Daily Bible Study

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Day 118 Romans 16:17 Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses contrary to the doctrine which you learned and avoid them. 18 For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple. 19 For your obedience has become known to all. Therefore, I am glad on your behalf; but I want you to be wise in what is good, and simple concerning evil. 20 The God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen. One thing everyone is familiar with is division. It’s everywhere. Division causes turmoil and uproots society. Everyone has an agenda. People will run to those who agree with their point of view and loudly discredit every other point of view. In the middle of his final greetings to the church in Rome, Paul told the people to avoid those who cause divisions and offenses contrary to the gospel. He told them to avoid them because they don’t serve Christ, but themselves. Paul told them he was glad for the church because they were obedient to Jesus Christ. He told them to be wise in what is good and simple in what is evil. Then he encouraged them by telling them God would crush Satan under their feet soon. Many Christians cause divisions in the church. Instead of preaching the gospel, helping their neighbor, displaying the fruit of the Holy Spirit, they set themselves apart by their actions, and preach a gospel contrary to Scripture. Avoid those people. They promote a doctrine contrary to Scripture. How do you know those who cause division especially when they look and act like Christians? You need to study the Word daily. 2Ti 2:15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. (NKJV) When you spend time in Bible study, reading the Word daily, you will know when you hear something that isn’t right. Galatians 1:6 I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, 7 which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 Even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. 9 As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed. But you say you don’t have time to spend reading your Bible. You trust what the minister says and do what he or she says is right. When you do, you open yourself up to every wind of doctrine. Ephesians 4:11 He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— 16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love. Don’t let Satan carry you away to a different gospel than found in God’s Word. Read, study, memorize, so you will know the lie when you hear it and turn away from wrong teaching. Jesus said: John 8:31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (NKJV) They only way you can know the truth and stay away from those who cause division in the church is to read your Bible. Read it, study it, pray, and let the Holy Spirit guide you in everything you see and hear. Let’s pray: Father, open my ears so I will know the lie when I hear it. Help me study Your Word so I will know when someone is teaching something contrary to Your gospel. Let Your Holy Spirit guide me in all truth. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen. Copyright © 11 November 2023 by Valerie Routhieaux The image belongs to me.