Dispensationalism
Eph 1:10, 3:2; Col 1:25
INTRO: An unusual topic, Can be deep, confusing & some might think unnecessary
1. I submit, if it helps us to understand our God in a greater
way, to Know how He operates, therefore it effects our faith
and our life
2. Ultimately what we are looking at is
a. The on-working Program of God as it unfolds through the
course of history
3. Dr. C.I. Scofield: lawyer saved & became a bible student
a. Part of the DL Moody ministries
b. Scofield provided the classic definition of dispensation
A dispensation is a period of time during which man is tested in respect to his obedience to some specific revelation of the will of God.
a. He saw through history 7 periods of time in which God was
doing different things with men
(1) the "dispensation of innocence," which covered the time before the fall when Adam and Eve were in the Garden, in fellowship with God;
(2) the "dispensation of conscience," which followed the fall and extended to the time of Noah, when men lived according to their consciences;
(3) the "dispensation of human government," which came in after the flood and went from Noah’s time until that of Abraham;
(4) the "dispensation of promise," which began when Abraham was given various great promises of God by which men were to live, as Dr. Scofield saw it, until the time when Moses brought the Law.
(5) the "dispensation of law" ran on through many centuries until the coming of Jesus Christ, who introduced
(6) the "dispensation of grace" in which we all live,
(7) the "dispensation of the kingdom," which many call "the millennium," the thousand years of Christ’s rule on earth which is yet to come.
2Ti 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
4. The old Dispensationalist would interpret that as to
understand thing we must divide things in time periods
a. But I would hope we would agree that isn’t the meaning
b. But rightly comprehending the teachings, principles of
God & His revelation of Himself to us
B. Sayings to recognize changes in God’s revelation of Himself
1. “The Great Parenthesis” takes note of the fact that seemingly God
has interrupted his program with the nation of Israel,
a. That at the Cross this nation was scattered abroad across
the face of the earth, & God introduced the church.
b. The church age will run its course until the Great
Tribulation
c. Then God will again deal with the people of Israel & wind
up this age with a resurgence of the prominence of the
nation of Israel.
1. The period in between, then, is called "The Great Parenthesis," the
time when God is working with the church, as opposed to Israel.
c. Now, there is a good deal of truth in some of these
Teachings
1. But that line of thought deals with the history & focus on man/Israel
not God
2. “All Scripture is for us, but not all is about us’
a. This was an attempt to show people that certain parts of the
Scriptures seemingly did not apply to the church, or
Christians today, but were addressed only to the Jews.
b. And there is some grain of truth running through this as
well, which we need to understand.
c. Again this is the old school of thought dealing with time
d. What is the purpose of Scripture?
2Ti 3:16-17 All scripture [is] given by inspiration of God, and [is] profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
1. ALL Scripture even OT has great benefits & are to be studied
a. Why? History? Understanding the NT? NO GOD to know Him
Joh 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
3 Do you get it? To properly interpret scripture, though it
speaks intimately of mankind,
a. The scripture is authored by & is about God
I. Time line vs. Truth line
A. We can certainly look back & see history unfold & see God’s
hand at work
1. Creation to Revelation Eternity past to Eternity future
a. As Scofield notes God appears to be about a course of
action that is different at different times in history
*1. Love time lines, I am visually oriented
a. But does that tell us of God’s operation or his character?
1. Operation not character or
2. Is God just about His Plan & purpose for man life?
a. Or is He about His Person & His Presence in man’s life?
3. Again Dr. Scofield says a dispensation is a period of time.
a. Though a dispensation has something to do with time, &
time is an essential element
1. I personally rather use the term “age” or times & seasons
a. That will mark the time period God worked in the course of history
4. Of course as we seriously study the bible, we clearly see
time distinctions that God didn’t always do things the same way
a. A progression an unfolding of knowledge of truth
b. We recognize this in that we don’t have a forbidden fruit
tree to deal with
c. We don’t bring sheep or goats to church to offer for a
sacrifice
1. Obviously God is now doing things in a different approach
a. Has God changed? No
d. Yet it was time for a change in how God interacts with man
II. So what is a Dispensation?
A. Dispensation is a biblical word
1Co 9:17 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.
Eph 1:10 That in the dispensation (plan for the) 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:
Eph 3:2 If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:
Col 1:25 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;
1. Dispensation Grk = oikonomia Eng = Economy but usually
translated stewardship or even plan
a. Therefore its God’s plan, that is entrusted to us timing has
a lot to do with when we get it & when it will be fulfilled
2. God is entrusting mankind with something, what is it?
a. God has a plan, been planned since before the earth
b. Little by little He has given it to us
3. He has dispensed to us this knowledge
a. A dispensation is about God handing out, dispensing,
distributing, entrusting knowledge about Himself
4. From the beginning of time, man has been ignorant about
God
a. As man has developed, grown matured, God has revealed
Himself more clearly & His plan for man
B. The Great Mystery Paul calls it
1Co 2:7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, [even] the hidden [wisdom], which God ordained before the world unto our glory:
Eph 6:19 And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,
Col 4:3 Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds:
1Ti 3:9 Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.
1. What is the mystery? God’s redemptive plan, Salvation by
God’s Grace
2. Since the garden, when man fell, sin’s curse destroyed the
relationship between God & his creation
a. God has been planning, working, to purchase man back
from our enslavement & condemnation of sin
3. The dispensation of that truth is been in according to God
Revealing Himself to us
a. As man could comprehend
1. *Truth Line *God to God (But don’t write this)
b. Though we can now look back & see all of God’s
attributes from the beginning we primarily only saw those
we needed to see so as we might learn of God
C. Dispensation on the individual level
1. We say now that we are in the days of Grace but Grace
always have been
a. We now understand all, even Abraham & David where
saved by Grace, no the law or human effort
2. Time didn’t have anything to do with the revelation but
open eyes, maturity
a. Abraham, Isaac, David all had a relationship to God
1. It had nothing to do with the time period or age they were in
b. David understood though he lived in the days of the law
1. God wasn’t impressed with religion or sacrifices but Love & faith
Ps 51:16-17 For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give [it]: thou delightest not in burnt offering. The sacrifices of God [are] a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
3. So now we look back & see what God was trying to reveal
to us, see his lessons for us to learn, to See God each time in
a new light, new way & new understanding
4. Now we can see God first at creator, Authority, sovereign,
Powerful, Mighty, judge, Deliverer, Law giver, Holy, Father
a. Then we begin to see the mercy, the Grace, the Love, the
giving, sacrificial, The Gospel the Son
b. Now, we sense His presence personally, His comfort &
Provisions, His indwelling His convictions, His leadership
The Spirit
5. Now we see life not in view of History Eternity to Eternity
6. From God to God
