— God’s Great Dispensational Change
(Rightly Divided — From Prophecy to Mystery)
Have you ever noticed those two simple words in Paul’s letters—
“But now…”
They may be small—
But they mark massive turning points in God’s dealings with mankind.
Not because God changed—
But because He revealed something new.
▪️FROM PROPHECY… TO MYSTERY
Before Paul—
God was dealing with Israel.
• Under the Law
• With earthly promises
• Looking toward a literal kingdom
“The LORD shall be king over all the earth…”
— Zechariah 14:9
“Times of refreshing… when he shall send Jesus Christ…”
— Acts 3:19–20
But Israel rejected her Messiah.
And instead of bringing in wrath—
God did something unexpected.
Something hidden.
“According to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret…”
— Romans 16:25
That’s where Paul comes in.
“The dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward.”
— Ephesians 3:2
▪️“BUT NOW” — EVERYTHING CHANGES
Watch how Paul uses it:
“But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested…”
— Romans 3:21
Before: righteousness by Law
But now: righteousness by faith
“But now being made free from sin…”
— Romans 6:22
Before: bondage
But now: freedom in Christ
“But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh…”
— Ephesians 2:13
Before: Gentiles afar off
But now: brought near by His blood
Do you see the pattern?
Before… But now.
Then… But now.
Law… But now grace.
▪️A NEW DISPENSATION
We are not in Israel’s program today.
We are living in something once hidden—
Now revealed.
• Israel’s program is temporarily set aside (Romans 11:11)
• God is offering reconciliation to all (2 Corinthians 5:19)
• Salvation is by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8–9)
This is not prophecy unfolding.
This is mystery revealed.
▪️“BUT NOW” — YOUR NEW IDENTITY
If you’ve trusted the gospel—
“Christ died for our sins… was buried… and rose again.”
— 1 Corinthians 15:3–4
Then right now—
• You are part of the Body of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17)
• You are seated in heavenly places (Ephesians 2:6)
• You are complete in Him (Colossians 2:10)
• You are under grace, not law (Romans 6:14)
• You are forgiven (Ephesians 1:7)
• You are accepted in the Beloved (Ephesians 1:6)
Not someday.
Not gradually.
But now.
▪️THE BIBLE’S SIMPLE TIMELINE
Paul lays it out clearly:
1. Time Past
Israel under the Law
(Ephesians 2:11–12)
2. But Now
The Body of Christ under Grace
(Ephesians 2:13–18)
3. Ages to Come
Israel’s kingdom fulfilled
(Ephesians 2:7)
We are here—
“But now.”
The age of grace.
The dispensation of the mystery.
The calling of the Body of Christ.
▪️Conclusion:
Every time you read “But now”—
Pause.
Remember where you stand.
Not under Law.
Not under wrath.
Not in prophecy.
But now—under grace.
“To make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery…”
— Ephesians 3:9
Stand in it.
Rest in it.
Rejoice in it.
