RIGHTLY DIVIDING THE WORD OF TRUTH!
2 Timothy 2:15* - Study to show yourself approved unto God, a servant who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth.
Note: The Bible is the inspired (God breathed) Word of God, and it is ALL profitable for us today.
2 Timothy 3:16-17* - All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the servant of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished with all that is necessary to do good works.
Note: Good works play no role in salvation, but they ALWAYS follow genuine faith (Titus 3:5; Ephesians 2:8-10; etc. It is worth noting that the Lord's instructions sometimes differed from one disciple to another (John 21:18-23; Galatians 2:6-9; etc.).
Galatians 2:6-9* - But of these who seemed to be somewhat, (whatsoever they were, it made no difference to me: God is no respecter of persons) for they who seemed to be somewhat in conference added nothing to me: but just the opposite, when they saw that the Gospel message to the Gentiles was committed unto me, just as the Gospel message to the Jews was unto Peter(For He Who was working in Peter to the apostleship of the Jews, He also was mighty in me toward the Gentiles). And when James, Peter, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the Gentiles, and they unto the Jews.
Note: The Gospel message was the same for both Jews and Gentiles: Jesus died for our sins, He was buried, and God raised Him from the dead to be both Lord and Savior (Acts 2:14-38; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; 1 Timothy 1:1; 2 Peter 3:1-2; etc.).
THERE ARE NATURAL DIVISIONS WITHIN GOD'S WORD!
Genesis 1:1 - 3:7 - The Dispensation of Innocence ended with The Fall - Adam was sinless, but he failed to trust God's Word!
Genesis 3:7 - 9:6 - The Dispensation of Conscience ended with The Flood - Man, having ignored his conscience, was described by God as being filled with wickedness!
Genesis 9:6 - 11:9 - The Dispensation of Human Government - Man was to multiply and fill the earth, but refused to disperse, choosing to build "a tower to heaven." The result was The Scattering which was due to God dividing them by language.
Genesis 12:1 - Exodus 19:8 - The Dispensation of the "Promised Land"; Abraham's family repeatedly chose to "move to Egypt." The result was 400 years of Bondage.
Exodus 19:8 - Acts 2:2 - The Dispensation of the Law - God gave Israel the Law, a "schoolmaster" to teach them of their need for a Savior. When He came, they had their Savior crucified! The Lord has postponed His kingdom! There are still seven years left of this Dispensation (See Daniel 9:24-27; Matthew 24:3-28; Revelation Chapters Six through eighteen; etc.).
Acts 2:2 - Revelation 4:1 - The Dispensation of the Church Age - The Church was a mystery kept hidden from Israel, and as a parenthetical period that corresponds to the time of God's postponement of Christ's kingdom.
Revelation 4:1 - 19:21 - The Completion of the Dispensation of the Law; a.k.a. The Time of Jacob's Trouble; Daniel's Seventieth Week; and The Tribulation.
Revelation 20:1-15 - The Dispensation of the Millennial Kingdom of Christ - The Lord's earthly reign will last 1000 years, to be followed by the Great White Throne Judgment.
Revelation 21:1 - 22:20 - Eternity!
Note: It is very clear that God's instructions varied depending upon to whom He was directing. He did not tell Abraham to build the Temple. He did not tell Adam to build an ark. He did not tell Jonah to kill the residents of Nineveh. He did not tell Joshua to spare the inhabitants of the Promised Land. But, everything changed during the Dispensation of the Church Age. We are not bound to keep the Law. We are not restricted to a specific area of land. We are not longing for Christ's Kingdom, but we are longing to be removed from this earth by the Rapture of the Church (John 14:1-3; 1 Corinthians 15:50-54; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; etc.)!
WHEN SEEKING GOD'S WILL FOR YOUR LIFE,
MAKE SURE YOU READ AND APPLY THE SECTIONS
OF THE BIBLE WHICH ARE ADDRESSED TO THE CHURCH!
ONE THING REMAINS THE SAME THROUGHOUT MAN'S HISTORY:
GOD IS SOVEREIGN AND TRUSTWORTHY; FAITH IN HIM SAVES!
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