Recognizing the time element in Scripture is a key to understanding the Bible. Only then do we know… what applies… to who… and when.

Many Scriptural problems and much confusion would be solved and explained, if we were more careful to note the time element, emphasized so strongly in the Word of God.

In Romans 5:12 we learn that sin entered the human race by Adam early on. “Wherefore, as by one man (Adam) sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: (Romans 5:12). Then only later “the law entered” (Ver. 20).

But still later, unto this day, the Apostle Paul as “the Apostle to the Gentiles” (Rom 11:13), arose to say: “But now, the righteousness of God WITHOUT the law is manifested” (Rom. 3:21).

“Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;” (Romans 3:20-21)

Thus below we see this progression for fallen men to be reconciled and saved to God.

1. Early in man’s history innocent animal blood sacrifices were required for acceptance with God (See Gen. 4:4; Heb. 11:4),
2. then later circumcision and the ‘keeping of the Law” (Gen. 17:14; Ex. 19:5) were required,
3. still later, repentance and John’ water baptism (Mark 1:4; Acts 2:38) were required.
4. But not until Paul do we learn of salvation WITHOUT works of the Law. “Salvation by grace through faith alone, as the gift of God” (Eph 2:8-9) applies today based solely on faith in Christ’s finished, all-sufficient, cross-work of redemption for whoever will believe.

This is why the Apostle refers in Gal. 3:23 to: “the faith which should afterward be revealed.” This is why Paul declares that our Lord “gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time,” and adds; “whereunto I (Paul) am ordained a preacher and an apostle” (I Tim. 2:6-7).

It is only as we recognize the time element in Scripture that we see the difference…

1. … between that of Jesus’ “the gospel of the kingdom” that He preached to Israel only (Matt. 15:24, Matt. 10:5-6) …

and that of Paul’s “the gospel of the grace of God” that he preached to and for “ALL men” (Titus 2:11), without distinction;

2. And that is between the “dispensation of law” given to Israel only…

and that of “the dispensation of the grace of God” for the members of “the church which is His body” who today live under the pure grace of God.

A comparison of Romans 3:21 and 26 shows how this time element is emphasized in Scripture.

“But NOW the righteousness of God Without The Law is manifested…  (Romans 3:21)
“To declare, I say, At This Time His [Christ’s] righteousness; that He [God] might be just and the Justifier of him that believeth in (simply trust in) Jesus.”

It is by noting the time element that we can clearly see the significant distinctions that differentiate that which applies to the nation Israel versus that of “the body of Christ.” When we note this major distinction all the apparent Bible contradictions and confusion disappear.

In Eph. 1:13 the Apostle Paul, as “the Apostle to the Gentles” (Rom 11:13) declares that men are saved and sealed “with the Sprit” by hearing and believing “the Word of truth, the gospel of your salvation.”

This declaration is substantiated by many other passages of Scripture. Our Lord said: “He that heareth… and believeth… hath everlasting life” (John 5:24). This was a time when animal sacrifices and baptism were still required “for the remission of sins.” Yet, even then men had to hear and believe to be saved, for “faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God” (Rom. 10:17).

Today, however, salvation is received by hearing and believing alone. Sacrifices and works of the Law or of any kind for salvation are not merely unnecessary; they are forbidden. Today salvation is’;

“to him that Worketh NOT, but believeth” (Rom. 4:5).

“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” (Eph. 2:8-9).

God has changed His dealings with men from time to time down through the ages, teaching one lesson at a time. This is why it is so important to note the dispensational distinctions in Scripture, by “rightly dividing the Word of truth.” … and thereby determining what applies to men today.

• At one time “the works of the Law” were required for salvation.
• “But now the righteousness of God Without the law is manifested” (Rom. 3:21) and men are saved solely by their faith in Christ, thereby “being justified freely by [God’s] grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus” (Rom. 3:24).

We are saved, then, as we hear and believe what Paul calls, “the Word of truth, the gospel of your salvation” (Eph. 1:13). We then may become established in “the faith” as we follow Paul’s instruction in 2Timothy 2:15… to “study” by “rightly dividing the Word of truth.”

It has been said that if there is anything good in any man it’s because it was put there by God. Well, something good, a new life, having a sinless nature was imparted and dispensed to every believer.

While there is still within us that which is of “the flesh,” there is also that which is begotten of “the Spirit,” Just as the fallen nature of the flesh is totally depraved and “cannot please God,” the other, Christ’s nature within us is absolutely perfect and always pleases the Father.

The ‘Sin nature’ was passed to all men, being born of Adam’s lineage. Adam was originally created in “the image and likeness of God,” but he fell into sin and later “begat a son in his own likeness, after his (fallen) image” (Gen. 5:3). It could not be otherwise. Fallen Adam could generate and beget only fallen, sinful offspring, whom even “the Law” could not change. But

“what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God, sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin,” accomplished so “that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit” (Rom. 8:3-4).

“For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.” (Rom 6:14)

“For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.” (Romans 10:4)

“(Christ was) Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;” (Colossians 2:14)

“Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us…” (Galatians 3:13)

As Adam was made in the likeness of God, but fell, so Christ also was made “in the likeness of sinful flesh” (Rom 8:3a), that is in His human body that He received being born of Mary. Of course He was conceived by His Father, by the Holy Spirit of God. Thus Mary was His mother, on His human side, but God was His Father with whom He was One at His core – His Spirit. He was made human that He might redeem humanity from the degradation of the fall and save man from “the wrath of God.”

It is only through the operation of the resurrected “Spirit of life in Christ,” that a ‘new creation man’ could be brought into being. We as believers have been made anew, we are of a “new man… renewed in knowledge after the image of Him that created him” (Col. 3:10) a “new man, which, after God is created in righteousness and true holiness” (Eph. 4:24).

The ‘new man’ is “in Christ” and has the very ‘nature’ of Christ as the “Seed” of God the Father that came through the lineage of Abraham.

“Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.” (Galatians 3:16)
“Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word (Christ is the Word, Jn 1:1) of God, which liveth and abideth forever.” (1 Peter 1:23)

“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. (2 Corinthians 5:17)