What is Right Division? Understanding Mid-Acts Dispensationalism Key Scripture "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth" (2 Timothy 2:15 KJV)
Introduction Have you ever wondered why the Bible seems to contain contradicting instructions? Why some verses require water baptism for salvation while others say we're saved by faith alone? The answer lies in "right division" - understanding that God deals differently with people in different time periods.
Three Key Time Periods
Time Past
God worked through Israel: "You only have I known of all the families of the earth" (Amos 3:2 KJV)
Everything openly prophesied: "As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began" (Luke 1:70 KJV)
Required water baptism: "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)
Works required: "And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? And he said unto him...if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments" (Matthew 19:16-17 KJV)
Through Israel to others: "Salvation is of the Jews" (John 4:22 KJV)
But Now
Began with Paul's conversion: "But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles" (Acts 9:15 KJV)
Mystery revealed: "Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints" (Colossians 1:26 KJV)
Salvation by grace: "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast" (Ephesians 2:8-9 KJV)
Paul's saving gospel: "Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures" (1 Corinthians 15:1-4 KJV)
No national distinctions: "Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all" (Colossians 3:11 KJV)
Heavenly focus: "Who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ" (Ephesians 1:3 KJV)
Ages to Come
Israel's future restoration: "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:" (Romans 11:26 KJV)
Kingdom established: "And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever (Daniel 2:44 KJV)
Why Mid-Acts?
Paul's conversion in Acts 9: "And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?" (Acts 9:3-4 KJV)
Paul's unique apostleship: "For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office" (Romans 11:13 KJV)
Different gospel committed to Paul: "But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter" (Galatians 2:7 KJV)
Mystery revealed to Paul: "How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery" (Ephesians 3:3 KJV)
This shows why we call it Mid-Acts: Paul's conversion and the beginning of the mystery program occurs approximately in the middle of the book of Acts (chapter 9), marking the transition from God's prophetic program with Israel to the current dispensation of grace.
Key Differences Today
Faith alone saves: "Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law" (Romans 3:28 KJV)
No water baptism: "For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel" (1 Corinthians 1:17 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)
Heavenly hope: "For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour" (Philippians 3:20 KJV)
Follow Paul's Pattern as Given by Christ
Christ appointed Paul as our pattern: "Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting" (1 Timothy 1:16 KJV)
Following Paul leads to Christ: "Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ" (1 Corinthians 11:1 KJV)
Just as Israel followed Moses: "And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea" (1 Corinthians 10:2 KJV)
And kingdom saints followed the twelve: "Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship" (Acts 2:41-42 KJV)
Remember
Instructions change: "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus" (Romans 8:1 KJV)
Paul our apostle: "For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles" (Ephesians 3:1 KJV)
Grace, not law: "For ye are not under the law, but under grace" (Romans 6:14 KJV)
All scripture profitable: "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable" (2 Timothy 3:16 KJV)
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