THE BIBLE MUST BE "RIGHTLY-DIVIDED" IN ORDER TO BE CORRECTLY INTERPRETED

The Scriptures, when interpreted in their natural, contextual, literal sense, reveal divinely determined dispensations, or rules of life, which define man’s responsibilities in successive ages.  These dispensations are not ways of salvation, but rather divinely ordered stewardships by which God directs man according to His purpose.  Three of these—the Dispensations of Law, of Grace, and of the Millennial Reign of Christ—are the subjects of detailed revelation in Scripture (Jn. 1:17; 1 Cor. 9:17; 2 Cor. 3:9-18; Gal. 3:13-25; Eph. 1:10; Col. 1:24-25; Heb. 7:19; Rev. 20:2-6).

A dispensation is a unique stage in the outworking of God’s program in time, whereby mankind is responsible to believe God, and to obey Him by being a good steward of the particular revelation which God has given (Eph. 3:2,9; Col. 1:25; Ex.34:27-28; Gal. 3:10-12; 1 Tim. 1:4; Eph. 1:10; etc.).  

In order to rightly divide the Word of truth, it is essential to distinguish things that differ from other dispensations.  Examples of these would be the difference between God’s program for Israel and God’s program for the Church (Acts 15:14-17; Rom. 11:25-27), that there is a 1000 year separation between the two resurrections (Rev. 20:4-6), the difference between the various judgments which occur at different times (2 Cor. 5:10; Mt. 25:31-46; Rev. 20:11-15), the difference between Law and Grace (Jn. 1:17; Rom. 6:14-15; 7:1-6), and the difference between Christ’s present position at the right hand of the Father as the Church’s Lord, and Christ’s future position as Israel’s Millennial King on the Davidic Throne (Heb. 1:3; 10:12-13; Acts 15:16; Lk. 1:32).

The Church is a distinct body of believers which was not present on earth during the Old Testament period, and which is not the subject of Old Testament prophecy (Eph. 3:1-9; Col. 1:25-27).  In accord with God’s program and timetable, the Church is on earth between the two advents of Christ.  The beginning of the Church took place after the conclusion of Daniel’s 69th week, on the Day of Pentecost, and the completion of the Church’s ministry on earth will take place at the rapture, prior to the commencement of Daniel’s 70th week (Dan. 9:24,27; Acts 2:1-47).  During this interval of time, God is visiting the nations to call out a people for His name (Acts 15:14-16; Eph. 3: 1-11; Rom. 11:25).

God will literally fulfill His covenant and kingdom promises to the nation of Israel just as the prophets foretold (Gen. 12:2-3; 15:18-21; Deut. 30:3-10; 2 Sam. 7:4-17; Jer. 31:31-37; 33:15-26). The promises of the Abrahamic Covenant (Gen. 12, 15, 17), the Davidic Covenant (2 Sam. 7), and the New Covenant (Jer. 31), were made unconditionally to the nation of Israel; during the 1000 years, these covenant promises to Israel will be literally fulfilled (Jer. 31:31-37; 33:14-26; Ezek. 36:25-28, 40-48; Rom. 11:23-32).

The Church is not the "new Israel" or the "spiritual Israel," but rather "one new man" created of two groups:  saved Jews and saved Gentiles (Eph. 2:15; 1 Cor. 10:32). The terms "Israel," "Israelite," and "Jew," are used in the New Testament to refer to the nation Israel.  Believing Gentiles are not Israelites; they are not the sons of Jacob.  The Israelites are carefully defined by Paul (Rom. 9:4-5). 

In every dispensation, God’s distinctive programs are outworked for His great Name’s sake, and in every dispensation, persons have been saved by grace through faith (Eph. 2:8; Gen. 15:6; Heb. 11:4-7; Rom. 4:1-8). The glory of God is the determining principle and overall purpose for God’s dealings with men in every age.  That is, God is manifesting Himself to men and to angels, so that all might be to the praise of His glory (Eph. 1:6,12,14; 3:21; Rom. 11:33-36; 16:27; Isa. 43:7; 1 Tim. 1:17).   

Adapted from:  The Middletown Bible Church study materials, Middletown, Conn.  

THE WORD OF GOD IS TRUE WHEN IT IS RIGHTLY DIVIDED!