We follow the risen, ascended Christ, not the carpenter from Galilee, and future King, who was sent to none but to Jews only to fulfill the promises made to their fathers. We know him no longer after the flesh.
I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
-Matthew 15:24
These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.
-Matthew 10:5-7
These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.
-Romans 15:8
Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more. Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
2 Corinthians 5:16-17
The Non-Prison Epistles - Part 4
Basically, all dispensationalism is, is understanding God's different plans for different groups for different purposes. There is an earthly plan for earthly people. In fact, most of the Bible concerns God's plans for the earth ("the meek shall inherit the EARTH," "will you at this time RESTORE the KINGDOM to ISRAEL?" etc.). These are plans slowly revealed at different times for different purposes... all revealed FROM the foundation of the ages. The Hope of Israel versus The Hope of the Body, etc.
God has a plan for the true Holy of Holies in the far above the heavens where Christ sits at the right hand of the Father. This plan was hidden in God from BEFORE the foundation of the ages. Eph 1:4, Col 1:5, etc.
So, something like the Law has to be read in its context. Paradise must be understood in its context. The future plan for Israel is to be understood to be part of the earthly plan for an earthly people. Etc.
If you do an internet search you'll find a lot of kooky misrepresentations of dispensationalism (admittedly a few by self-proclaimed dispensationalists, but most from our detractors).
I only say this... unless you're going to the temple to slaughter bulls and sheep and checking women to see if they're virgins (and paying related fines in shekels), you're a dispensationalist. That is, you recognize that God has different commands for different people for different purposes.
Dispensation = economy = stewardship
There is a message and a hope for the current present age which differs from the message and hope of other ages. There are families of God looking for an earthly kingdom and an earthly priesthood and there is a family looking for spiritual blessings in the far above the heavens. We must not confuse these hopes and promises. We must "rightly divide the Word of Truth."
If I drive from France to England, when I get to England on the other end of the tunnel, I have to switch to the left side of the road. Murder is still wrong. Adultery is still wrong, etc. But the specific rules as to what I should be doing and to what I am HOPING for differ. These are the groups emanating from God (which includes angelic and spiritual beings) will all come together in an unknown future age. The "pasa patria" of Ephesians 3:14-15 (every lineage of God).
Basically, all dispensationalism is, is understanding God's different plans for different groups for different purposes. There is an earthly plan for earthly people. In fact, most of the Bible concerns God's plans for the earth ("the meek shall inherit the EARTH," "will you at this time RESTORE the KINGDOM to ISRAEL?" etc.). These are plans slowly revealed at different times for different purposes... all revealed FROM the foundation of the ages. The Hope of Israel versus The Hope of the Body, etc.
God has a plan for the true Holy of Holies in the far above the heavens where Christ sits at the right hand of the Father. This plan was hidden in God from BEFORE the foundation of the ages. Eph 1:4, Col 1:5, etc.
According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love
-Ephesians 1:4
We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints, for the hope which is laid up for you in heaven...
-Colossians 1:3-5
So, something like the Law has to be read in its context. Paradise must be understood in its context. The future plan for Israel is to be understood to be part of the earthly plan for an earthly people. Etc.
If you do an internet search you'll find a lot of kooky misrepresentations of dispensationalism (admittedly a few by self-proclaimed dispensationalists, but most from our detractors).
I only say this... unless you're going to the temple to slaughter bulls and sheep and checking women to see if they're virgins (and paying related fines in shekels), you're a dispensationalist. That is, you recognize that God has different commands for different people for different purposes.
Dispensation = economy = stewardship
There is a message and a hope for the current present age which differs from the message and hope of other ages. There are families of God looking for an earthly kingdom and an earthly priesthood and there is a family looking for spiritual blessings in the far above the heavens. We must not confuse these hopes and promises. We must "rightly divide the Word of Truth."
If I drive from France to England, when I get to England on the other end of the tunnel, I have to switch to the left side of the road. Murder is still wrong. Adultery is still wrong, etc. But the specific rules as to what I should be doing and to what I am HOPING for differ. These are the groups emanating from God (which includes angelic and spiritual beings) will all come together in an unknown future age. The "pasa patria" of Ephesians 3:14-15 (every lineage of God).
We have an apostle of this age: Paul. To him alone was given this message.
For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles— if indeed you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which was given to me for you, how that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already...)
-Ephesians 3:1-3
Paul witnessed to the hope of Israel during the Acts Age. In the Post Acts age he became a prisoner for us gentiles and witnessed to the hope of the Mystery which had been hidden from BEFORE the foundation of the ages. We have covered this in great detail in other entries. This post is for those who may be new to the concept and have, by the grace of God, stumbled onto this blog.