Dispensations

... WE ARE COMMANDED TO ...
2 Timothy 2:15 KJV  Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Dispensations are what we need to RIGHTLY DIVIDE when we STUDY the word of God. The word "DISPENSATION" appears 4 times in the King James Bible (1 Corinthians 9:17; Ephesians 1:10, 3:2; Colossians 1:25). All of these mentions are in context of the preaching of the gospel of Christ to fulfill the word of God. Each time being in the New Testament, primarily to teach us there has been a change for salvation. Such a simple change as from the Old Testament to the New Testament, From the law of Moses to the Grace of Jesus Christ our Lord. And much more deeper things as well, but we will focus on the simple things for now then build up to the rest later.

Colossians 1:25 KJV  Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God;

This is understood by recognizing the fulfilling of the word of God was a promise of salvation from God not man. Jesus Christ is the Lord our Saviour, Consider the following...

Genesis 22:8 KJV  And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together.

John 1:36 KJV  And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!

Isaiah 53:7 KJV  He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.

Matthew 27:12-14 KJV  And when he was accused of the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing.  (13)  Then said Pilate unto him, Hearest thou not how many things they witness against thee?  (14)  And he answered him to never a word; insomuch that the governor marvelled greatly.

Philippians 2:8 & 10 KJV  And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. (10) That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;

Revelation 5:8-9 KJV  And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.  (9)  And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;

Paul preached that Christ Jesus is our righteousness and not the works our own hands.

Romans 3:24-26 KJV  Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:  (25)  Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;  (26)  To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.

Romans 10:3-4 KJV  For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.  (4)  For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.

Galatians 5:4 KJV  Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.

In all this what we have laid out by God for us today is much different then that which was before, also that which will be after. (That is the salvation of Grace through faith; is different from what was before the death burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ, also is different from what will be after our gathering together unto him what is commonly yet incorrectly known as the rapture.)

Ephesians 2:8-9 KJV  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:  (9)  Not of works, lest any man should boast.

... DIFFERENT FROM BEFORE ...
Luke 18:22 KJV  Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me.
... & AFTER ...
James 2:24 & 26 KJV  Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. (26) For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

... SCRIPTURE DEFINES GRACE AND FAITH ...
Romans 11:6 KJV  And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.
... & ...
Hebrews 11:1 KJV  Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

There was a transition that took place in the book of Acts, from water baptism to Spirit baptism and from Peter to Paul. Do not forget that Paul wrote 2/3rds of the New Testament. And also that the dispensation of the grace of God was committed unto Paul, not Peter according to the word of God.

Ephesians 3:2-3 & 6 KJV  If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:  (3)  How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, (6) That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:

In this gospel that was given to Paul it was the fulfilling of the word of God as in Colossians 1:25. And it is the power of God unto salvation according to Romans 1:16. Be sure that it is not Paul that gave the increase but God according to 1 Corinthians 3:6! And yes Paul first preached it but it was not of his own but of God, for God will judge the secrets of men according to it as in Romans 2:16.
With all of this, if any man or angel preach any other gospel for salvation today, we are to let him be ACCURSED! And yes there are other gospels and other Jesus' scripture declares it in 2 Corinthians 11:4.
Also consider the everlasting gospel preached by an angel in Revelation 14:6. This can not be in the same dispensation. Or else we have a contradiction in the word of God. Same as what has already been covered with the things before and after the Paul.

Galatians 1:6-8 KJV  I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:  (7)  Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.  (8)  But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.

Now having outlined all of this... It should be certain that there is a difference of salvation for us today then at other times. And in this we begin to understand God worked different ways at different times. The word of God is perfect being inspired by God. Given to men to preach his word at various times to fulfill the will of the LORD God.

Hebrews 1:1 KJV  God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,

2 Peter 1:21 KJV  For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

2 Timothy 3:16 KJV  All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

And so as at the top here we must fulfill the command to study and rightly divide the word of truth, that is the word of God (2 Timothy 2:15). We had only really covered a small portion of what there is to be covered talking about dispensations. However, what was covered was in regards to salvation and salvation is the primary thing in understanding the things of God. For without our Saviour Jesus Christ the Lord, you have nothing. You are only led by the wisdom of men, and will no doubt make a mess of things of God, going according to the flesh and not the Spirit of God (2 Corinthians 2:4-5, 11-14; Galatians 3:3).

Here are the basic dispensations to keep in mind when studying the word of God.

• First is the garden of Eden Genesis 1:1-3:24
• Second pre flood Genesis 4:1-12
• Third post flood Genesis 12:1-Exodus 2:24-25
• Fourth the law Exodus 2:24-John 19:30
• Fifth grace of God John 19:30-(Hebrews 1:1) Revelation 1:4
• Sixth Resurrection & time of Jacobs trouble Revelation 4:1 (Hebrews 1:1)-Revelation 20:1
• Seventh kingdom of heaven thousand year reign Revelation 20:1-15
• Eighth new heaven new earth Revelation 21:1-22:21

Here are a few playlists with several Video-Bible-Studies on several topics that need to be rightly divided in the word of God. Each concerning matters for Dispensations and Rightly-Dividing.