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THE DISPENSATION OF GRACE #6

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   THE DISPENSATION OF GRACE #6


In this Dispensation neither Jews nor Gentiles are dealt with as such: but, individuals, both “transgressors” of the Jews and “sinners of the Gentiles,” are called out, and made into a new body, a third People, called “the Church of God,” in which now “there is neither Jew nor Gentile…but all are one in Christ Jesus”; being baptized into the body of Christ with the new spiritual medium, the Holy Spirit.  ”For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.  For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.  There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.  And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” Galatians 3:26-29. The baptism in the text is when the Holy Spirit baptizes the believer at conversion into the body of Christ. There is no water in the text.

THE CHURCH OR DISPENSATION OF GRACE HAD BEEN KEPT SECRET UNTIL IT WAS REVEALED TO PAUL AND MADE KNOWN BY THE PROPHETS AND APOSTLES IN “PROPHETIC WRITINGS” Had it been made the subject of prophecy the Jew, to-day, could reply against God and say that He was obliged to fulfil prophecy. It was therefore “hid in god” “ 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:” Ephesians 3:9 . GOD KEPT THE SECRET TO HIMSELF.  One of these secrets, the “Great” one (1 Tim 3:16; Eph 5:32), has been revealed; and we now rejoice in its revelation.

THIS DISPENSATION OF “THE CHURCH OF GOD,” OF “THE GRACE OF GOD,” AND OF THE “SPIRIT OF GOD” COMMENCED BY THE MINISTRY OF PAUL. Paul wrote all the church epistles, they, all doctrine for the church is contained in his writings. These were given by inspiration and revelation to him. That does not mean the church should ignore any Scripture. It only needs to take heed that it RIGHTLY DIVIDES them.

THE ONLY REQUIREMENT FOR SALVATION IS. BELIEVE THE GOSPEL, AS REVEALED TO PAUL.  “Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;  By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.  For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;  And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures…” 1 Corinthians 15:1-4I.

  THIS DISPENSATION WILL END BY THE MEMBERS OF CHRIST’S BODY BEING “RECEIVED UP IN GLORY,”   “CAUGHT UP TO MEET THE LORD IN THE AIR, SO TO BE EVER WITH THE LORD”  PHIL 3:20,21).  “But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.  For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.  For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.  For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:  Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.  Wherefore comfort one another with these words.” I Thessalonians 4:13-18.  “ For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:  Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.” Philippians 3:20-21. This is called in 2 Thessalonians 2:1, “our gathering together unto Him.”

Before this Dispensation, and after it, all is connected with man, and what he is and what he is to do. But, in this Dispensation, it is a question of what Christ is, and of what He has done. J.O.

THE DISPENSATION OF LAW

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The dispensation of Law began at Mount Sinai and was set aside at Mount Calvary. It was given by God, and bestowed His people through Moses. It takes up a tremendous amount of the Old Testament, from Exodus 19:5 through the life of Jesus on earth, to John 19:30. Romans 10:4 describes the end of this dispensation: “ Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;  And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.” Colossians 2:14-15.

 Moses and Israel as a nation were responsible to administer the Law
The Law was from Mount Sinai until the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, when He fulfilled the Law during His life and at Mount Calvery.
Man’s Responsibility: Keep the whole Law (Exodus 19:3–8) 
Broke the Law (2 Kings 17:7–20) 
Judgment: Worldwide dispersion (Deuteronomy 28:63–66; Luke 21:20–24) 
Grace and works: The promised Savior is sent (Isaiah 9:6–7; Galatians 4:4–5) 

God gave the Law to help His people understand righteousness and sin, and to point to the Messiah (Romans 3:20), but the Law didn’t save people, nor was it ever meant to. The Law also did not abolish the Abrahamic covenant, which is unconditional and is still awaiting final fulfillment. The Law can be thought of as a conditional covenant given specifically to the nation of Israel; it was also a *temporary covenant made void by the New Testament.

During the dispensation of Law, the Law defined for the Israelites how and when God would bless their nation based on their ability to keep the Law (Exodus 19:5). Of course, people are not able, on their own, to reach the level of righteousness that God demands, as evidenced almost immediately after the Law was given when Aaron and the people created a false god in the form of a golden calf (Exodus 32). 

The Law was for Israel only (Exodus 19:3–8; Deuteronomy 4:8; 5:1–3), and not Gentiles, as Jesus explained (Mark 12:29–30). Paul also explained that the Law was for Israel, not Gentiles, and not the Church (Romans 2:14; 9:4–5; Ephesians 2:11–12). 

Failure to uphold the Law characterized Israel’s history from Mount Sinai until 70 AD when the temple was destroyed. However, as all God’s dispensations, the dispensation of Law served the purpose for which it was instituted. The Law was fulfilled in Jesus. (Matthew 5:17). Jesus’ fulfillment means that we, by putting our faith in Him, may also be justified by Him, and not through the Law (Galatians 2:16). https://www.compellingtruth.org/dispensation-of-Law.html

#1 PLANS OF SALVATION UNDER INNOCENCE, CONSCIENCE, AND HUMAN GOVERNMENT.

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DIFFERENT PLANS OF SALVATION

It is true, in the Old Testament, not one person has salvation without faith. The misunderstanding surrounds the object of their faith. Faith must have the correct object. One may drift toward Nigra Falls with a rope around his waist and feel secure because the other end secured to a tree. But, if that tree is floating down the river with him, both go over the falls to sure destruction. One thing for sure, the objects differed with different people at different times. We begin with Adam and Eve

  1. ADAM. Adam and Eve were perfect. However, like all humanity, they were created with a free will. Thay ate of the forbidden tree and lost their sinless state and relationship with God. God, in His love and grace, restored fellowship with them. They were forbidden to eat of the Tree of Life lest they live forever in a state of sin. (“And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever:” Genesis 3:22.) They were driven from the Garden. Charubims, stationed at the gate, keep “ the way of the Tree of Life.” No doubt, a tabernacle was located nearby and people would bring offerings, as commanded by the Lord. (Gen. 5:5) “way] a road. No doubt God had made a beautiful way of approach to the tree. Its position in Rev. 2:7; 22:2 may suggest where it was in the garden.” Dake’s Annotated Reference Bible: Containing the Old and New Testaments of the Authorized or King James Version Text.

Although, the Serpent was told that the seed would crush his head, there is no reason to believe Adam and Eve understood the ssignificanceof the prophecy. We doubt that they believed animal sacrifices took away sins. They were told what to do. They believe God and obeyed. That was the requirement for their salvation.  We must keep in mind that Adam lived 930 years.  It is beyond reason that one should think they looked forward to the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. Theirs was a works and faith situation. The object of their faith was in WHAT GOD TOLD THEM TO DO. Without either, they could not be save.

 

  1. CONCIENCE.

 

The second dispensation is that of Conscience—Genesis 3:23 to 8:19

We have no idea the length of the dispensation of Conscience. The Chronological Bible indicates that Adam and Eve were in the Garden about four years. Others suggest that Cain and Able were twins. Regardless, the dispensation of Innocence ended with their fall, and the dispensation of Conscience began at the same time. The Stewards of this administrant were Cain, Seth, and their families.
The length of this dispensation was about 1,656 years. It ended in wickedness and a flood. During that dispensation, man became indescribably wicked. The following text describes that dispensation. “ For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;  Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.  For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:  Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.  Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,  And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.  Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:  Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.  For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:  And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.  And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;  Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,  Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,  Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:  Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.” Romans 1:18-32.

The Scriptures do not support the view that anyone looked forward and saw the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. Tradition blinded men to the belief that these Old Testament saints believe our gospel; regardless of the fact that no one saw it Christ’s day did not see it. Theirs was a works and faith program. They could not be saved if they lacked either. They needed to maintain good works and blood sacrifices.

3 HUMAN GOVERNMENT- THIRD DISPENSATION- (Genesis 8:20 to 11:9).

 Noah and his descendants were stewards of this administration/dispensation. Its length was about 429 years. It began with the flood and lasted to the confusion of tongues at Babel. It is called Human Government because of things permitted and forbidden. God instituted these: Permission to eat meat, forbid eating blood, the institution of capital punishment.  They were to scatter and multiply (Genesis 9).
Their refusal to scatter and the building of the tower of Babel.  (Genesis 11:1-4). God confused languages (Genesis 11:5-9). THE MEANS OF SALVATION WAS FAITH AND WORKS (SACRIFICES). THEY BELIEVE WHAT GOD TOLD THEM AND DID IT.

THE ATHEIST FOOL’S DELUSION

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THE ATHEIST FOOL’S DELUSION

atheist

Without a doubt, the biggest fool in the universe is the ATHEIST FOOL. “The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good…” Psalm 14:1-3.

His is not a matter of IQ; it is a matter of morals, or the lack thereof. Paul describes the persons who attempt to hide under the banner of ATHEISM. They are “…that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.  For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:  Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.  For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:  And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.  And even as they did not like to retain God in their> knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;  Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,  Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,  Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:  Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.” Romans 1:19-32

Such is Richard Dawkins in his so-called book, The god Delusion. In reality, Dawkins book is the rantings of a little boy, under his ATHEIST DELUSION. Dawkins shows his ignorance of the Bible and God in his attempt to disprove God’s existence. If Dawkins is correct, he is smarter and wiser than God, and that makes Dawkins what he is striving to become. God’s message to little Richard, is, “Thy pomp is brought down to the grave, and the noise of thy viols: the worm is spread under thee, and the worms cover thee.  How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!  For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:  I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.  Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell..” Isaiah 14:11-15

“A fellow atheist said of Dawkin’s book, “I take scholarship seriously. I have written that The God Delusion made me ashamed to be an atheist and I meant it. Trying to understand how God could need no cause, Christians claim that God exists necessarily. I have taken the effort to try to understand what that means. Dawkins and company are ignorant of such claims and positively contemptuous of those who even try to understand them, let alone believe them. Thus, like a first-year undergraduate, he can happily go around asking loudly, “What caused God?” as though he had made some momentous philosophical discovery. Dawkins was indignant when, on the grounds that inanimate objects cannot have emotions, philosophers like Mary Midgley criticised his metaphorical notion of a selfish gene. Sauce for the biological goose is sauce for the atheist gander. There are a lot of very bright and well informed Christian theologians. We atheists should demand no less.”

“WHY DID GOD GIVE THE LAND TO ISRAEL?”

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MANY ASK. “WHY DID GOD GIVE THE LAND TO ISRAEL?” THE REASON HE DID NOT GIVE IT TO THEM IS IN THE CAPITAL LETTERS IN THE TEXT.  THE WICKEDNESS AND IMMORALITY OF THE CAINITES ARE UNAMAGINAGLE. HOWEVER, THE BOOK OF LEVITICUS AND MANY OTHER TEXT DESCRIBE THEIR DEPRAVITY. IT SPITE OF THE MANY WARNINGS, ISRAEL DID NOT LISTEN, AND THEY TOO BECAME JUST AS WICKED. THUS THE LAND VOMITED THEM OUT.

“ Hear, O Israel: Thou art to pass over Jordan this day, to go in to possess nations greater and mightier than thyself, cities great and fenced up to heaven,  A people great and tall, the children of the Anakims, whom thou knowest, and of whom thou hast heard say, Who can stand before the children of Anak!  Understand therefore this day, that the LORD thy God is he which goeth over before thee; as a consuming fire he shall destroy them, and he shall bring them down before thy face: so shalt thou drive them out, and destroy them quickly, as the LORD hath said unto thee.  SPEAK NOT THOU IN THINE HEART, AFTER THAT THE LORD THY GOD HATH CAST THEM OUT FROM BEFORE THEE, SAYING, FOR MY RIGHTEOUSNESS THE LORD HATH BROUGHT ME IN TO POSSESS THIS LAND: BUT FOR THE WICKEDNESS OF THESE NATIONS THE LORD DOTH DRIVE THEM OUT FROM BEFORE THEE.  NOT FOR THY RIGHTEOUSNESS, OR FOR THE UPRIGHTNESS OF THINE HEART, DOST THOU GO TO POSSESS THEIR LAND: BUT FOR THE WICKEDNESS OF THESE NATIONS THE LORD THY GOD DOTH DRIVE THEM OUT FROM BEFORE THEE, AND THAT HE MAY PERFORM THE WORD WHICH THE LORD SWARE UNTO THY FATHERS, ABRAHAM, ISAAC, AND JACOB.  UNDERSTAND THEREFORE, THAT THE LORD THY GOD GIVETH THEE NOT THIS GOOD LAND TO POSSESS IT FOR THY RIGHTEOUSNESS; FOR THOU ART A STIFFNECKED PEOPLE”. Deuteronomy 9:1-6.

“ And thou shalt not let any of thy seed pass through the fire to Molech, neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God: I am the LORD.” Leviticus 18:21

Molech

 When people lost sight of God and began to worship the planets, demons, and hero gods, they practiced horrifying acts of cruelty, obscenity, and perversion (unnatural sexual acts). Even sons and daughters were burned in the fire (Lev. 18:21; 2Ki. 3:26-27; 16:3; 17:17,31; 21:6; 23:10-11; 2Chr. 28:3; 33:6). Many of the ancient nations shed human blood before their deities. Molech means “king.” This was the name of the main god of Ammon — called Chemosh by Moabites. Molech was worshiped in Egypt as Amun, or Amun-Ra, “the king of gods.” What was supposed to be his likeness was a statue of brass resting on a pedestal or throne of brass — his head crowned and resembling that of a calf, and his arms extended as if to embrace all who came near. Children were his victims. The statue was heated red hot by fire inside and children were shaken over the flames or passed through the hot arms in dedication to it, to receive Molech’s favor. It was believed that all children not so dedicated would die in infancy. Many were actually burned alive in the idol (see the scriptures above). It seems that King Ahaz was dedicated to Molech (2Ki. 16:3,19-20; 2Chr. 28:3).