What is dispensationalism?

[Findo]

What is dispensationalism? (more than the glossary does... exaples perhaps)

What is the opposing view? (if there is one)

[Daywalker]

What is dispensationalism? (more than the glossary does... exaples perhaps)

What is the opposing view? (if there is one)

Dispensationalism is, more or less, a study of the "things that differ" in the word of God. "dispensation" comes from the Greek word OKOINAMIA which means "administration". People such as myself that recognize that there are fundamental contrasts between how God ADMINISTRATES through "the church, which is his body" (Eph. 1:19-21) vs. Israel and the Gentiles of the other ages.

The opposing view point would be Covenantal Theology which BASICALLY denies that God will restore a political Israel to this world. Their arguement is that since "WE" (say they) are children of abraham through faith, that God has more or less EVOLVED the TRUE BELIEVING ISRAEL INTO "the Church". HENCE, Israel is now replaced and GOD BROKE all of his promises to Israel of a future restoration . They won't say that last part the way that I did, but that is what it amounts too.
Might I suggest: www.bibleunderstanding.com ?
Grace,
Mike Holt

[Findo]

Dispensationalism is, more or less, a study of the "things that differ" in the word of God. "dispensation" comes from the Greek word OKOINAMIA which means "administration". People such as myself that recognize that there are fundamental contrasts between how God ADMINISTRATES through "the church, which is his body" (Eph. 1:19-21) vs. Israel and the Gentiles of the other ages.

The opposing view point would be Covenantal Theology which BASICALLY denies that God will restore a political Israel to this world. Their arguement is that since "WE" (say they) are children of abraham through faith, that God has more or less EVOLVED the TRUE BELIEVING ISRAEL INTO "the Church". HENCE, Israel is now replaced and GOD BROKE all of his promises to Israel of a future restoration . They won't say that last part the way that I did, but that is what it amounts too.
Might I suggest: www.bibleunderstanding.com ?
Grace,
Mike Holt

ok thanks.

would someone like to stick up for covanental theology then?

[Daywalker]

You are welcome

[themuzicman]

I actually fall somewhere inbetween. I believe that all people from all time are saved by the same grace through the same faith in God, and that there are not various standards of works by which faith or grace must be demonstrated/earned/whatever.

However, I also don't believe that the church has become Israel. Israel, along with the gentiles, were to come into the New Covenant to form the church, which are to be a people holy and blameless to God.

Those who were saved before Christ died also participate in the New Covenant, albiet postumously, which is why Christ went to set them free.

Michael

[Daywalker]

For the record...
The restoration of Israel is NOT an essential element to Acts 28 dispensationalism. Honestly, even though I believe ISRAEL will be restored as a political entity, it would not HURT 28ism if it did not happen.
Grace,
Mike

PS. The early dispensationalists never taught that people are saved by faith plus works in other ages, nor do I. The camp that popularized that "faith and works setup" is MidActs dispensationalism. I personally do not know any true Acts 28ers that are seasoned in our school of thought that hold to "faith plus works salvation" for men in other ages.

[Jin-Roh]

Moderated By: Jin-roh

This thread is starting to turn towards a debate. La Scala Boy should open a new thread in one of the Christianity forums.

***If you wish to take issue with this notice DO NOT do so in this thread.***
Contact the forum moderator or an administrator in Private Message or email instead. If you feel you must publically complain or whine, please take it to the Psychotherapy Room unless told otherwise.

[Findo]

What is meant my acts28ers etc.?

[Daywalker]

What is meant my acts28ers etc.?

An Acts 28er is someone that believes that this present age (when God stopped working THROUGH Israel) did not begin untill Acts 28:28 was uttered by Paul. Some see this age as beginning at Acts 2-this would be many denominations. Others see it starting with Paul in MidActs (Ch. 9-15 or so). As an Acts 28er I see this age kicking into gear at Acts 28:28 because that is why I believe God stopped working through Israel.

[AV1611]

What is dispensationalism?

Hope this helps:

Dispensationalist theology

Edited by Richard J Sherratt

What is dispensationalism?
It is a system of theology that recognizes different stewardships of man under God. According to Charles Ryrie “dispensationalism views the world as a household run by God. In His household-world, God is dispensing or administering its affairs according to His own will and in various stages of revelation in the passage of time. These various stages mark off the distinguishably different economies in the outworking of His total purpose, and these different economies constitute the dispensations.”

What is a dispensation?
A dispensation is a distinguishable economy in the outworking of the purpose of God. They are, according to P. Nevin, “God’s distinctive method of governing mankind or a group of men during a period of human history, marked by a test, failure and judgement.”

What are the features of a specific dispensation?

• There are two parties: the one whose authority it is to delegate duties (God), and the one whose responsibility it is to carry out these charges.
• There are specific responsibilities.
• There is accountability: a steward may be called into account for the discharge of his stewardship.
• The stewardship can be removed: a change may be made at anytime unfaithfulness is found in the existing administration.

How do we know that one dispensation has been replaced by another?
There will be (1) a change in God’s administrative relationship with man; (2) a resultant change in man’s responsibility, and; (3) a corresponding revelation necessary to effect the change.

How does the dispensationalist read the Bible?
The dispensationalist has a consistently literal method of Biblical interpretation. They give to every word the same meaning it would have in normal usage. Sometimes called the grammatical-historical interpretation since the meaning of each word is determined by grammatical and historical considerations. Symbols and figurative language are interpreted plainly and they are in no way contrary to literal interpretation. After all, the very existence of any meaning for a figure of speech depends on the reality of the literal meaning of the terms involved. Figures often make the meaning plainer, but it is the literal, normal or plain meaning that they convey to the reader.

What are the key features of dispensationalist eschatology?

A. The Covenants
1. Abrahamic Covenant: This promised Israel a land (further developed in the Palestinian Covenant), a posterity (further developed in the Davidic Covenant) and blessing/redemption (further developed in the New Covenant). The Abrahamic Covenant is found: Genesis 12:1-3; 13:14-17; 15; 15; 22:15-18; 26:3-5, 24; 28:13-15; 35:9-12 and 2 Kings 13:23.

2. Palestinian Covenant: Guarantuees Israel’s permanent right to the land and promises their return to it. Found in Deuteronomy 30:1-10.

3. Davidic Covenant: Promised David an eternal house, an eternal throne, an eternal kingdom, and an eternal descent. It promised Israel that the messiah would come from Judah and have a throne and a kingdom, ruling over Israel. It is found in 2 Samuel 7:11-17 and 1 Chronicles 17:10-15

4. New Covenant: This promised Israel the spiritual means whereby the nation would enter into blessing and receive forgiveness. It is found in Jeremiah 31:31-34 and Ezekiel 36. Note that the Church has no relationship (directly) to the New Covenant. R. Decker states that the New Covenant “is made strictly with Israel and will be fulfilled by Israel in the future millennial kingdom. Because of Israel’s unbelief, the covenant is not now in effect with that nation. Instead, the church participates in the New Covenant, not as a legal party to the covenant, but as recipients of the blessings of the covenant which come about by virtue of a union with Christ, the mediator of the covenant, and are placed into effect at the time of his death.”

B. The Rapture
This is found in scripture in 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17 and it is when Christ returns to the earth prior to His second coming to take away the Church from the earth to return after the tribulation. The rapture must be pre-tribulational because the tribulation is a period of seven years wherein God pours out his wrath on an unrepentant world and we know that God will spare the Church from His wrath (1 Thessalonians 5:9) and therefore we shall not be upon the earth during the tribulation. (See also Revelation 3:10)

C. The great tribulation
This is the seventieth week of Daniel (Daniel 9:20-27) and its major purpose is to reconcile Israel to God (Deuteronomy 4:27-31; Ezekiel 20:37). Another of its functions is to judge unbelieving gentiles. The tribulation begins with the beast and Israel signing a covenant. This beast is likely to be from the European Union.

D. The millennial kingdom
When Christ returns to earth He will establish Himself as King in Jerusalem sitting upon the throne of David (Luke 1:32-33). Only believers will enter the millennium. This kingdom will last 1000 years. All the covenants will have been fulfilled as Israel is regathered, converted and restored.

E. The eternal state
Following the millennium, the eternal state will be ushered in. Here we have the new heaven populated by the ‘resurrected’ church and Old Testament saints, and a new earth populated by Israel and believing gentiles due to the central dualism.