We are beginning our study of the Hebrew / Jewish epistles. I am very excited about using the three basic applications of scripture as we walk through these books together. Please make sure to be in class each Sunday, because you will gain understanding of how to deal with these potentially dangerous books if they are not rightly divided.
Today, we began laying the foundation to rightly dividing these “general” Jewish epistles. We must be careful to not read mail that is to the Jews and directly apply it to this dispensation of grace as doctrine. We broke down 2 Chronicles 7, focusing on verse 14, and Ezekiel 36, focusing on v.25-26 to illustrate how use the three applications of Bible study below to help guide us into a clear understanding of the text.
The first scripture is used often to stir up our hearts to pray for America.
2 Chronicles 7:14: If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
Of course, the historic application (context) has to do with the dedication of Solomon's Temple. There can be a devotional / inspirational application to call for God's people to pray for our nation and its leaders to turn to the Lord. But, the doctrinal / prophetic application is strictly a warning to Israel when she departs from God's protection, the steps to return to His grace and mercy. Since all our sins in this dispensation of grace have been forgiven through the finished cross work of Jesus Christ, this verse does not apply to us in any doctrinal way. Ephesians 4:32
The second scripture has been used recently to describe the condition of a lost man's heart, and how God will change the heart of stone to a heart of flesh. The context of Ezekiel 36 is all about the restoration of Israel at the 2nd Advent. Ezekiel is in captivity under the Babylonians, so the STHA is simple. He is writing this book during captivity. The PTDA can be used to devotionally apply the state of an individual's heart being similar to the heart of Israel described here.
Ezekiel 36:25-27: Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.
Once again, the DTDA, the prophetic application, which is the clear teaching, describes the nation of Israel being brought back into fellowship with God in preparation of the messianic kingdom. The prophetic application needs to be understood before any devotional application can be explored. This will protect the sincere, honest Bible student from misapplying direct docrtinal truth.
We know our spiritual condition before salvation as described in Ephesians.
Ephesians 2:1-5: And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
Ephesians 1:13-14: In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.
As you can see, individuals in the dispensation of the grace of God are described very similar to the nation of Israel in need of salvation at the end of the tribulation. The difference being our sins have been forgiven and we receive salvation by believing in the finished work of Christ for our justification. The nation of Israel, on the other hand, will still need to be saved by the Deliverer and forgiven.
Romans 11:25-27: For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.
The three basic applications of Bible study:
Simple Treasure Historic Application (STHA): The events we read in scripture really happened to real people at a particular time in history. Understanding the historical context is vital to proper interpretation and to make the second application meaningful.
Personal Treasure Devotional Application (PTDA): We learn lessons from the real events. situations, and experiences of those real people in the historical application that we can apply devotionally / inspirationally to our own lives as we face similar situations and circumstances.
Deep Treasure Doctrinal Application (DTDA): Also known as the prophetic application, identifies what an event or situation in history foreshadows or pictures prophetic events yet to be fulfilled. It is the real teaching of the passage. Doctrine = teaching! This Application employs strict rules of Bible study to make consistent prophetic applications. 2 Timothy 3:16-17, Titus 2:1
Definition of a Dispensation (House Rules) A dispensation is an economy of time in which a stewardship of God's grace and plan is dispensed to an individual or group through progressive revelation. God dispensed a new set of “House Laws or Rules” that needed to be followed and was the responsibility of those who lived under them to carry out and obey. (Ex: Presidential Administrations / executive orders) Each dispensation builds upon the previous dispensation revealing more of God's plan to mankind. Belief / faith and obedience are the key ingredients to a healthy relationship with God in each dispensation. We are under “the dispensation of the grace of God.” This current administration is an administration of grace. The House is managed by grace. We are saved by grace, our walk is a grace walk, etc.. The letters of Paul provide us with our “House Rules” that we are to directly live by in this dispensation of grace.
