GOD’S DEALINGS WITH MANKIND

Introduction

“Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.” – Hebrews 13:8

 

If you are like me, when you read the bible you come across many passages and / or chapters of the bible that are troubling. Yet, in our ignorance, we know that its not God’s Word that is the problem but instead our lack of understanding. Our sin nature is more attracted to man’s tradition (what man says about God) rather than holding obeisance to the bible (what God says about man).  Jesus Christ in His earthly ministry to Israel used an awesome illustration of the principle of stewardship or management in Matthew 25 while talking to the apostles. Christ went on to describe the accountability of each servant based on the responsibility given to him. Later, the resurrected, risen Christ revealed to the apostle Paul doctrine (our marching orders for Christian living today) on this very issue of stewardship, which is greatly neglected by believers today. “Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.  Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.”  - 1 Corinthians 4:1-3   Before a child of God can truly begin to apply God’s Word to His life while studying the bible, he must understand some important concepts such as:

-How is God dealing with mankind at this time (or in other words, what are the current marching orders of the day…)?

-Who is God talking to?

-What is the context of the conversation?

As the text in Hebrews 13:8 stated, Jesus Christ IS the same yesterday, today and forever, but thank the Lord, He HAS indeed changed His dealings with mankind. God’s dealings with mankind are called “dispensations”. The word “dispensation” is not made by man but in fact used several times in scripture. The very sound of the word strikes fear into many a believer and anger in most.  Why you may ask????? P-R-I-D-E, plain and simple. Back in the Garden of Eden, the devil himself used the same subtlety when he asked Eve, “hath God said”? Unfortunately, it is more acceptable to follow man’s tradition and check your mind at the door of the church rather than heed to the inspiration of God the Holy Spirit through the Pauline Epistles, all made possible through the completed, sufficient work of Jesus Christ!

Failure to understand the true teaching of dispensations and the distinctive ministry of our apostle Paul has led many to make false applications of the Bible.  This is nothing short of “covenant theology” (A belief that the Body of Christ has replaced Israel and will receive all of her promises and blessings.) Some, who do not understand the truth about dispensations, have attacked the very teaching of it and even refuse to believe that God has ever changed His dealings with mankind!

 

The purpose of this web site is to answer these objections and to equip the believer so that they can understand the true nature of dispensations as well as Paul’s distinctive ministry, which has not been faithfully taught. Perhaps a clear definition of the word at the beginning will help.

Definition of Dispensation: the act of dispensing or something dispensed; a specific arrangement or system by which something is dispensed. Moses dispensed the Law. The word dispensation does not mean a period of time. The dispensing of a particular message or ministry always has a beginning and an ending resulting in man's failure. However, such in the case of marriage, some of God's instructions carry over to and through His other dispensings. In another example, murder is still wrong in the sight of God even though we are not under the law!  The steward of a household is given the responsibility of dispensing the affairs assigned by his master. Thus Moses was entrusted with the dispensing of the Law. He was God's steward of that dispensation. Today, The gospel of the grace of God and the Dispensation of Grace was committed to Paul. It was his responsibility to dispense this “good news” to the Gentiles. While alive, he was God's steward for this dispensation to “pass the baton” to us.

 

“And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry; Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.  And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love, which is in Christ Jesus.  This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.  Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.” – 1 Timothy 1:12-16

 

Friend, did you read that wonderful verse? Jesus Christ chose Paul the blasphemer and persecutor so that IN PAUL FIRST, JESUS CHRIST MIGHT SHOW FORTH ALL LONG SUFFERING, FOR A PATTERN TO THEM WHICH SHOULD HEREAFTER BELIEVE!!  Imagine a pharmacist working behind the counter. What is his job? He “dispenses” medication to those who are ill or need treatment. What would happen if he gave the wrong medication or dispensed the wrong drug to a patient? Sickness, ineffectiveness or even death! If we do not understand how God is dealing with us, we have become poor dispensers, managers or stewards with what God has entrusted to us. With this understanding, it should be easy for us to identify the various dispensations within God's dealings with mankind and we will know the difference between Israel and the Body of Christ. The apostle Paul told a young pastor named Timothy to “study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed rightly dividing the word of truth”. Most expositors focus on the “study” part of this verse, as if God would be impressed by how hard we study. In fact, we are to show ourselves approved unto God by “rightly dividing” the word of truth!