“What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision? Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God.” – Romans 3:1-2

In time past Israel had an advantage over the other nations. Primarily because God spoke to them (Heb 1:1).

They had in their possession instructions and laws guaranteed to be righteous and without error, directly from the hand of God (Exo 31:18).

When they refused to hear the God-sent apostles they were rejecting the words of God in exchange for their own self-righteous religion and pious fervor.

“…they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.” – Rom 10:2

There is no understanding that comes by rejecting God’s words. Judaism rejects twenty-seven books of the Bible.

Their advantage is found in the oracles of God, but when they reject them they are disadvantaged.

The Advantage of Every Man

The same disadvantage exists when people reject the Bible for experience or Christian religion.

The advantage of Israel was the oracles of God. The advantage of every man has always been to believe the Bible.

When Christians reject or neglect the Bible in their passionate pursuit of experiencing God, they are rejecting the only advantage they could ever have.

The advantage of the Christian is not in blind faith or holy enthusiasm, it is in responsibility, use, and belief of the Bible inspired and preserved.

To the degree Christians reject the Bible they are at a disadvantage.

The Advantage of Right Division

Rightly dividing the word of truth comes with a tremendous advantage.

The advantage of right division is knowing God’s will for His church.

Having the Bible is not profitable unless you know how to use it. The church that does not rightly divide the scriptures will be at a great disadvantage.

What was once God’s will may now be the will of the devil (1 Tim 4:3).

What was once unknown may now be known (Col 1:26).

What was once the Lord’s instructions can cause irreparable harm to the church if not rightly divided (Luke 12:33 vs 2 Thess 3:10).

How does the Bible believing Christian believe every word of the Bible if there are apparent contradictions and confusions?

Without right division, the sincere Christian faces a dilemma.

1) They can remain ignorant about God’s will, not knowing which verse to follow, which would be tantamount to never receiving God’s will in the first place.

2) They can reject part of God’s revelation claiming in one passage “it is not what God meant”, “not translated correctly”, or “is a product of man not God”.

Both positions place the Christian in the same position as Israel in rejecting their only advantage – God’s revealed words.

The advantage of right division is that it allows us to understand God’s will and believe every word in the Bible at the same time.

The advantage of every man has always been to believe the Bible. The advantage of the church today is believing the Bible, rightly divided.