Harbour Lake Baptist Church

“52 Vital Doctrines of The Bible”

Doctrine #20: The Dispensations

Note: Most information based on pages 126-138 of the book “Major Bible Themes” by Lewis Sperry Chaffer.

Opening Comments about the Dispensations

  1. In the study of Scripture, it is important to understand that scriptural revelation falls into well-defined periods.
  1. These are clearly separated, and the recognition of these divisions and their divine purposes constitute one of the important factors in true interpretation of the Scriptures.
  1. These divisions are termed “dispensations,” and in successive periods of time different dispensations may be observed.

The Meaning of Dispensations

  1. A dispensation can be defined as a stage in the progressive revelation of God constituting a distinctive stewardship or rule of life.
  1. Although the concept of a dispensation and an age in the Bible is not precisely the same, it is obvious that each age has its dispensation.
  1. Ages are often mentioned in the Bible

Ephesians 2:7 “…in order that IN THE COMING AGESHe might show the incomparable riches of His grace, expressed in His kindness to us in Christ Jesus.”

Ephesians 3:5, 9“...which was not made known to men in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets...and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which FOR AGES PAST was kept hidden in God, who created all things.”

Hebrews 1:2: “...but IN THESE LAST DAYSHe has spoken to us by His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, and through whom He made the universe.”

  1. Ages are also distinguished in the Bible

John 1:17 “For THE LAW(i.e. “age of the law”) was given through Moses; GRACE AND TRUTH(i.e. “age of grace and truth”) came through Jesus Christ.”

Matthew 5:21-22“You have heard that it was said TO THE PEOPLE LONG AGO (i.e. “ages, past”), ‘Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’BUT I TELL YOU(i.e. “age, present”) that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.”

2 Corinthians 3:11 “And if what was fading away came with glory, how much greater is the glory of that which lasts!”

Hebrews 7:11-12 “If perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood (for on the basis of it the law was given to the people), why was there still need for another priest to come—one in the order of Melchizedek, not in the order of Aaron?FOR WHEN THERE IS A CHANGE IN THE PRIESTHOOD, there must also be a change of the law.”

  1. It is probable that the recognition of the dispensations sheds more light on the whole message of the Bible than any other aspect of biblical study. Often the first clear understanding of the dispensations and God’s revealed purposes in them results in the beginning of useful Bible knowledge and in the fostering of a personal interest in the Bible itself.
  1. Man’s relation to God is not the same in every age. It has been necessary to bring fallen man into divine testing.
  1. This, in part, is God’s purpose in the ages, and the result of the testing is in every case an unquestionable demonstration of the utter failure and sinfulness of man. In the end, every mouth will have been stopped because every assumption of the human heart will be revealed as foolish and wicked by centuries of experience.
  1. Each dispensation, therefore, begins with man being divinely placed in a new position of privilege and responsibility, and each closes with the failure of man resulting in righteous judgments from God.
  1. While there are certain abiding facts such as the holy character of God which are of necessity the same in every age, there are varying instructions and responsibilities which are, as to their application, limited to a given period.

a. In this connection the Bible student must recognize the difference between a primary and a secondary application of the Word of God.

b. Only those portions of the Scriptures which are directly addressed to the child of God under grace are to be given a personal or primary application. All such instructions he is expected to perform in detail.

  1. In secondary applications it should be observed that, while there are spiritual lessons to be drawn from every portion of the Bible, it does not follow that the Christian is appointed by God to conform to those governing principles which were the will of God for people of other dispensations.

d.The child of God under grace is not situated as was Adam, or Abraham, or the Israelites when under the law; nor is he called upon to follow that peculiar manner of life which according to Scripture will be required of men when the King shall have returned and set up His kingdom on the earth.

e.Since the child of God depends wholly on the instructions contained in the Bible for his direction in daily life, and since the principles obtaining in the various dispensations are so diverse and even at times contradictory, it is important that he recognize those portions of the Scriptures which directly apply to him if he is to realize the will of God and the glory of God.

  1. In considering the whole testimony of the Bible it is almost as important for the believer who would do the will of God to recognize that which does not concern him as it is for him to recognize that which does concern him.
  1. It is obvious that, apart from the knowledge of dispensational truth, the believer will not be intelligently adjusted to the present purpose and willof God in the world.
  1. Such knowledge alone will save him from assuming the hopeless legality of the dispensation that is past or from undertaking the impossible world transforming program belonging to the dispensation which is to come.
  1. Because of imperfect translations, some important truth is hidden to the one who reads only the

English text of the Bible.

a. This is illustrated by the fact that the Greek wordaion, which means an age, or dispensation, is forty times translated bytheEnglish word “world.” Thus, when it states in Matthew 13:49, “So shall it be at the end of the world,” there is reference not to the end of the material earth, which in due time must come (Isa. 66:22; 2 Pet. 3:7; Rev. 20:11), but rather to the end of this age.

Isaiah 66:22“As THE NEW HEAVENS AND THE NEW EARTHthat I make will endure before me,” declares theLord, “so will your name and descendants endure.”

2 Peter 3:7“By the same word THE PRESENT HEAVENS AND EARTH ARE RESERVED FOR FIRE,being kept for the day of judgmentand destruction of the ungodly.”

Revelation 20:11“Then I saw a great white throneand Him who was seated on it. THE EARTH AND THE HEAVENS FLED FROM HIS PRESENCE,and there was NO PLACE FOR THEM.”

b. The end of the world is not drawing near, but the end of the age is. According to Scripture, there are in all seven major dispensations, and it is evident that we are now living in the extreme end of the sixth. The kingdom age of a thousand years is yet to come:

Revelation 20:4“I saw throneson which were seated those who had been given authority to judge.And I saw the souls of those who had been beheadedbecause of their testimony about Jesusand because of the word of God.Theyhad not worshiped the beastor its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads ortheir hands.They came to life and REIGNED WITH CHRIST A THOUSAND YEARS.”

Revelation 20:6“Blessedand holy are those who share in the first resurrection. The second deathhas no power over them, but they will be priestsof God and of Christ and will REIGN WITH HIM A THOUSAND YEARS.”

  1. A dispensation is normally marked off by a new divine appointment and responsibilities with which it begins and by divine judgment with which it ends.
  1. Seven dispensations are commonly recognized in Scripture: (1) Innocence, (2) Conscience, (3) Government, (4) Promise, (5) Law, (6) Grace, (7) Millennial Kingdom.
  1. In studying the seven dispensations, certain principles are essential to understanding this teaching.

a.Dispensationalism is derived from normal, or literal, interpretation of the Bible. It is impossible to interpret the Bible in its normal, literal sense without realizing that there are different ages and different dispensations.

b. A second principle is that of progressive revelation, that is, the fact recognized by practically all students of Scripture, that revelation is given by stages.

c. Third, all expositors of the Bible will need to recognize that later revelation to some extent supersedes earlier revelation with a resulting change in rules of life in which earlier requirements may be changed or withdrawn and new requirements added. For instance, while God commanded Moses to kill a man for gathering sticks on Saturday (Num. 15:32-36), no one would apply this command today because we live in a different dispensation.

Numbers 15:32-36 “While the Israelites were in the wilderness,a man was found gathering wood on the Sabbath day.Those who found him gathering wood brought him to Moses and Aaron and the whole assembly,and they kept him in custody, because it was not clear what should be done to him.Then theLordsaid to Moses, ‘The man must die.The whole assembly must stone him outside the camp.’So the assembly took him outside the camp and stoned himto death,as theLordcommanded Moses.”

  1. Although seven dispensations are frequently distinguished in Scripture, three are more important than the others, namely,

a. The dispensation of law, governing Israel in the Old Testament from the time of Moses;

b. The dispensation of grace, the present age;

c. The future dispensation of the millennial kingdom.

Dispensation of Innocence: Age of Liberty

1. This dispensation began with the creation of man (Gen. 1:26-27) and continues until Genesis 3:6.

Genesis 1:26-27“Then God said, ‘Let Usmake mankindin Our image,in Our likeness,so that they may ruleover the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky,over the livestock and all the wild animals,and over all the creatures that move along the ground.’SO GOD CREATED MANKINDin His Own image,in the image of GodHe created them;male and femaleHe created them.”

Genesis 3:6“When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirablefor gaining wisdom, SHE TOOK SOME AND ATE IT. She also gave some to her husband,who was with her, AND HE ATE IT.”

  1. In this dispensation man was given the human responsibility of being fruitful, subduing the earth,

having dominion over animals, using vegetables for food, and caring for the Garden of Eden:

Genesis 1:28-29“God blessed them and said to them,‘Be fruitful and increase in number;fill the earthand subdue it. Rule overthe fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.’Then God said, ‘I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food.’”

Genesis 2:15“TheLordGod took the man and put him in the Garden of EdenTO WORK IT AND TAKE CARE OF IT.”

  1. One prohibition was given, that is, man was instructed not to eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil:

Genesis 2:17 “...But you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil,for when you eat from it you will certainly die.”

  1. Although man was given a blessed estate, a perfect body, mind and nature, and everything needed for enjoyment of life, Eve succumbed to temptation and ate the forbidden fruit and Adam joined her in her act of disobedience (Genesis 3:1-6). As a result, divine judgment came, spiritual death, knowledge of sin, fear of God, and loss of fellowship.
  1. Even in these circumstances, God introduced the principle of grace with a promise of the Redeemer, provided coats of skin, typical of provision of redemption. They were driven out of the garden, but were allowed to live out their natural lives,and with God’s judgment upon them a new dispensation began.

Genesis 3:15“And I will put enmity between you(i.e. “Satan”) and the woman, and between your offspringand hers; He will crushyour head, and you will strike His heel.”

Genesis 3:21“TheLordGod made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them.”

Genesis 3:23-24“So theLordGod banished him from the Garden of Edento work the groundfrom which he had been taken.After he drove the man out, he placed on the east sideof the Garden of Eden cherubimand a flaming swordflashing back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life.”

  1. In the dispensation of innocence, God revealed the failure of man, gave the promise of a coming Redeemer, revealed His sovereignty in judging His creatures, and introduced the principle of grace.

Dispensation of Conscience: Age of Human Determination

1. This dispensation beginning in Genesis 3:7 and extending to Genesis 8:19 brought new

responsibilities upon man, stated in the so-called covenant with Adam and Eve.

Genesis 3:7“Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked;so they sewed fig leaves together and MADE COVERINGS FOR THEMSELVES.”

Genesis 8:19“All the animals and all the creatures that move along the ground and all the birds— everything that moves on land—came out of the ark, one kind after another.”

2. A curse was placed upon Satan (Gen. 3:14-15), but a curse also fell upon Adam and Eve (Gen. 3:16- 19). Although no detailed code of morals is revealed as given to man at this time, he was required to live according to his conscience and in keeping with such knowledge of God as was given to him.

Genesis 3:14-15“So theLordGod said to the serpent, ‘Because you have done this,‘CURSED ARE YOU above all livestockand all wild animals!You will crawl on your bellyand you will eat dustall the days of your life.And I will put enmitybetween you and the woman,and between your offspringand hers;He will crushyour head,and you will strike His heel.’”

Genesis 3:16-19“To the woman He said, ‘I will make your pains in childbearing very severe;with painful labor you will give birth to children. Your desire will be for your husband,and he will rule over you.’To Adam He said, ‘Because you listened to your wife and ate fruit from the tree about which I commanded you, ‘You must not eat from it,’ ‘CURSED IS THE GROUNDbecause of you;through painful toilyou will eat food from it all the days of your life.It will produce thorns and thistlesfor you,and you will eat the plants of the field.By the sweat of your browyou will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you areand to dust you will return.”

3.Under conscience, however, man continued to fail just as he has failed ever since. Conscience could convict, but it could not bring victory:

John 8:9“At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there.”

Romans 2:15“They show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts sometimes accusing them and at other times even defending them.”

1 Corinthians 8:7“But not everyone possesses this knowledge.Some people are still so accustomed to idols that when they eat sacrificial food they think of it as having been sacrificed to a god, and since their conscience is weak,it is defiled.”

1 Timothy 4:2“Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron.”

4.Adam’s children had his sin nature manifested in Cain’s refusalto bring a blood offering (Gen. 4:7) and the consequent murder of Abel by Cain (Gen. 4:8).

Genesis 4:7“IF YOU DO WHAT IS RIGHT, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door;it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.”

Genesis 4:8“Now Cain said to his brother Abel, ‘Let’s go out to the field.’While they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel AND KILLED HIM.”

a.The resulting civilization of Cain was sinful (Gen. 4:16-24), and physical death became common (Gen. 5:5-31).

b.The wickedness of the human heart reached such a stage that judgment again was necessary (Gen. 6:5, 11-13).

Genesis 6:5“TheLordsaw how great the wickedness of the human race had become on the earth,and that every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart WAS ONLY EVIL ALL OF THE TIME.”

Genesis 6:11-13“Now the earth was corruptin God’s sight and was full of violence.God saw how corruptthe earth had become, for all the people on earth had corrupted their ways.So God said to Noah, ‘I am going to put an end to all people, for the earth is filled with violence because of them. I am surely going to destroyboth them and the earth.’”