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Rightly Dividing: the Dispensations

Ephesians 1:10
All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable
I. Our approach to the Word of God is important if we want to
get it right (rightly divide the word of truth).
A. We must be born again. It takes spiritual life and spiritual
discernment to come away with a proper understanding of the Bible.
An example: Thou shalt not kill.
B. We must consider who specific Scriptures were written to.
1. An historical-grammatical approach to reading Scripture helps us
to know what the text meant to those to whom it was written.
2. Because the Bible was written in real life situations more than
2000 years ago, it can be applied to real life situations today.
II. The meaning of dispensation
A. Dispensation is a biblical word found Ephesians 1:10.
It means how things will be administered at that time.
B. The Gk word for dispensation is also found in Luke 16:1-13.
It involves responsibility and accountability
C. A dispensation speaks of the way God rules in this world. And
as we look at the Bible we see that at times things have changed.
The most obvious change is seen between the OT and the NT.
III. Dispensations of the Bible
A. From Adam until Moses there was no written revelation from God.
B. It is possible to see 7 different dispensations in the Bible: (over)
IV. Lessons from the dispensations
A. The apostles faced the ravenous wolves called Judaizers.
B. Are we supposed to keep the Sabbath No.
All of Scripture is profitable for spiritual instruction.

An Overview of the Dispensations


1. Innocence (Gen.1:26-3:24) -- ?? days/weeks
Ruling Factor
Unconfirmed favorable
disposition

Test
Not to eat of the Tree of
the Knowledge of Good &
Evil

Failure/Judgment
Expelled from Eden

2. Conscience (Gen.4:1-8:19) 1,600 years


Ruling Factor

Test

Conscience/restraint by the
Holy Spirit

Working the ground; living


in peace and contentment

Failure/Judgment
Noahs Flood

3. Human Government (Gen.8:20-11:32) 400 years


Ruling Factor
Human Government
instituted to restrain sin

Test
Dispersing throughout the
earth (the Tower of Babel)

Failure/Judgment
Diversity of languages

4. Promise (Gen.12-Ex.18) 550 years


Ruling Factor
Gods special selection and
promise to Abraham

Test
Faith in Gods promises

Failure/Judgment
Problems with the Ishmaelites,
slavery in Egypt

5. Law (Ex.19:1 to the death & resurrection of Christ) 1,450 years


Ruling Factor
The Mosaic Law

Test
if you carefully obey the
voice of the LORD your
God (Deut. 15:5)

Failure/Judgment
The Assyrian and Babylonian
captivities among other judgements; worldwide dispersion

6. Grace (The resurrection through Rev.19:21) 2,000 years


Ruling Factor
Grace (a confirmed
favorable disposition
toward God)

Test
unbelievers: accept Gods
gracious gift;
believers: walk in the Spirit

Failure/Judgment
unbelievers: the judgments of
Rev.6-19; believers:
premature physical death

7. The Millennium (Rev.20; plus many OT prophecies) 1,000 years


Ruling Factor
The righteous reign of
Christ on the earth

Test
Outward obedience is not
enough; the heart must be
a willing and joyful servant

Failure/Judgment
Those who rebel will be
assigned to hell at the final
judgement

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