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Dispensationalism I - Lesson 4
Attached Audio:
- IMPORTANCE OF DISPENSATIONALISM (Continued)
- Dispensationalism Rightly Divides the Word of Truth
- Dispensationalism distinguishes between things that are different. It shows how God expected different things from different people at different times. Other systems, like covenant theology, have a tendency to erase the line between things that are different in scripture.
- To be correctly understood, God’s word must be rightly divided
- 2 Timothy 2:15Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
See All... – Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. - Matthew 13:52Then said he unto them, Therefore every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old.
See All... – Then said he unto them, Therefore every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old. - 1 Corinthians 2:14But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
See All... – But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. - Scriptural truths which must be rightly divided
- Jew, Gentile and church
- One of the most important distinctions in the Bible
- 1 Corinthians 10:32Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God:
See All... – Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God: - The two advents of Christ
- Prophecies about Christ refer to two comings
- 1 Peter 1:11Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.
See All... – Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. - The two resurrections
- There is one resurrection for the just and another for the unjust
- John 5:28-29 [28] Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,
[29] And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.
See All... – Here, there is not mention of a time difference - Revelation 20:4-6 [4] And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
[5] But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.
[6] Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
See All..., 12-13 – Here, we see that there are at least 1,000 years between the two - The different judgments
- Non-dispensationalists tend to join all the judgments into one general judgment
- The Bible rightly divided shows there to be several judgments taking place at different times and places
- For instance:
- The judgment seat of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:9-10 [9] Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.
[10] For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
See All...) - The judgment of the nations (Matthew 25:31-32 [31] When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:
[32] And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:
See All...) - The great white throne judgment (Revelation 20:11-15 [11] And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.
[12] And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
[13] And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
[14] And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
[15] And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
See All...) - Law and grace
- One great division in the bible is between the time when men were under the law and the present time when they are under grace
- John 1:17For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.
See All... – For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. - Romans 6:14For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
See All... – For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. - The two natures
- The old nature (Mark 7:21-23 [21] For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,
[22] Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness:
[23] All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.
See All...; Romans 7:18-19 [18] For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. [19] For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.
See All...; Romans 8:7-8 [7] Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. [8] So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
See All...) - The new nature (Ephesians 4:24And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
See All...; 2 Corinthians 5:17Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
See All...; 2 Peter 1:4Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
See All...) - The Christian’s battle (Romans 7:14-25 [14] For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.
[15] For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.
[16] If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good.
[17] Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
[18] For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.
[19] For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.
[20] Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
[21] I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.
[22] For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:
[23] But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.
[24] O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
[25] I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.
See All...; Galatians 5:16-17 [16] This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. [17] For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
See All...) - The believer’s standing and state
- A believer’s standing refers to his perfect position in Christ. In Christ, he is pure, sanctified and complete in every way. (Romans 6:6Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
See All...; 1 Corinthians 1:30But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:
See All...; Ephesians 1:5-7 [5] Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, [6] To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. [7] In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
See All...; Ephesians 2:4-6 [4] But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, [5] Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) [6] And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
See All...; Colossians 2:10And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:
See All...; Hebrews 10:10By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
See All..., 14). - A believer’s state refers to his present relationship with Christ. Although his state changes continually, his standing in Christ always remains the same. (Colossians 2:20Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances,
See All...; Colossians 3:1-5 [1] If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. [2] Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. [3] For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. [4] When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. [5] Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:
See All...; 1 Thessalonians 5:5-6 [5] Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. [6] Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.
See All...; Hebrews 10:10By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
See All... with 1 Thessalonians 5:23And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
See All...; Hebrews 10:14For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.
See All... with Philippians 3:12Thou didst march through the land in indignation, thou didst thresh the heathen in anger.
See All...) - The dispensations are another examples of rightly dividing the word. In dispensationalism, we see that God deals with different men at different times in different ways for His own holy purpose.
- PROFILE: Cyrus Ingerson (C. I.) Scofield: American preacher and writer (1843-1921) who promoted dispensational premillennialism. He is most famous for the Scofield Reference Bible of 1917. (Do not confuse this with the New Scofield Reference Bible which changes the notes and alters the text of the King James Bible.) Scofield’s The Word of Truth Rightly Divided is a tremendous introduction to dispensational distinctions in the Bible and is highly recommended. For many years, carrying a Scofield Reference Bible was standard practice in many fundamental churches.