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Originally Posted by AnywhereElse
I have been "researching" the church to which my family belonged which is difficult because it appeared to be "unique" so I was trying to identify the sect of Christianity that "The People's Church", South Bend, IN was. My grandpa's 2nd cousin was the minister. Through city-data, I have located some of his grandchildren who have shared information. This was long ago in the 50's and 60's that I remember. So, I was told that it was not any particular sect but was "dispensational theology" so I attempted to read about what that was but it is too deep for me so I thought that maybe someone could either point me to a source that would be simple or maybe have a brief explanation that would be easy to understand as in what makes it different from other theology. I have only been interested in the basics of religion, God's laws, etc. but now, I want to understand more of the faith that has sustained me throughout my life. Thank you.
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A dispensation is a period of time expressing the divine viewpoint of human history. But the emphasis is not on the time factor, but on the way in which God administers His plan to a particular group of people within that period of time.
The word Greek word 'oikonomia' is translated both as 'dispensation' and as 'stewardship' For example, in
1 Corinthians 9:17 the NASB translates it a 'stewardship' while the KJV translates it as 'dispensation.'
The meaning is that of administration. In different periods of human history God puts someone in charge of disseminating the gospel. God uses human administrators or stewards to accomplish His purpose.
There are basically four different dispensations though some dispensationalists sub-divide these dispensations and so come to a different number.
In the
Age of the Gentiles, all believers were administrators and were responsible for dissemination of the truth.
In the
Age of Israel, Israel was the administrator. Jewish believers in the Age of Israel were custodians of the truth and were responsible for disseminating the gospel. Israel was supposed to have declared the glory of God among the nations
(Isaiah 66:19).
In the
Church Age in which we now live, the Church, made up of all believers in the body of Christ, is the administrator.
In the
Millennial kingdom, it is Jesus Christ Himself who will be the administrator.
While the means of eternal salvation is the same in all dispensations, there are differences in the system of spirituality. In the age of Israel, the Jews were under a ritual sacrificial system which pictured the coming of the Messiah in the future. The Age of Israel was an age of ritual.
But in the Church Age most ritual is done away with. The exceptions are water baptism and the Lord's supper.
Another difference between the Israel and the Church is that in the Age of Israel, only males of the tribe of Levi could be priests. But in the Church Age every believer is a priest.
Israel was under the Mosaic Law. The Church is not.
So with a change in dispensations, God deals with one group of people in one way, then with a different group of people in a different way, then another, and then another.
That is just a very brief description of what dispensations involve. Here are four different studies you can look at.
DOCTRINE OF DISPENSATIONS
DOCTRINE OF DISPENSATIONS This study regards the eternal future as a dispensation, as opposed to the first four dispensations which take place in time.
Doctrine of Dispensations - Doctrines for download - Robert McLaughlin Bible Ministries / Grace Bible Church - bible doctrine truth in Christ
Dispensations, Definitions/Explanation
I hope that helps.
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Thanks again.
