Every Christian is a dispensationalist
By Ken Blue
Ephesians 3:1-6. “For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles, If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward: How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) 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; That the Gentiles should be fellow-heirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:”
It is important to understand what is meant by a dispensation. First, we give the Merriam-Webster definition: “a general state or ordering of things; specifically: a system of revealed commands and promises regulating human affairs: a particular arrangement or provision especially of providence or nature: the act of dispensing: something dispensed or distributed.” Secondly, Strong says it is an, “administration (of a household or estate); especially a (religious) “economy” :- dispensation, stewardship.” Strong’s Greek & Hebrew Dictionary.
We are going to prove that all Christians are dispensationalist. Those who claim it is “junk theology” do so because of ignorance, or it wrecks their playhouse.
[pullquote align=”right” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]Those who claim they are not dispensationalist do so because of ignorance.[/pullquote]
When Moses was given the leadership and dispensation of the Law, a specific diet was commanded. See Lev. 11:4. Yet most Christians ignore all Moses had to say on this subject. Unless you believe you are under a different dispensation, you are in rebellion against God every time you eat pork, catfish, shrimp, or prawns. There must have been a division point somewhere.
Next, Moses instructed that the people could not wear certain items of clothing together. See Deut. 22:9-12. Today, no Christians even consider that command. We wonder why.
The day of worship was set for every Sabbath under Moses. Anyone who desecrated that day was in danger of losing his life. See Numbers 15:32. Does it matter which day we worship now, and if so, what do you do to those who fail to do it? There must be a division somewhere.
Also, the gospel we preach is not that preached by Abraham, Moses, John the Baptist, Jesus, or the Twelve. If you don’t know what gospel they preached, how can you expect to know anything about right divisions? Can you give us the content of their gospel, and the content of the one you preach? There must have been a division somewhere.
If you think we are under the same dispensation as those in Matthew through early Acts, what happened to the power to heal the sick, raise the dead, and cast out devils? You can’t do any of the above. Why? There must have been a dispensational change somewhere.
Finally, if you had to choose between Genesis through Malachi as your Bible, or Matthew through Revelation, which would you choose? If you had to choose between Matthew through Acts, or Romans through Philemon, what would be your choice? If you know anything about right divisions, you would choose Paul’s writings.
As we said at the beginning, every Christian is a dispensationalist. You divide the Bible where it fits your denomination or tradition. There is such a thing as right divisions, and wrong divisions. [pullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]2 Timothy 2:15 “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”[/pullquote]
Pastor Ken Blue was born in Boswell, Ark. In 1955 he accepted Christ as his Savior. He and his wife Joyce were married in 1955. They have 5 children. He graduated from Midwestern Baptist Bible College in 1969 and started the Open Door Baptist Church in Lynnwood, Wa. where he pastored for 39 years. Because of health issues (ALS) he was forced to resign as pastor. It is his desire to continue to be used of God to help pastors and believers through this ministry.
So helpful reading the Bible and seeing -ok we are in the age of grace- the church age ( letters to the church we can take doctrinally) I sure am glad it was explained about taking the Bible Historically- Doctrinally and Spriitualy also and seeing we are to take doctinally Pauls letters to the churches. I know I have alot to learn and very glad the Bible is the truth and we can really learn it!
hey there and thank you for your information – I have definitely picked up something new from right here.
Recognizing “change” throughout the revelation of God to humanity isn’t exclusive to dispensationalism. Its found in many different systematic theologies.
Paul said clearly, that God “before” preached the Gospel unto Abraham. I didn’t say it. God said it. That said truth Paul used in the early church to confirm the foundation of the Gospel.
Taking an Early Modern English translation of one particular word from the Scripture and turning it into a systematic theology is rather childish. God has always “administered” His Truth in humanity. Praising “dispensationalism” is like praising the grass for grow from God’s command.
THANK YOU. WHAT WAS THE CONTENT OF THAT GOSPEL?
To answer your question….The life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Adam Clarke said it about as well as anyone.
Abraham rejoiced to see my day – Or, he earnestly desired to see my day; ηγαλλιασατο, from αγαν, very much, and ἁλλομαι, I leap – his soul leaped forward in earnest hope and strong expectation that he might see the incarnation of Jesus Christ. The metaphor appears to be taken from a person who, desiring to see a long-expected friend who is coming, runs forward, now and then jumping up to see if he can discover him. There is a saying very like this in Sohar Numer fol. 61: “Abraham rejoiced because he could know, and perceive, and cleave to the Divine Name.” The Divine name is יהוה Yehovah; and by this they simply mean God himself.
And he saw it – Not only in the first promise, Gen_3:15, for the other patriarchs saw this as well as he; and not only in that promise which was made particularly to himself, Gen_12:7; Gen_22:18, (compared with Gal_3:16), that the Messiah should spring from his family; but he saw this day especially when Jehovah appeared to him in a human form, Gen_18:2, Gen_18:17, which many suppose to have been a manifestation of the Lord Jesus.
IF REMEMBER, YOUR FIST COMMENT WAS THAT ABRAHAM HAD THE GOSPEL PREACHED TO HIM. I ASK YOU THE CONTENT OF THAT GOSPEL. THERE WERE MANY IN THE O.T. WHO LOOKED FORWARD TO THIIR COMING MESSIAH. THAT IS NOT THE QUESTION. WHAT WAS THE CONTENT OF THAT GOSPEL PREACHED TO ABRAHAM?
IGNORING DISPENSATIONALISM IS LIKE THE BLIND LEADING THE BLIND!