We have begun our much anticipated walk through, what I believe to be the single most important Bible study chart available, to help anyone comprehend their Bible. The definition of the word “dispensation” is on the board below. Seeing how your Bible is divided into separate dispensations or ages of time in which God dispensed his plan of grace toward mankind, or a portion of mankind, in respect of sin and man’s responsibility toward sin, is important to see when studying God’s Word. As time progresses through the Bible, God’s plan for man becomes more defined, as man’s accountability becomes greater.
I made a statement concerning “comparing scripture with scripture” and looking to the Bible to interpret itself, and define itself, as being our chief source for understanding what the Bible says and means in any given book. I did not mean to say that outside resources are without value. None of us have the ability to go anywhere in scripture and have full knowledge of what we are reading. Books written by reputable Bible students can be a great help in understanding unclear scriptures. What I do want to say is that we should go to outside books as a secondary source of guidance, and let the Bible be the primary source. We should always look to clear scriptures to help interpret unclear scriptures, and use the works of faithful men to give us more scriptures that shed light on any particular subject matter, whether it be sin and salvation, or history, or things to come / prophecy, etc.
Every scripture has three basic applications:
The STHA — Simple Treasure Historic Application: Someone wrote it to a particular person or group of people at a particular time in history.
The PTDA — Personal Treasure Devotional Application: Regardless of what book of the Bible you may be reading, the Holy Spirit can direct you to gain a devotional principle that you can apply in your life to help you grow stronger in your personal journey into spiritual maturity.
The DTDA — Deep Treasure Doctrinal Application: Each book or chapter or section or verses within a chapter has a context that can reveal the teaching of a particular doctrine essential to understanding God’s eternal plan for man as an individual, or for Israel, as a nation, etc.
We must grasp the central theme of the Bible is about a king and a kingdom. It is about authority. Who is in charge of this world system, and what direction it is going. From the beginning of time, God’s plan to have the only rightful and true monarch seated and ruling in this world, has been implemented. Regardless of Satan’s efforts to derail that plan, or man’s rejection of the holy, sovereign creator God of the universe, Messiah King Jesus will have the victory. He has already conquered death, hell, and the grave. He has already paid the sin debt for humanity, as the Lamb of God. He has been given all power and total authority to judge this world, and the god it serves.
2 Timothy 4:1: I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;
Jesus Christ, God the Son, is the judge of this world! The prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience, the devil’s time is running out, and God will fulfill his plan for man, for the earth, and for the heavens. I am so excited to walk through this Bible study chart with you over the next few weeks. Stay faithful in your study, and you will receive an incredible tool to assist you in your spiritual journey.