Rightly Dividing the Word of Truth. Dispensational chart by Clarance Larkin.

Why do some Christian believe you must Keep the ten commandments to be saved, yet others believe salvation requires no effort whatsoever and is 100% secure from the moment of calling upon the Name of Christ?
Why do some churches teach tithing while others do not?
Why is it that some Christians believe Christianity supports Communism, while others say it supports capitalism?
Why do many Christians believe the Government ought to use compulsion to coerce the Nation into compliance with Biblical morality, yet others like myself believe in a separation of church and state, religious liberty, and maintaining a liberal and tolerant society?

Infidels and Bible critics say this confusion is caused by real internal contradictions within the scriptures. They say the bible is not a perfect divine Revelation but merely a fallible and flawed work, full of Human error, myth, superstition, and Barbaric/ savage ideology. They say the Bible ought to be treated like every other ancient text…that today only fools believe it to be the Word of the True God.

I can sympathise with that view, yet by the grace of God, I have been granted the sight to see through this explanation, and a far greater truth has been revealed to me, the result of which is a powerful faith in the trustworthiness of the scriptures, and the realisation that the primary reason for the chaos within Christianity is because they have failed to grasp their Dispensational nature. The understanding of Dispensational truth highlights another vital aspect about being a Bible believer, in that it exposes what is at stake in regards to the ‘War of the Bibles’… the competition between the hundreds of English translations, and that the King James bible is Superior in every way to the flood of modern Per-versions.
The reality is Dispensational truth is eroded to nothing in the modern translations which leaves The modern church in utter chaos! It is not surprising to me that this has caused many diligent Christians to loose faith in the inerrancy and trustworthiness of the Bible. Ie Modern translations have created a generation of Bible doubters rather than Bible believers.

The primary mistakes made by English speaking Christians which lead them into error are two fold. The first is to abandon the King James Bible in favour of watered down Modern translations, and the second is to jumble up all the scriptures together, ie they have very rude systematic understanding of the scriptures. Many actually believe you can cherry pick any scripture you like and apply it to your life today. Some even practice the superstition of randomly opening up the bible and put their finger on a verse…and believe that that verse is a special message to them from God.
This is folly!
What these childish people fail to realize is that the Scriptures must be carefully and skillfully handled…with great fear and trembling!
*Reverence*

For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ. (2Cor 2vs17)

Furthermore it must be understood that some portions of the Scriptures are Absolute, while other parts are relative. That means some of the truths are universal and unchanging (for example God’s holiness is universally upheld from the very first words in Genesis to the very last words in Revelation), while other truths are relative to specific, times, places, people, etc (for example Mans sinful nature is not a universal truth. There was a time before Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit that they were innocent and sinless, and the bible also talks of a future time when we Sinful Christians will one day be completely renewed and become as sinless as Christ)
Having laid out these two contrasting principles it may appear so obviously rational that for Millions of Christians not to grasp these simple truths seems absurd, yet this is exactly what has happened! It has happened because they have been taught to jumble up, to confound and contort the scriptures and this is how all the various cults and denominations, from the Mormons to the Roman Catholics, all claim to be the true church.

The Habit at the heart of all the false doctrines, is to take scriptures out of their true context and misapply them ‘willy nilly’.
It is my contention that when the scriptures are correctly understood in context… all so-called confusion and contradictions disappear, and portions of scripture that were once dark and a source of Dispute and doubt become fonts of Light and faith… and spiritual wisdom.
God is not the author of Confusion. (1 Corinthians)

*Grab your AV King James Bible if you have one! Also grab your Modern ‘translation’ too so you may compare bibles*.

Perhaps the most important scriptures to apprehend in relation to how the Bible ought to be handled is 2Tim 2vs15. It is a very serious violation that its truth has been utterly distorted and hidden in virtually all modern translations…exposing them to be the works of ignorant and subversive minds.
St Paul reveals the mighty principle that brings order from the apparent Chaos in the second book to Timothy. (2 Tim 2vs 15)
“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, A workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

Firstly you must get hold of the word of truth! Ie you must get a trustworthy translation of the Scriptures in which you can have faith.
Then you must Study it diligently *Rightly Dividing it!*… and this term ‘Rightly diving’ is not merely a figure of speech for ‘rightly interpreting’ the bible. It mean to rightly interpret the Bible * by dividing it up into distinct sections.*
That is the Key to understanding the Bible. The Bible is not to be jumbled into a lump.
We must distinguish the various milestone events which mark off epochs, and signal dispensational changes that occur with the process of time. By Rightly dividing the Bible into its relative dispensations or Ages, the developing plan of God is revealed, each age having its own peculiar characteristics that differ from age to age, yet are part of an overarching scheme.
Divdiing the scriptures dispensationally is essential because while Gods nature does not change, His covenants and how he deals with mankind does change with the process of time, so too does God progressively reveal truth to mankind.
St Augustine’s “Distinguish the ages and the scriptures harmonise” is an appeal to Dispensational truth and the harmony of the scriptures that results.

The scriptures may be laid out as a Timeline (See Larkin chart) that extends from eternity past, right through the creation of the universe to the present time, and then via prophesy projected far into the eternity of the future.
Sometime soon I will provide a list of Dispensational ages and how these result in Doctrinal changes, so that the unique nature of Our current age of grace may be easily distinguishable from other ages such as the age of the Law. I will show the importance of distinguishing the ministry of Jesus Christ and The twelve apostles, from that of our special Apostle of this current Age, The Apostle Paul, and show that they were very different programs in the overall scheme of God, with distinct Gospel messages, and distinct obligations. To keep this message as short as possible I will but point out one subject of dispensational change throughout the ages… that of what God ordains to be Mans food, and breifly show how these differences correlate to dispensational changes…

Adam and Eve.
The Age of innocence.
In The First Chapters of the Book of Genesis Before Man fell into Sin, God gave Man the herb bearing Seed for Food, and the fruit of trees for food. (Gen 1vs 26-29) Except the Fruit of the Tree of the knowledge of Good and evil.(Gen2vs15-17). After Man sinned he was thrown out of the Garden and God covered their Nakedness with the skins of animals. This is where Animal sacrifices and the shedding of blood to cover sin originates. It is probable that after the fall Man also began to eat meat. Abel was a keeper of sheep, while Cain was a tiller of the Ground.
Then after a period of 2000 years, after the Great Flood of Noah, God specifically endorses the Eating of Meat saying “every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you” (except for Cannibalism…taking Mans life being expressly forbidden…’Whoso sheddeth mans blood , by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.”
(Gen 9vs1-6)

Noah gives thanks to God.

The Promise of a Kingdom.
God calls out Abram (Abraham) and makes a covenant with him. God Promises Abraham Land and to be with him and his decendants and that Kings would arise from his seed. And Abraham believed God and it was counted unto him for righteousness. The covenant is sealed via the institution of ritual of Curcumcision.

Abraham separates himself by leaving the Land of Ur and Follows the Lord God into the Land of Cannan.
There Sarahs’ handmaiden begets Abraham Ishmael. Later Sarah begets Isaac, the father of Israel (Jacob)

The Age of the Law.
Later still after approximately 700 years after the Great Flood, God gives Moses a list of ‘Kosher’ Meats as part of the Jewish Law. Under the Mosaic Covenant and Law they were no longer permitted to eat “every moving thing” as Noah and his decedents were allowed under the covenant they had with God Almighty. The Children of Israel under Moses had numerous dietary restrictions designed to make them ‘A peculiar people’ separate from the rest of humanity. They were to be Gods chosen People. From them would the Messiah be born. From them would God demonstrate himself to all mankind. Their covenant with God was conditional upon obedience. Conditional upon Keeping the Law of Moses. Should they live faithfully, God would reward them with blessing and plenty, should they break their covenant , then God would punish them, and so the history of Israel must be understood in relation to their conditional covenant with God. One of The meats they were forbidden to eat was Pork. Below is a Wikipedia link to Kosher foods that you may check out.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kosher_foods

God maintains his covenant with Israel and expands upon it via covenants with King David, and Solomon and from the time of Moses (about 1300bc) to the time of Christ The scriptures record the dealings of God with the children of Israel through times of obedience and blessing, though times of disobedience and judgment, trough times of Repentance and restoration. Christ was born a Jew during this dispensation of the Law, and lived faithfully by the Law of Moses. Thus he was circumcised, and would never have eaten Pork. We are told that Christ was a minister of the circumcision (the Jews), sent to fulfill the promises of God made unto the Fathers (of the Jews… Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, David) (Rom 15vs 8), Christ himself affirming this by saying ‘I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel” (Matt15vs24)… and … “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill.” And it is in the light of this that his Gospel message to the Jews must be understood. His Gospel was “Repent for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand” and this gospel is specifically called ‘the Gospel of the Kingdom’
(Mark 1vs14,15).
Now I will expand upon this subject of Christ ministry to the Jews in following posts yet it is sufficient to note that ‘Christ the King’ was rejected by his people the Jews and he was crucified. St John tell us…”He came unto his own and his own received him not” (John1vs10).
Now What is incredible to understand is that God was not surprised by Israel’s rejection of their Messiah. It was all foretold in many prophecies, and after the resurrection Christ Send Peter and the Apostles to re offer the kingdom to the jews and to preach that the Death of Christ was fulfillment of prophecy and proof that he was their Messiah. They did not preach that Christs death was an act of atonement for Sin because they did not understand that themselves. They preached it as an act of murder, as an act of rebellion and that The Jews stood in mortal danger of the judgment of God for rejecting his Christ.
This is the thrust of the first portion of the Book of Acts.
Yet Though many Jews did believe, ultimately this message from Peter was rejected as well… the Jews beginning a Pogrom of Persecution culminating in the stoning of St Stephen.

The Pharasee Saul (St Paul) holds the coats while St Stephen is stoned to death.

The Age of Grace.
The End of the world could have happened right then and there, yet instead something truly amazing occurred instead.
God reserved Israel for Judgment, yet threw open the gates of Salvation to the whole Gentile world! (The Gate was still open to any Jew whom wanted to be saved yet this New dispensation was completely different. Not part of the Jewish covenants or Law, and so very few Jews were willing to forsake their ancient customs and to join with Gentiles in a completely new Fellowship). What is even more amazing is that God chose one of the very murderers of St Stephen to be his chosen vessel and Apostle of this new Program of Gods Grace. This person was St Paul. The second portion of the book of Acts shows the transition from Peters Jewish nationalistic kingdom ministry to Pauls individualistic Gospel of grace to the gentiles.

Christ Saves the Chief of Sinners as a example of Gods absolute Grace.

Paul said God chose him who was the chief of sinners, to demonstrate his absolute grace which was founded upon the New revelation That Christ death on the cross was a ‘covert operation’ that actually atoned for all the sins of Mankind so that whosoever received Christ, received the Forgiveness of God. *This is a completely New Gospel!* This has nothing to do with establishing Gods kingdom on Earth. We read that the Kingdom of God which was ‘at hand’ was postponed and that Israel instead were to “ fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.Luke21vs24) … because they did not recognize the time of their visitation (Luke19vs44). This punishment being in exact accordance with the conditional covenant they had with God. Thus there was to be both severe Judgment, and Amazing Grace!

St Peter vision which showed him the dispensational change from Law to Grace.

After the failure of his ministry we see that God gave St Peter a special revelation to show him that Things were changing, and this was the vision of Heaven opening and “a great sheet knit at the four corners” being let down to earth: Where in were all manor of Four footed beasts of the Earth and wild creeping things, and fowls of the air. And there came a voice to him, “Rise, kill, and eat.” But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten anything common or unclean. And the voice spake unto him again a second time, “What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.” This was done thrice: and the vessel was received up again into heaven. (Acts 10vs11-16)
Now the significance of this vision is to show Peter that the levitical Laws by which he lived as a Jew were being suspended…in fact superseded by a new dispensation of grace without the works of the Law! This is an incredible dispensational change! This also explains why Christians today can eat Pork and other things that were forbidden under the Jewish Law. We are under a completely different ‘Contract’ with God. We are under his pure Grace, It being revealed through St Paul That Christ took upon him all our sins and that “ Whosoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Romans 10vs13)
I will cut this off here. I hope I have shown enough for readers to appreciate how things change quite dramatically throughout the Bible and grasp the importance of ‘rightly dividing the word of truth.’.
The Bible Is The word of God Almighty.
It is extremely complicated and must be handled with great care and skill.
The world is filled with false prophets and Ministers of Satan… wolves in sheeps clothing whom mishandle the scriptures and contort it into lies. I will discuss this Evil mishandling of the scriptures in more detail in future posts, yet I must leave off now. I pray that you may see the truth of dispensational right division and realize that while all scripture is given by inspiration of God and profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness… that none the less there are important distinctions to be made, and that not every scripture is applicable doctrine for today. This means that we must be careful to give the doctrines of grace as taught by St Paul pre-eminence over the doctrine of other teachers and prophets…even over The 4 gospels which contain the teachings of The lord Jesus Christ himself! As Paul said to the Thessalonians…”For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which ye herd of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God which effectually worketh also in you that believe…” (1Thes2vs13). *Understand that Pauls words are Christs!* specifically given to him for us Gentiles live in the present dispensation of grace, which will soon end with The Rapture and revelation of the Anti-Christ.

Update: 9-12-11. Silly me left several very important portions of scripture out that are relivant to our dispensation!
In relation to what We Christians eat, We are ‘secure in Christ’… so much so that we can even eat meat that has been offered to idols! This ‘Liberty’ is found in 1 Corinthians Chapter 8. Thus as Christians we can safely accept invitations from Non-Christian friends and family to attend their festivals, celebrations etc without fear… and thus show that Christianity is a faith of tollerance, and Good will.

In 1Tim 4vs1-3 our Apostle Paul tell us that now commanding to abstain from meats is a “doctrine of devils”. He says that this falce doctrine will be part of a ‘departure
from the faith’ that will happen ‘in latter times’… thus we see that the church will fall into apostacy and will *Fail to rightly divide the word of truth* and will start to preach jewish legalism instead of Christian grace and will teach that ‘Christians must obey the Old testament Kosher laws… which do not apply in this age of grace.

*This is an important evidence that Doctrines change throughout the scriptures and that what was once commanded, can become itself ‘outlawed’. This is not a contradiction but distinguishes the character of different dispensations*

The Antichrist.

It is a great tragedy that so many so-called Christians are not Bible believers, but treat the word of God as if it is merely the words of Men.
Hear The words of St Paul Himself….

For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe. 1thessalonians 2:13
And…
“For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:
How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,
Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)
Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;
That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:
Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.
Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;
And to make all [men] see what [is] the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:”
Ephesians 3vs1-9.

May God Bless you and open your eyes. Amen.
Tim Wikiriwhi