All the Words of God are
pure (Ps.12:6), and are given by inspiration of God, (2Tim.3:16). Yet the
servant of the Lord is instructed to distinguish things differing and to
rightly divide the Word of Truth, (Phils.1:9-10 and 2Tim.2:15).
The Word of God is truth and complete but every Christian will
acknowledge to varying degrees that some parts of the Word are not about
us today. The entire Bible is for us, not all the Bible is about us.
Dispensational truth is specific truth or sets of conditions for
specific groups at specific times, though time is not the essential
element. We might wait at the pharmacy for the chemist to dispense our
medicine but we don't walk away with a bag of time. Some examples of
dispensational truth would be specific commands given to Adam in the
garden and to Israel like the Sabbaths and food obligations. Certain
promises were made to Abraham and Israel�s other fathers which are
different to promises made to us. And finally, Christ is the only
Saviour but He has different relationships with different called out
companies; He is the Priest King of Israel and the Bridegroom to the
Church of the Firstborn and the Head of the Church which is His Body.
Contrary to popular belief, not all the promises in the Word of God are
yours or mine.
Universal, fundamental or doctrinal truth is truth which is found from
the beginning to the end of God's Word and is essential for all people,
at all times. Fundamental truth declares understanding of and the
essential issues for relationship with God. Some examples of fundamental
truths would be; God is love, without faith it is impossible to please
Him, all have sinned and come short of the glory of God, Christ is the
only Saviour and by faith in Him we have redemption through his blood
the forgiveness of sins and righteousness by grace. These truths are
universal, for all at all times.
Here is a link which more fully explains the differences
between foundational and dispensational truth;
www.bibleunderstanding.com/dispensational.htm
Here is a summary:
From Genesis 1-12
God dealt with people and preserved the godly in an ark when He
destroyed the wicked by a flood but people continued to ignore God, see
Romans 1:18-32.
In Genesis 10-11 God separated people (around Israel) into different
Nations with tongues. These are the nations, or heathen or thegentiles
of the Bible.
At Genesis 12, God
called one man, Abraham, made promises to him which included benefits to
those nations surrounding Israel. Through Abraham God created The
Nation, Israel. Israel is God�s inheritance on the earth and they have
an inheritance on the earth in God�s Land. From Genesis 12 God is the
God of all the earth but bound Himself to Israel through covenants and
promises.
From Genesis 12 we
have two groups, THE NATION and THE NATIONS; that is, Israelites and
Gentiles with God aligning Himself with Israel and their land which is
God�s land as well, Gen.17:4-8 compare Eph.2:11-12.
From Genesis 12 to Acts 28, God through Israel, provided salvation to
the world, but all believers had their hopes and future homes with God
on the earth including the New Jerusalem which is to descend to the
earth. Up until Acts 28 God and Israel were together by covenant and His
purposes were all OT, that is prophecy unfolding.
The Gospels.
When Christ came, He
came as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the World, but He also
came as a minister of the circumcision, He was an Apostle of the
Israelites. He confirmed the promises made to the Fathers, and was
raised (resurrected) to sit on the throne of His father David. John
1:29, Matt. 10:6, 15:24, Roms.15:8, Hebrews 3:1, Luke 1:32-33, Acts
2:30, 13:23, 32-33 (Ps.2).
The appeal of the Gospels and the Acts period was for Israel to repent
and turn back to God and this appeal continued through the book of the
Acts. Had they done so, God would have set up their earthly Kingdom and
the world reached with the gospel. The return of the Lord was expected
at any time during the Acts period. 1Cor.1:8, 10:11, Hebrews 10:37,
James 5:8 and 1Jn.2:18 (time = hour),.
Acts
28.
At
the end of the book of Acts, not at the cross or Acts 2, Israel was put
aside, as God had put them aside in the past. Please read Acts 28:17-31.
Here, in the final chapter of Acts, we see yet again the ministry of the
Acts period which was the word being preached to Jew first, however, the
Israelites were non-committal to their Messiah and God put them away, or
let them go,
Act 28:25
And disagreeing with one another, they were let go,
In Matt.1:19, the same word "let go" of Acts 28:25 is used as "put
away".
Paul announced the Prophecy of Isaiah 6 against the nation of Israel in
this final record of witness to them, and Israel were cast aside and now
have no national privileges before God being just one of the Nations.
God�s earthly purposes and the soon return of the Christ were put aside
with Israel as well.
Israel was put aside at Acts 28 and Christ descended and revealed to
Paul alone the present dispensation of the grace of God, the Mystery
which was hidden away from ages and generations. Paul is Christ�s
messenger for us today.
However, we have to be careful with Paul's books. Some were written
during the Acts period while Israel still stood as a nation and while
Israel�s hopes were still on offer. Some of Paul�s writings came after
Israel was cast aside for a time and her hopes had been put aside with
her.
When the Lord called and commissioned Paul He told him he would have a
twofold ministry;
Act 26:16
But rise and stand on your feet, for I have appeared to you for this
purpose, to make you a minister and a witness BOTH of what you saw, and
in what I shall appear to you;
Both implies two, and here are two (BOTH) groups of Paul�s letters
accompanying the two ministries.
