 |
Bible Study
Topic: Dispensation: Law and Grace
Text: Eph. 2:7-10
Memory Verse: Deut.29:29 – The secrect things belong unto the Lord our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and our children for ever that we may do all the words of this law.
INTRODUCTION: The Bible contains many types of truths such as models, commands, options, negations, principles, etc. It also speaks about people of God such as Jews and the Church. It records God’s dealing with these people at different times, called dispensations since the Bible is not written in the form of an Academic Textbook, it require some effort and the help of the HolySpirit to understand these divinely inspired truths. I pray that the HolySpirit teach us and give us understanding in Jesus name Amen.
DISPENSATIONS: The scriptures divide time (by which is ment the entire period from the creation of Adam to the new heaven and new earth) into seven unequal periods, usually called dispensations (Eph.2:7), these periods are also called ages (Eph.2:7) and days, as in the day of the Lord.These periods are marked off in scripture by some changes in God’s method of dealing with mankind in respect to two questions: (1) of sin (2) of man’s responsibility. The dispensations are:
MAN INNOCENT: From creation of Adam in Gen.2:7 to the expulsion from Eden. (Gen.1:26,Gen2:16,17;Gen.3:6;Gen.3:22-24)
MAN UNDER CONSCIENCE: Adam and Eve acquired and transmitted to the race knowledge of good and evil. This gave conscience a basis for right moral judgment. (Gen.3:7,22;Gen.6:5,11-12;Gen.7:11-12,23)
MAN IN AUTHORITY OVER THE EARTH: Noah and his sons were given the purified earth with power to govern it. (Gen.9:1,2;Gen.11:1-4,Gen.11:5-8)
MAN UNDER PROMISE: Out of the dispersed descendants of the builders of Babel, God called one man abram, with whom He enters into covenant. (Gen.12:1-3,Gen.13:14-17,Gen.15:5,Gen.26:3,Gen.28:12-13,Ex.1:13-14)
MAN UNDER LAW: God came to the help of helpless man and redeemed His chosen people out of the hand of the oppressor into the wilderness of Sinai and proposed to them the covenaat of law. (Ex.19:1-8,2kings17:1-18;2kings25:1-11;Acts2:22-23)
MAN UNDER GRACE: The sacrificial death of the Lord JesusChrist introduced the dispensation of pure grace. (Jn 6:29;49.Jn5:24, Eph.2:8-9)
MAN UNDER THE PERSONAL REIGN OF CHRIST: After the purifying judgments which attend the personal return of Christ to the earth, He will reign over restored Israel and over the earth for one thousand years. (Isa.2:1-4;Isa.11,Acts15:14-17,Rev.19:11-21,Rev.20:1-6)
THE LAW
What the law is? (Rom.7:12; Rom7:14; 22, 1Tim.1:8, Gal.3:12)
WHAT THE LAW DOES?
No justification (Rom.3:20)
The law is dead (Gal.3:19)
Makes you guility (Rom.3:19,James2:10)
The law places a curse on you. (Gal3:10)
It ministers death (2Cor.3:9,Rom7:9)
GRACE
WHAT IS GRACE? Grace is unmerited favour (Eph.2:7,Titus3:4-5)
WHAT GRACE DOES?
Grace is different from the law. Similarly the purpose of grace is also different.
Grace saves through faith. (Eph.2:8-9)
Grace brings salvation (Titus2:11-13)
Grace justifies (Titus3:7)
Grace gives access to faith. (Rom.5:2)
Grace makes us aacceptable (Eph.1:6-7)
Grace disconects you from the law (Heb.12:18-24)
WHAT IS THE BELIVERS RULE OF LIFE
The believer is not under the law (Romans 6). He has a new rule of life which he lives by. The new law which is easier than the old law, but on the other side is tough compared to it. (Jn.13:15, Eph.5:15-16, Jn.14:21)
CONCLUSION: You are not under the law, so you do not live by the law but by Grace.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)