Death reigned until grace revealed: "Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come" (Romans 5:14 KJV)
Understanding salvation through time requires right division. Paul explains previous dispensations while clearly showing our position in the current dispensation of grace.
Faith Always Required
Abraham's pattern: "For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness" (Romans 4:3 KJV)
Death's reign: "Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses" (Romans 5:14 KJV)
Faith credited: "Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness" (Galatians 3:6 KJV)
Faith maintenance required: "The just shall live by faith" (Hebrews 10:38 KJV)
God's Dealings Explained
Christ as second Adam: "The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit" (1 Corinthians 15:45 KJV)
Sin's entrance: "Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned" (Romans 5:12 KJV)
Before law given: "For until the law sin was in the world" (Romans 5:13 KJV)
Water Baptism Required
Physical water baptism: "John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins" (Mark 1:4 KJV)
Baptism for remission: "Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." (Acts 2:38 KJV)
Required for salvation: "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved" (Mark 16:16 KJV)
Maintained Faith Required
Endurance necessary: "He that endureth to the end shall be saved" (Matthew 24:13 KJV)
Works evidence faith: "Faith without works is dead" (James 2:20 KJV)
Continuous faithfulness: "But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved" (Matthew 24:13 KJV)
Added to Faith
Law's addition: "Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions" (Galatians 3:19 KJV)
Temporary measure: "The law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ" (Galatians 3:24 KJV)
Sin's knowledge: "For by the law is the knowledge of sin" (Romans 3:20 KJV)
National Focus
Special privileges: "Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises" (Romans 9:4 KJV)
Advantage explained: "What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision? Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God." (Romans 3:1-2 KJV)
Unique position: "Ye men of Israel, hear these words" (Acts 2:22 KJV)
Sealed at Moment of Belief
Instant sealing: "In whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise" (Ephesians 1:13 KJV)
Permanent salvation: "And ye are complete in him" (Colossians 2:10 KJV)
Present possession: "Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling" (2 Timothy 1:9 KJV)
No Water Required
Spirit baptism only: "One Lord, one faith, one baptism" (Ephesians 4:5 KJV)
Into Body of Christ: "For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body" (1 Corinthians 12:13 KJV)
No water baptism: "For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel" (1 Corinthians 1:17 KJV)
New Operation
Grace position: "But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ" (Ephesians 2:13 KJV)
Law ended: "For ye are not under the law, but under grace" (Romans 6:14 KJV)
Free justification: "Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus" (Romans 3:24 KJV)
No National Distinction
All equal: "For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek" (Romans 10:12 KJV)
Distinctions removed: "Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision" (Colossians 3:11 KJV)
One body: "For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles" (1 Corinthians 12:13 KJV)
Faith Must Be Maintained
Endurance commanded: "But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved" (Matthew 24:13 KJV)
Faithfulness required: "Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life" (Revelation 2:10 KJV)
Works evidence: "I will give unto every one of you according to your works" (Revelation 2:23 KJV)
After Body Removed
Israel's salvation: "And so all Israel shall be saved" (Romans 11:26 KJV)
Kingdom restored: "After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David" (Acts 15:16 KJV)
Promises fulfilled: "For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins" (Romans 11:27 KJV)
All Scripture Profitable
Learning purpose: "For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning" (Romans 15:4 KJV)
Examples given: "Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples" (1 Corinthians 10:11 KJV)
Liberty today: "Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days" (Colossians 2:16 KJV)
Understanding Salvation Changes:
Shows God's purpose
Clarifies our position
Maintains pure gospel
Guides our ministry
Faith always required
Now saved by grace alone
Complete in Christ
No works needed
#Salvation #RightDivision #MidActs #Dispensationalism #GraceMessage #BibleStudy