OBS: God's Word is a Progressive Plan (Part.2)
Examples of 'primary' progression and context
In part 1 of this article, we proved that the Bible is a singular PLAN, albeit very intricate. As with any plan (or project), it has a start and an end point, and between these one typically has parts or specific actions that provide progression and momentum to achieve the planned objective. In this part, we will have a look at the divisions of the plan that provide its progress.
Depending on what your focus is, there are many clear divisions in the Bible that can be identified based on period, people group, covenant or promise and various attributes. Our timeline image in the header of the page provides some of the primary divisions, or parts of Gods plan. Some of the primary divisions we can clearly recognize and which we will shortly analyze are, prophecy and mystery, law and grace, Jew (or Circumcised) and Gentile (or Uncircumcised). Some lesser known divisions are, heaven and earth, visible and invisible, and time past - but now - ages to come. There are probably more that can be identified, but I'm sure this provides enough for the concept.
Now, its all good and well to list these out by name, but what does the scriptures say about it. Lets dig into the Word and look at how scripture confirms these divisions.
Prophecy (which relates to Israel only) vs. Mystery
Prophecy and mystery is one of the primary divisions and is clearly identified in the Word. All the way through the Old Testament and Gospels, and even into the beginning of Acts we find references to prophecy which has been proclaimed by prophets since the world began. It is only in Paul's epistles where we find the revealing of mysteries, mysteries which have been kept secret since the world began, but now (at the point when Paul wrote them) are revealed to the world. (see Deut.29:29)
These two passages were spoken during the prophetic period (under law) in our timeline.
Luke 1:67-71 Now his [John] father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying: 68 "Blessed is the Lord God of Israel, for He has visited and redeemed His people, 69 and has raised up a horn [strength, might, conquering] of salvation [Jesus, the Messiah] for us in the house of His servant David, 70 as He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets, who have been since the world began, 71 that we should be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us, ...
Acts 3:19-25 Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, 20 and that He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before, 21 whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began. 25 You are sons of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying to Abraham, 'And in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed.'
These two passages were written by Paul during the mystery period (under grace) in our timeline.
Romans 16:25-26 Now to Him [Christ] who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret since the world began 26 but now made manifest, and by the prophetic Scriptures made known to all nations, ...
Colossians 1:25-27 Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God; 26 Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: 27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:
Can you see the difference in the language and the phrases. The contrast is clear and confirming that there is a dispensational change that has happened between the Old Testament and Gospels and the writings of Paul. Let's reiterate this point one more time,
...which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began...
...according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret since the world began 26 but now made manifest, ...
Something spoken out is not a 'secret' or mystery! The prophets spoke out and made things known about God's plans since the beginning of the world. On the other hand, we have a mystery, something secret that was kept from the understanding of man since the world began, but now, at the time of Paul, was suddenly revealed to humanity. The one is diametrically opposed to the other! These two ideas expressed here cannot be combined! The only explanation is a change in administration. God was dealing with humanity differently from one dispensation to the other. It is up to us to recognize this and to apply this knowledge in other lessons in the Bible. When we do, scripture suddenly becomes real and clear. When we don't, scripture is contradictory and confusing.
Law vs. Grace
There is no doubting the clear distinctions between law and grace in the Bible. The Old Testament and Gospels are ALL about the law. The law was given to Moses for the nation of Israel and the Jews have been under the law since that time. When Jesus started his earthly ministry (directed to the Jews), he taught and upheld the law. See Galatians 4:4 and Matthew 5:17. It is only when we get to Paul's doctrine (the mysteries given to him by revelation from the glorified Jesus Christ) that we start to hear that we are not under the law but under grace. This huge change came about because of the finished cross-work of Christ and the start of a new dispensation that God started through Paul after the Jews were blinded for their unbelief. When you read the scriptures before Pauls epistles, and compare them to what Paul writes, you cannot miss the stark contrast between them, which all points to a clear division between these periods.
These passages were spoken during the prophetic period (under law) in our timeline.
Deuteronomy 27:26 "Cursed is the one who does not confirm [perform] all the words of this law by observing [obeying] them"...
Exodus 21:1 Now these are the ordinances [laws] you [Moses] shall set before them [the Israelites].
Joshua 1:8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it.
These passages were written by Paul during the mystery period (under grace) in our timeline.
Romans 6:14 For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.
Galatians 2:16,19 ...knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ ... 19 For I through the law died to the law that I might live to God.
Romans 7:4 Therefore, my brethren, you also have become dead to the law through the body of Christ,
Times Past, But Now, Ages to Come
The small bars above the timeline at the top of this page point to the periods known as, time past, but now and ages to come. As with all other entries on the timeline image, this too is based on scripture and is mentioned in various passages. One of the clearest passages mentioning these phrases is Ephesians 2, where Paul is in a discourse to the Ephesians about who they were before Christs cross-work versus who they are now in this grace period. These phrases are clearly understood by the dispensations or divisions we have mentioned above.
In addition to these references to time, we also have references to people groups; the circumcised and uncircumcised. Circumcision was the sign given by God to Abraham and distinguishes the Jews as a nation from the uncircumcised Gentile nations.
Ephesians 2:4-13 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: 7 That in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. 11 Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision [ref. Gentiles] by that which is called the Circumcision [ref. Jews] in the flesh made by hands; 12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: 13 But now [ref. Paul's mysteries] in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes [ago] were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
An interesting addition
Conclusion of Week 2
This is the conclusion of Part 2 in our online bible study (OBS) of God's Word as a Progressive Plan. We will continue our study in part 3, showing the divisions in God's Word as we extract even more evidence from scripture to prove that the Bible is a PLAN of God, a blueprint of sorts that lays out the full purpose of God to redeem humanity and restore His creation. The divisions in His plan sets forth the goal to produce two distinct people groups to fill His creation with the glory and righteousness of His Son, Jesus Christ. This is the crowning statement at the point of the fullness of the times as we read in this verse,
Ephesians 1:10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven [the body of Christ], and which are on earth [Israel and the redeemed nations of the millennium kingdom]; even in him:
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