"Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers. Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." (2 Timothy 2:14-15)

The word rightly dividing in verse 15 means "cutting it straight." Cutting too much or too little can have disastrous results. What we need most when we want to interpret the Word of God is precision. Let this word always be in your thoughts each time you handle God’s Word, whether it is for your own personal benefit, or for a Bible study group or for a Sunday School class – Precision! In this passage of Scripture we can find five reasons why the Bible must be interpreted accurately, with precision.

1. Disappointment: (v.14 – "words to no profit") Instead of interpreting the Scriptures carefully, some were caught up in irrelevant discussions and debates over words. Timothy was told to charge them to stop doing this. Why? Because people would not gain any value, profit or benefit from them. They would be disappointed. In the same way, if we do not rightly divide God’s Word and apply it correctly our words would be to no profit. People would come, expecting to receive the inerrant, powerful Word only to depart with a message that has no power to comfort and transform their lives.

2. Damage: Without God’s Word correctly interpreted there would be ruined Christians (v. 14 – "subverting of hearers"). It may interest you to know that the original word in Greek for the word "subverting" in this verse is katastrophe. A catastrophe of great proportions can result if we wrongly divide the Word of Truth! In v.17 Paul mentions two Bible teachers at Ephesus named Hymenaeus and Philetus who had not rightly divided the Word. They were teaching the church that the resurrection of believers had already taken place. And the faith of some had already been greatly upset by this false teaching.

3. Distinction: (v.15 – "Study to shew thyself approved unto God.") Those who interpret the Word accurately have the distinction of being approved unto God. There is no greater distinction for any mortal creature than to be approved unto Him! You might say that God is our auditor or checker who will grade our work to see what quality it is. Shoddy work is unacceptable. Therefore we must put in our best efforts.

4. Duty: (v.15 – "a workman that needeth not to be ashamed") Those who handle God’s Word must have an awesome sense of duty, particularly if they intend to pass it on to someone else. Those who are careless with this duty will one day stand ashamed before God.

5. Demands: (v.15 – "rightly dividing the Word of truth") Since the Bible is none other than the providentially preserved Word of God, given by inspiration of God Himself, it demands our very best in reading, interpreting, obeying and teaching.

Since God’s authority is obviously higher than parental authority, there will be times when God has to be obeyed rather than one’s parents. Obedience should not be given when parents require their children to do something that goes against God’s commands.

Jesus Himself had taught His disciples that they must love and honour Him more than anyone else: "He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me." (Matthew 10:37)

"And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name’s sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life." (Matthew 19:29)

With this understanding of the 5th Commandment, it would clearly be wrong for Far Eastern Bible College (FEBC) to invoke the law of filial piety against Life B-P Church in order to make out a case for a college which propagates heresy* to continue operating within the church’s premises.

Another part of the Word of Truth that has been interpreted incorrectly or misapplied is Deuteronomy 19:14 – "Thou shalt not remove thy neighbour’s landmark, which they of old time have set in thine inheritance, which thou shalt inherit in the land that the LORD thy God giveth thee to possess it."

This law strictly forbade the Israelites from moving any property boundary stones. The word ‘landmark’ here does not refer to a building (as the term ‘landmark’ is understood today) but to a stone or post that was used as a boundary marker. Once the tribal and family boundaries were allotted in the original division of the land, they were to be considered inviolable. Keeping this law would maintain the boundaries and avoid unnecessary disputes.

This law can only be correctly understood in the context of God’s gift to Israel of the Land of promise which was Canaan, as mentioned in the latter part of v.14 – "…which thou shalt inherit in the land that the LORD thy God giveth thee to possess it." There were conditions for Israel’s continued tenure of the Land: "Ye shall therefore keep all my statutes, and all my judgments, and do them: that the land, whither I bring you to dwell therein, spue you not out." (Leviticus 20:22)

At the time when the law of ancient landmarks was given to the Israelites, it was towards the end of Israel’s desert wanderings and they were right at the doorstep of the Promised Land. Although the Canaanites already occupied the Land, God had removed their rights to it because of their sins against Him, and given those rights to Israel. But later on, when Israel went after other gods and broke God’s laws, they were also dispossessed of the land. God therefore spoke to Israel:

"And I brought you into a plentiful country, to eat the fruit thereof and the goodness thereof; but when ye entered, ye defiled my land, and made mine heritage an abomination." (Jeremiah 2:7)

The Assyrians conquered the northern tribes and took them into captivity in 722 BC, and the Babylonians took the Jews away from the Land in 586 BC. "Then will I cut off Israel out of the land which I have given them…" (1 Kings 9:7)

This teaches us an important principle: The Lord may at times see fit to remove anyone who has defiled His inheritance: "If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are." (1 Corinthians 3:17) Knowing this will keep us from becoming like the complacent Jews who thought that they could never be removed from their land because it was their home and their divine inheritance from God.

In view of the above understanding of Deuteronomy 19:14, it would clearly be wrong to invoke the law of ancient landmarks against our church that has sole legal ownership of its own premises. In fact, the ‘landmark’ – which in today’s context would be in the form of a legal title document of the property – had been given to the church.

The church is to use the property for worship and to support various ministries such as a college, kindergarten, fellowship groups; and other churches that are in need of a place for worship. The church has no obligation to allow on its premises, FEBC or any group that insists on propagating a heresy*. Failing on our part to use the property for the glory of God, by allowing the propagation of a heresy* within it will result in His judgment and chastisement on us, even the dispossession of the property.

As much as the church will continue to teach the law of filial piety and wants to continue to be charitable by sharing the use of its premises with FEBC, it cannot do so by disobeying the plain commands that Christ has given in His Word:

"We ought to obey God rather than men." (Acts 5:29)

"Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them." (Romans 16:17)

"A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject." (Titus 3:10)

"Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us." (2 Thessalonians 3:6)

"Can two walk together, except they be agreed?" (Amos 3:3)

Therefore, let us all study to show ourselves approved unto God, as workmen that do not need to be ashamed. And let us be especially careful to rightly divide the Word of Truth, in order that souls may be saved and the saints may be edified! – Pastor

(*For details about the heresy please read the article, Mark Them Which Cause Divisions at http://www.lifebpc.com/ourstand/markthem.htm )

On 25 January 2008 (see http://www.lifebpc.com/ourstand/stmtrelations.htm ) the Board of Elders had made a statement declaring that: "Life B-P Church will request FEBC to give an undertaking that they will not promote the VPP doctrine in our premises; otherwise we will have to ask the college to vacate the premises. Please pray that the Lord will grant us an amicable resolution in the coming months."

On 28 January 2008 we requested the College to give the abovementioned undertaking by 15 February 2008 and stated: "…In the event that the College is not prepared to give us the said undertaking, we regret that the continued use of our Premises would be unedifying to our members and we would require the College to vacate and deliver vacant possession of the Premises to the Church by 30 June 2008. The parsonage will remain available to Rev (Dr) Timothy Tow, the founding Pastor."

On 12 February 2008 the College responded by claiming that the properties at 9 and 9A Gilstead Road are owned by both Life BPC and FEBC and proposing that "a mediatorial meeting be convened between Life BPC and FEBC so that an amicable solution could be arrived at to the satisfaction of both parties…"

On 1 March 2008 we wrote to reject this claim of co-ownership, and replied that the conciliatory meeting cannot take place unless the College rightfully recognizes that the Church has sole legal ownership of the premises. As the deadline for giving the written undertaking had passed, the College had clearly rejected our attempt to accommodate them. We therefore sent a letter requesting the College to vacate the premises by 30 June 2008.

On 16 June 2008, the College sent a letter in which they stated that they are intent on staying put on the premises. In that letter, they misapplied "The inexorable law of filial piety and of ancient landmarks" against the Church (see the preceding article, Rightly Dividing the Word of Truth for a proper perspective based on Scripture).

The College also made plans to continue its promotion of the VPP heresy in our Church premises. The registration form for its night classes for July to November 2008 includes the following in the course synopsis: "...The importance of studying the Westminster Standards cannot be emphasised enough. Of the utmost importance is the fundamental doctrine of the Holy Scriptures which forms the basis for every other doctrine of the Christian Faith. Learn about the Verbal Plenary Inspiration and Verbal Plenary Preservation of the Holy Scriptures of which the Westminster Confession of Faith has much to say."

In view of the above, Life B-P Church will decouple from FEBC and commence action to recover possession of the part of the Church Premises used by the College. As of 1 July 2008 FEBC ceased to have our permission to remain on or use the Church premises.

—The Board of Elders of Life B-P Church, 6th July 2008

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1) Scripture Memory Verse Review 2: Please submit the written review exercise by 13 Jul 08. Review No. 1 sheets are also available for those who missed it. Obtainable at the front counter.

2) Awana Camp CDs 2008 on sale at front of Sanctuary after 1st & 2nd Services today. Thereafter, get the CDs from RTL Office after Service time. CD at S$1/- per copy.

3) Myanmar Cyclone Relief : Members are advised to refrain from making further contributions in support of Christian relief as we have collected more than sufficient funds to meet the present needs brought to our attention.

4) Wednesday Night Bible Class. Old Testament Survey (Part 1) by Rev Charles Seet. 7:30 to 9:30 pm at the Chinese Service Hall. If you were not able to attend the first class last Wednesday, you can still join the class this Wed, 9 Jul 08.

5) ASM Life Learning Night Classes. A.Spiritual Formation - Dynamics, foundations, principles and stages of Spiritual growth. 14 Monday nights beginning July 7. Teacher-facilitator: Rev Goh Seng Fong. Registration fees: $20.

B. Growing through the Study of the Epistle to the Philippians - Joy in trials. 14 Thursday nights beginning July 10. Teacher-facilitator: Rev Yap Beng Shin. Registration fees: $20. All welcome at Life BP Church, 9A, Gilstead Road (7.30pm to 9.30pm). Register at johnching.asm@gmail.com.