Dispensation Bible Study #1

2 Tim 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

Col 1:25-27 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:

The mystery spoken of here is Christ in us! Unlike the men of the Old Testament, we now can have God himself live inside of us. This type of relationship was “hid” from man from the time of Adam’s sin until Christ ushered in a “New Testament” or era! God has always dealt with man, but in different ways according to the time in which he lived. In the time period we live in, God has opened up his “riches of glory” to us and allowed us to have a relationship with Him unlike any other dispensation before!

Dispensation- A mode of stewardship or dealing. An administration of affairs. With reference to God it refers to the mode or method of dealing and relating to His creation. Or, in simpler terms, it is what God expects of man within a certain time frame!

Eph 1:9-10 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: 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:

God spoke many things through the prophets of old, but Christ revealed and fulfilled all of these prophecies. We live in the fullness of times where God has revealed His will, truth, word, and power to us! Whereas the men of old only hoped for the Messiah, we live in a time where the Messiah has been revealed to us and the plan of God explained!

Ps 90:12 So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.

We need to understand that we have a limited amount of days in our life and we all live within a certain era or dispensation of time! We need to “apply our hearts” or study exactly what God requires of us today for salvation!

Remember the story of the Blind Man!!!!

One of my college instructors was extemely finicky and precise in his actions. He had an exact plan for everything that he did, including normal everyday routines. After using the restroom in a public place, he would first roll out several sheets of towels out of the automatic hand towel dispenser, and -- without tearing the sheets off -- leave them there. He would then turn the water on mostly cold with just a touch of hot, place soap on his hands, and proceed to wash his hands. He would then reach up with his freshly scrubbed hands and tear off the towels being careful to only touch the towels. After drying his hands, he would then use the towels to turn off the faucets so that he would not have to touch the handles with his freshly cleaned hands. Upon leaving the restroom, he would use the towels to open and close the door, not disposing of the towels until he had exited the restroom. Thus was his everyday routine of washing his hands in a public place.

One day while in a restroom in an airport, he was following his normal routine, and pulled out more than enough towels out of the dispenser and, leaving them hanging there, turned to get some soap. As he turned away from the dispenser, a man behind him said “Thank You,” and ripped off his precious towels. This stranger then preceded to dry his own hands on my college instructors towels and --throwing them in the trash-- headed toward the door. My college instructor was furious! He could not believer the audacity of this stranger who had had the gaul to steal his towels! My college instructor just stood there for a moment, so mad that he refused to even look at the stranger. Finally realizing that something must be done, he turned to catch the stranger to vent his frustration. As he turned to actually look at the stranger that had “stolen” his towels, he suddenly realized that the man was wearing sunglasses indoors. His eyes then noticed for the first time the stranger’s cain. The man was blind! The rising anger suddenly disappeared as my college instructor realized that the man had thought that he was doing him a favor by pulling the towels down and leaving them!

The moral of the story is this: sometimes we view situations and incidences through limited knowledge of the situation and our limited view causes us to act differently or interpret things differently than we should. Unfortunately many people also try to interpret the scriptures with a limited knowlege of the entire picture. Every story, book, miracle, law, judgment in the Bible was given within a specific dispensation or administration of God! The key to understanding the story, book, miracle, law, or judgment is to view it within the frame work with which it is given. If we try to interpret a Biblical principle without understanding to whom it was written and why, then we will spiritually err. The purpose of this Bible Study is to view the scriptures in their correct context and better understand exactly what God expected of the Biblical characters during their lives. When we understand this, we can better understand what God expects from us in our lives.

The seven dispensations of time, or time periods of God’s administration are:

1. Innocence

2. Conscience

3. Human Government

4. Promise

5. Law

6. Grace

7. Kingdom Age/Millennial Reign

Each dispensation of time begins with a promise from God, and ends with a judgment of God. Each dispensation of time further clarifies exactly how we should serve God. Each dispensation of time had men who served God and each dispensation of time had men who turned from God. Each dispensation of time had an effect on the next. A man will be judged according to the rules of the dispensation in which he lived. You and I now live in the Grace dispensation.

2 Tim 2:15-18 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness. And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus; Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.

Hymenaeus and Philetus were preachers that taught false doctrine. How did they err concerning the truth? They taught that the resurrection of the dead which will take place at the rapture of the church in last days of the Grace dispensation, had already taken place! They falsely believed that the resurrection of the church had happened on the evening of Christ’s death. Because of these men’s false doctrine, Paul strongly warned Timothy to “rightly divide the word of truth.” In other words, “Timothy, don’t make the same mistake that Hymenaeus and Philetus made.” What was their mistake? They misinterpreted scripture by failing to place in it’s proper timing or dispensation! Even today, many false teachers try to tell us that the time of some promises and miracles that God has for us, has passed. But they like Hymenaeus and Philetus are not “rightly dividing the word of truth” and are not interpreting scripture within the proper dispensation!

As we go through each Bible Study, the scriptures are in the text. All scriptures quoted are from the King James Version unless otherwise noted. This Bible study is written from the point of view that the scriptures are the inspired Word of God and are absolute truth (II Timothy 3:16 II Peter 1:20-21). The scriptures do not contradict themselves, and if they appear to do so, then study as to the audience, writer, and reason for the verse will always clarify the contradiction. This Bible study is not meant to be comprehensive but to enable the reader to be equipped to understand the entire scripture. Let’s consider the words of Peter when Jesus asked if the twelve disciples would abandon Him:

John 6:67-68 Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? 68 Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.

Even today Peter’s answer is still truth! In the scriptures and the words of Jesus, are still eternal life and the answers to everyone of life’s problems can be found. Each lesson of this Bible Study is arranged by logical content. Some lessons will take several sessions to complete; others will go by quickly. Short or long these are the words to eternal life: let’s learn them well!