israel does defeat the armies of the aliens (Gentile Nations) from time to time. Israel is under a covenant agreement with God. If they do their part God obligated himself to do his part. (Deut. 28) I would ask you a simple question: When did you stop being an alien? Most Christians would quickly point to Jesus’ earthly ministry. You will be hard pressed to find evidence of this change in the gospels. Jesus had no ministry to Gentiles during his earthly ministry. Our apostle Paul however speaks specifically to our loosing alien status.

And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: Col 1:20-22
 
The mystery of YOU, an alien, being justified by the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ is revealed by YOUR apostle Paul.

Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; Eph. 2:11-14

Without Jesus himself revealing the mystery to your apostle Paul you would never have known what the cross of Christ accomplished. The plan in the Bible from Genesis 12 to Acts 8 is Gentiles would be saved through Israel’s OBEDIENCE and the acceptance of their Messiah. There was NO PLAN revealed in the Bible that brought hope to gentiles in the event of Israel’s DISOBEDIENCE. This is precisely why God had the mystery hid in himself since the word was created. (Rom 16:25-26)  Without Jesus revealing a NEW and DIFFERENT GOSPEL to Paul you are still an alien and you still have NO HOPE. (Eph. 2:12) The clarity with which all these verses can be understood is lost to the vast majority of Christianity due to the failure to rightly divide God’s plan for Israel with God’s plan for the body of Christ. The failure of the vast majority of Christianity to divide the gospel of the earthly kingdom promised to Israel and a future in heavenly places promised to the body of Christ has left us floundering from scholar to scholar trying to make sense of all the verses that don’t fit together. The FACT is just that! The verses do not fit together! Yes Jesus’ teachings DO contradict many of the things Paul says. Here’s the easy answer: If you would learn to believe the Bible literally instead of denominationally you could understand all of them and believe all of them. This is letting the Bible have FREE COURSE in your life. (2 Thes 3:1) Something most will never have in their lifetime because we are too busy fighting for our tradition.

 
 
What Right Have I
 
What right have I, with human eye
To gaze into the depth?
Of Holy Words, no gold affords
Nor diamond sets its worth
This feeble mind, dares to scale
The heights each page contain
My sinful ears, wish the tune
Of thy Holy Spirit’s refrain
These hands of man, oft unclean
Grip a book divine
Tears once more, blur the eye
As words reveal thy love
Belief the key, Trust the cure
To ease each doubt or chill
Wisdom fails, thy creations thoughts
Yet you love me still
To understand, thy sacred word
Is a gift few wish to jest
To rightly divide, each plan contained
Study reveals the rest
To trust in man, Or to trust in God
Our arrogance displayed
 We doubt your Word, to ease our minds
And believe the thoughts we made
 
                                  Steve Schoenberger  7/21/2020

It's amazing the verses we ignore to prove ourselves right.

I realize the vast majority, if not all Christians would not deliberately insult God for any reason. The sad truth is millions of Christians insult God almost every time they pray. I grew up as you probably did being told that I must “confess” my sins if I want them forgiven. Men that are ignorant of the Bible’s instructions to rightly divide taught us to insult God and cheapen the blood of Christ every time we pray by confessing our sins. I’ve heard 1 John 1:9 quoted hundreds of times in my lifetime along with the instruction to confess my sins to God. How foolish this is. Read the verse below.
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9
I ask you this simple question, what if you don’t? What if you do not confess your sins? The opposite would then be true that your sins WOULD NOT be forgiven. Friend, if your sins are NOT forgiven then you are on your way to hell. You can’t teach this verse as an instruction to the body of Christ but then turn around and also teach eternal security because if you miss one sin you are on your way to hell. This is why Christians are so confused. One church teaches you can lose your salvation, another teaches you can’t but then tells you that you must confess each sin to have them forgiven. This is the sad state of affairs in our churches today. Would you like the correct cross references to 1 John 1:9?
And it shall be, when he shall be guilty in one of these things, that he shall confess that he hath sinned in that thing: Lev 5:5
If they shall confess their iniquity, and the iniquity of their fathers, with their trespass which they trespassed against me, and that also they have walked contrary unto me; And that I also have walked contrary unto them, and have brought them into the land of their enemies; if then their uncircumcised hearts be humbled, and they then accept of the punishment of their iniquity: Then will I remember my covenant with Jacob, and also my covenant with Isaac, and also my covenant with Abraham will I remember; and I will remember the land. Lev 26:40-42
So, is confession of sin required in scripture? YES you can find an example of this in Daniel chapter 9. Is the body of Christ today required to confess their sin? NO! To confess your sins today in an insult to God and tells God the blood of his only Son was not good enough to pay for your sin. Your sins were imputed to Christ’s account as he hung on the cross. Jesus blood paid for your sins. Who are you to think you can perform a religious ritual of confessing your sins today when Christ paid for them 2000 years ago. Read your apostle Paul.
To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. 2 Cor. 5:19
Why are your sins NOT being imputed to your account today? Because they were imputed to Christ’s account 2000 years ago. You kneeling down and confessing sins to God is an insult to him and his word. I ask you another simple question. Why do you allow preachers and teachers to tell you to follow words from the book of first John when Jesus himself told John NOT to go to gentiles? Why do you think the book of first John is too you today? The Covenant theology ALL of Christianity has gravitated to tells you that ISRAEL’S apostles were talking to you. Our apostle Paul NEVER tells us to “confess” our sin. Paul tells us to STOP SINNING. Paul understands imputation and knows we DO NOT need to confess our sins today, we need to stop sinning if we are. Please stop following Israel’s requirements found in the Hebrew epistles and start enjoying the liberty we have by being in Christ. Does this mean we get to sin all we want? As Paul says “God forbid” The body of Christ stands in liberty when it rightly divides the Bible. The body of Christ is held in bondage when it fails to rightly divide the Bible and insults God with millions of our sins being “confessed” to God when he never asked you to. Maybe this is why the Holy Spirit must intercede for us? God is sick and tired of hearing all your sins. Do you want to know why your prayer life is not “working”? Maybe you should study Paul’s prayer life instead of Israel’s. You would find Paul DOES NOT pray like Jesus and the 12 did. Paul understands things are different in the age of grace. Christianity has abandoned Pauline doctrine for man’s opinions.
 

July 2 marks 3-years since we started Abundant Grace Bible Fellowship. When people ask about church the first question is always: How many are you running? This is by far the most common question because success in religion is always measured in seats filled. It is unfortunate that most Christians feel this way. It's been said that "Success is NOT measured in the seats filled but in the doctrine taught" It's no wonder this thought never comes to mind for Christians today. It's because Christians join churches today for the music, coffee in the foyer and the programs not the teaching. By the way, if its all about the numbers we might as well all join Joel Osteens church online. I completely understand grace churches are typically small in comparison to the churches teaching tradition. Right division creates mature, stable and equipped Christians that have a proper understanding of the things many Christians struggle with. We are finishing up a series of lessons showing that if you removed Paul's books from the Bible that prophecy continues uninterrupted throughout scripture. Wrapping up this lesson this Sunday we will review some of the things a person will have a proper understanding of if they would have attended our small group of Bible believers for the last 3 years. Here's a sampling of those things.

1. A proper understanding of why the kingdom did not come.
2. A proper understanding of why we are not under the law.
3. A proper understanding of the purpose and future of the body of Christ.
4. A proper understanding of where the sign gifts went.
5. A proper understanding of Pentecost.
6. A proper understanding of salvation in all dispensations.
7. A proper understanding of prophecy.
8. A proper understanding of Jesus’ earthly ministry.
9. A proper understanding of the end times.
10. A proper understanding of what we should be doing now.
11. A proper understanding of prayer in the age of grace.
12. A proper understanding of the ministry of the Apostle Paul.
13. A proper understanding of how God deals with us today.
14. A faith in scripture you never thought possible!

I ask you what have you learned in the last three years? Do you understand the difference between the gospel of the kingdom and the gospel of the grace of God? Do you know God's will, or are you still wondering what it is? Do you understand that the judgment seat of Christ is all about how you built upon what PAUL STARTED. Do you realize that today Jesus must be preached according to the revelation of the mystery? Do you realize all the denominational arguments over baptism, eternal security, works, gifts, and a myriad of other things could be resolved if you just parted ways with your tradition? YES, you need to part ways with your tradition and be open to the Bible taken literally exactly as it's written. This means that you accept the BIBLICAL FACT that Jesus' earthly ministry in the gospels is NOT TO YOU, because Jesus sent Paul to you. If you don't know these things, where have you been the last three years? II Tim 2:15 mentions 2 groups of people: those who are approved workmen and those who will be ashamed. Which one will you be?
 

In Luke 12:32 Jesus uses an expression to describe the rather small group of followers that were still with him during this point in his ministry.
Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. 
Today you can find hundreds if not thousands of references to Christians being sheep. Hymn books, devotionals and Sunday sermons are filled with the idea that we are the sheep of God’s pasture. The 23rd Psalm is quoted at weddings and funerals alike with the false idea being reinforced in people’s minds of the Shepherd guiding our steps. Today ill-informed Christians fall prey to this tradition as has so many generations before us. The Apostle Paul uses the word “sheep” one time referencing the OT. The unbiblical idea that we have taken over the place of Israel has perpetuated the myth that we are described in scripture as sheep. The words in scripture do not say this, you must be taught this from a person. For the proper cross references to study I ask you only to turn to one chapter although we could use scores. Ezekiel 34 can’t be any clearer. God is clearly rebuking the “shepherds” in Israel that have failed the people. Read verses one and two below.
And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD unto the shepherds; Woe be to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves! should not the shepherds feed the flocks?       
As you get to verse 8 you read God’s promise and guarantee to Israel. I challenge you to count the number of times God says “I will” and “my flock” in this chapter. In verse 16 you encounter a cross reference even casual Christians should see “I will seek that which was lost” What was lost? Israel!!! Jesus clearly references this when he proclaims he has come to seek and to save “that which was lost” This being the purpose of his earthly ministry to save Israel. Saving Israel would bring hope to Gentiles. In verse 23 of Ezekiel 34 God promises to set up “one shepherd” over them with a reference to David. This is precisely why Jesus is called the “Son of David” while on earth. Let’s read how the Holy Spirit inspires Ezekiel to finish off the chapter in verses 30-31.
Eze 34:30  Thus shall they know that I the LORD their God am with them, and that they, even the house of Israel, are my people, saith the Lord GOD. And ye my flock, the flock of my pasture, are men, and I am your God, saith the Lord GOD.
I ask you how can Christianity today claim to be the flock referenced to in the gospels when the Bible itself makes it crystal clear who this title belongs to? I understand very clearly how Christians today think I’m wrong to believe these verses. I understand I am called names for believing these verses. I understand Christian “friends” won’t talk to me about the Bible because I believe it as it is written. But you notice what Jesus called his followers? The “little” flock. I understand that I have alienated myself from many old friends for believing my Bible. I understand if I would have started a “Baptist” church instead of a church based solely on scripture rightly divided many would have given me their support. Coming up on three years after making this decision I can only say my resolve to believe the Bible as written instead of blindly following the tradition in Christianity has not wavered. No. I’m not a sheep in scripture because the Bible only gives this title to Israel. No, Jesus is not my shepherd. Jesus is my savior and the head of the body. Someday Jesus will return and then he will establish the things described in the 23rd Psalm LITERALLY! No, I will not be there because this promise is to his earthly people Israel. Who are you to correct the Bible! Who are you to decide the entire chapter of Ezekiel 34 and the perfect cross references to Jesus words in the gospels are wrong! No, I will not back down. No, I will not stray from believing my Bible as written. Yes, this makes me part of a small group but not part of the “little flock of Israel”

A while back I had a person ask me if I thought Grace churches put too much emphasis on II Timothy 2:15. I have thought about this question several times since then. I do agree that denominations in general pick the verses they want to emphasize and then drive them into peoples heads constantly. One example is Acts 2:38 and Mark 16:16 which are the whole foundation for those groups that think water is required for salvation. There is one big difference with this example and that of II Timothy 2:15. I can teach the concept of right division of the Bible with hundreds of verses and examples Sunday after Sunday and the people relying on Acts 2:38 and Mark 16:16 can’t. The Bible teaches for itself the fact that we must rightly divide it in many ways. It just so happens that the Apostle to the Gentiles, Paul very clearly states the need to rightly divide the scripture. Books of the Bible themselves tell us who the words are addressed to. Why would a person take a book clearly addressed to Israel and then steal SOME of the verses and teach that they belong to the body of Christ today? Tradition! You pastor was taught to do this. And if he was not taught this because he did not go to Bible college then he learned it from the pastors he sat under. The Bible DOES NOT teach this, man must tell you these things. It cannot be denied that Jesus said he was sent to Israel. This is the basis for right division of the Bible, believing the WORDS EXACTLY as they are written. It cannot be denied the Jesus told the disciples NOT to go to Gentiles. It cannot be denied that Paul was called to go DIRECTLY to the people the disciples were told NOT TO. Why then would you read the book of first John for example and think the words are directly to you when scripture says they are NOT? I believe every word in first John. I can only do this because I know first John is NOT to me today. Why does this matter? Because first John teaches works are required for salvation and to keep your salvation. Why can I still say I believe all these words exactly as written? Because I know WHO they were written to and I know thy are NOT written to us today in the age of grace and doctrine for us now. Yes, they are doctrine, but NOT for today in this age. This is no different than the book of Hebrews that clearly teaches the loss of one’s salvation. I believe ALL these words exactly as written because I know they are NOT to me today. The churches I attended my whole life rarely if ever taught out of Hebrews, especially verse by verse because they have no clue how to properly handle these verses. I do! I believe them EXACTLY as they are written. Yes, they teach you can loose salvation. NO this is NOT doctrine for us today. There is a confidence that comes with a proper understanding of scripture. This is why Paul specifically said knowledge puffeth up. Because the Bible can be understood by anyone if they would only abandon the tradition their pastor teaches them and become a Bible believer. Not a pick and choose verse believer, but a person that has the knowledge to believe every verse exactly as written. Outside of the right division of the Bible this is IMPOSSIBLE! Does II Timothy 2:15 say this? Yes! Is this concept clearly taught all over the Bible? Yes! Then I must ask, why don’t you believe it?