OBS: God's Word is a Progressive Plan (Part.1)
Consider a plan or project. Logically, it has a starting point and an end. Between the start and end there are a series of steps, or actions, that navigate those involved in the project to the end result. If there is deviation from the planned steps or actions, the project flow is disrupted and complications can occur.
Take for example building a house. First, it must be planned out via blueprint. Next a plot must be bought. After this one must lay a foundation, built the walls and finally add the roof. These are the basic sequence of steps involved. But say the builders mix things up and start building the roof first! They have deviated from the plan and the whole project is affected. To take this example one step further, consider the materials used to build a house. One cannot use bricks to build the roof, or roof slates to build the walls.
Now, let me get to my point. Have you ever considered the bible to be the plan, or project that God put together for the redemption of humanity. This I'll prove with scripture shortly, but if the bible is a plan, then it will logically have a starting point and an end. Between the start and end there will be a series of steps or actions that will lead those involved to the end result. And, should I venture to say that, if these steps get mixed up or deviated from, it would cause complications, misunderstandings and confusion.
I'm sure you can see where I'm going to with this.
Using this simple example above, I aim to draw your attention to the critical importance of studying the bible in the right context, with the right sequence of events in mind, understanding what material belongs to what part of the plan and avoiding mixing actions or materials. If you study the bible with this in mind you will discover some incredible truths and you will find that there is no complications, confusions or contradictions. Things will fall into place and you will find wonder and revelation in the full plan of God to bring about the incredible redemption of humanity and the ultimate goal of glorifying Jesus Christ in the fulness of the times.
Now, let me bring you to the scriptures. What does the scriptures say about the above? Is there merit and confirmation to my allegory above?
As for the bible being God's plan and considering the order and progression of this plan, let's look at the following verses,
Isaiah 46:10 Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done, Saying, 'My counsel [Strongs 6098. Heb. "etsah" - plan, purpose, designs, advisement] shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure,'
Before the foundations of the world, God put together a plan and predestined all these things to happen according to His counsel and good pleasure. But, does this plan have progression? Is there parts or actions to this plan? Lets consider the next verse,
Galatians 4:4-5 But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, ...
'The fullness of the time' expresses that there was an exact point in the timeline when Jesus Christ had to be born. This indicates a very specific moment! Not too soon, or not too late! There are many reasons for this exact moment which we can analyze at another time, but this is a very clear proof that God's plan had a structure, and that timing was clearly evident.
Additional scriptures: Psalm 33:11, Isaiah 49:5-6, 1 Peter 1:20, Ephesians 1:4-5
One last scripture that can add truth to my considerations above is,
2 Timothy 2:15 Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
Why would Paul have told Timothy to study the scriptures and to ensure he divides them correctly? Well, wouldn't it be necessary if the scriptures were to be seen as an extended and very elaborate PLAN, comprising many complimentary, yet fundamentally different parts, actions and periods.
Now that we have determined that the Bible could be seen as a blueprint of a plan that God has to redeem humanity, lets start to identify the very specific and progressive 'parts' of this plan, to see where we can find the divisions in scripture; the moments where one part becomes another, where one dispensation ends and another begins.
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