God's Plan of the Ages
Ephesians 1:9-10
Spiritual Powerhouses 1
September 5, 2010 – Sunday AM
Simon Goncharenko
21 Fellowship, SBC
Seven different ways that God relates to men on the pages of Scripture
(Dispensation – a distinguishable economy in the outworking of God’s purpose):
I. Innocence – Genesis 1-2.
II. Conscience – Genesis 3-4.
III. Government – Genesis 8-9.
IV. Promise – Genesis 12- Exodus 18.
V. Law – Exodus 19 – Malachi 4.
VI. Grace (Church Age) – Matthew 1 – Revelation 19.
VII. Kingdom / Restoration of Israel – Revelation 20.
The reasons why this way of interpreting the Scripture is most sensible:
1. Israel and the church are distinct in God’s plan – we are not new Israel.
2. Literal (plain, normal) interpretation of the Bible (historical-grammatical) – consistency.
3. God’s underlying purpose in the world – His Glory (Salvation of the lost – means to glorifying God (Himself) and not the main point of the Bible).
Resources for Further Study:
1. Scofield Reference Bible.
2. Charles C. Ryrie. Dispensationalism. Chicago: Moody Publishers, 2007.