WHY ONE MISUNDERSTANDS

As we study the Scriptures, we encounter truths that are stated so succinctly and explicitly that they are almost impossible to misinterpret. They are clear, concise and can easily be understood even by amateurs. However, there are also some that require maturity to comprehend fully. The latter may not be so clear and appear to contradict the clearly stated truths. Oftentimes, confusions arise as a result of differences in interpretation and make one wonder if the Bible is self-contradictory after all. Indeed the Bible does not contradict itself at all. The problem is that many are unable to place the Scriptures in their right perspective even as they study it. Many read the Bible without the context in mind and so pick statements as truths standing on their own, without proper foundation. Of course anyone who does this cannot help but think that the Scripture contradicts itself in many areas. But when that happens, all is not lost. God is always on hand to initiate us into revelation and insight only if we desire it.
                                                                                Download the pdf



One such revelation God gives is that in studying the Scriptures we have to notice that there are dispensations. Dispensation here refers to a period of time that God dealt with men in a particular way depending on the nature of His relationship with them. For the purpose of this publication I would look into three dispensations: from Adam to
Moses; from Moses to the Christ (the dispensation of the Law), after the Christ (the dispensation of Grace). It is very easy for one to think that God has been changing because of the different ways He acts in these dispensations. That is not true. It is the dispensations that change, not God.
Dispensations are periods with particular spiritual parameters within which God and men operate. These parameters are according to spiritual laws. Since such laws are by God, He also operates within those laws. For example in the dispensation from Adam to Moses men were not under law. And spiritual law states that sin is not imputed when there is
no law.
For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law. 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 (cf. Rom. 5:13,14).
The keen student would now ask, “If sin is not imputed where there is no law, then why would God destroy the world with water and kill men?” So we turn to the context. The context within which God destroys the world with the flood can give us some light. Prior to the flood, something spiritually significant occurred. Angels fell down and copulated
with the human race and gave birth to a mixed race. 
That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose. There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown (cf. Gen. 6:2,4).
At this point, the human race was corrupted. And the fallen angels did this for a reason: to corrupt the human race such that the seed of the woman which was to bruise the head of the serpent could not be born. They did it to prevent the incarnation of God in flesh since God would have to be born of a pure human being. So God could not allow them to
live on. Actually the whole human race was corrupted except Noah and his family.
These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God (cf.Gen. 6:9).
The Hebrew word translated perfect means undefiled. Meaning Noah was undefiled in his genealogy unlike the rest of the world.
Let me state here that the Scriptures will also be understood well if one realises that everything God did in time, from creation, was to result in the coming of the Christ and therefore the New Creation. That is why the defiled generation of men in Noah's time had to be destroyed lest there be no true human race left by their procreation.
Moses received the Law on Mount Sinai to usher in the rule of the Law. God gave the people of Israel several laws they had to obey in order to be accepted before Him. And with the Law came the sacrifices. This period is the period of imputation of sin not because God had now changed in that He no longer liked sin but that now the Law had been introduced.
According to spiritual law where there is a law sin is now imputed.
Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound (cf. Rom. 5:20a)
You must realise that the offence actually is the transgression of Adam which passed unto all men. Any other offence sprung from that. So in the dispensation of the Law you see God punishing sin. Many died as a result of their sins. The earth opened and swallowed some Israelites who rebelled against Moses. Miriam was struck with leprosy for doing same. Some were killed for touching the Ark of the Covenant. The Israelites were sent into captivity for taking on other gods. So you see God punishing sin. A guy actually was asked to be killed by God for not keeping the Sabbath. Had God become crueler? No!
He hated sin as always but now because of the Law, sin was imputed. So why then did He bring the law? The reason is simple; so that the people by it may see their need for a saviour. So the Law, inasmuch as man could not keep it, taught man the need for help [a new way to be made right with God] in that it broke down man's self-righteousness. Chapter seven of the Book of Romans reveals the heart of a man under the Law who is in desperate need of a saviour. So the law was necessary to bring us unto salvation. I will take time to explain issues on the Law in subsequent editions.
Now we come to the dispensation ushered by Christ which is the dispensation of Grace. In this dispensation, the dream of God is fulfilled in the New Creation. His plan was executed and we are the evidence. In this dispensation, God does not count our sins against us. He does not punish our sins. He does not move with anger against us when we sin. He does not strike. Again that is not to say that He has changed and now accommodates sin. That is not the case. God still hates sin and cannot stand it for He is righteous. However in this dispensation, our sin has already been punished in the Lord Jesus Christ.
He has borne every punishment for our sins. He has borne the wrath and indignation of God towards sin. Through Him the wrath of God towards sin has been satisfied. And according to spiritual law, one cannot be punished twice for the same
thing. It is called double justice and it is unrighteous. God is however righteous and therefore cannot do that. So in reality God has no more wrath left to pour because everything was poured on Jesus. This is so for the believer. For those in the
world also, God has no wrath to pour on them for their sins (which stems from Adam's sin). His wrath shall be upon them in the end because they have rejected Jesus. Their rejection of the Savior is their condemnation.
He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God (cf. John 3:18).
Let's continue in the next publication. Shalom.