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Dispensationalism I - Lesson 6
Attached Audio:
- DEFINITION OF DISPENSATIONALISM
- Basic Definition of Dispensation
- Comes from Latin word dispensatio which means management or charge (as in responsibility or duty; care or supervision over someone or something); “distribution of money or property, management, stewardship, regulation, economy” – OED.
- The early church writers and theologians referred to the system whereby we are saved through the death of Christ on the cross as the dispensation of grace “in opposition to the Law or system of works” – OED.
- Related to the verb dispense and refers to a dispensing or a distribution; a giving out of something. By an expansion of meaning, it refers to the system by which anything is administered or managed.
- From Oxford English Dictionary (OED): “A religious order or system, conceived as divinely instituted, or as a stage in a progressive revelation, expressly adapted to the needs of a particular nation or period of time, as the patriarchal, Mosaic (or Jewish) dispensation, the Christian dispensation; also, the age or period during which such system has prevailed…An extension of the patristic [referring to early church theologians] use of the word…This use became common in the theology of the 17th century.”
- Westminster Confession of Faith (1643-47) – “There are not therefore two covenants of grace, differing in substance, but one and the same under various dispensations.”
- Title of book by William Cave (1675) – Antiquitates Apostolicae…to which is added An Introductory Discourse concerning the three Great Dispensations of the Church, Patriarchal, Mosaical and Evangelical.
- Definition by C. I. Schofield (p. 5 of his reference Bible) – “A dispensation is a period of time during which man is tested in respect of obedience to some specific revelation of the will of God.”
- Definition by Charles Ryrie (p. 28 of Dispensationalism) – “A dispensation is a distinguishable economy in the outworking of God’s purpose.”
- Definition by Lewis Sperry Chafer (p. 40, Vol. I of Systematic Theology) – “As a time measurement, a dispensation is a period which is identified by its relation to some particular purpose of God—a purpose to be accomplished within that period. The earlier dispensations, being so far removed in point of time from the present, are not as clearly defined as are the later dispensations. For this reason, Bible expositors are not always agreed regarding the precise features of the more remote periods.”
- Biblical Usage of Dispensation
- A dispensation of the gospel
- 1 Corinthians 9:16For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!
See All... – “For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel! For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me.” - Refers to Paul’s personal responsibility in overseeing the distribution of the gospel. He was the primary messenger of the dispensation of grace.
- The apostle of the Gentiles (Romans 11:13For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:
See All...; Galatians 2:7-8 [7] But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter; [8] (For he that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles:)
See All...; 1 Timothy 2:7Whereunto I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle, (I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not;) a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity.
See All...; 2 Timothy 1:11Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.
See All...) - Received the gospel of the grace of God by revelation from God (Galatians 1:11-12 [11] But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man.
[12] For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.
See All...; Ephesians 3:1-9 [1] For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles, [2] If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward: [3] How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, [4] Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) [5] Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; [6] That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel: [7] Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power. [8] Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; [9] And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:
See All...) - The dispensation of the grace of God
- Ephesians 3:2If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:
See All... – “If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward” - Gives a name to the dispensation administered by Paul (the dispensation of the grace of God) and declares that this dispensation is given to others as well and so continues beyond Paul.
- The dispensation of God which is given to me
- Colossians 1:25-27 [25] Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God;
[26] Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:
[27] To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:
See All... – “Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God; Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory” - Describes some characteristics of this dispensation: 1) it comes by special revelation; 2) it brings the Gentiles into special relationship with God; 3) it works through the indwelling of Christ.
- The dispensation of the fullness of times
- Ephesians 1:10That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:
See All... – “That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him” - Refers to a dispensation beyond the commonly named ones that deal with time as we know it. This dispensation refers to the spiritual economy of eternity and is, in effect, the eighth dispensation.
- The Seven Dispensations (in their most common form)
- Innocence – Adam in the Garden of Eden
- Conscience – from the Fall to the Flood
- Human Government – from the Flood to the Call of Abram
- Promise or Patriarchs – from the Call of Abram to the giving of the Law on Mt. Sinai
- Law – from the Law of Moses to the Coming of Christ
- Grace Age (sometimes called Church Age) – from the Coming of Christ to the Rapture
- Kingdom – the thousand year reign of Christ on earth
- To which may be added, the Dispensation of the Fullness of Times (Ephesians 1:10That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:
See All...) - Characteristics of the Dispensations
- They are revelatory
- They are based on special revelations [often covenants or commissions]
- Genesis 9:1-7 [1] And God blessed Noah and his sons, and said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth.
[2] And the fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth, and upon every fowl of the air, upon all that moveth upon the earth, and upon all the fishes of the sea; into your hand are they delivered.
[3] Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things.
[4] But flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood thereof, shall ye not eat.
[5] And surely your blood of your lives will I require; at the hand of every beast will I require it, and at the hand of man; at the hand of every man's brother will I require the life of man.
[6] Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.
[7] And you, be ye fruitful, and multiply; bring forth abundantly in the earth, and multiply therein.
See All...; Genesis 12:1-3 [1] Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee: [2] And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: [3] And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.
See All...; Romans 16:25-26 [25] Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, [26] But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:
See All... - They are probationary
- They include a test or tests of obedience for man (Genesis 2:15-17 [15] And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.
[16] And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:
[17] But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.
See All...; Exodus 24:3-8 [3] And Moses came and told the people all the words of the LORD, and all the judgments: and all the people answered with one voice, and said, All the words which the LORD hath said will we do. [4] And Moses wrote all the words of the LORD, and rose up early in the morning, and builded an altar under the hill, and twelve pillars, according to the twelve tribes of Israel. [5] And he sent young men of the children of Israel, which offered burnt offerings, and sacrificed peace offerings of oxen unto the LORD. [6] And Moses took half of the blood, and put it in basons; and half of the blood he sprinkled on the altar. [7] And he took the book of the covenant, and read in the audience of the people: and they said, All that the LORD hath said will we do, and be obedient. [8] And Moses took the blood, and sprinkled it on the people, and said, Behold the blood of the covenant, which the LORD hath made with you concerning all these words.
See All...; Romans 11:21-25 [21] For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee. [22] Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off. [23] And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for God is able to graff them in again. [24] For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert graffed contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be graffed into their own olive tree? [25] For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.
See All...; Revelation 20:6-9 [6] Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years. [7] And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, [8] And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog, and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. [9] And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.
See All...) - They prove man’s inability to obey or to please God
- They close with God giving man up to his own way
- They end with world-wide destruction or judgment
- They are progressive
- They move toward the fullness of time
- They grow in the accumulated revelation of God and His will (Acts 17:30And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:
See All...; Galatians 3:21-26 [21] Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law. [22] But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. [23] But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. [24] Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. [25] But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. [26] For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
See All...)
Proverbs 25:16
Hast thou found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for thee, lest thou be filled therewith, and vomit it.