Prophecy Outline 4
Dispensations
Definition
- Comes from the Greek word meaning "the management of a household"
- Lk 16:1ff - Stewardship; Eph 3:2,9; Col 1:25 - Administration - e.g. "the Reagan administration"
- When we talk of dispensations we're talking about the various ways God has organised and managed the affairs of His "household" throughout the ages.
- The New Testament speaks of distinct dispensations (Eph 3:2,9; Eph 1:10; etc.)
The Dispensations
- The Dispensation of Innocence
- The Dispensation of Conscience
- The Dispensation of Human Government
- The Dispensation of Promise
- The Dispensation of Law
- The Dispensation of Grace
- The Dispensation of The Kingdom
Comments about the Dispensations
- We all use "dispensationalism" every time we interpret the Bible
- The vast majority of the Bible concerns the last four dispensations - Israel, the church and the kingdom
- Each dispensation has a steward
- Each dispensation ends in judgment due to man's failure to meet the requirements of that dispensation
- God graciously intervenes in the judgment of each dispensation
- The 7th dispensation fulfils the first six - "a dispensation suitable to the fullness of times" (Eph 1:10)
- Christ fulfils the seven dispensations - "the summing up of all things in Christ" (Eph 1:10)
- The purpose of the dispensations - the glory of God
- Man shown to be sinful and incapable of existence apart from God
- Christ shown to be the perfect fulfilment of every economy
Answers to Common Objections to Dispensationalism
- There has only ever been one way of salvation but God has had different requirements for daily living
- "The dispensation of grace" does not imply that God wasn't gracious before
- Although God doesn't change, some aspects of His dealings with us do (e.g. the Flood)
The Importance of Dispensationalism
- Allows us to consistently interpret the Bible
- Makes the task of interpreting the Bible quicker, easier, simpler and less prone to errors
- Clearly manifests the glory of God as the main purpose of His dealings with man
The (obligatory) Chart
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