WHAT WE BELIEVE AND WHY, PT 5

“Dispensational Distinctions; The Key”

II Timothy 2:15

(Intro)

·The dispensational viewpoint; what is that?

·The Bible’s most misunderstood verses

·The “Middle Wall of Partition,” the key to rightly dividing the Word of Truth

I. The Dispensational Viewpoint

A. “Dispensation” definition

1. Not a “time” period

2. “Economy” or “administration”

3. “Particular arrangement”

4. “Formal authorization”

5. “Dispensary;” to dispense

B. The word “dispensation” in the Bible

1. I Corinthians 9:17

2. Ephesians 1:10

3. Ephesians 3:2

4. Colossians 1:25

C. Demonstration of dispensations

1. Agency of access to God

a. Israel/Zechariah 8:20-23

b. Body of Christ/Ephesians 2:13-18

2. Sphere of influence and operation

a. Israel/Earth/Genesis 12:1-3

b. Heaven/Body of Christ/Philippians 3:20

3. Future; Kingdom on the earth

II. The Bible’s Most Misunderstood Verses

A. Old Testament

1. Malachi 3:6

2. God in His nature does not change

3. Man does change

4. God changes His dealings with man

B. New Testament

1. Hebrews 13:8

2. But . . . Hebrews is all about change

a. Hebrews 8:6-13

b. Hebrews 10:9-18

III. The “Middle Wall of Partition” – The Key

A. The key to right division

1. Understand the “middle wall of partition”

2. Built around an exclusive group of people; Abraham and his descendants.

a. Genesis 12:1-3

b. Exodus 11:7

c. John 4:22

B. But now . . . the wall is down

1. Ephesians 2:11-18

2. Galatians 3:26-28

3. I Corinthians 12:13

4. Future – built again; Romans 11:26-29

C. Time line of the wall

1. BuiltGenesis 12:1-3

2. Broken downActs 13:6-12

3. Rebuilt   Romans 11:25

(Conclusion)

·Dispensational Viewpoint clears up so-called Bible contradictions.

·Understand that while God in His nature does not change, man does.

·The key to right division is to understand the “Middle Wall of Partition,”

                        which was built around an exclusive group of people. Its existence or lack

                        of existence reveals the dispensation.