UNDERSTANDING THE BIBLE
Pastor Richard Jordan
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"Study
to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be
ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth" (II Timothy 2:15).
In
Ephesians 2 the Apostle Paul sets forth the basic three- fold division
in God's dealings with mankind: Time Past (vs. 11,12), But Now (v.13),
the Ages to Come (v.7). When the Bible is "laid out" according to this
divinely inspired design we easily get an overview of not only what we
are reading but when and to whom it was written. Thus the Word of God
itself provides us with the key to its own proper understanding and
right division:
Time
Past: Ephesians 2:11,12 sets forth the basic issue in Time Past as the
division between the Circumcision and the Uncircumcision, between the
nation Israel and the Gentiles. When you find this issue governing the
way God was working with men, you know you are in Time Past. This covers
the "Old Testament" (see Genesis 17:9-14, Deuteronomy 4:5-8, Numbers
23:9) as well as Matthew thru John (see Romans 15:8, Matthews 10:5,6;
15:24, John 4:22) and the early Acts period (see Luke 24:47, Acts 1:6,8;
2:14,22,36; 5:32; 11:19).
But
Now: Ephesians 2: l3 indicates that in the But Now portion Gentiles are
no longer "far off" but rather the "middle wall of partition" between
Israel and the Gentiles has been eliminated and now "those who were far
off are made nigh." Romans thru Philemon provide the doctrine for the
dispensation of grace (Romans 11: 13; 15;16; 16:25, I Corinthians 14:37,
Ephesians 3:1-9).
The
Ages to Come: God will bring His purposes to fruition and thus
Ephesians 2:7 points to the Ages to Come. The books of Hebrews thru
Revelation focus on this.
The
chart above has demonstrate the importance of the secret, hidden
nature of the present dispensation of grace (Ephesians 3: 1-9). Fold the
chart to hide the "mystery" section and you will see the perfect
continuity of that "which God hath spoken by the mouth of all His holy
prophets since the world began" (Acts 3:21). Open the chart to reveal
the mystery program and you will visualize how the prophetic program has
been temporarily interrupted by "the revelation of the mystery, which
was kept secret since the world began, But now is made manifest" (Romans
16:25,26).
The
present dispensation of grace is "the mystery" hid in God until first
revealed to the Apostle Paul (Ephesians 3:1-9, Colossians 1:24-26,
Romans 16:25,26, I Timothy 2:4-7, Tit. 1:2,3, etc.). Thus in Paul's
writings alone we find the doctrine, position, walk and destiny of the
Body of Christ. Remember: While all Scripture is for us, all Scripture
is not written to or about us. This is the key to understanding the
Bible.
King James Bible
The Preserved and Living Word of God
Posted By Cecil and Connie Spivey
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