Part 2 - A THREE-FOLD DIVISION:

This Article is part of a multi-part Study Series called The Key to Understanding the Bible.

  God Himself never changes.  In His person, essence and character He is the same yesterday, today and forever (Heb. 13:8).  His dealings with man, however, have undergone various changes down through history-changes made necessary by changes in man himself.  Identifying these changes is a basic issue in studying the Bible dispensationally2 for a dispensation is a particular program that God administers (or dispenses) for man's obedience.

In Ephesians 2 the Apostle Paul gives us a panoramic view of his understanding of the way God's dealings with mankind have been divided.  He does this by making a clear, distinct and easily identifiable threefold division: Time Past (vs. 11,12), But Now (v.13), The Ages to Come (v.7).

Time Past:  During "Time Past" there was an unmistakable distinction made between the circumcision and the uncircumcision, between the nation Israel and the Gentiles:

     "Where Fore Remember, That Ye Being In Time Past Gentiles In The Flesh, Who Are Called Uncircumcision By That Which Is Called The Circumcision In The Flesh Made By Hands; That At That Time Ye Were Without Christ, Being Aliens From The Commonwealth Of Israel, And Strangers For The Covenants Of Promise, Having No Hope, And Without God In The World"(Vs.11-12).

The terms circumcision and uncircumcision identify a basic physical, racial and social distinction; on that was "in the flesh" and "made by hands."  It was, in fact, so real and intense that they were obviously "calling" each other names!  But there was more:

In this "time past' status, the Gentiles, were also spiritually alienated from God and thus said to be "without Christ."  This is said to be their condition because they were "aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise."

Thus the physical distinction only pointed to more important spiritual alienation the Gentile masses occupied in Time Past.

The basic issue in Time Past is this division between the circumcision and the uncircumcision, between Israel and the Gentiles.  When you find this issue governing the way God was working with men, you know immediately you are in Time Past.

But Now:  Eph. 2:13 indicates that in the But Now period all this has changed.  No longer and Gentiles considered "far off" but rather this distinction has been eliminated and now "those who were far off are made nigh."

 "But Now In Christ Jesus Ye How Sometimes Were Far Off Are Made Nigh By The Blood Of Christ. "For He Is Our Peace, Who Hath Made Both One, And Hath Broken Down The Middle Wall Of Partition Between Us" (vs. 13, 14)

So there is a Time Past, the basic characteristic of which is the separation between the circumcision and uncircumcision, between the Jew and the Gentile.  Then there is But Now where Jew and Gentile are dealt with on an equal basis and in the same manner.  During But Now there has been a change in the way God deals with the nations, for "the middle wall of partition" has been "broken down."

2 It is readily apparent that God's program for man has changed from time to time Compare Ex 31:15 with Col 2:16; Lev 11:7-8 with 1Tim 4:4; Mat 5:19 with Rom 6:14; Psa 51:11 with Eph 4:30; Gen 17:11 with Gal 6:15, etc.
There is one remaining section: The Ages to Come:  much is to come in the future as God brings His purposes to fruition and hence the final division:

     "THAT IN THE AGES TO COME HE MIGHT SHEW THE EXCEEDING RICHES OF HIS GRACE IN HIS KINDNESS TOWARD US THROUGH CHRIST JESUS" (v.7).

So we have Paul's threefold division:  Time Past, But Now, and the Ages to come

How can the Word of God be laid out according to this? 

Let's see.