Tuesday, September 1, 2015

What Is a Dispensation? - Pastor Art Sims



  In the Bible, a "dispensation" is a system of teaching dispensed by God for people to know and abide by.  Our English term "dispensation" is translated from the Greek word oikonomia meaning guidance or direction for a household, from oikos, house, and nemo, to guide, minister, direct.  As the steward of a household manages or ministers according to instructions dispensed to him, so God's affairs are administered according to teachings that He has dispensed.
   Notes in the Scofield Reference Bible identify 7 major dispensations:  
  1. Innocence
  2. Conscience
  3. Human Government
  4. Promise
  5. Law
  6. Grace
  7. Kingdom
    These seven are widely recognized and easy to grasp.
  • Innocence consists of instructions dispensed by God to Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden before they sinned.
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  • Conscience began with man's consciousness of sin and consists of man's responsibility to abide by what he knows is right.
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  • Human Government was instituted after the flood of Noah's day to assist in controlling human mischief.
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  • Promise consists of promises dispensed to Abraham and confirmed to his son Isaac and grandson Jacob.
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  • The Law is the system of laws dispensed by God through Moses.
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  • Grace is the system of grace teaching dispensed by Jesus Christ for people today 
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  • Kingdom consists of government dispensed from the throne of David with Jesus 
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  • Christ, David's greatest Son, ruling on that throne.  This is a future dispensation.
    Identifying these 7 programs of God produces a basic sketch of advancing truth in God's dealings with man.  God didn't reveal everything at once.  Rather, over time He has dispensed a series of unfolding programs with teachings going into effect at the times of His choosing.  Our task is to study the Scriptures to learn about these purposes of God, to distinguish our present program of grace while appreciating God's dealings with people at other times as well.
   Much more is involved in precisely identifying and appreciating the dispensational character of Scripture than is presented in this brief sketch.  Significant differences exist among Bible teachers with regard to the specific time our present dispensation had its beginning.  However, identifying these seven dispensations is a useful start in understanding the dispensations of God.


How God Saves Men
Believing Christ DIED, that’s HISTORY.
Believing Christ DIED for YOU SINS and Rose again that’s SALVATION.
Read Romans 1:16, Romans 10:9-10 and 1. Corinthians 15:1-4


(A 10 Minute Video)

Posted By Cecil  and Connie Spivey 

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