Dispensational Distinctions
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DISPENSATIONAL DISTINCTIONS THE PRIMAL REGENERATION: GENESIS CHAPTERS 4-50 Lesson #1 Introduction: 1. The Bible can be studied: a. Doctrinally. The basic fundamentals concerning God, Christ, the Holy Spirit, Sin, Salvation, Sanctification, Glorification, the Resurrections, The Second Coming of Christ, etc. b. Dispensationally. God‘s progressive revelation during the ages – marking additions and changes in the progress of revelation. c. Devotionally. Truth is not only for the mind; it is also for the heart. We are to be comforted, strengthened and encouraged. 2. Definition: The word ―dispensation‖ is the English translation of the Greek word oikonomia. It is made up of two words: oikos – house, and nema – to dispense or manage. Hence, ―house management,‖ and administration or stewardship. It is translated ―stewardship‖ in Luke 16:2-4; ―dispensation‖ in I Corinthians 9:17; Ephesians 1:10; 3:2; Colossians 1:25; ―fellowship‖ in Ephesians 3:9; and ―Godly living‖ in I Timothy 1:4. 3. Inspiration of the Scriptures: It is a must in any Biblical study to be absolutely sure about the inspiration of the Scriptures in the original languages. This inspiration is both verbal, extending to the very words and letters, and also plenary, extending to all the books of the Bible or canon. I Timothy 3:16 is the classic passage on inspiration. 4. ―Rightly dividing the Word of Truth,‖ This is the second fundamental of Biblical interpretation. II Timothy 2:15 is the classic passage. What was true under the Dispensation of Law may be false under the Dispensation of Grace. Romans and Galatians reveal this. One must ―Dispensational Distinctions‖ by William B. Hallman, ThD – Lesson #1 Page 1. distinguish between the Old and New Covenants as revealed in Hebrews and in II Corinthians 3-4. The Gospel of the Kingdom of the Heavens as seen in Matthew (4:23) is different from the Gospel of the Grace of God as seen in Ephesians. The miraculous sign gifts as recorded in the Gospels, the Acts and Paul‘s earlier Epistles; and the absence of all such in his Prison Epistles. The ―Hope of Israel‖ (Acts 28:20) must be distinguished from the ―hope of the Church which is His Body‖ (Colossians 3:4). One must also distinguish among the marital and non-marital relationships – the wife of Jehovah or restored nation; the bride of the Lamb, which constitutes a remnant, the overcomers of Israel and elect Gentiles; and the Body of Christ, God‘s heavenly people from both Jews and Gentiles. The twelve apostles with Peter as the head must be distinguished from the seven apostles with Paul as the head. The various ordinances of the New Covenant must be distinguished from the non-ordinances of the Covenant period. 5. Bible – a Book of Purpose: a. The fact of a purpose (Romans 8:28, 9:11; Ephesians 1:11; II Timothy 1:9): The word ―purpose‖ in these passages is prothesis and means ―a placing before,‖ or a well-ordered plan. God‘s purposes are unalterable (Ephesians 1:9; Jeremiah 51:29). This purpose of God was formed before ―the age times‖ (II Timothy 1:9; Titus 1:2). This is the way pro chronon aionion should be translated. Members of the Body of Christ were chosen in Him before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:4). Thus the purposes of God were made before the age times and the very ages are a necessary part and platform for the unfolding of those purposes. ―According to the eternal purpose (or ―purpose of the ages‖) which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord‖ (Ephesians 3:11). The Bible is a book of the ages. What was before and what lies beyond is not strictly within the scope of the Bible. b. The Fulfillment of a Purpose: The accomplishment of God‘s purpose lies with God and not with men. This is seen in Ephesians 1:11 and Isaiah 46:9-11. This was the secret of Abraham‘s faith as seen in Romans 4:17-21. ―Dispensational Distinctions‖ by William B. Hallman, ThD – Lesson #1 Page 2. Christ is the center in the fulfillment of God‘s age purposes: Creation is the work of the Son of God (John 1:1-3; Hebrews 1:10, Colossians 1:16). The first Adam is ―a figure of Him that was to come‖ (Romans 5:14), and is placed in contrast with ―the last Adam,‖ Who is a life-giving Spirit, ―the second Man,‖ Who is the Lord from Heaven (I Corinthians 15:45-47). The Seed of the Woman (Genesis 3:15) finds it fulfillment in the person and work of the Son of God. (See Galatians 3:16.) All events and institutions, such as the Ark built by Noah, the Passover Lamb, the Tabernacle, the Offerings, the Priesthood, all find their fulfillment in Christ. All prominent figures in the Old Testament prefigure either Christ or Antichrist – Joseph, David, Moses, Joshua, and Pharaoh, Goliath and Athaliah. All of the Old Testament looks forward to the time ―When the fullness of the time was come,‖ etc. (Galatians 4:4- 5). And when the Son has brought the purpose of the ages to a glorious consummation, He will hand over to God a perfected kingdom, that ―God may be all in all‖ (I Corinthians 15:24-28). Mankind also is in some way or another agents in God‘s plan. They are divided into three classes: Jews, Gentiles and the Church. The first two are racial and the third is spiritual. They all draw together in some way at the Second Coming of Christ. ―Dispensational Distinctions‖ by William B. Hallman, ThD – Lesson #1 Page 3. DISPENSATIONAL DISTINCTIONS THE PRIMAL REGENERATION: GENESIS CHAPTERS 4-50 Lesson #2 Introduction: 1. The words ―eternal,‖ ―everlasting‖ and ―endless‖ are used very loosely and profusely in Christian circles. Some teachers and preachers use them constantly to emphasize the soundness of their message. We hear such expressions as ―eternal life,‖ ―eternal judgment,‖ ―eternal gospel,‖ ―eternal purpose,‖ ―eternal sin‖ and ―eternal death.‖ Much of this comes from the translation in the Authorized Version (AV) of the Scriptures. But the Bible knows very little about eternity past and future. As we shall see, The Scriptures are set in the context of time, of the ages. 2. The words translated ―eternal,‖ ―everlasting,‖ ―world,‖ etc., are the Hebrew word ―olam‖ or ―alam,‖ and the Greek word ―aion.‖ Both of these words indicate a beginning and an end. Aion is the word used by the translators of the Old Testament (OT) into Greek, the Septuagint (LXX) version. 3. There is a word which does mean eternal. In Hebrews 7:16, we have a reference to Christ ―after the power of an endless life.‖ So that eternal or endless life is related to Christ. 4. Uses of olam or aion in the Old and New Testaments: The word olam is used seven times in Ecclesiastes and is translated ―forever,‖ ―old time,‖ ―world,‖ ―long.‖ The word aion is used seven times in Ephesians, and is translated ―world,‖ ―course,‖ ―ages,‖ ―eternal,‖ ―ages,‖ ―world without end.‖ Ecclesiastes: 1:4 – ―The earth abideth forever.‖ 1:10 – ―It hath been already of old time.‖ 2:16 – ―There is no remembrance of the wise more than of the fool for ever.‖ 3:11 – ―He hath set the world in their heart.‖ 3:14 – ―I know that whatsoever God doeth, it shall be forever.‖ 9:6 – ―Neither have they any more a portion for ever.‖ 12:5 – ―Man goeth to his long home.‖ ―Dispensational Distinctions‖ by William B. Hallman, ThD – Lesson #2 Page 4. Ephesians: 1:21 – ―This world.‖ 2:2 – ―The course of this world.‖ 2:7 – ―The ages to come.‖ 3:9 – ―From the beginning of the world.‖ 3:11 – ―Eternal purpose.‖ 3:21 – ―Throughout all ages world without end.‖ 6:12 – ―Rulers of the darkness of this world.‖ In Ecclesiastes we see that olam is to be translated by such words as ―for ever,‖ ―old time,‖ ―world,‖ ―long.‖ These have no real connected thought. In Ephesians we have no better assortment. The ―world‖ which had a beginning, but which has no end, the course of this world, and the eternal purpose. 5. Definitions: Olam occurs some 338 times in the OT in the nominative, genitive and in combination with other words. Alam occurs 20 times. These words, olam and alam, have the meaning of ―indefinite time.‖ Hence an age or time span. There is no such idea as eternity in the word. The first occurrence of olam is in Genesis 3:22 in connection with the Tree of Life. Aion occurs some 105 times, and aionios some 71 times. Aion means to ―blow, breathe, the life that hastes away in the breathing of our breath, transitory life, immeasurable time or ages.‖ The fist occurrence of this word is in Matthew 6:13: ―For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.‖ But the kingdom of Christ is not forever, for He shall some day ―deliver up the kingdom to God, even the Father‖ (I Corinthians 15:24-28). I. THE AGES CREATED ―…hath in these last days spoken unto us by (His) Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, through Whom also He made the ages.‖ (Hebrews 1:1-2) ―Dispensational Distinctions‖ by William B. Hallman, ThD – Lesson #2 Page 5. The context is important. Here we see the wondrous glory of the Son of God in the work of finished redemption – ―purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the majesty on high.‖ In John 1:3 we see that all things were made by Him (dia autou), and Colossians 1:16 that all things were created by Him (dia autou); so here the ages were a part of His creative work.