B -- Let us find our answer in John's Gospel again.

This time turn to

chapter 1:17,18:

`For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus

Christ.  No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, Who

is in the bosom of the Father, He hath declared Him'.

In these verses two dispensations are referred to, the one of law, the

other of grace.  The one revealing God as Law -giver and King, the other as

Father.  You yourself have already recognized the difference between these

two dispensations, for being a Christian you do not feel called upon to put

into practice all that Moses taught under the law, even though you believe

the law to be as fully inspired as the Gospels and Epistles.  The same

principle obtains between the various parts of the New Testament.

It is a fruitful cause of much error and confusion to fail to see that

the dispensational dealings of God with Israel during the time of the Lord's

earthly ministry differ from His dealings with both Israel and the Gentiles

since Christ ascended into heaven.

A -- Do you mean to say that Christ came to Israel, and did not come to

set up his Church?

B -- We must not leave our real subjects for details, but I will just

say that in Matthew 15:24 the words of Christ Himself will answer you:

`I am Not sent But unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel'.

Let us settle one thing at a time.  There are evidently different

dispensational dealings revealed in the Scriptures, and when once these

differences are duly observed difficulties vanish and truth becomes clear.  I

leave you with another verse taken from 2 Timothy.  This time it is 2 Timothy

`Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to

be ashamed, Rightly Dividing the Word of Truth'.

Some examples of `Rightly dividing the Word of truth'

A -- I should be glad if you would give me a little indication of the

results of `rightly dividing the Word of truth', for I rather fear it simply

means cutting the Bible to pieces with no advantage when it is done.

B -- Let me draw your attention to some instances of a wrong division

before looking at the other side.

The translators of the A.V. attempted to divide the subject matter, and

gave notes at the heading of the chapters.  Over Isaiah 19 they say, `God's

heavy judgment upon Jerusalem', but over chapter 30, they say, `God's mercies

towards His Church'.  Or again, over Isaiah 59 they write, `The sins of the

Jews', but over 60 `The glory of the Church'.  When it is a case of judgment

the literal meaning is retained, but when it is a case of blessing `the

Church' is intruded.  We will not waste time tabulating error however; let us

seek the `Word of truth'.