biblical dispensations

8/13/2019 Biblical Dispensations

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Biblical Dispensations


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What is a Dispensation?

A method of interpreting history that

divides Gods work and purposes

towards mankind into different time

periods.

A period of time during which God deals

in a particular way with man in respect

to sin and mans responsibility. First found in 1 Cor. 9:17


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WARNING

When studying Dispensations

Malachi 3:6


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Pertinent questions to ask when

studying Dispensations

Why did God not want anyone to kill

Cain after he had murdered Abel?

Why did God later institute corporal

punishment?

Why did God allow mankind to eat

animal flesh only after the flood? Gen.

9:3-4 Why is circumcision and animal

sacrifices no longer required?


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Pertinent Questions

Who did Cain have children with if there

were no other persons on the earth?

Why then did God forbid sexual relations

among siblings in Lev. 18:9; 20:17


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Characteristics of a

Dispensation

It must have a particular way of God

administering his rule

It must have a particular responsibility for man

It must contain divine revelation which had

not been given before

It must have a time-period called an age

during which this divine revelation is dominantin the testing of mans obedience to God


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The Seven Dispensations

Innocence

Conscience

Human Government

Promise

Law

Grace Millennial Kingdom of Christ


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Innocence

From Adam and Eve to the fall of man

Commands:

1. Replenish the earth

2. Subdue the earth

3. Have dominion over the animals

4. Take care of the garden5. Abstain from eating from the tree of

knowledge of good and evil


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Innocence (contd)

Consequences of Mans failure

- judgment on Satan

- judgment on the woman

- judgment on the earth

- judgment on the man

- Divine mercy - Prom ise of the seedto deliver. Gen 3:15


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Conscience

From the fall of Man to the flood

It shows what mankind will do if left totheir own will and conscience, which has

been tainted by the inherited sin nature Man had to choose between good and

evilGen. 4:7

Failure of manGen. 6:5,11,12

Consequencesthe flood

Divine mercy 8 persons were saved


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Human Government

Genesis 8:2011:9.

From the Flood to the call of Abraham

God instituted human government - man

governing man. Romans 13:1-2 God allowed man to eat meat

Man had dominion over the animals

Murder was prohibitedGen. 9:6

Capital punishment instituted.

To be fruitful and multiply. Gen 9:7


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Human Government

(contd) Gods divine Mercy

- God will never curse the earth again

- There will never be another worldwide

flood

- The sign of Gods promise will be the

rainbow


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Promise

From the call of Abraham to the Exodus

Genesis 11:1015:21

Abraham was in idolatry but he still

obeyed God Mans responsibility (Gen. 26:2-3) was

to not go down into the land of Egypt butto the land that God gave him

Gods promises and covenants

Gen 12:1-3, 13:14-17, 15:6


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Promise (contd)

Gods promises to Abram

- make him a great nation. Gen. 12:2

- will make his name great. Gen. 12:2

- will make him bless others. Gen. 12:3

- will protect him and his descendants

- will curse them who treat Abram and

his descendants wrong. Gen. 12:3This was the beginning of Gods

dealing with His chosen nation, Israel


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Promise (contd)

Mans failure All of Jacobs house went

into Egypt. Genesis 47:1

Consequences: Slavery, sin and idolatry

Gods divine mercy: Deliverance and

perseverance of Israel


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Law

From Sinai (commandments) to Calvary

Before that man was trusting in his own

strength.

Mans promise to God: Exodus 19:1-8

Mans responsibility to keep the law

Exodus 19:5

These laws were given to the nation of

Israel onlyRomans 2:12, 9:4


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The Three Distinct parts of the

Law

1. The Eternal Moral Law of God

2. The Ceremonial Law

3. Civil Law


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The Eternal Moral Law of

God The things that were always right and

wrong, regardless of the Dispensation

Love and obey God with all your heart,

soul and mind

Love your neighbor as yourself


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Ceremonial Law

Deals with developing a relationship of

obedience to God (Exodus 1923)

1. Temple worship

2. Sacrifices

3. Circumcision

4. Sabbath keeping


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Civil Law

Deals with developing a relationship of

mutual good with other people

1. This was the constitution of the nation

of Israel

2. It forms the basis for a lot of our laws

today and in the laws of many countries

that have been influenced by Christianity


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During the Dispensation of law

Gods people had a history of failing Him

- They rebelled against God while Moses wason Sinai receiving the laws. Ex. 32:4

- They grumbled and complained against God inthe book of Judges. 2:11, 3:7,12, 4:1,6:1, 10:6,13:1

- They rejected Gods plan of theocracy. They

wanted a king 1 Sam. 8:7- Many of their kings led them to evil. 1 Kings

11:6; 15:26,34; 16:19,30


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During the dispensation of Law

They grumbled and complained against

God while he was taking them out of

Egypt into the Promised Land. Ex. 16:3


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Judgment during the

Dispensation of Law

The kingdom was divided into two

- The Northern kingdom (Israel)10 tribes

- The Southern Kingdom (Judah)2 tribes

The Northern Kingdom was taken

captivity by Assyria. 2 Kings 15:29

The Southern Kingdom was taken

captivity into Babylon. 2 Kings 24:12-16


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Dispensation of Grace

Jesus came with grace to redeem usfrom sinJohn 1:17

The Law was a curse because nobody

could keep it. Its ultimate purpose wasRomans 3:20, Gal 3:24-25

Does not mean that people were notsaved before by grace

- NoahGen. 6:8

- - AbrahamGen. 15:6


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Dispensation of Grace

God moved beyond the Jews and

reached out to the Gentiles

The church which started out Jewish,

became dominated by Gentiles over theyears


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Testings under Grace

No obedience to the Law

Relationship with Christ

- Acceptance of Him. John 1:12

- A life of holiness.

Grace has a twofold manifestation

- Our SalvationRomans 3:24

- Our walk with GodRomans 6:15


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The Millennial Dispensation

The people of Israel will return to theirland

They will have peace

Jesus, the Prince of Peace, will rule overthem for 1,000 years. Rev. 20:4

There will be peace and goodwilltowards men

Satan will be bound for the 1,000 years .Rev. 20:2-3


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