~ LISTENING CENTER ~

Date: June 3, 2018 Title: Dispensationalism - Pt. 3 The Stewardship of Revelation (cont.) Chart: Open up a copy of the Dispensationalism brochure with Chart Speaker: Bob Corbin Sermon Note Sheet (PDF) Download Audio

* How we interpret what the Bible says IS extremely important! * Should it be taken literally? Should it be considered as a book of good moral precepts, like other religious books? Should it be considered symbolic, or allegorical (in other words, does it mean something different than what it says)? * Two weeks ago we began looking at the importance of "right dividing the Word of truth." * Last week, we began considering the system of interpretation referred to as "Dispensationalism" - which is guided by four presuppositional beliefs: 1) that the Bible should be interpreted using a literal interpretation, 2) that God has progressively given additional revelation to man throughout time, 3) that the unifying purpose of the Scriptures is the glory of God, and 4) that there is a clear distinction between the church and physical Israel. * Succinctly, Dispensationalism is the stewardship of the revelation of God. God, throughout history, has provided additional revelation regarding His person and plan. Additionally, He has given men a stewardship responsibility regarding that revelation. - Biblically, there are specific time-frames (or periods of history) where God has given additional revelation and stewardship responsibilities. Each of these stages of history, or "dispensations," can be marked by a beginning event, additional revelation to believe and obey, the failure of man, and a closing event. * As we concluded last week, we were considering the Biblical evidence for this system of interpretation, by examining passages where Paul declared that God had given him new revelation regarding the "mystery" which He had not disclosed until the time of the church, and considering Jesus' declaration that Jerusalem would be trampled "until the time of the Gentiles was fulfilled." * The goal today is to continue this examination and seeing what the scriptures declare regarding the distinction between Israel and the church.