Not only are we to accurately interpret Old Testament Scriptures, but all Scripture. I've heard many people misapply Hebrews 10:25, "Not forsaking the assembling of yourselves together, as the habit of some has become, but encouraging yourselves and all the more as you see the day drawing near." How many of us have heard this verse quoted to us, because we missed a church service? Well, if that's not what Hebrews 10:25 means, then what is the literal interpretation and application?

The writer of Hebrews was writing to Hebrews, that is Jewish believers. In the book of Acts we find many Jewish believers. For the first several years of the church, believers of Jewish descent made up most of the Church. Throughout the letter to the Hebrews, the writer challenged his readers to come out of Judaism while they could leave willingly (Hebrews 13:13). We miss this. In fact, many Christians are startled when the realize what Hebrews is really about. We live almost 2,000 years later and many haven't noticed that both Hebrews and Acts indicate that the Jewish Christians continued to be involved in all the temple rituals, including sacrifices. Notice in Acts 21:23-26 that Paul was asked to pay the expenses of some men who had taken Jewish vows. The vows don't bother us too much, but what are we to make of the expenses? Roger Lenski commented, "He was to take these four men and to have himself sanctified with them by going to the priests in the temple and informing them that he would be the one to pay their expenses for all the sacrifices necessary, in order that these four men might have their head shaved and their hair burned with the sacrifice on the altar in the temple, thereby being released from their vow."*3 In fact, Luke tells us specifically that a sacrifice was to be offered for each one (Acts 21:26). This happened approximately 57 AD, *4 that's twenty-seven years after Christ had died on the cross, arose and ascended to heaven. Twenty-seven years later these Jews are still going to the temple and still offering sacrifices. That takes some of us by surprise. It leaves some in shock. Yet, we need to realize that God was graciously giving the Jewish believers time to break with the old way of life and come over into a new way of living.

The letter to the Hebrews is a call to those Jewish believers to now leave Judaism entirely. It was time to begin living like New Testament believers. It was time for them to leave the Law and a Law-oriented life and grow up (Hebrews 4:9-10, 16; 5:12-6:1 NASB). It was time for them to realize that those sacrifices were of no value (Hebrews 10:12, 18).

These Hebrew believers were not only continuing in Judaism, but they were also assembling with other believers (cp Acts 2:46). However, persecution against them was intensifying, as the unsaved Jews were becoming increasingly hostile to the believing Jews. As a result, some Jewish Christians were withdrawing from the assemblies. They were not missing an occasional service. They were not missing Sunday night church because their rotating job schedule required them to work three months of Sunday nights (or Sunday mornings). They were giving up the assembling of the saints. Plain and simple, they decided it was easier to just not assemble with believers any more. They were going to quit church altogether to avoid persecution.

The writer's challenge is not applicable to most believers today. However, this passage may be applicable, for believers who stop gathering with the saints due to outside pressure from people. This is a literal interpretation and a consistent literal application. When I was in college, I had some friends who had been recently saved. They had belonged to religious institutions that did not teach God's Word and had taught salvation by works. To me it was plain that they should just leave those churches and assemble with believers. However, this was a very hard decision for them. Some were even pressured by unbelieving family members and friends to just stay where they were and quit spending time with these new friends (they meant the believers). Some of them did just that. They stayed where they were, they quit meeting with believers and they were miserable. I had other friends that made the break. They too went through some misery at the hands of friends and family, but they knew they had done God's will as revealed in His Word. Believers in this kind of situation find themselves in a situation like those New Testament Jewish believers. They can learn from the problem of those first century Christians. Such an application is consistent with the interpretation.

Some believers may not see any harm in taking passages out of context. Yet, it does cause problems. If we claim promises God made to others, but not to us, we will find ourselves disappointed and perhaps even doubting God's faithfulness, when He doesn't honor those promises. He has no obligation to honor any promise that we might misappropriate for ourselves. God is faithful to fulfill every promise, but only to those to whom He promised it.

"Love your neighbor"

I must admit that the misapplication of this passage is like fingernails on a blackboard to me. The passage quoted is Leviticus 19:18, "you shall love your neighbor as yourself." It is quoted by Paul in Romans 13:9. Similarly, Christ quoted Deuteronomy 6:5 in Matthew 22:37, "You shall love the Lord your God, with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your mind." These two quotations share something in common, "you" and "your". The "you" and "your" are why I say it's like fingernails on a blackboard to me.

You see, Jesus Christ gave us a new kind of commandment in John 13:34. The word "new" emphasized something new in kind, not simply fresh. It was a whole new kind of commandment, and therefore different from the previous commandments. This new commandment is not like the highest statement of the Law, which Christ had quoted earlier. Under the Law the greatest commandment was 'love like you love yourself.' The New Commandment is to love like Christ loved us. Did you see the difference? The measure of the old was you. The measure of the new is Christ. That is a vast difference. I'm sure most of us would take serious issue with anyone that expressed the idea that Christ's love and our human love are the same. Today we have a greater rule, a higher commandment than that expressed under the Law, a commandment which eclipsed the "you" kind of love.

Well, if that's true, then why did Paul quote Leviticus 19:18? Again, context will make sense of this. Paul was dealing with the issue of the believer's submission to Roman law. Roman law wasn't particularly appealing, especially with regard to paying taxes (Romans 13:7-8). The situation is similar to how many believers feel today about taxes. No one likes to give his or her money away, and this is especially true when one disagrees with the government, which is in authority. Many of those Romans to whom Paul wrote probably felt it was counterproductive to pay taxes to the same government that was giving them trouble. The Roman government was rather immoral and was becoming increasingly hostile towards Christianity.

For this reason, Paul pointed out that the Old Testament Law was fulfilled by love for one's neighbor. So, in a similar manner these Roman believers could obey the Roman law but change their focus. Rather than focusing on the Roman law and the government, they could focus on their fellow believers. The best attitude towards the Law of Rome was to exercise love as a part of the fruit from the Spirit (Galatians 5:22). Paul didn't apply Leviticus 19:18. He simply used it to illustrate a point regarding love and law.

We need to answer one more question to understand Paul's illustration. What does love for one's neighbor have to do with obeying law, specifically with paying taxes? The unsaved Roman leaders were not neighbors, nor were they part of the "one another." Paul wasn't telling them to love the unsaved leaders. "Neighbor" was normally used in the Old Testament Scriptures to refer to another Jew, not a Gentile. In a similar manner, Paul considered a neighbor to be another believer.

Consider the potential repercussion on others in an assembly if one of them did not submit. Today, Bible believing Christians are lumped together with anyone (believer or not) that makes any kind of strong religious statement. Some racist group calls themselves fundamental, though they deny Christ's work and His deity, yet others think they are just like us. As a result, the strong arm of government is sometimes threatening to those who peacefully live by God's Word. This happens due to the opposition against government by others with whom we are unfortunately classified. Someone who calls himself a "Christian" rebels against authority, and now many genuine Christians who do not share his views are presented as being united in his non-biblical cause. Someone who identifies himself with Christianity shoots an abortionist and now people think that all Christians want to kill abortionists. Do you see the problem? In the Roman world, one believer could have resisted the government and refused to pay his taxes. Now, all the Roman believers are identified by the government and pressured or persecuted. The government might think they are all sympathetic to the one believer's selfish views. So, the love Paul wrote about was not for the government, but for other believers. We ought to always desire what is best for other believers regardless of the cost to ourselves, even if it means paying our taxes. Our actions do have repercussions on our fellow believers and we, in love, ought always to consider that.

Paul did not apply the above quotations. He used them to draw a comparison. He encouraged the Romans by the things which had been previously written. This is frequently true with quotations from the Old Testament. Even the New Testament writers did not violate a literal interpretation or application. They did not misapply Scripture by their whims. They referred to it to make a point. All Scripture should be interpreted literally. We should discover the application in the context. It will always be consistent with that interpretation. We don't invent or come up with interpretations, we discover them. If we do otherwise, we undermine Biblical authority and the basis of consistent dispensationalism.
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Chapter 8
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The Covenants Of Scripture

By recognizing distinctions and noting the biblically recorded rules which govern covenants, we find not one or two covenants but twelve. Each covenant involves specific and unique promises. Some covenants are similar to others, but the differences must be noted. By recognizing different covenants, the believer better understands God's Word. We can also recognize which covenants apply to us and which ones do not. We can even anticipate what God will do in the future as we recognize that some of the covenants have yet to be fulfilled. We see that our faithful God has been faithful to honor His covenant promises.
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Chapter 9
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Ages and Dispensations

Ages*1 are epochs or extended periods of "time," during which God manifests something about Himself to intelligent created beings: cherubs, seraphs, angels, and humans. In this present age, God is making known His multifaceted wisdom to spirit beings (Ephesians 3:9-11). How do we know this? We find that in coming ages, God will demonstrate by the Church the riches of His grace by means of kindness (Ephesians 2:7). We find that the Creator is blessed into the ages (Romans 1:25). We read that God's righteousness remains at ease into the age (2 Corinthians 9:9). Greatness, manifest might and authority are for God into all the ages (Jude 25). Each of these examples involves the demonstration of some aspect of God's character during an age.

In each age God reveals something of His character by His activity or by a contrast to the actions and attitudes of others in that age. Whenever a new aspect of God's character is made known to intelligent beings, we can safely say that a new age exists.

God's plan was "determined" before He created anything; therefore, God "determined" the plan before any ages existed. Before the ages, God set out boundaries for the application of His wisdom for our benefit (1 Corinthians 2:7). It can be seen that the ages have not always existed. God the Son made the ages (Hebrews 1:2). The ages were adjusted by an utterance from God (Hebrews 11:3). God adjusted the ages, so that every detail and person was placed in a particular age. Ages will also continue into the future. Jude wrote, "into all the ages." (v. 25). Glory will be for God into "the ages coming from the ages." (Philippians 4:20) [A.V. "forever and ever"]. Notice that it is plural ages, which will come from plural ages. This means that in the future, God will continue to manifest aspects of His character to us and His spirit beings.

Ages are also important for us because they remind us that everything God does is not about us. We are not only selfish individually, but selfish about being human. We sometimes read the Bible as though everything God does is about man. God created spirit beings before man. We don't know when, but they were here before us, perhaps long before us. God is not only dealing with us, but with them. God is teaching them about Himself. Ages help us see that they are an important part of God's plan.

The Changing Dispensations

A dispensation is a phase in God's plan, in which He imposes certain rules to govern the daily lives of a household, composed of some or all of mankind. These rules are imposed through a steward [manager]. Dispensations are about mankind.

The word "dispensation" (dispense) describes the rules for a household. It translates the Greek word oikonomia [oikos - house, nomos - law]. It is a principle by which God governs a household. It is not a period of time. Each rule is enforced during a period of time but the rule, not the time, is the emphasis of a dispensation.

Luke 16:1-5 provides an earthly example of a dispensation. A rich man had a steward in charge of his possessions. In verse one, the word "steward" is the Greek word oikonomos, akin to our modern idea of a manager. The rich man received a report that his steward was wasting his property. The steward was called to report on his stewardship. "Stewardship" is oikonomia, that which is entrusted to the manager. A steward is not put in charge of the possessions or resources for his own profit, but for that of the household. The steward mismanaged his master's possessions. The steward or manager has a charge from the owner regarding how to manage the resources. He distributes or dispenses them to the members of the household according to the rule for that household.

A dispensation has four necessary elements. The first three elements are the parties or the individuals involved in the dispensation: a master, a steward, and a household. The fourth element is the rule of life. Technically, the rule of life is the dispensation, which is the simplified meaning of the word.

In a dispensation, the Master or household owner imposes the rules and chooses the steward. God is always the Master of the household. Hebrews 3:1-4 describes two households. You will find that God is the builder of both the households. Israel was a household in which Moses was a household servant. The Church is a household over which Christ is master. God, the master, chose the stewards for each dispensation.

A Steward explains the rules for living in the household. He explains how the household members may use the provisions which the Master has provided for them. A steward is similar to a business manager, but in their culture, a steward was in charge of the whole household. In the New Testament world, one's business was not usually distinguished from one's household. Throughout most of the dispensations, one steward delineates or explains the rule of life. Paul stated that he was the steward of this present dispensation of grace (Ephesians 3:2). Through Paul, God provided most of the pertinent revelation that governs our lives. Through him the believer learns of life under grace.

A Household functions under the rules given by the steward. The household may be the whole human race, as in the first three dispensations and the final dispensation. The household may be limited to a portion of the human race: Abraham's family; Israel, and the Church. In the present dispensation, grace as a rule of life is only for the Church.

Finally, a dispensation involves a Rule. This rule is given by the Master, through the steward, to the household. Each dispensation is "titled" by its primary governing characteristic or rule. Law was the primary governing characteristic in the dispensation of law. Grace is the primary governing characteristic in the dispensation of grace.

We see in Ephesians 3:2 an example of these four elements.

     Rule of life -- "Grace ..."
     Master -- "from God ..."
     Steward -- "given to me ...."
     Household -- "for you."

The dispensations of Law and Grace will serve as examples of how a dispensation works. Moses was the steward of the dispensation of Law. He delineated the Law as Israel's way of life. Israel was God's household. They received the blessings from God for obedience to the law (Deuteronomy 28:1-14). The law was the rule for the management or dispensing of God's property, in this case, physical blessings. In the present dispensation of Grace every believer has already been given all spiritual blessings in the heavens in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 1:3). Each believer has been "graced in the Beloved" (Ephesians 1:6). Grace is the rule for the management or dispensing of God's blessings for us. We can do nothing to deserve them because our rule for living is grace. These unmerited provisions govern our daily lives (Titus 2:11-12). We do not live to earn our blessings as Israel did under the Law. We live in light of God's gracious provisions for us.

Not a Means of Initial Salvation

A dispensation is not a way of salvation. C.I. Scofield noted, "In every dispensation salvation is only by grace through faith." *2 A dispensation does not describe how one may enter the household, but how one lives within the household. A dispensation describes how the possessions of the household are received by the members of the household. From the perspective of the steward, it involves how he doles out those possessions for the benefit of the household. From the perspective of the owner, it is the rule which he has established for the household and through which he will provide benefits to them through His steward. None of this describes how one comes to be a member of the household, and therefore is not a means of salvation.

The dispensation of Law prescribed how God's household, which then consisted of the nation Israel, was to live. Each individual became a part of the household by birth, not by keeping the Law. They were born into a Jewish family. They experienced the blessings of God's Law covenant with them by obeying the law. They were not initially saved by obeying the Law.

Since a dispensation is not a way of salvation, the individuals under the Law were saved by other means. David lived under the law but knew that he was not saved by observing the law. He was declared righteous apart from works (Romans 4:6-8). Paul considered David to be saved by grace through faith, in a manner similar to us.

The dispensation of Grace prescribes a way of life for the Church. The Church is to live by grace and faith. It does not delineate the means by which one is initially saved. Abraham, before the law, and David, under the law, were saved by faith and grace, but neither lived as the believer is to live today.

Some dispensationalists have errantly described the dispensation of grace as the time in which God's offer of salvation is made freely to all mankind. These same teachers usually state that a dispensation is not a way of salvation, and contradict themselves when describing the dispensation of grace as the free offer of salvation. The free offer of salvation is not the issue in a dispensation. The dispensation of Innocence was certainly not a way of salvation, as Adam and Eve had no need of salvation.

Failure and Judgment in the Dispensations

The varying rules of life in each dispensation are intended to demonstrate the general inability of the household to live by the standard which God imposed upon them. Two dispensations are mentioned by name: Grace (Ephesians 3:2) and the Fullness of Times (Ephesians 1:10). The dispensation of Law is indicated by its contrast to Grace, which has displaced it (John 1:17; Romans 10:4). Scripture reveals a failure in each of these three. Under the Law, Israel set about to establish their own righteousness (Romans 10:3). As a result, the household rejected Christ their King. (John 19:15; Acts 3:15). Under Grace, the Church has enriched herself rather than enjoying God's riches for her in Christ (Revelation 3:17-18; Ephesians 2:7; 3:16). She has left her first love (Revelation 2:4) rather than fulfilling Christ's one command to love one another as He loved us (John 13:34). In the Fullness of Times, the nations will gather in a mass rebellion against the camp of the saints (Revelation 20:7-9). Every dispensation ends in a failure.

Since the household fails, each dispensation ends in a divine judgment on that household. The dispensation following the flood of Noah ended in the confusion of languages and dispersion of the nations upon the face of the earth (Genesis 11:7-9). The dispensation of Law has not yet ended. The judgment upon that household will take place in the Seventieth Week of Daniel, also known as the Tribulation (Daniel 9:24-27). There is always a judgment that closes each dispensation.

The judgment which ends each dispensation serves God's purposes. The Church is raptured because of her failure, but it also brings blessing for the Church and allows the resumption of God's work with Israel as a nation. The Tribulation is judgment on the dispensation of Law. It is used to remove all unbelieving Israelites so that at Christ's return, "All Israel will be saved." Divine judgment can serve a good purpose.

Distinguishing Ages from Dispensations

A dispensation is not an age. Dispensations and ages are distinct aspects of God's plan. For example, the present dispensation is called the dispensation of the grace from God (Ephesians 3:2). Yet Paul wrote that one of the present ages is "evil" (Galatians 1:4). He also wrote that Satan is the god of this age (2 Corinthians 4:3-4). Satan is not the god of the dispensation of grace. Grace is from God. Satan is the god of the present evil age. Ages and dispensations are different.

Ages involve God's self-revelation. Dispensations involve God's revelation regarding man. Ages and dispensations have distinct purposes.

God revealed aspects of His nature to spirit beings prior to the creation of man. Therefore, ages predated dispensations. While only one dispensation follows the present dispensation of grace, ages will continue to come from ages in the future (cp Galatians 1:5; Philippians 4:20; 1 Timothy 1:17; 2 Timothy 4:18; Hebrews 1:8; 13:21; 1 Peter 4:11; Revelation 4:9, 10; 5:13; 7:12; 10:6; 11:15; 15:7; 19:3; 20:10). When all humans are either glorified or in a state of eternal judgment, there will no longer be rules of life for them. Dispensations will end. However, God will continue to reveal aspects of His character. Ages will continue after dispensations have ceased.

A dispensation and age can run concurrent. The dispensation of grace has two ages, which are parallel: the present evil age (Galatians 1:4); and the legal age (Exodus 19:8; Romans 9:3-4; *3 12:1-2; Acts 3:21). These ages parallel this dispensation of grace but are not part of the dispensation, because they do not alter God's rule of life for believers today.

Summary

Ages predate dispensations and will continue when there are no more dispensations. Ages teach not only man something about God, but also intelligent created beings such as angels. Ages reveal something about God by His interaction with and response to His intelligent created beings. Dispensations reveal something to man about man. They do this by means of man's failure to live under the rules imposed on them by God. The rules are imposed to explain how that household of God can experience the benefits which God makes available to them. Ages and dispensations are both aspects of God's plan.
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Chapter 10
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Some Early Ages

God manifests that He is omniscient, able to know exactly what Lucifer [Satan] determined in his own heart. God is spirit in essence, but is transcendent with reference to these created spirit beings. While they are similar to God in essence, they are finite, while He is transcendent and infinite. God judges those who determine to act contrary to what He has revealed for them. God is holy. He is set apart from these beings.
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Chapter 11
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The Dispensation of Innocence

Remember, a dispensation is the rule by which the members of the household receive and enjoy the blessings which God has provided for them. Adam and Eve were in a state of innocence, uncorrupted and ignorant of anything which lacked in character [evil]. They were untried. God doesn't call them righteous but good, that is, happy and content. Their untainted relationship with God was their motivation to obey God's rules. God gave two instructions to Adam: first, be fruitful and subdue*1 the earth (Genesis 1:28-30); second, don't eat of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (Genesis 2:16-17). That innocent uncorrupted state allowed them continued interaction with God.

Remember, this was before the Fall, therefore the care for the garden did not involve the toilsome labor which was the result of Adam's sin and transgression (Genesis 2:15). Don't think of Adam sweating in the garden while pulling weeds like us. Adam was to serve the garden. The Hebrew word "put" is nachum "to rest." This verb is in a Hebrew form, which means that God "caused him to rest in the garden." This rest involved cultivating *2 and keeping the garden (Genesis 2:15). The Hebrew word translated "cultivate" means to serve. Much has been made of Adam working in the garden before the fall. However, any comparison to work today must take into account that the weeds and sweat and toil are all part of the curse. In that garden, God's divine explanation is that Adam's service was more rest than labor.

Man's Condition

Adam was created in God's image. The image was God's glory garment. God wears light like we wear clothing (Psalm 104:2). God created Adam and Eve in a state of light, which the Psalmist described as "crowned with glory" (Psalm 8:4-5). Since God is spirit and not a physical being, His image does not refer to physical likeness. It referred to Adam wearing light like God wears light.

Adam was also created in God's likeness. This means that mankind is able to think objectively, outside the realm of experience, in a manner similar to God. Therefore, to insult men is to insult that part of them which is still similar to God (James 3:9). Animals have senses and emotions. Therefore, animals can only operate within their sphere of experience. They can only relate to what their senses can experience. Man has a spirit in addition to a soul (1 Thessalonians 5:23). Animals can only "think" within the realm of their experience. God is spirit (John 4:24). God created Adam with a spirit and soul. Adam was able to think outside the realm of his experience. Man's spirit, his center of rationale, distinguishes him from animals. This capacity for rational thought in his spirit is how man bears a likeness to God.*3

Adam was untried. God called His creation "good" meaning that it was fitting for happiness and contentment. "Good" does not mean moral or righteous. Nowhere is Adam called holy or righteous. God allowed Adam the choice to obey or disobey. God did not coerce this choice. God allowed the creature to demonstrate his loyalty and dependence upon God.

God's Grace

God displayed grace by revealing to Adam and Eve what would bring happiness or what would bring calamity (Genesis 3:5, 22). God knew it was not good for Adam to be alone and thus formed from Adam a perfect counterpart, something which no other beast of the field or bird of the sky was for him (Genesis 2:20-25). God gave Adam and Eve every good tree bearing fruit for food, including the tree of life (Genesis 2:9, 16).

Test

Adam's obedience was tested. Would Adam obey God and rely upon Him for all his needs, or choose his own means of finding happiness? Adam was untried, untested. We don't know whether he will act righteously or unrighteously. God was Adam and Eve's only source of special revelation. Adam knew that Eve was the only one like him (Genesis 2:18-20). All the animals were brought before Adam that he might name them. He saw all the animals and knew there wasn't one among them that was a counterpart for him. As a result, when God brought Adam and Eve together, Adam knew Eve was his only counterpart. Adam's choice to disobey God was a choice between God and Eve. When Eve gave the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil to Adam, he knew that she was the only one God had given him. He chose to join Eve, the only one like him, rather than obey God. Adam was tested as to whether he would continue to rely upon God for his sufficiency, or choose his own means of happiness.

Failure

Adam chose his own means of happiness. He did not depend upon God. Adam ate of the tree (Genesis 3:6-7). He sinned, trespassed and transgressed (Romans 5:12, 14, 16). Adam's sin brought physical death. "For until the law, sin as a quality was in the world, but sin as a quality is not logically counted, when there is no law, but the death reigned from Adam to Moses." Adam's trespass brought spiritual death. "For, since by the trespass of one, the death reigned through the one ..." (Romans 5:17). This death which reigned is spiritual death, or man's separation from God. Adam's trespass consisted of his choice to disobey God. Adam's transgression brought the curse of corruption upon the earth. A transgression requires the existence of law (Romans 4:15). God commanded Adam not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (Genesis 2:16-17; 3:11, 17). Since Adam had a commandment, a law, he transgressed when he sinned (Job 31:33; Romans 5:14). Eve also transgressed (1 Timothy 2:14). She broke a rule, but was completely deceived by Satan. Therefore God counted her act to be transgression.

Judgment

Eve and her female descendants have been judged with pain in child birth (Genesis 3:16). God also caused Eve's conception cycle to increase; that is, she could conceive more frequently after the fall than before it. Prior to Eve's transgression, child birth did not involve the toil or sorrow presently associated with it. As Adam's toil in work after the fall is contrasted to his tending the garden before, so child birth became toil. Prior to the Fall, there was potentially no death in Eve's future. It wasn't necessary to conceive children as frequently. God multiplied her sorrow and her conception.

Eve and her female descendants came under their husbands' authority (Genesis 3:16). Eve had been created as a counterpart to Adam. Adam was the steward of the dispensation. God gave the rule to Adam. Adam dispensed it. However, his authority over Eve was not the same as that which we know today. Some have translated the Hebrew text to mean that Eve would be against her husband's authority. *4 This would be a natural bent of man's fallen nature and not a divinely imposed judgment. God's judgment was that her authority was to be her husband.

Adam's actions brought judgment upon himself and the resulting human race. Adam and his descendants must toil to live (Genesis 3:17-19). Again it is important to remember that this is a contrast to Adam's previous life in the garden. God had caused Adam to rest in the garden, to subjugate it and till it. This was not labor as we think of labor. The ground was not cursed and was therefore not difficult to tend.

Adam and Eve were expelled from the garden (Genesis 3:22-24). God had planted a garden eastward in Eden. God had caused Adam to rest in that garden. Now they were driven from the garden in which God had provided them every tree good for food. God placed cherubs and a flaming sword at the entrance to the garden to keep Adam and Eve from returning to the garden. They would not be allowed to go on eating from the tree of life, and thus go on living (Genesis 3:22).

Adam, Eve and their descendants became subject to death (Genesis 2:17). They were subjected to physical death. They began dying physically at that moment. Physical death is the separation of the spirit from the body (James 2:26). They were subjected to spiritual death, separated from God. (Genesis 3:8). When Adam and Eve heard the sound of God walking, they hid themselves. Therefore, spiritual death is not only God separating from man, but as seen here, it is also man separating from God. This has become man's inclination. David wrote, "The LORD has looked down from heaven upon the sons of men to see if there are any who understand, Who seek after God. They have all turned aside," (Psalm 14:2-3). Paul wrote, "There isn't one seeking God" (Romans 3:11b). This is consistent throughout the dispensations. Spiritual death entered the world by Adam, though God reckons all to have participated in his act (Romans 5:12).

Have you ever thought, "If God would have put me in the garden, I wouldn't have been so stupid as to disobey. I wouldn't have eaten the fruit." We don't like the effects of the fall. We hurt, we sweat, we toil, we die. Ugh! So, with 20/20 hindsight, we are sure we wouldn't have done what Adam and Eve did. However, the grammar Paul used in Romans 5:12 indicates that all humanity was united in one act in Adam, "For all sinned." "Sinned" is an Aorist verb, which views the action as one whole. This is God's way of explaining that we all participated, and if God would have placed two other people in the garden, they would have made the same choice.

Creation was cursed. God caused the ground to sprout weeds and thorns (Genesis 3:14-19; Romans 8:22). To this day, creation groans, awaiting its release from corruption. We see this cursed creation. Plant a beautiful garden and before your seeds have pushed their new sprouts above the soil, weeds appear.

Adam lost the image of God. Adam produced a son in his own image (Genesis 4:1-2). Adam said, "I was naked" (Genesis 3:10) or "stripped". Whereas Adam had borne the image of the heavenly, mankind now bears the image of the earthy [dirt/dust] (1 Corinthians 15:49). We believers will share in the image of the heavenly. Mankind retains the likeness of God. This likeness is the ability for abstract thought (James 3:9). Don't confuse the likeness and image. Mankind no longer bears the light in which Adam was created. That image is gone. Yet, God has promised that both Old Testament and New Testament believers will share in various degrees of light in the future. Old Testament believers will shine in varying degrees depending upon their activities as believers (Daniel 12:3; Matthew 13:43). The believers who make up the Church will share in Christ's kind of glory (cp 1 John 3:2; Philippians 3:21).

Revelation

What do we learn from this dispensation? We see that man chooses self sufficiency and independence from God. God supplied Adam with everything good, but rather than depend upon God as his sufficiency, he chose his own course. Adam had a free will but did not choose God. Man does not choose God even when God provides him fellowship, companionship and everything good for food. God gave Adam only one restriction. With everything "good", yet Adam still chose to act contrary to God's will. Adam was in an untried state of innocence. He was created good, without built-in flaws. Yet, Adam chose the one thing which God had forbidden. Man chose to disobey God even before his nature was fallen and bent, "For as through the disobedience of one man, many were made sinners," (Romans 5:19).

Salvation

There was no need of salvation. Adam and Eve were not fallen. Since there was no need of salvation, there was nothing for Adam to do and nothing to be received.

The Godhead

Each Person of the Godhead was active in various capacities. God the Father is the member of the Trinity who planned all this (1 Corinthians 8:6). Adam and Eve bore the image and likeness of God. That image was true of all three Persons of the Godhead, therefore also the Father. God the Son ministered by appearing to them (Genesis 2:15-18). The Son, not the Father, was the One appearing and coming down and walking with them (John 1:3, 18). No specific ministry of the Spirit is revealed.

Satan

Revelation 12:9 and 2 Corinthians 11:3 describe Satan as the serpent who tempted Eve. Satan spoke the Lie, "You shall be like God" (Genesis 3:5; John 8:44). In our study of the early ages, we saw that He decided he would be like the Most High. When he approached Eve he tempted her with the same temptation. This is the Lie, that the creature can be like the Creator. When he came to Eve, Paul explains that he totally confused her (2 Corinthians 11:3) by suggesting doubts concerning God's goodness and command to them. The word Paul used seems to indicate that she believed she was doing the right thing. Adam, however, knew what he was doing. Satan used Eve to get to Adam. He tempted Adam by putting Adam in a situation where he had to choose between God and his wife.

Jesus said Satan is a manslayer from the beginning (John 8:44). This word "murderer" or "manslayer" does not indicate that Satan intended to kill Adam. Adam died as a result of the fall. Satan hadn't become subject to death when he sinned and probably didn't expect this to happen to Adam. He unintentionally brought about Adam's death because he lacked any concern for Adam's welfare.

The world system did not yet exist. Satan organized that system during the next dispensation. Therefore, no temptations or lusts from the world were present.

Adam and Eve had no promised future outside the garden. They didn't anticipate heaven. God caused them to rest in the garden. The hope placed before them was that God would go on providing them life and good provisions for life in the garden. God would also continue to meet and communicate with them.

This dispensation is not mentioned in Hebrews 11. Hebrews 11 records acts of faith for believers. Adam and Eve were not believers, they were innocent with no salvation. Faith requires a promise from God in which to hope. Adam and Eve had no promises, therefore no faith was needed.

Did you see it? Pick up your Bible and read Genesis chapters 1-3. They had it all. They lost it. Why? Because they wanted to figure it out for themselves. Sounds familiar, doesn't it? Innocence and goodness does not guarantee perfect obedience. Perhaps we can learn from this dispensation, that mankind will not choose to obey God, even if God would give us everything we think we might want. Go to Contents

Chapter 12
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The Dispensation of Conscience

The steward of the dispensation of Conscience was Cain (Genesis 3:7, 17; 4:1). How could Cain have been the steward? We know his subsequent history and so we write him off. His name meant "possession" or "acquisition."*1 Cain was a "tiller" of the ground (Genesis 4:2). The word "tiller" is the Hebrew participle abad, and literally meant "one serving" the ground. This activity was prescribed as part of the curse (Genesis 3:23). Therefore, Cain was doing what God had cursed mankind to do. Cain was Adam's firstborn and bore the responsibility for the family, yet we will see shortly how he responded.

In time, Cain and Abel brought offerings. Cain chose to bring the fruit of the ground, while his brother brought a sacrifice from his sheep. God did not look favorably upon Cain's offering but did look with favor on Abel's. Hebrews 11:4 testifies that Abel's offering was an expression of his righteousness. By contrast, Cain was unrighteous and his works evil (cf. 1 John 3:10-11). Cain was upset. God confronted him and informed him that if he did not do good, there was a sin offering crouching at his door (Genesis 4:7). *2 The term "crouching" or "lieth" is used of livestock lying down. God had made ready an animal, which Cain could offer if he desired to correct his attitude. Then Abel's desire *3 would be for him and he (Cain) would have ruled over his brother [A.V. "him"]. As the firstborn, that was to be his place.

Cain responded by slaying his brother as a sacrifice (1 John 3:12).*4 He shed Abel's blood as his brother probably shed the blood of his sacrifice. This fits the context of Genesis 4 well. God proposed that Cain do the right thing, and in rebellion of evil and conscience, he offered his brother. It's as though Cain said, "Ok, you want a sacrifice, I'll give you a sacrifice." As a result Cain's stewardship in that dispensation came to be opposed to God's. God then instructed Cain to be a wanderer (Genesis 4:12). This was a further curse, which was uniquely for Cain. Would Cain obey? Would he remain a wanderer?

Household

The whole human race was the household. God did not restrict the activities to the descendants of Seth or those of Cain. Adam and Eve had sons and daughters and all of these were to live their lives by conscience. Because the household was the whole human race, it included both saved and unsaved people. This is a good reminder that a dispensation is not a means of initial salvation. A dispensation is the means by which the members of the household are able to enjoy or experience the provisions which God makes available to them.

Direction

Mankind was to continue working the earth and bring sacrifice as the approach to God (Genesis 4:4, 7). No revelation at that time revealed that a blood sacrifice was necessary. We can only deduce that God desired a blood sacrifice from the precedent, which He set with Adam and Eve when He clothed them in animals skins (Genesis 3:21). In the New Testament we find that Abel brought a better or greater sacrifice (Hebrews 11:4). He did so by faith. Since biblical faith requires a promise from God, it would indicate that Abel had a promise regarding his sacrifice.

Man's condition

When the dispensation of Conscience began, mankind was fallen. They were subject to physical death and spiritually separated from God. The curse upon the earth meant that mankind was now responsible to labor and toil (cf. Genesis 5:29).

When Adam and Eve ate of the fruit, their eyes were opened so that they knew good and evil (Genesis 3:7, 22). In this context, the meaning of good and evil is not that they knew what good they could do or what bad they could do. Adam and Eve had known happiness, contentment and a sense of well being before the Fall. God had provided them a wonderful place to live and every good tree from which to eat. We could say that they wanted for nothing. Now they knew calamity, lack of happiness, lack of contentment and lack of well being. This is the basis of conscience. Conscience is that faculty of mind which weighs or balances one's knowledge with his or another's conduct. Picture the conscience as a set of balance scales. On one side is what one knows. On the other side is activity. If one's conduct matches one's knowledge, then a sense of well being exists; the scales are balanced. If there is a conflict, then there is an evil conscience, a conscience that lacks in character.

Conscience is shaped in part by the law written in mankind's hearts (Romans 2:15). That law is passed down to children from parents. Paul was not stating that man has an inborn moral principle. That would contradict what the Bible reveals about man's fallen state. Paul stated that law works with the conscience. Law forms the content of objective truth on one side of the conscience scale. It works together with man's reasonings. Man reasons something out and his conscience works to help him maintain his sense of personal integrity. However, a fault exists at this point. He can be accused by his conscience, or it can even serve to excuse him. He can excuse himself when his actions might be wrong, and conform to the prevailing trends. He might reason, "It's wrong, but hey, everyone else is doing it." By reorienting the knowledge side of his conscience, he excuses himself. This reorienting can be a parental and/or societal rewriting of the law in the heart. For example, mom and dad may teach the child something different than they were taught. Similarly, he excuses himself by trying to find happiness and escape calamity. He may have two conflicting sets of facts: what is right and what is necessary. A man may know that stealing bread is wrong, but his conscience can excuse him if he also knows he needs to feed himself or his family.

You see, conscience is not a perfect guide. It depends in part on the information in one's reasoning processes. This information is passed on by dad and mom from one's first day in the world. It is received by interaction with one's peers from childhood through adulthood. Consider some of the negative influences on the conscience. Unsaved men are darkened in the mind (Ephesians 4:17-19). Their minds are corrupted by the sin nature with its lusts. Living in the world, they receive poor information. As a result, the conscience can be greatly skewed and is therefore not to be considered a reliable guide. This will be seen vividly as we look at this dispensation.

Test

God tested mankind's use of the conscience. He was asking them to approach Him by sacrifice and to then do good. Now mankind knew that obedience to God would bring happiness. Adam and Eve knew by experience that disobedience only brought calamity [evil]. This knowledge would continue in the experience of the children, grandchildren, and on and on. So, would they seek the happiness by obeying God, or would they attempt to find happiness elsewhere?

Failure

Jesus stated that the world system began with Abel's death, "from the foundation of the world" (Luke 11:50-51). When Cain went out from God's presence, after killing his brother, the world system began (Genesis 4:16). This system is an attempt to regulate the sin nature and conform mankind to Satan's idea of opposition to God. Cain built a city instead of wandering as God had instructed him (Genesis 4:12). The system involves urbanization (Genesis 4:16). The system involves the basis of commerce, the musical arts [all arts], industry and senseless violence (Genesis 4:20-24). This system also involves polygamy and an emphasis on outward beauty (vv. 19, 22). Naamah, Lamech's daughter, means "beautiful," emphasizing outward beauty. When Christ appeared, this system hated Him and continues to oppose God (John 7:7).

During the dispensation of Conscience, God observed that man's thoughts were only evil continually (Genesis 6:5). Man excused himself by means of his conscience. With the exceptions of a few like Enoch and Noah, mankind did not rely upon God for revelation. Neither did mankind give allegiance to God, but that which was opposed to God. As a result, man corrupted his way by inbreeding with fallen angels (Genesis 6:2-4). The result of this union between the sons of God and the daughters of men were nephilim, a Hebrew word meaning "fallen ones." The Authorized Version translates this word "giants". While "giants" is not the literal meaning, it does reflect the truth from other Scriptures. These men were giants (cp Numbers 13:33). They were the result of union, "when the sons of God went into the daughters of men" (Genesis 6:4). As seen in Numbers 13:33, they were also on the earth afterwards. Therefore, this activity was repeated after the flood. Mankind held these fallen beings [nephilim] in high regard. They were "men of a name" or "renown." They were famous (Genesis 6:4). These fallen creatures were honored and respected by mankind. Rather than seeking God as Enoch did, they respected these fallen beings. Mankind had the ability to know good and evil but the imaginations of their hearts were always evil, honoring these fallen ones. Their consciences allowed them to honor those fallen beings rather than God.

Angels marrying human women brings up some interesting questions, about which Bible students have differed. It is pointed out that the angels of God do not marry, nor are they given in marriage (Matthew 22:30). It is plain that these were not the angels of God. These were some of the angels who rebelled with Satan. The two good angels who accompanied God the Son to meet with Abraham were able to take a human form. This was not an incarnation, but demonstrates that angels can take on a physical form (Genesis 18:2ff; 19:1ff). These angels of Satan are sealed*5 in Hades (2 Peter 2:4). Christ made a proclamation to these spirits in prison, who were disobedient in Noah's days (1 Peter 3:19-20). Christ did not preach to men but to the spirits.

The angels of Satan also involved themselves with all flesh. God stated that all flesh had corrupted its way (Genesis 6:11-12). "Way" in this context can refer to the way of sexual reproduction. It is used in this manner in Proverbs 30:19; of an eagle in the air, a snake on a rock, a ship in the sea (ships frequently had a carved woman on the bow), and a man with a woman. Each of these referred to the reproductive activity or motions. This is the reason God destroyed most animal life in addition to most of the human race. God brought world-wide judgment on all things in which was the breath of life, because all creatures, not just man, were involved in this activity.

In contrast to this inbreeding and corruption between angels and humans, Noah was a righteous man and perfect in his generations (Genesis 6:9). "Perfect" is a Hebrew word that meant he was "complete." It was the word used of sacrifices being "whole" not marred or broken (e.g. Exodus 12:5; 29:1). Noah stood out as unique among his contemporaries. Noah had no corruption in his lineage, no taint of this activity. The contrast would seem to be that all others, all his contemporaries, were involved in this.

Judgment

All but eight humans and most animal life were killed (Genesis 6:13; 7:21). God determined to wipe out both man and beast from the face of the earth (Genesis 6:7). God caused a universal flood to come upon the earth. This flood was to destroy all creatures in which was the breath of life (Genesis 6:17).

Revelation

Conscience is not a safe guide and is fallible. Under the social climate and peer pressure, conscience allowed men to look at the wrong thing and call it right. They held the wrong people in a place of respect (Genesis 6:4). It is a common error to teach that the conscience is a good guide. Paul wrote, "For I am conscious of nothing against myself, but I am not declared righteous by this," (1 Corinthians 4:4). Today the believer can and should have a good conscience, but the Holy Spirit is to be his guide, not his conscience (Galatians 5:18; Romans 8:14).

God's grace is seen, in that some people are saved by faith in God (Genesis 4:4; 5:21-24; Hebrews 11:4-7). Enoch walked with God. Noah found grace in God's eyes (Genesis 6:8). In neither instance did this result in their initial salvation. God's dealings with them were because they were believers in God.

The Godhead

God the Father accepted Abel's sacrifice (Genesis 4:4; Heb. 11:4). God the Son appeared to several individuals during this dispensation. He appeared to Cain regarding Cain's attitude in the sacrifice (Genesis 4:5). He also confronted Cain regarding his brother's death (Genesis 4:9), and placed a mark upon him (Genesis 4:15). He walked with Enoch (Genesis 5:24), for Enoch pleased Him by faith (Hebrews 11:6). Enoch sought Him out by faith, believing that he could find God. As a result, God the Son walked with him. This should not be allegorized. God the Son took on a temporary human form and literally walked with Enoch [see previous studies involving God's appearances]. During these walks it is likely that Enoch received revelation from Him (cp Jude 14). As a result, Enoch was an exception to the rule of death. Enoch was not, for God took him (Genesis 5:24). While the others in his genealogy were born, had children, and died, Enoch was born, had children, walked with God, and was not. Was not what? He was not dead. He didn't die as the rest of humanity. The Son also appeared to and walked with Noah. In this environment, He spoke with him (Genesis 6:13; 7:1; 8:15) and revealed truth to Noah. He revealed His determination to judge the world and then gave Noah instructions for building the ark.

God the Holy Spirit was striving with mankind (Genesis 6:3). Romans 1 reveals that His striving was a restraint of mankind's sin nature. He prevented them from being as bad as they could become. When He ceased striving, God turned (gave) them over to become as evil as they desired. He gave them over to: dishonor their bodies, to dishonor themselves in homosexual passions, to an unapproved [reprobate] mind (Romans 1:24, 26, 27, 28).

Where will the believers of this dispensation be in the future? Hebrews 12:23 mentions a group of inhabitants of the Heavenly Jerusalem called "the spirits of righteous men brought to completion." This is a group distinct from the Church. Their existence upon the heavenly city rather than upon the earth, distinguishes them from Israelites. Who are these men? The believers from Adam to Noah likely comprise some of this group. Therefore, they will inhabit the New Jerusalem during the Millennial kingdom and possibly also in eternity.

Three individuals who lived in this dispensation are mentioned in Hebrews 11. By faith Abel offered a better sacrifice than Cain (Hebrews 11:4). Abel was righteous in contrast to Cain, and Abel's offering to God demonstrated that righteousness. Abel believed that the sacrifice he brought was that which God desired. Since faith is based upon a promise from God, Abel would have had revelation either directly from God or passed down from his parents, indicating what kind of offering God wanted him to bring. He did so by faith in that promise.

Enoch is also mentioned. After Enoch had a son, he walked with God. According to Hebrews 11:6, he sought God out. He knew that he could find God if he looked. He also directed faith at the promise that God is a rewarder of those who seek Him. By faith, Enoch looked for God and God was found by him. It should be pointed out that this is not applicable for people today. Paul quoted Isaiah, "no one seeks after God" (Romans 3:11). In Enoch's, day one could seek for God as Enoch did. The name of his son, Methuselah, means "having died, it comes."*6 In the year Methuselah died the flood came and judged the world system that existed then. Enoch knew something about judgment. He is quoted in Jude regarding the Lord's coming in judgment with His saints. The flood was also a judgment, and the name of his son indicates that God gave him revelation regarding that future judgment. Enoch did not die. God took him directly, apart from death (Hebrews 11:5). The word "took" or "taken" describes a change of location. God changed Enoch's location without Enoch dying.

Noah lived on a rainless earth. When God warned of a coming flood and instructed him to build an ark [a box] for the purpose of saving his family, he believed God (Hebrews 11:7). He had no evidence that such a thing could happen, but he believed God. He believed in God's promise of judgment upon the world, and he believed in God's physical deliverance of himself and his family.

Each of these men demonstrated faith as a believer. Each was already a believer when he exercised this faith. As a believer, each exercised faith in a promise of God.

Should you be concerned about having a good conscience? Sure. Paul did and encouraged others to do the same. However, in the end, your conscience shouldn't really be your guide. You should mature to the point that you follow the Spirit's lead. Paul strived to have a good conscience but he also wrote, "I am conscious of nothing against myself, but I am not justified by this." (1 Corinthians 4:4). The majority of the household of mankind, from Adam to Noah, failed to use the conscience properly. They allowed their happiness and society to change the attitude from that which was proper. This is a lesson from the dispensation of conscience.Go to Contents

Chapter 13
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The Dispensation of Human Government

Around 650 AD a group of believers chose to follow a biblical model of the church and her practices. Because they gave priority to Pauline doctrine they were called by their enemies Paulicians. As they grew in number the state church took notice and determined to kill their leader and bring the remainder back into their church. Many such groups had endured persecution of this nature. These too suffered until some within their ranks determined to resist the established government. "This was their sad failure, and the sad fruit of listening to the suggestions of Satan. For nearly two hundred years they had suffered as Christians, adorning the gospel by a life of faith and patience. So far as we have the means of judging, they seem to have maintained the truth through a long course of suffering, in the noble though passive spirit of conformity to Christ. But faith and patience failed at length, and they openly rebelled against the government."*1

Government is set in place by God. That government, even when immoral, remains there for a purpose. The failure of Christians to grasp God's purpose in secular government has caused Christians to move on government, sometimes peacefully, sometimes with force. They fail to see that government will not bring about true righteousness.

Steward

This dispensation began when God told Noah and his family to come off the ark (Genesis 8:15-16). God spoke to Noah and his sons: Shem, Ham and Japheth. They were held responsible for themselves and their descendants. This can be seen by Ham's immorality. His actions affected his son Canaan, and brought a curse upon him (Genesis 9:22, 25-27). To Noah and his sons were given the rudiments of human government, which was the rule for this dispensation.

Household

The whole human race was the household under this dispensation. The instructions were not limited to a small portion of the human race. In chapter 11, God dealt with the whole human race. The whole race descended from either Shem, Ham or Japheth, Noah's sons to whom the instructions were given. Their descendants formed the household.

Direction - Rule of Life

God instructed Noah and his sons to multiply and fill the earth (Genesis 9:1). The word "multiply" in verses one and six is a Hebrew word meaning to become great or expansive. It does not mean just becoming numerous, but also spreading out in the earth. God also gave Noah and his family everything that moves for food (Genesis 9:3). He had previously given them every plant for food. So we find one instruction, which is similar to those given previously, and a new provision in what they could eat.

God told Noah that He would require the lifeblood from every beast or man that killed another man (9:5ff). If anyone killed another human, it would be the responsibility of other men to likewise shed his blood (9:6). Capital punishment is not a self-willed act of murder, but an action of government. This is the institution of capital punishment for murder, and becomes the basis for a limited form of government. Recall that when Cain killed Abel, God didn't require Cain to be killed. He had cursed Cain to wander. Now God introduces a new rule. God gave them a basic governmental principle. God organized government to enforce order. The ruler bears the sword to enforce law by punishing the disobedient (Romans 13:1-4). When God instructed Noah that anyone who shed man's blood was to then be put to death, He laid the principle of bearing the sword. This became the dispensational rule.

Test

The test for the dispensation of human government is two-fold. First, would mankind obey God by enforcing the rule of capital punishment for murder? Second, would mankind multiply and fill the earth? The human race was responsible for the carrying out of both instructions. They were to be certain that this basic law was obeyed and they were to obey the first law and spread out upon the earth.

Failure

We are uncertain how long it took before mankind determined to disobey God, but we know that sufficient time passed for them to multiply and form a city. They chose not to scatter, but to remain together (Genesis 11:4). They willfully disobeyed God's instructions. "Be scattered" in our English Bibles implies someone else causing them to scatter. The Hebrew stem is active, meaning "unless we scatter." Mankind chose to unify themselves so they wouldn't scatter. They also purposed to make a name for themselves. They determined to be somebodies instead of nobodies. They determined to do their will for themselves rather than to be at the mercy of God's will. Rather than scatter, they formed a city.

The ruler of their city was a man named Nimrod. He was a mighty one on the earth (Genesis 10:9). Physical might is still honored within the world system (cp 1 Corinthians 1:26). His name meant "we will revolt" or "rebel". A "mighty hunter before the Lord" is a strange description of Nimrod, considering his name and city. The description can be interpreted as his presumption in the face of [before] God. C.F. Keil translated it, "against the Lord." *2 It can also be interpreted, "a hunter of the mighty before/against the Lord." Nimrod the rebel hunted anyone who was before the Lord. He was famous for hunting God's people! The beginning of Nimrod's kingdom was Babel, a city established for the purpose of revolting against God. That means that a murderer who should have been put to death was not only allowed to live, but ruled this city and these people. This is quite a change from God's original instructions.

Mankind built a tower in their attempt to make a name for themselves. The tower at Babel was a ziggurat for the study and worship of the heavens. Like the superstitious notion of spires on churches, they felt that such a tower would give them better access to their substitute gods. Our English Bibles have added various words, which have sometimes given the impression that these people were trying to build a tower to reach heaven. They were not trying to physically reach heaven. They were attempting to spiritually reach heaven. The top of the tower was to be in the heavens (Genesis 11:4). Paul explained that this was the worship of creation in place of God (Romans 1:21-25). This probably involved a rudimentary zodiac, along with the study and worship of the stars and what they represented alongside of God. This was part of their rebellion against God.

Judgment

The judgment at the end of this dispensation was threefold. It involved three divisions: language, race, and continents. God confounded their languages (Genesis 11:7, 9). Language differences became the basis for divisions of people and remains so to this day. Having confounded their languages, God caused them to scatter over the face of the earth (Genesis 11:8). These divisions became the bases of the races (Genesis 11:8). Once mankind was scattered upon the face of the earth, God divided the very earth or ground on which they stood (Genesis 10:25). Peleg was named for this division of the continents. His name meant to divide by water. During his lifetime, the physical earth was divided by water [See study on Changes]. Moses used different Hebrew words to describe the different divisions. In Genesis 10:25, he used the verb peleg. In verse 32 he used parad, which meant to separate. In 11:9 he used putz, which meant to scatter or disperse. Genesis 10: 32 and 11:9 described the nations, 10:25 the land.

Revelation

Man does not use human government righteously. He used it as a means of rebelling against God's instructions. Neither will man worship God when given the choice, but will follow "the lie" (Romans 1:21ff; John 8:44). "The lie" originated with Satan. He is the father of "the lie." The lie equates created beings with God, or puts them in God's place. When Satan told Eve, "you shall be as God" he communicated the lie. Mankind did a religious service to the creature, alongside the Creator (Romans 1:25). Mankind chooses to worship the creation rather than the Creator, and will use human government to that end.

God's grace

God's grace is seen in the mild form of judgment in contrast to the past judgments on man's disobedience. Noah was the only believer specifically mentioned. He was identified by God as a righteous man (Genesis 6:9). Since he is the only believer specifically mentioned during this dispensation, we have no examples of spiritual salvation during this time. There were mighty ones before the Lord who were hunted by Nimrod (Genesis 10:9). No specific names of these believers or situations are mentioned. Therefore, in keeping with other revelation, people during this time were saved by grace through faith as in all times (cp Romans 4). We can know that some of those who were saved during this dispensation were mighty or strong ones before the Lord. Some form of spiritual strength set these people apart. Because this strength is before the Lord, its source should be attributed to God and their salvation.

The Godhead

No specific distinctions between the Persons of the Godhead are made during this dispensation. In keeping with New Testament revelation regarding the Son's pre-incarnate ministry, "the Lord" who came down to see the city in Genesis 11:5 was the Son. The Godhead acted in unity to confound men's languages. This is seen in "Us" (Genesis 11:7). The Lord who scattered them over the face of the earth in verse eight is not identified. No speaking is taking place, and no personal manifestation is taking place so it could be any one of the Persons. Because the Spirit had previously wrestled with mankind in the prior dispensation, this may again be the work of the Holy Spirit in power.

Unrighteousness

Nimrod, the founder of Babel, was a murderer. Murder is a work of the flesh (Galatians 5:21). The worship of anything in God's place is idolatry, which is also a work of the flesh. (Galatians 5:20). This idolatry is seen in Romans 1. There, Paul also stated three times that God gave them over, for three choices which they made: they changed the image of God into created beings (v 24); they stood in awe of and did a priestly service to created beings (v. 25); they determined that it was unacceptable to have knowledge of God (v. 28). Each time, God gave them over to further depravity.

Romans 1:29-31 indicates the development of unrighteousness in mankind as a result of God giving them over. The Spirit ceased restraining mankind and God gave them over. God is righteous and therefore, that which is contrary to God's nature is unrighteous. Paul summarized all these activities and attitudes as being unrighteous. The following is a translation with explanatory notes.

"All unrighteousness: fornication [illicit sexual intercourse in any form outside of the marriage of a man and woman], covetousness [the strong craving for more, even to the point of making things idols], evil [the milder term, meaning to lack in the character which is expected], full of envy [more than jealousy, it is the emotional and mental anguish over another's well being or that which makes another happy], full of murder [the senseless killing of others], strife [to fight or contest, to argue or bicker], guile [deceit which is intended to benefit one's self], evil in manners [one's very manners or customs lack in character], whisperers [to whisper or speak about others, telling unnecessary secrets], vicious talkers [to speak down or against others, ridicule], God-haters, arrogant, showoffs [to shine above for the purpose of showing off], boasters, inventors of evil [they try to find things which lack in character], disobedient to parents, without understanding [not able to mentally put things together], not agreeable [they will not agree to anything or abide by any contract or agreement], without a natural family affection [they lack normal affection that would exist between family members], without mercy [they have no real pity on those suffering as a result of sin]."

This list summarizes man's unrighteousness as the effects of the fall continued to intensify in the absence of the Spirit's previous restraint.

Any who might have been believers during this dispensation would be among those identified as the spirits of righteous men brought to completion in Hebrews 12:23b. Therefore, during the Millennial kingdom they will be on the New Jerusalem and will remain there into eternity.

So, God established a secular government. He gave only two basic rules. Given time, mankind rebelled against God. They chose not to obey those basic rules and actually used human government for their own purposes rather than God's. This is an important lesson. It is tempting to think that we can delve into government and fix the apparent problems, either of the world or of the Church. However, this dispensation, along with many other Scriptures reveal that in our present state, the old adage is true: power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. We might make use of the world, but Paul warns us not to make full use of it (1 Corinthians 7:31). Go To Contents

Chapter 14
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The Dispensation of Promise

These promises were repeated to Abraham's son Isaac, his grandson Jacob (Israel), and Jacob's twelve sons. The responsibility of the household was to believe that God would give them the land promised in the first covenant. Abraham slept while God stated the details of the covenant (Genesis 15:12). Abraham didn't hear that his descendants would be slaves for four hundred years. Therefore, Abraham and his descendants were to believe that God would give them this land, not knowing exactly when He would do so. *1

Test

Failure

In Egypt, Abraham's descendants [Israel] became a great nation (Exodus 1:7). Their size alarmed the Egyptians, who decided to afflict them (Exodus 1:8-11). Israel only became larger and the Egyptians placed them under even more arduous labor (Exodus 1:12-14). Their groanings were heard by God, who remembered His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Exodus 2:23-25). Speaking to Moses, God promised to take the people of Israel to the land which He had promised to their fathers (Exodus 3:17).

Moses' faith in the third covenant with Abraham, the one regarding circumcision, was tested as Moses returned to Egypt. Because his sons had not yet been circumcised, the Lord met with Moses and sought to put him to death (Exodus 4:24-26). Because his sons were not circumcised, God was going to cut Moses off from the people just as He had promised Abraham.

When Moses told God's plans to the elders of Israel, they were caused to believe by seeing the signs which God gave to be done (Exodus 4:30-31). They believed because they saw something, not because of faith in God's promises. This then was a different kind of faith. The Egyptian's response to Moses was to make the work harder (Exodus 5). Since Israel lacked faith in God's promise they did not respond kindly to Moses (Exodus 5:19-22; 6:9, 12). Through the nine plagues, Pharaoh would not release the Israelites (Exodus 7-10). Finally, by means of the tenth plague, God moved Pharaoh to release them (Exodus 12:31-32). The Egyptians urged the Israelites to leave (Exodus 12:33). As God had promised, 430 years to the day, He brought Israel out of Egypt (Exodus 12:40-41). God's promises to Abraham were sure because God is faithful.

When Pharaoh pursued Israel, pinning them against the Red Sea, Israel expressed unbelief in God's promise, thinking they would die (Exodus 14:10-12). God miraculously delivered them through the sea and then drowned Pharaoh's army in the same sea (Exodus 14:21-31). Seeing what God had done, they believed in the Lord and in Moses (Exodus 14:31). This again is a different kind of faith and is seen three days later, when on their trip, they grumbled because they had no good drinking water (Exodus 15:22-25). Again, God provided for them. A little further on their way they grumbled again, needing food. Israel didn't believe that God would take them to the land He had promised to their fathers. Rather, they thought they would die in the desert (Exodus 16:2-3). Further on their journey, they grumbled again for the need of water, and doubted that God would fulfill His promises to them. Again they thought they would die in the desert (Exodus 17:2-3). The account of Israel recorded by Moses is not one of belief in God's promises to their fathers. It is an account of obstinate unbelief. They were even carrying a testimony of faith with them in Joseph's bones. Yet they did not really believe that God would take them to the land.

When Israel arrived at Sinai, God reminded them of His work in bringing them out of Egypt (Exodus 19:4). Like an eagle, He had borne them on wings. They faltered and fell and He bore them up and brought them to Himself. This was a reminder of God's work under promise. God made a promise and it was not dependent upon how well men obeyed God. So on that background, God asked them, "Now then, if you will indeed hear My voice and guard My covenant, then you will be My special possession among all peoples, for all the earth is Mine. And you will begin to be for Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation." (Exodus 19:5, 6a). These people had failed to believe God and failed to reach this location on their own, yet they presumptuously replied, "All that the Lord has spoken, we will do!" (Exodus 19:8). This was not the same response recorded in 24:7 and Deuteronomy 5:27-28. That response was after the Law was given, not before. This response was given before the mountain was covered by smoke and fire (Deuteronomy 5:22). God had not yet given any law or commandments. He simply asked whether they would hear Him and guard His covenant. The covenant which God remembered was the first covenant with Abraham. He didn't ask them to do anything, except to hear and guard. *2 Israel was to go on hearing God, which implied that they were to believe Him, in contrast to their previous unbelief. They were also asked to guard His covenant, which meant they were not to treat the covenant lightly. They were to be certain the promises of the covenant were clearly seen and explained.

God answered Israel's presumption at Sinai by making it difficult to come into His presence. God's appearances with men, as recorded in Genesis, had been kind and personal. God had met and walked with Enoch and Noah. He had approached Abraham more than once, and was so approachable with Abraham that on one occasion Abraham even questioned God with his concerns for Lot. God appeared to and wrestled with Jacob and was with Joseph in Egypt. He had appeared to Moses in the burning bush. Now, God terrified Israel and held them at a distance as He came down upon Sinai in a thick cloud with thunder and lightning flashes (Exodus 19:16-20). The people were told not to touch the mountain, under immediate penalty of death (Exodus 19:12-13). The people trembled (Exodus 19:16; 20). They did not want God to speak with them, for fear they would die (Exodus 20:18-20). God would be present within their camp in the tabernacle, but He gave very stringent means of approaching that tabernacle. If Israel's response, "all that the Lord has spoken we will do" was the right response, why did God make Himself so unapproachable to the nation? Why did He suddenly make it so hard to come before Him?

Had Israel not presumed to be able to "do" all God said, they would have become a nation of priests. Rather they became a nation with a priesthood. Neither does Scripture state that they became a holy nation. Rather Isaiah would later call them a sinful nation (Isaiah 1:4). She was a harlot wife to God (Jeremiah 3:1-6; Hosea 4:15). Israel became an unclean *3 thing (Isaiah 64:6).

Their unbelief culminated in their refusal to enter the land at Kadesh Barnea. Moses sent twelve spies into the land of Canaan (Numbers 13:2, 17-24). Ten of the spies reported that Israel would be unable to go up against the people in the land (Numbers 13:25-33). Caleb, one of the spies, expressed his faith in God's promise that they could possess the land (Numbers 13:30). The people again did not demonstrate faith in God but grumbled, thinking they would die in the desert (Numbers 14:2-3). Their unbelief in God's promise is seen in their determination to return to Egypt (v. 4).

Judgment

God's covenanted promises were postponed. Israel has never received the entire amount of land which God promised Abraham in Genesis 15. Israel was placed under the Law (Exodus 20:1-17). Israel had presumed they could "do", so God gave them the Law to prove they could not do (Galatians 3:19-22; Romans 3:19-20)! God placed stringent requirements upon Israel for approaching Him at the tabernacle and later at the temple. Individual Israelites had to approach God through priests (Exodus 29:9; 40:15). In fact, if a non-Levite, and specifically a non-priest, approached God, he would die (Numbers 1:51; 18:7). Priests to this point were the fathers, the heads of households (cp Job 1:4-5; Exodus 19:22). Now the priests were one family from among the thirteen*4 families coming out of Egypt.

Revelation

God demonstrated that man willfully doubts rather than believes His promises. Even if the promises are in the form of covenants man doubts God. Man may believe God as long as He continues to do signs and wonders. However, faced with a promise, especially under adversity, man abandons any faith in God.

God gathered Israel before Sinai. There He demonstrated that mankind, even when confronted with his own lack of faith in God's promises, will presume he is able to do anything God might ask. He doubts God and is self-confident.

The Godhead

God the Son appeared several times during this dispensation. He appeared to Abraham first in Ur, then in Canaan, again after Lot and Abraham separated, then after the war of the kings, then at the giving of the covenant of circumcision, then when he promised Isaac's birth, just prior to His destruction of Sodom, and then when he proved Abraham's faith (Genesis 12:1, 7; 13:14; 15:4; 17:1; 18:1; 22:1). While "the Lord appeared to Abraham" might be understood in a variety of ways, chapter 18 sheds much light on these appearances. The Lord appeared to Abraham with two angels. The Lord [Jehovah] was God the Son. No one had seen the Father at any time (John 1:18). The Son, the Word, appeared and spoke to Abraham. When He appeared in Genesis 18, He appeared in a human form. This was only temporary and not an incarnation. The Son did not become incarnate until He was born through Mary. This form was real. He could eat and be touched, walk and sit, but His form was also only for this limited time during which He appeared to Abraham. There is no reason that His other appearances were not of a similar nature.

The Son appeared to Jacob. He first appeared to Jacob in a dream (Genesis 28:12-15). Jacob, who was not yet a believer, called that location "Bethel"(v. 19) "the house of God." He later appeared to Jacob in a real physical form as He had done with Abraham. This time He wrestled with Jacob all night (Genesis 32:24-30). Jacob's faith in Him is expressed in Jacob's request to be blessed (v. 26). Jacob named this place Peniel (v. 30), for he had met God face to face.

The Son appeared to Joseph. When Joseph was sold into slavery, He was with him, causing Joseph to prosper (Genesis 39:2-3). When Joseph was jailed for his righteous reaction to his master's wife, the Lord was again with him (39:21, 23). Joseph's confidence in God is revealed by his giving credit to God for revealing the meaning of the dreams (Genesis 40:8; 41:16, 25). Joseph also expressed his confidence in God's faithfulness to accomplish His good purpose (Genesis 45:5, 7, 9; 50:19, 20).

Grace

God chose an idolator to be the father of this nation (Joshua 24:2, 14-15). He graciously made a covenant with Abraham in Genesis 15 and two more unconditional covenants. God caused Abraham to obey Him by causing him to leave his father's house and go to a land that God graciously promised to him (Genesis 20:13).

The Place in Hebrews 11

Six persons from this dispensation are mentioned in Hebrews 11: Abraham, Sarah, Jacob, Moses' parents and Moses. Each reference given is an example of one acting on faith, not an example of initial saving faith. In 11:8-9 we see that Abraham believed God's promise and left his homeland to go to the land God promised. Note that this was Abraham acting prior to salvation. It is also important to note that Abraham's one act of faith upon which his salvation was based is not mentioned. It is mentioned three times in the New Testament and in each instance it is stated that Abraham was counted righteous. Since initial salvation is not the topic of Hebrews 11, it is consistent that such an event is not recorded in this chapter. Sarah was an old woman and past the age of childbearing, but she believed God and conceived and bore Isaac (11:11-12). Abraham also expressed faith in God when he offered his special son Isaac (11:17-19). Abraham had other children, but only Isaac was the special *5 son. Abraham's faith in this offering was that God would raise Isaac from the dead, because he was convinced that Isaac was the promised son. These acts of faith by Abraham were pointed out to the Hebrew believers. Abraham had left his homeland, and these believers had also been forced from their homes. He had gone out and was looking for something not of this earth, namely the heavenly Jerusalem, something better than an earthly city such as Jerusalem with its temple, to which these believers no longer had access. The Hebrews were also to live by faith.

Isaac expressed his faith in God's promise by giving blessing to his sons and distinguishing Jacob as the one through whom God's covenant promises would come (Hebrews 11:20). Jacob acted similarly, and passed on blessing to the sons of Joseph while he was dying (11:21). Joseph expressed his faith in God's covenant promises and commanded the sons of Israel to take his bones with them to Israel (11:22).

Moses' parents did not fear the decree of Pharaoh, but believed God and hid Moses for three months (11:23). This indicates that they had a promise regarding their son and regarding God's deliverance from Egypt. Their son Moses also directed faith at God's promises to Israel and therefore refused to be identified with the Egyptians (11:24-26). He was willing to suffer the same kinds of reproaches which Christ experienced. He didn't know of Christ as revealed in the gospel, but the readers of Hebrews would have known vividly the reproaches Christ experienced. They too were experiencing severe reproach, so this was very common to their experience. Because God appeared to Moses and promised to use him to lead Israel out of Egypt and to the land, Moses believed that promise and led Israel out and was not afraid of Pharaoh (11:27). He instituted the Passover, which was necessary that the firstborn ones would not be touched by the destroyer (11:28). Believers today form the Church, which is made up of firstborn ones (see 12:23). Finally, by faith they went through the Red Sea and God preserved them but destroyed the Egyptians (11:29). It was an act which demonstrated that God could take His own through a difficult situation and use it to destroy the rebels. These believing Hebrews were no longer being allowed to go to the temple and many were persecuted and being forced from Jerusalem. While that was hard for the believers, God would use this to preserve them when He would destroy Jerusalem and that temple by the hand of a Roman ruler.

God's covenant promises to Israel were great. He is faithful and maintained those promises. He governed the lives of these people from Abraham to Moses by pointing to His promises to them. He wanted them to live in light of those promises. They were to believe those promises. It is plain that some in that household did believe those promises and others did not. In fact, the majority did not appear to believe those promises. One of Isaac's sons saw how valid God's promises were and one didn't care, but was more interested in food. One of Jacob's twelves sons really expressed faith in God's promises. Few among Israel in the days of Moses believed God's promises. Yet man presumed he could on his own do whatever God wanted. This is our nature as men. Our nature is to doubt God and to foolishly believe in ourselves.
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Chapter 15
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The Dispensation of Law

Through Moses, God gave Israel the Law. The well known Ten Commandments*1 summarized much of the moral aspects of the Law. However, the Law was a whole unit, and every aspect of the Law was to be guarded and obeyed. In Deuteronomy 4, God's purpose and rule for the nation Israel was explained. They were to obey the Law so that they would continue to live physically and possess the land, which God had promised to their fathers (v. 1). They were not to alter the God-given Law (v. 2). By obeying, the surrounding nations would consider them a wise and understanding nation (v. 6). The nations would observe the relationship of Israel and God as being one of nearness, "a God so near" (v. 7). They would also consider Israel's law to be righteous (v. 8).

Part of the rule for each dispensation is a motivation for the household to live by the given rule. The Law motivated Israel to obey by promising blessings and curses for their obedience or disobedience, respectively. The blessings and curses were conditional. "All the commands, which I command you today, you shall guard to do them, that you may go on living and go and possess the land, which I swore to your fathers." (Deuteronomy 8:1; cp Leviticus 18:5). Few New Testament believers understand these earthly blessings. The following passage is quoted in full.

"And it shall come to be, if you shall really listen to the voice of Jehovah your God, to guard to do all His commandments, which I command you this day, that Jehovah your God will set you high above all nations of the earth; and all these blessings shall come on you and overtake you, if you shall listen to the voice of Jehovah your God. Blessed shall you be in the city, and blessed shall you be in the field. Blessed shall be the fruit of your womb, *2 and the fruit of your ground, and the fruit of your livestock, the offspring of your cattle, and the increase of your sheep. Blessed shall be your basket and your kneading-trough. Blessed shall you be in your coming in, and blessed shall you be in your going out. Jehovah will give up and strike before you, your enemies that rise up against you; they shall come out against you one way, and by seven ways shall they flee before you. Jehovah will command blessing on you in your granaries, and in all the business of your hand; and He will bless you in the land, which Jehovah your God gives you. Jehovah will establish you for Himself a holy people as He has sworn unto you, if you keep the commandments of Jehovah your God, and walk in His ways. And all the peoples of the earth shall see that you are called by the name of Jehovah, and they shall be afraid of you. And Jehovah will give you abundance of good, in the fruit of your body, and in the fruit of your cattle, and in the fruit of your ground, in the land that Jehovah swore unto your fathers to give you. Jehovah will open to you His good treasure, the heavens, to give rain unto your land in its season, and to bless all the work of your hand; and you shall lend unto many nations, but you shall not borrow. And Jehovah will make you the head, and not the tail; and you shall be above only, and you shall not be beneath; if you listen to the commandments of Jehovah your God, which I command you this day, to guard*3 and to do them," (Deuteronomy 28:1-13).

This is a brief delineation of the blessings in the Law. In this manner, Israel was motivated to obey by the promise of life and prosperity in the land.

The Israelites were also motivated to obey the Law by fear of Jehovah and fear of punishment. The Ten Commandments serve as a good example. Many modern believers are unaware of the penalties for breaking these commandments. They were a law. They were not just good advice. If one had another god before Jehovah or made a graven image and worshipped any other god, he was to be put to death (Exodus 22:20; Leviticus 20:2-5; Deuteronomy 4:23-25). If one took God's name in vain, he was to be put to death (Leviticus 24:16). If one broke the Sabbath by doing work, even gathering some sticks to start a fire, he was to be put to death (Exodus 31:14-15; Numbers 15:32-36). If one struck, dishonored, or cursed his father or mother, he was to be put to death (Exodus 21:15; Leviticus 20:9). If one murdered a fellow Israelite, he was to be put to death (Exodus 21:12, 29; Leviticus 24:17). If one committed adultery, in fact if one engaged in any of a variety of sexually unrighteous activities, he was to be put to death (Leviticus 20:10-21). If one stole a fellow Israelite (that's kidnapping), he was to be put to death (Exodus 21:16; Deuteronomy 24:7). If one bore false witness against another, the penalty which the innocent party would have suffered was to be enacted upon the false accuser. Therefore, if the innocent party would have died for the false charge, the one making the false charge was to be put to death (Deuteronomy 19:16-21). Therefore, seven of the commandments always required death as the penalty. Two required death under certain circumstances. The last commandment was an inner problem of coveting. Yet even the breaking of this commandment was punished by death at least once. In Numbers 11:4 some of the people began to "lust" or covet (see Deuteronomy 5:21). God punished them with death (Numbers 11:33-34).

The death penalty was intended to motivate Israel by fear. The death penalty was carried out publicly by the people. They saw and personally took part in the enactment of the penalty (Deuteronomy 13:9-11). This was to cause the people to fear and continue to obey God (Deuteronomy 17:12-13; 21:18-21). Fear of punishment was part of their motivation to obey the Law as their rule of life.

Test

Jehovah is holy and His people Israel were to be holy (Leviticus 11:44, 45; 19:2; 20:7, 26; 21:6). The Law was to be their righteousness (Deuteronomy 6:25) for it was a righteous law (Deuteronomy 4:8). Israel was to pursue righteousness in their dealings with one another. God had revealed in the Law this kind of righteousness. There was to be no partiality either for rich or poor (Deuteronomy 16:19). If the nation would pursue this righteousness, they would go on living and inherit the land, which Jehovah was giving to them (Deuteronomy 11:8-9, 20-25). This was their test. Would Israel live their daily lives under the Law so that they as a nation would be set apart to God? Would Israel submit to the Law?

Failure

Israel did not submit to the righteousness from God revealed in the Law (Romans 10:3). Rather, the nation attempted to establish their own righteousness. The nation did not pursue the righteousness from God described in the Law. They were departing from the Law, taking bribes, taking advantage of widows, orphans, and the poor, and dishonoring family members (Amos 5:12; Zechariah 7:9-10; Malachi 2:7-9; 3:5; Micah 7:2-3). When Christ came He required of the nation that their righteousness exceed the righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees (Matthew 5:20).

Israel's failure regarding this righteousness culminated in their rejection of Christ as their righteous King. Christ was objectively considered righteous (Matthew 27:19, 24; Luke 23:47; Acts 3:14; John 19:14, 15). Christ was the Holy One of Israel and Israel rejected Him.

The Law was only a shadow of good things to come (Hebrews 10:1). Israel failed to see this. They made the Law an end in itself. They became consumed with establishing their own righteousness rather than anticipating something better. Jeremiah prophesied that there was a day coming in which Judah would be saved, Israel would dwell safely, and the people would know Jehovah as "Jehovah our righteousness" (Jeremiah 23:6; 33:16). They should have anticipated this day, in which God Himself would be their righteousness, not the Law. Failing to see something beyond the Law led Israel into a failure of personal and national legalism.

Israel's continued failure is a reminder that living by the Law does not produce God's kind of righteousness. It leads to a hopeless legalism, which cycles in failure.

Israel failed frequently throughout their history. God had given them the Law and they were to obey it rather than doing what each individual saw as right (Deuteronomy 12:1, 8). Yet after Israel had settled in the land promised to their fathers, a new generation arose which had not seen the things which God had previously done for them (Judges 2:10). Eventually, every man was doing what he saw as right (Judges 17:6; 21:25). The sons of Israel did evil in the sight of God (Judges 2:11). Therefore, God judged them by the nations around them. He gave them into the hands of their enemies (cp Judges 2:14-15). God then raised up judges to save them from their enemies (Judges 2:16). Then they would again do evil. This became a cycle recorded in the book of Judges (Judges 2:17-23). It demonstrates failure early in their history.

Eventually, God gave Israel a king, but their cycles of failure continued. Some of their kings did what was right in God's eyes (cp 1 Kings 15:5; 2 Kings 15:3, 34). However, much of their history involved doing evil before Jehovah (2 Kings 13:2).

One king in particular set the stage for Israel's history. Following the death of Solomon, the nation was divided. The ten tribes of the North united under the leadership of Solomon's former servant, Jeroboam (1 Kings 12:20). Jeroboam feared that Israel would return to David because God had commanded His worship and religious service to be done in Jerusalem in the temple, which Solomon had built (1 Kings 12:26-27). Jeroboam built two alternate altars for the ten northern tribes, one on the southern border and one on the northern border (1 Kings 12:28-30). This became a great sin for the people Israel. This fact is repeated many times in the historical accounts of Israel's history under the kings (e.g. 1 Kings 13:34; 14:16; 15:26, 30, 34; 16:2, 13, 19, 26; 21:22; 22:52; 2 Kings 3:3 et al). In the Law God had directed Israel specifically how and where they were to worship and approach Him. Israel broke the Law and sinned!

The southern tribes (identified as Judah) were not immune to failure. Some of their kings also did evil in the eyes of the Lord and the people worshipped idols (2 Kings 8:16-18; 21:1-9). Judah even went without the Law during some of its history until Hilkiah, the high priest found the Law in the temple (2 Kings 22:8ff).

Israel was judged by God in 722 BC. God brought an Assyrian king against the northern tribes. The king took many of them away into captivity (2 Kings 18:9-12). In 586 God brought a Babylonian king against Judah. This king burned the temple and took many away into captivity (2 Kings 25:9-11).

When the temple was dedicated, God promised Israel that if they were scattered among the nations as judgment for their sin and they remembered the Lord and prayed toward the temple, that God would respond (1 Kings 8:46-53). When God judged Judah by the captivity of the nobles in Babylon, Daniel prayed to God and confessed the sin of his nation (Daniel 9:3-5). Daniel recognized that they were under the curse of the Law of Moses because they had transgressed God's law (Daniel 9:10-11). Daniel acknowledged his own nation's failure.*4

Israel's failure culminated in their national rejection of Jesus as their anointed king. He was the Messiah, the Christ, the anointed king. Messiah is an English pronunciation of the Old Testament word for "anointed one". The title "Christ" represents the Greek word Christos, which also means "anointed one." To anoint meant simply to pour something over another, normally "oil". The pouring of oil often symbolized the Holy Spirit's coming upon an individual to empower him for service. The one with the Holy Spirit upon him was an anointed one, a messiah or christ.

When God gave Israel a king, that king was to be specially empowered to serve as their king. Therefore, the kings were anointed. The Holy Spirit came upon them. Israel continued the tradition of anointing kings, whether the Holy Spirit came upon one or not.

Jesus was their anointed one, their Christ, their king. Because they did not submit to God's righteousness, they rejected His Holy One, the King. They cried, "We have no king but Caesar" (John 19:15). This was their final failure under the Law.

Judgment

The judgment on the dispensation of law is two-fold. The judgment first fell upon Christ as He hung on the cross. He was judged on the cross to buy Israel out from under the Law (Galatians 4:5). Christ became a curse for those who were under the Law. God had promised blessings and curses for those under the Law, depending upon their obedience or disobedience. God considered the Law a whole, and if one did not do all that was in the Law, he was cursed (Deuteronomy 27:26; Galatians 3:10). Christ Himself became that kind of curse so that He could buy the Jews out from the curse of the Law (Galatians 3:13). Just as Christ did not know sin but became sin while He hung upon the cross, so He had never been disobedient to the Law but became the curse of the Law while He hung upon the cross (cp 2 Corinthians 5:21). He became a curse by hanging upon a tree, i.e., the cross.

The final judgment on the dispensation of law will take place during the Seventieth Week of Daniel, popularly known as the Tribulation. These seven years are not a different dispensation. They will not be part of the dispensation of grace. These will be the final seven years of the dispensation of law.

Daniel received this revelation in response to his prayer regarding his people's sin and the divine judgment, which they were experiencing (Daniel 9:3-23). Daniel was informed about the length of time until God would restore their nation. God has determined seventy sets of seven (v. 24). The word translated "week" is literally "seven." Israel had seven days in a week, but they also observed years in sets of seven. Every seventh year Israel ceased from their regular farming activities. Every fiftieth year, having completed seven sets of seven years each, Israel observed a year of jubilee. Daniel's revelation regards these sets of seven years. Seventy "sevens" is 490 years.*5

These 490 years were determined for Israel and Jerusalem (Daniel 9:24). God purposed to "finish the transgression, make an end of sins, make a covering for perversities." There is more, but these three are the subject of the judgment on the dispensation of law. A total of 69 sets of these seven years were completed when Messiah (Jesus) was cut off, rejected by the nation (vv. 25-26). One set of seven years remains. That set of seven years begins with a seven year covenant (vv. 26-27).

The final seven years is described in many Old Testament prophecies. Jeremiah called it the "time of Jacob's trouble," or "labor pains" (Jeremiah 30:6-7). He wrote that it will be unprecedented, as did Daniel, and with this Jesus Christ agreed (Daniel 9:12; 12:1; Matthew 24:21). Joel called it "the day of the Lord" and a portion of it, "the great and terrible day of the Lord" (Joel 1:15; 2:1; 2:31) as did Zechariah (Zechariah 14:1). This will be the final judgment on the dispensation of law.

Revelation

The dispensation of human government proved to man that secular government is unable to cause him to live pleasing to God. The dispensation of law revealed that a religious government is also insufficient. The Law was weak because of the flesh, that is, man's perverted nature (Romans 8:3). It was an external set of rules governing the social, political and religious life of Israel, but it could not change the inner man or give him victory over the flesh. The only motivation to overcome the flesh was fear of punishment, and even that became insufficient.

The Law was given to one nation -- Israel. What it said to Israel it said for the sake of all people (Romans 3:19). It addressed Israel, but it shut everyone's mouths, demonstrating worldwide guilt. That was a good thing. This was one of the chief purposes of the Law, to demonstrate that mankind cannot be righteous before God by law. From doing law works, no one would ever be declared righteous before God (Romans 3:20). The Law provided the full experiential knowledge of sin. And this it revealed well through the example of Israel!

God's Grace

The word "grace" does appear through the Old Testament scriptures, which were written for the dispensation of law. It is the word "chen"*6 [hard "ch"]. However, "chen" never represents the concept of grace revealed in the New Testament, namely, that which is undeserved. This Old Testament idea was more closely akin to favor. It could be earned, as seen in many passages. Noah earned favor by being a righteous man as opposed to one involved in the evil pollution with spirit beings (Genesis 6:8). Jacob had favor in the eyes of his son (Genesis 47:29). Moses had found favor in the sight of God by his faithfulness to lead as God had instructed him (Exodus 33:12, 13, 16, 17). Therefore, a consideration of grace under the Law must involve examples beyond the occurrences of the word "chen."

The Hebrew word "chesed,"*7 sometimes translated "loving kindness," comes closer to the New Testament concept of grace in some passages. However, there are passages in which it too is merited. So in Deuteronomy 5:10 we find that God's chesed or loving kindness is "for those who love Him." Again in Deuteronomy 7:9 His loving kindness is "for those who love Him and guard His commandments." Yet the king expressed that his position as king was firm because of Jehovah's kindness to him (Psalm 21:7). Because of God's kindness, men take refuge under the shadow of His wing (Psalm 36:7). There are examples of God's dealings with men that are similar to New Testament grace but not identical. The Israelites' daily lives were governed by law.

The Godhead

All three Persons of the Godhead can be seen in various activities throughout this dispensation. John recorded 24 instances in which Jesus Christ identified Himself as the "I AM." Seven of those occurrences are absolute statements, "I AM" (John 6:20; 8:24, 28, 58; 9:9; 13:19; 18:8). In fact Christ said, "If you believe not that I AM, you will die in your sins" (John 8:24). These statements were His claims to deity. He was identifying Himself as the "I AM" who spoke with Moses from the burning bush (Exodus 3:13-14). The Person of the Godhead Who met with Moses in the bush was God the Son. In this way, He is also identified as the Angel of the Lord *8 who appeared to many during the dispensation of law (Exodus 3:2) He continued to appear to Moses in various ways. He is the Person who was in the cloud and fire, which went before Israel (cp Exodus 13:21). He met with Moses at the entrance to the tent of meeting and spoke with Moses face to face (Exodus 33:7-11).

God the Father also spoke. We find these instances when two distinct Persons are both identified as God. In Isaiah 44:6, Jehovah King of Israel is quoted and also speaks of another, "His redeemer, Jehovah of hosts." The first is the Father and the second the Son, the redeemer. Hosea recorded that Jehovah promised that He would save them by Jehovah their God (Hosea 1:4, 7). Again, the Father can be seen in the context with the Son.

The Spirit was also seen often during this dispensation. He filled men with great skill and craftsmanship for the building of the tabernacle (Exodus 28:3; 31:3). He enabled some individuals to judge on behalf of Israel (Judges 3:10; 6:34). He anointed priests and kings for service to God (Exodus 28:41; 1 Samuel 9:16; 16:3). All of these relationships were an "upon" kind of relationship. Four individuals are described as having a closer relationship to the Holy Spirit (Genesis 41:38; Numbers 27:18; Ezekiel 2:2; Daniel 4:8, 9). However, Christ distinguished the Holy Spirit's Old Testament relationship to men from His present relationship to believers. The Old Testament relationship He described as being "with," *9 in contrast to now being "in" (John 14:17). Therefore, Joseph, Joshua, Ezekiel and Daniel did not have the Holy Spirit in them, but upon them. Because of how each lived his life in relationship to God, the normal "upon" word was not used, but one that indicated greater closeness.*10 The Holy Spirit did not indwell anyone during the dispensation of law. His indwelling relationship is related to the present dispensation and was anticipated for Israel's future kingdom.

The Holy Spirit was not universally given to Israel or to believers. In fact, once He came upon or anointed an individual, He could depart (cp Judges 16:20; 1 Samuel 16:14). He could come and go, as with Ezekiel (Ezekiel 2:2; 3:24). David witnessed Saul's demeanor after the Spirit's departure. When he sinned against God, he feared that the Holy Spirit would be removed from being upon him (Psalm 51:11). No believer in the dispensation of grace should fear this or pray David's prayer, because the Holy Spirit will not be removed from believers today!

Unrighteousness

Unrighteousness is seen in many forms under the dispensation of law. Because God gave Israel commandments which could be broken by disobedience, there was, in addition to sin, transgression. Israel's transgressions were because of sin *11 (Leviticus 16:16, 21). So in addition to sinning, when Israel broke a law they were also transgressing. This produced wrath (Romans 4:15). The Law was given through Moses at Sinai. Prior to this there had been no law of this nature (Romans 5:13). What we would identify as sin, existed in the world prior to the Law, but without an objective standard, there was no way to keep a tally.

For the 2,500 years prior to Sinai, God proved that men die, face judgment and are fallen because of their united sin with Adam (Romans 5:12). Men do not individually fall, nor are they condemned because of their individual sins. They are condemned because of one sin (Romans 5:16). They do acts of sin because they are innately sinful. This is one of the reasons for which the Law was given, to demonstrate the sinfulness of sin (Romans 7:13; 3:20). The Law did this well, and therefore it was indeed good.*12

The word "iniquity" is an ambiguous term. In the Authorized Version it is used to translate seven different Hebrew Words. For this reason, it is not a helpful term for understanding unrighteousness under the Law. The word for iniquity which is most frequently used [220 occurrences] is the Hebrew [awen] and refers to a perverted or bent nature. It is similar in emphasis to the New Testament use of "flesh" and "the sin" to describe the fallen nature of man. It was in this perverse state that David was brought forth (Psalm 51:5). God forgives perversity along with sin and transgression. He also visits the perversity of the fathers on their children (Exodus 34:7).

Misunderstandings Concerning the Law.

It is at this point that many believers struggle with dispensationalism. They have been taught or led to believe that the Law is a perfect guide for daily righteousness and one's relationship with God. However, the Scriptures are very plain regarding the purpose of the Law and its limitations.

First, the Law was not given to make people righteous before God (Romans 3:20). This is true of both initial and present tense salvation (i.e. daily living). Paul stated this twice in Galatians (2:16; 3:11). In 3:11, Paul wrote about daily living, "the righteous one lives from his faith." Today, one either lives physically by continuing in all the things written in the Law, (in this case he would not be righteous before God (3:10-11)), or on the other hand, he could live by faith (3:11). The righteous one is to go on living by faith, and the Law is not from faith (3:12).

The second issue follows the first, in that the Law is not from faith. The grace believer walks by faith not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7). The dispensation of grace is in faith (1 Timothy 1:4). It took no faith to live by the Law, which used fear to motivate people to obedience. There are examples of faith under the Law, but not in response to the Law. By faith, Jericho's wall fell (Hebrews 11:30). Several individuals are mentioned in Hebrews 11:32ff who acted in faith. This, however, was not their law way of life.

The third issue is that the Law was a ministry of condemnation (2 Corinthians 3:9). Due to his flesh, the individual was unable to keep the Law. This meant that he came under the condemning penalty of the Law (Romans 2:1). The Law was added for the sake of transgression (Galatians 3:19). This doesn't make the Law evil. Paul asked, "Therefore, did that which is good to me become death?" (Romans 7:13). He answered, "Let it not come to be! But the sin, so that sin may be plainly visible, through the thing that was good to me, produced death, so that the sin might become according to excess, sinful through the commandment." This was what the Law was really about! It was intended to make the principle of sin plainly evident to mankind. This principle of sin indwells man (vv. 17, 20). In the New Testament it is called "the flesh" or "the sin nature." It is that fallen, bent nature of man, which is not subject to God in action, plan or attitude (Galatians 5:19-21; Romans 8:7). This bent principle is plainly seen when one fails to live by the Law.

In this way, the Law was holy and "the commandment holy, righteous, and good." (Romans 7:12). By endowing these three terms with overstated definitions, some have thought Paul's statement necessitated the Law's perpetual force. The Law was holy because it was given from God only to Israel. It was set apart for this purpose and it set Israel apart. More specifically, the commandment was holy in this same way. The commandment was also righteous. It required a human righteousness. The righteousness which comes from the Law is distinguished from the righteousness from God, which is from faith (Romans 10:3; Philippians 3:9). However, it was still righteous. The commandment was also good. The word "good" does not describe morality, but a sense of contentment, satisfaction or well-being. Israelites could obey the commandment and enjoy the blessings God had for them. They could also have an inner satisfaction from being obedient. Paul also stated that the law is spiritual, by which he meant that it appealed to one's spirit, his rationale. It did not appeal to one's emotions, his soul.

If there was a law that could have given life, Paul concluded that it would have been this law (Galatians 3:21-22). However, there is no law that can cause a man to be righteous before God. The Law was rather given to show man's need, not to give life. That was never its intent.

Part of God's purpose in the dispensation of law was to demonstrate man's inability to live righteously before God, even when God set the standard. However, His purpose went beyond this. He also demonstrated that law is not a sufficient motivation to be righteous. The promise of blessings for obedience and of curses or judgment for disobedience did not motivate Israel to be righteous. It didn't then, and for those who still pursue the Mosaic Law it is still insufficient. Like the Jews, they are ignorant of God's kind of righteousness, and are attempting to establish their own righteousness (Romans 10:3). Thank God for His righteousness to us in Christ.
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Chapter 16
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The Dispensation of Grace

When they arrived in Jerusalem some of the believing Pharisees also said it was necessary that Paul and Barnabas circumcise these Gentiles and charge them to keep the law of Moses (Acts 15:5). This comment is helpful for us to understand the matter. These Pharisees were believers. Therefore, we know that they were not talking about how one is saved initially or how one enters into salvation. They were debating about how the Gentile believers should live. *1 The matter was not settled immediately. Luke wrote that much debate took place regarding this matter (Acts 15:7). This is not surprising, as the debate still rages; are believers to live by law or by another principle, namely grace?

Peter recommended that they not place this law of Moses on the neck of the disciples (Acts 15:10). Peter considered them disciples and therefore accepted them as believers. So Peter did not consider the issue to be one of how to get saved initially, but of how they were to live. James also accepted them as believers, as those "Gentiles turning to God" (Acts 15:19). It was decided not to give them any other requirements, but only to stay away from pollution related to idols, from sexual immorality, and from things strangled and from blood (Acts 15:20). If they had been determining what these Gentiles had to do to enter into salvation, this was a strange conclusion. Yet this was not their question. They were attempting to decide how these Gentile believers should live. Their meeting was about Paul's early teaching about the dispensation of grace.

The dispensation of grace is about us. This is today! This is where we live. It is the sixth dispensation. It began on the day of Pentecost and continues to the present and will continue until Jesus Christ comes to take us out of this world. It is about how we live.

Steward

Paul was the steward of this dispensation. God gave the rule of life to Paul for the benefit of the Church. Paul himself wrote that the grace from God was given to him for us (Ephesians 3:2). God made Paul responsible for explaining in detail how we are to live. Now we know that Paul is not the only New Testament writer. John, Peter, James and Jude also wrote letters for grace believers. These letters add depth to our rule of life, but none alter the rule of life. They may explain more fully the nature of grace. Peter wrote to explain the true grace of God and to charge believers to stand in that grace (1 Peter 5:12). Peter demonstrated that God's grace doesn't mean that our lives will be easy or free of persecution. This added depth to what God revealed through Paul. Like the Law, Moses was the steward and through Him God gave the Law, but many others added information necessary as time passed. Paul was our steward.

Household

The household is the body of Christ. That's all of us believers from the day of Pentecost until Christ comes for us. It is crucial that we identify this body so we can understand the dispensation of grace. This dispensation of grace was given for the Ephesian believers; however, not them exclusively (Ephesians 3:2). The Ephesian letter was addressed to the saints in Ephesus (Ephesians 1:1). They were part of the body of Christ, which is the Church (Ephesians 1:22-23). When Paul wrote, some of the Christians thought that the Jews who were being saved were part of one body and the Gentiles who were being saved were part of a different body. Paul explained that there is one body (2:16; 3:6; 4:4), not a Jewish body and a Gentile body. The Ephesians were part of this body of Christ (Ephesians 5:30).

Like all believers, they entered this body through a work of the Holy Spirit called "baptism" (1 Corinthians 12:13). In modern English we could explain this kind of baptism as the act of submersing or placing a believer into the body of Christ. It involves no water. Christ distinguished this baptism by the Spirit from the baptism by means of water (Acts 1:5).*2 Paul used the same expression, "by the Spirit", which Jesus Christ used. Jesus Christ informed His disciples that the Spirit would carry out this baptism in "not many days."*3 Since the Spirit would do this in a few days, He wasn't doing it at that time. This means that He wasn't placing anyone into the body of Christ prior to His arrival on Pentecost. Therefore, only those believers who have lived since Pentecost have been placed into the body of Christ.

When the Body is considered in connection to its head, Jesus Christ, the whole is one new man (Ephesians 2:15). Christ created one new man in Himself from the two: Jews and Gentiles. "New" describes a new quality, not simply freshness.*4 This new man didn't exist before the Spirit started putting people into Christ. It is something entirely new and distinct from that which had previously existed. What had previously existed was Israel, from which Gentiles were alienated (Ephesians 2:11-12). God did not simply add Gentiles to the Jews. He placed believers, whether Gentiles or Jews, together into something completely new -- the body of Christ. He formed this New Man!

We already saw that the Tribulation is the end of the dispensation of law. In that time, Jews and Gentiles will again be distinguished. The 144,000 sealed of Israel are distinct from the mass of Gentiles who will believe (Revelation 7:4-9). The Gentiles, seen as sheep and goats, are distinct from the "least of these my brothers" (Matthew 25:32, 40). The unique nature of the Church does not fit that circumstance so, those believers are not part of the Church. Therefore, the Church cannot exist during that Tribulation.

Let's put this information together. We know that the household for the dispensation of grace is the body of Christ. We know that the body of Christ is that group of believers who have lived since Pentecost, when the Spirit started putting people into Christ. We also know that the body of Christ can't be part of the future Tribulation period, when different groups of believers will be different. Therefore, as we already said, the Church exists on earth from Pentecost until the time Christ snatches it out of the world. That means that grace operates as a way of life only during this period of time.

Direction -- Rule of Life

Grace is the rule of life for the body of Christ (Ephesians 3:2). We have previously seen that all believers throughout time have been saved by grace through faith. The rule of life is not how people come to initial salvation. It describes how those who have already been saved by grace through faith are to live. We've been saved in the past by grace, as have all believers, but we also live our daily lives by grace. In fact, our salvation will be completed by grace.

Grace is an attitude of God. It is His attitude by which He acts or provides for those who are not deserving of His action or provision. At some point in your life, if you are a believer, you personally believed that Jesus Christ died on the cross as your substitute for your sins. You personally believed that having been buried, He then rose again and is alive (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). You knew that there was nothing else which you could do and nothing else which God asked of you. You knew that God would save you in response to your faith in what He has done for you. You knew your sins would be forgiven and God would give you eternal life. When you believed that, the Spirit placed you into the body of Christ. We were undeserving of this salvation and so it is by God's grace.

Though we were undeserving, in Christ God has provided us all spiritual blessings (Ephesians 1:3). Blessing means to say something good. God has not said some or a few things about us but He has said all good things about us in the heavens in Christ. These blessings or "good words" are spiritual, that is, they relate to the spirit and are not material provisions. In Ephesians 1:4, Paul stated two of these blessings or good things which God says about the believer in Christ. God chose the believer to be holy or set apart to Him in Christ. God chose him to be blameless before Him in Christ. Do you see? Those are blessings or good words. The believer may not be holy here on earth. He may not act holy every day. One might be able to blame him for things here. But in Christ, God has said these good things about him. It's grace because it isn't based upon how he performs. It is based solely on the Person and character of the Savior! That's grace!

Consider the following as examples of these blessings, these good things, which God says about us. He says that we died with Christ, specifically to the sin nature (Galatians 2:20; Romans 6:8, 11; Colossians 3:3). Christ was the one who suffered and died, but God counts that work to us! God says we are risen and living ones to Him in Christ Jesus (Romans 6:11; Colossians 3:1; Ephesians 2:5-6). Christ is the one Who, having died, rose again; yet God counts that to us. God says we are seated with Christ in the heavens (Ephesians 2:6). Christ is the one Who, having made a cleansing for our sins and endured the cross, sat down at the Father's right hand (Hebrews 1:3; 12:2). Yet God says we are seated there too. God says that we are His kind of righteousness in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:21). Christ is the Righteous One (Acts 3:14), yet God counts us to be that kind of righteousness in Him. The believer has been set apart to God in Christ (1 Corinthians 1:2). The Son set Himself apart (John 17:19), but God counts this to be true of the believer in Christ. In Christ the believer is not condemned (Romans 8:1). The believer, with all men, was condemned, (Romans 5:18) yet that condemnation fell upon Christ (cp Matthew 20:18; 27:3) and so the believer is now free of that condemnation. Each of these illustrates how God says something good about the believer in Christ. Because the believer does not deserve any of these, they are by God's grace in Christ.

God has provided the believer with eternal life (1 John 5:11). Eternal life is the kind of life God has. The believer has it because the Son is in the believer. This is grace consisting of life (1 Peter 3:7). This is God's grace with the believer's spirit (Galatians 6:18; Philemon 25). This life is the basis of the believer experientially knowing the Father and Son (John 17:3). Eternal life is the reason that grace can reign through righteousness (Romans 5:21). The believer is undeserving to have this kind of life, that is why it is grace. Since it is by God's grace, the life cannot be lost or forfeited.

These provisions by God's grace are the basis of the believer's rule of life. One must understand at least some of these provisions in order to live by grace. The believer is not under law but under grace (Romans 6:14). This does not mean that the believer is free to do whatever he pleases. That is a perversion of grace (Jude 4). Rather, the believer is not to be motivated by law and fear of punishment. He is to be motivated by God's provisions from grace.

God's gracious provisions encourage the believer to live worthy of that gracious calling in Christ (Ephesians 4:1). The idea of worthy is to be balanced, as one might use scales to weigh an object to determine its worth. Living worthy is living in a manner which is balanced or consistent with the gracious provisions from God. There is a way of life which is worthy of that grace, and a way of life which is not worthy. Grace governs our lives not by making our future contingent upon one's performance, but by motivating him to align his performance with his gracious and secure salvation: past, present and future.

Paul's own life provides an example of living by grace. Paul was graciously given the gift of apostle (1 Corinthians 15:9, 10). This grace was his whether he used it or not. Paul chose not to let that grace be in vain. He labored, or more accurately, allowed the grace to labor in him, so that his life was consistent with or worthy of God's provisions. He recognized what God had given him and chose to live in a manner consistent with that grace.

God's grace assures the believer that he always has access to God at the throne of grace (Hebrews 4:16). God provides this access through the believer's position in Christ (Ephesians 3:12). Since it is based upon God's grace and Christ's merits, it is always available. The believer cannot make himself worthy to approach the throne, because it is not based upon his works, but upon God's grace. This is a contrast to life under the Law, in which the Israelites had to meet many conditions to be fit to approach the tabernacle or temple. This is grace today.

God has ensphered the believer in grace in Christ (Romans 5:2; 2 Timothy 2:1). The believer is to access that grace, use that grace, be strengthened by that grace, and grow by that grace (2 Peter 3:18). One must mentally relate to his standing in this grace in order to live by grace. The believer must know God's provisions.

God, by His grace, trains or raises the believer as a child (Titus 2:11-13). God's grace has provided so much to the believer that it becomes the basis of training the believer to see that, which is consistent with the provisions of grace and that which is inconsistent. Ungodliness and worldly lusts are inconsistent with the provisions God has given by grace to the believer. Sensibleness, righteousness, godliness, and an eager awaiting of our Lord's appearing are consistent with that grace. This was Paul's point in Romans 6:14. Having victory over the sin nature is consistent with grace, as opposed to Law, because by grace God counts the believer to have already died with Christ to the sin nature (Romans 6:1-3). Therefore, victory is consistent and obeying the sin nature is inconsistent. This is how grace becomes the believer's rule of life.

Paul's life illustrates how this grace operated. Paul considered himself unworthy to be called an apostle (1 Corinthians 15:8-9). Each individual is given a gift as part of his position in the body of Christ. That gift is a thing of grace, it is not earned or deserved. By the grace of God, Paul was made an apostle (v. 10). Paul lived balanced to that grace. The grace accomplished God's purpose in his life. Paul labored hard so that this grace accomplished what God intended it to do (v. 10). Paul corrected his comment, "I labored" and clarified "not I, but the grace of God, which is with me." Paul realized that it was the benefits of God's grace which made it possible for him to live consistent with his gracious position as an apostle. Paul lived by grace.

Test

The New Testament letters describe many responsibilities of the grace believer. The believer is to live righteously and godly. He is to mature. He is to do priestly service, offering spiritual sacrifices. Yet above all these there is a command, which was given by Christ. Without attempting to be too simplistic, many of these responsibilities are related to and support this command.

This one new commandment was given the night Christ was betrayed, in anticipation of a new thing beginning (John 13:34-35). It is a new kind of commandment. It is different from any commandment which had ever been given. It is the command to love other believers in the same manner which Christ had loved the believer. Under the Law the best one could hope for was to love God with everything he had (cp Matthew 22:36-40). That kind of love was measured by the individual believer's own ability. The measure of the new commandment is Christ's kind of love. Between these two kinds of love is a vast difference.

Christ exemplified this kind of love. Ultimately, this kind of love was shown when he laid down His life in our place and died for our sins (cf 1 John 3:16). He also exemplified this kind of love before he announced the new commandment. In the room in which He met with His disciples, He removed His outer garment and wrapped a towel about Himself (John 13:4). With a basin of water, He then went about and washed the feet of the disciples (John 13:5). He did this as an example of service (John 13:13-15). He wasn't telling them to literally wash feet (though there might be appropriate times for that act). He was giving them an example of slave service. They were to look at one another first and then serve one another as slaves. This would be the kind of love they were to have. Paul referred to this in Philippians 2. In verse 5, Paul wrote the Philippians to have the same kind of attitude*5 which Christ had. He was God of all. Being equal with God was not something which He had to grab, because it was His by nature. Yet despite this fact, He became a man. He became a slave, and as a slave He was obedient even to the point of dying a humiliating cross kind of death (Philippians 2:6-8). He is the measure and example of this much greater kind of love and the commandment to love like this.

Having been graced by God in Christ and given other provisions from God's grace such as eternal life, God has made it possible for the believer to love with this kind of love. This kind of love is part of the fruit from the Spirit (Galatians 5:22). There is a connection between life and love. The believer knows he has passed out of death into life (eternal life) because he loves his brother (1 John 3:14). The one who doesn't love his brother demonstrates that he is not yet at ease or comfortable in life, but is still comfortable in death. Therefore, the believer is to relate to God's grace to him in such a way that he is comfortable in life and loves his brother in a manner similar to His Savior's love for him.

Paul referred to this commandment as the Law of the Christ; one loves by bearing burdens (Galatians 6:2). Paul desired that the Ephesians experientially know this love for the Christ (Ephesians 3:19). The believer has been liberated by this grace in Christ, but he is not to use this liberty as a basis for obeying the flesh, but by love is to serve other believers (Galatians 5:13). The word "serve" literally means to serve as a slave, the very idea which Christ showed His disciples by washing their feet. Paul told Timothy to charge the other believers not to give their attention to matters of the law, but to the dispensation, which is in faith (1 Timothy 1:3-4, more on this in a moment). The end of this charge is love out of a clean heart (v. 5).

Paul did not alter the dispensational rule in 1 Timothy 1:4 with the word, "the dispensation from God the one in faith" *6 In Romans 4:16, Paul stated the principle that "it is of faith, in order that it might be of grace." He was writing about the provision of the covenant promise to Abraham. The principle to which he refers agrees that faith and grace operate in tandem. The believer accesses the grace in which he stands by faith (Romans 5:2). The command to love is also tied to faith. Faith operates by means of love, that is, one is motivated by love to act in faith for the best of others. The rule is grace, which operates together with faith and love.

Failure

Since the single commandment is to love as Christ loved, this is the failure in the dispensation of grace. This was seen as early as 50 AD when James wrote, "He that is fond of the world constitutes himself an enemy of God" (James 4:4). After about 60 years of the Church's history had passed, Christ addressed the church in Ephesus and stated that while they had some very good qualities, they had left their first love (Revelation 2:4). Christ told them to do the first works (v. 5). What were the first works? Among them is labor, which comes from love (1 Thessalonians 1:3). The Ephesian church was the same church for which Paul desired that Christ might settle down at home in love (Ephesians 3:17). Paul was concerned that the Ephesian saints needed to mimic their Father by loving one another (Ephesians 5:1, 2). This was the same church which Timothy was to charge to leave the Law alone and operate by faith, culminating in love (1 Timothy 1:3-5). At the time Paul wrote Timothy, some were already turning away from a life of faith and love, desiring to be law-teachers (vv. 6-7). Teaching law was not consistent with the Christ's kind of love. The notable failure of the Church is to love one another as Christ has loved them.

Rather than obeying this command, the Church has directed its love to things: things which appeal to the eyes, which appeal to the flesh, and things which pertain to the empty boast of this earthly life (1 John 2:15, 16). Believers misdirect this love at such things, and this love degenerates into a fondness for money and things (1 Timothy 6:10; James 4:4-5). Believers fail to see the world as an enemy. Rather, it has been used as the model for ministry and new trends, as well as a source of entertainment and distraction. The Church needs to heed John's words that the world listens to the false teachers, because the false teachers are part of the world. Adopting their methods will not work for the Church because the Church isn't part of the world. The Church's misdirected love has blurred this important distinction.

The believer loves the Father by loving other believers (1 John 4:20-21). When a believer misdirects his love at the world system and its things, he does not love other believers. He withholds from his fellow believer the things necessary for life, which God intends for him to share with other believers (1 John 3:17-18). His love and attention is directed at the system and its things; as a result, he has no love for the saints.

Paul warned Timothy that harsh times were ahead, in which people would be fond of themselves and of money (2 Timothy 3:1-2). Such people wouldn't even have a human love for their own families (v. 3). *7 He had previously warned Timothy of false teachers that would not give their attention to healthy doctrine (1 Timothy 6:3). These would rather suppose godliness to be gain or a means of gain (v. 5). Again, their focus is not on love of other believers but their own selves. In both letters this was in contrast to Paul's own example of love, which Timothy was to pursue (1 Timothy 4:12; 6:11; 2 Timothy 2:22; 3:10).

Peter and Jude warned of coming false teachers. Jude described them as spots or hidden rocks in their love feasts (v. 12). Both Jude and Peter were concerned about the negative impact these false teachers would have upon the churches. Jude instructed the believers to keep themselves in the Love of God (v. 21). To succumb to the influence of the false teachers would move them away from genuine grace (cf v. 4) and away from using love for the saints.

The letters to the seven churches in Revelation 2-3 also indicate the failure of the Church. Only two of those seven letters include only commendation and no criticisms. The last of the seven churches addressed was Laodecia, the people's church. It had degenerated into a church in name only, with Christ outside knocking on the door waiting for even one to ask Him into the church (Revelation 3:14, 20). Surrounded by its accumulated material wealth, this church failed to see her true miserable condition. Such is the state of many churches today.

Judgment

God is governing the daily lives of believers in the body of Christ by His grace. Grace not only began salvation, but is continuing that salvation and will finish this salvation. This fact must be firmly remembered, because the judgment on the dispensation of grace is also gracious in character. God judges the household by means of the Rapture. God snatches the Church out of this world. Like the Ephesian church, the whole Church will lose her opportunity to be a lamp stand for God, a testimony concerning Christ. This is her judgment.

This judgment is also gracious. Peter wrote that when Christ comes for us, He will bring grace (1 Peter 1:13). The Rapture is not something which believers should dread, but anticipate. Not only is it a judgment upon the household of this present dispensation, but it is the means by which Christ presents His bride to Himself and prepares her to be presented blameless before the Father (Ephesians 5:25-27, 31-32; 1 Thessalonians 3:13).

Related to the Rapture is the judgment seat of Christ. God condemned and dealt with the sin nature through the work of the Son (Romans 6:10; 8:3). Christ bore the judgment on the cross so that the believer is free from judgment (Romans 5:18). Christ stated that those who believe have passed out of death into life and will never come into judgment (John 5:24). His sins have been forgiven or sent away. Therefore the believer's works are judged at the judgment seat,*8 not his sins.

The works are those activities which God has given to believers to accomplish during this dispensation. The believer was saved by grace, and in the body of Christ he was created unto good works, which God previously prepared for him (Ephesians 2:8-10). How and whether he accomplished those works is determined at the judgment seat. His proper motivation in doing those works is evaluated. His understanding of what God revealed for him to do is evaluated. This judgment seat does not determine whether one gets into heaven or whether one should be punished. This judgment seat determines who the winners are. Individuals are winners based on how they accomplished God's revealed will.

Some believers don't accomplish the works God gave them to do. Timothy was given the gift of evangelist (2 Timothy 1:6; 4:5). However, Timothy was intimidated by unbelievers in Ephesus and had stopped doing his work (2 Timothy 1:7-8). He was even being tempted to be ashamed of the gospel. Some believers engage in religious works, which God has not prepared for them. Such works might be acceptable in Christendom but were never planned by God. In Corinth certain believers attempted to accomplish God's purpose by reliance upon earthly power, wisdom and scholarship (1 Corinthians 1:17-21). These believers also divided in earthly loyalty to Paul or Apollos (1 Corinthians 3:4-6).

The Corinthian problem is the background on which Paul compared our works to gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, and stubble (1 Corinthians 3:12). Gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay and stubble describe what one has built upon the foundation. They are not good works versus sin. They are works done properly and works done improperly. The works that are not worth awarding are burnt. In this way, the believer is saved. The English "yet he is saved, so as by fire" does not mean "he barely makes it." Paul meant that this is a final part of our salvation. God burns away the worthless works so that we take nothing worthless with us. It is removed, and in this way, we will be saved.

The judgment seat is also mentioned in the context of permissible actions, which can negatively affect other believers (Romans 14:12). One should be more concerned about a brother's spiritual well-being than his right to eat a certain food or liberty from observing certain days. One's motive and concern for other believers is evaluated there, not his sin. He will give a general word concerning himself. He does not have to answer for others and should therefore avoid judging or despising believers who operate differently in the areas in which God hasn't given a specific response. Finally, 2 Corinthians 5:10 addresses the judgment seat, the bema. Paul anticipated the Rapture (vv. 1-8) and desired to be found well-pleasing to God whether he was alive or dead (v. 9). The believer will receive the things done in his body whether they made for contentment or lack of character*9 (v. 10). He will receive a crown (crowns) or he will receive nothing. To stand before that seat and be awarded was Paul's desire.

The results of the bema are crowns, praises from God, or the lack of the same. Paul wrote that each one will receive praise from God when his works are evaluated by God (1 Corinthians 4:1-5). That each one's praise will come from God is a thing of grace. That God should praise any believer is a gracious thing. The believer is then brought before the Father, blameless (1 Thessalonians 3:13). Thus, the dispensation of grace is brought to its end by God's grace, just as it began and continues.

Some may question how the Rapture can be the judgment on the dispensation of grace. It is a judgment because it affects the household. The Tribulation does not affect the household, because the body of Christ is caught out of the earth before the Tribulation. The Rapture is like the flood of Noah's day. It is both a judgment and a means of deliverance. Since this whole rule of life has been grace, it is only fitting that its judgment will be gracious.

In Romans 11, Paul describes the location of God's work as an olive tree. God's work had focused on Israel for 2,000 years. When Israel rejected her king, God removed the natural branches from the olive tree. He removed them because of their unbelief (vv. 19-20). He did not remove all the natural branches because some Israelites are believers and therefore a part of God's work today. Writing to the Gentile element of the body, Paul was concerned that they would be arrogant against the Jews (v. 18), not knowing that some of Israel is blind, but not all. These Gentiles also needed to know that God will resume His work with Israel (vv. 25-27). He warned them that they too could be broken out (v. 21). When Christ snatches His Church out of the earth, she will be removed from the place of God's work on this earth.

Revelation

Though God has insphered the believer in grace in Christ, though God has provided him the benefits of the new birth by grace, and though He will complete the believer's salvation by grace, most believers fail to live up to this grace. Many of the errors taught concerning the Christian life are misapplications of truth from other dispensations. From Innocence, it is taught that the believer is innocent again or can potentially be cleansed now of his fallen sin nature. From Conscience believers are taught to let their conscience be their guide, rather than the Holy Spirit. From Human Government, believers are taught that government can accomplish God's ends and bring in righteousness. From Promise, believers are taught to live by God's covenant promises to Abraham. From Law, believers are taught to keep the Law. From the Fullness of Times, believers are taught to live by the legal kingdom principles. These and various combinations of these are all errors, which lead away from God's grace.

The result is that even with the tremendous undeserved blessings, which the believer cannot earn nor lose, believers would rather attempt to live by other means. Believers attempt to accomplish God's purposes without God's provided means and so they fail. Sometimes believers even fail to realize God's primary purpose. Remember, Christ gave us a new commandment. We are to love other believers as He loved us. Yet many believers are misdirecting that love. Whether it is how one accomplishes God's purposes, or what those purposes are, believers continue to err.

In contrast, the believer's labor in the Lord is not in vain (1 Corinthians 15:58). Three Greek words can be translated "vain" or "empty." Eike is empty of purpose; kenos empty of content; mataios empty of result. Paul used kenos here. The believer may have the right purpose and/or a good result. Neither of these are as important to God as the content or motive. One's motive is largely related to how well he relates to God's grace in his position in Christ. This is why Paul wrote, "your labor in the Lord." When one accomplishes the works God has prepared for him, he is to be thinking about who he is in the Lord, his real master.

God's Grace

Because grace is the very nature of this dispensation, this has already been discussed.

The Godhead

Each member of the Godhead has very special relationships to believers in this present time. Each member of the Trinity is in the grace believer, and the believer is in each member of the Godhead. The believer's position in the members of the Godhead may be related to the present dispensation. Christ's indwelling results in eternal life (see below) and this is connected with the present age (Mark 10:30). This will be addressed in a coming chapter. To live out the eternal life which one has in the present age, one must live by the present rule of life (dispensation), which is grace.

The Father is in the grace believer (Ephesians 4:6). *10 His indwelling results in His seed being in the believer (1 John 3:9). This makes the believer a real child of God, born from the Father (1 John 3:1; 5:1). The Father's indwelling also gives the believer the potential to share in common in the kind of nature which God has (2 Peter 1:4). This is the Father's presence with the believer.

The Son indwells the believer (Romans 8:10). His indwelling provides the believer with eternal life (1 John 5:11-12). Because He is joined to [sumbibasei] the believer, the believer has His kind of mind (1 Corinthians 2:16;*11 6:17). This provides the ability to think some of God's thoughts.

The Spirit indwells the believer (Romans 8:9). His indwelling provides the believer several benefits. He makes it possible for the believer to have the Fruit from the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). He is the anointing, teaching the believer God's revealed truth (2 Corinthians 1:21-22; 1 John 2:27). He is the down payment to guarantee that the believer will receive everything God has promised (Ephesians 1:13-14). As the down payment He is the first fruits, providing the believer a sample of his whole future salvation (Romans 8:23). He does this by providing the believer the opportunity to live that future salvation.

The believer has a position in each member of the Godhead. A position is an imputed or God-credited standing. It is a standing in the mind of God. We just saw that each Person of the Godhead indwells the believer. That is real. The Persons of the Godhead are present everywhere, and this allows them to specially indwell believers. The believer's position is different. The believer can only be in one place at a time, so God, by grace, says good things about the believer as He credits or counts the believer to be in Christ (Ephesians 1:3, 6).

The believer is in Christ (1 Corinthians 1:30). In this position, the character and work of Christ are graciously credited to the believer by the Father. The believer is counted to have died, been buried and raised with Christ (Romans 6:3, 4; Colossians 2:12). The idea of the believer being in Christ is found in the New Testament more than a hundred times. It is an immensely important part of our salvation. This gracious position is the basis of the present dispensation of grace.

The believer is counted to be in the Father (1 Thessalonians 1:1; 2 Thessalonians 1:1). In this position, he is counted to have the oneness among believers which the Father and Son share (John 17:21). In the Father, the believer's life is hid with Christ (Colossians 3:3).

The believer is also counted to be in the Spirit (Romans 8:9). This position involves a way of thinking, a frame of mind regarding the believer's position in Christ (Romans 8:5-8). As a result the believer is logically counted by God to be in all three Persons of the Godhead. Truly this reflects God's grace.

Unrighteousness

Today, the believer has three spiritual enemies: the flesh, Satan, and the world. These three are distinct. The Scriptures reveal that each attacks with different lusts. The Scriptures also reveal that the believer defends himself against each in a different manner. When the believer succumbs to an attack from one of these enemies, he is acting or thinking unrighteously. When a temptation is fulfilled it culminates in sin (James 1:12-15). God has graciously provided a means of dealing with each enemy so that the believer might enjoy the salvation which God has provided.

New Things in this Present Dispensation

These studies on the dispensations have also been studies regarding changes in God's program. Changes imply that things are different. Changes imply new things. New things and the idea of newness is an important concept in the dispensation of grace. God specifically calls some things new and others are new simply by contrast to what has gone before. Most of these new things are new with respect to the Law, which had been in effect 1,500 years prior to the dispensation of grace. Many of these things are taken for granted at present, 2,000 years after the inception of this dispensation. These new things were quite radical to those who had been accustomed to the way of life under the Law.

Two words are used in the New Testament to express newness. Kainos expresses newness of quality or a new kind of thing. Neos expresses newness as freshness, young, the same as what has been before but more recent. Four things are described by kainos.

1. The New Covenant -- 1 Corinthians 11:25; 2 Corinthians 3:6; Hebrews 9:15. The last two passages do not have the definite article "the". This covenant is a new kind of covenant. There had never been a covenant like it. This covenant involves Christ the shepherd sharing His life with the sheep (cp Hebrews 13:20; John 10:10-11, 15). This covenant is referred to by Christ when He inaugurated Communion [the Lordian Table]. He did not explain it. It is the Apostle Paul who explains the significance of this new kind of covenant.

2. The New Commandment -- John 13:34; 1 John 2:7, 8; 2 John 5. This commandment was different than any prior commandment. The measure of this love for other believers was Christ's love for them. The highest statement of the prior commandment was measured by one's self, not Christ. One loved God with all that was his own. One loved others as he loved himself. The difference between the two standards for love is infinite.

3. The New Man -- Ephesians 2:15; 4:24. This new man is created from all believers in the dispensation of grace without regard to previous race, religious status, sex, or social status (Galatians 3:28). It is called "The Christ," for Jesus Christ Himself is the head of this new man and gives it His character.

4. The New Creation -- 2 Corinthians 5:17; Galatians 6:15. This is nothing more than the new man viewed as a creation. It exists in Christ and is, therefore, not the result of regeneration. In the new creation, the old things have gone and new things have come. The old things were how we identified others prior to salvation, "according to the flesh" (2 Corinthians 5:16). Now, the believer knows his fellow believers as those who are part of the new creation. He does not know them according to the flesh, that is, by earthly traits.

In Colossians 3:10, Paul used the word neos for the "new man." Neos means new or fresh. He does not use kainos for he is considering the believer's repeated act of putting on the new man, this outer garment Who is Christ. Each time it is a fresh experience, but it is not the first of its kind. He also refers to the new covenant in this way in Hebrews 12:24.

Other things are new because of their contrast to what has been. The word "new" is not used to describe them, yet they are new. They are new because they involve situations which had not previously existed.

1. A New Day -- "the Lordian Day" -- Revelation 1:10; Acts 4:8-12; Psalm 118:22-24. This new day celebrates the resurrection of Christ. It is the day in which the rejected stone was made the head of the corner. For the believer today, no command is given regarding this day or any day. This new day is not a Christian sabbath. It is a day in which believers gather as they are able. It is a day in which believers remind themselves of the resurrection of their Lord. We observe it as the early church did. It is the day in which they break bread. No specific day of the week is designated as a Christian sabbath. Every day or moment in which the believer ceases to exert his own strength, or ceases his attempts to keep the Law and rests in Christ's finished work, that day becomes his sabbath (Hebrews 4:9-11). In fact, sabbath keepers haven't rested from their works, but are still attempting to be acceptable to approach God.

2. A New Approach in Asking Today, the believer can ask "in the name [character] of Christ" (John 14:13, 14; 16:24-28). Christ stated plainly that the disciples had not previously asked in this manner. The grace believer communicates with God in his position in Christ, something which did not exist prior to Pentecost.

3. A New Position -- We are part of the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:12, 13). We are in Christ (John 14:20; Galatians 3:27). We are in the Father (Colossians 3:3; 1 Thessalonians 1:1; 1 John 2:24). We are in the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:9).

4. New Possessions -- We are citizens of heavens (Philippians 3:20). We are heirs of God and joint-heirs of Christ (Romans 8:17). We will rule with Christ (2 Timothy 2:12; Revelation 2:26-27). We will share a quality of Christ's glory (John 17:22, 24; Romans 8:17). We possess life and death (1 Corinthians 3:22).

5. New Relationship to the Godhead -- The Father indwells us, making us His children (2 Peter 1:4; 1 John 3:9, 10; 2 Corinthians 6:16-18; 2 John 9). The Son indwells us and gives us eternal life (1 John 5:11, 12; Colossians 1:27). The Spirit indwells us (Ephesians 4:30; John 14:17).

6. A New Enabling -- We can walk by the Spirit (Galatians 5:16, 25). We can be filled by the Spirit (Ephesians 5:18). We can be empowered by the Spirit in the inner man (Ephesians 3:16).

7. A New Teaching -- We are to "hold fast to the practical doctrine ... that you may exhort and refute by a healthy doctrine, which is for faith" (Titus 1:9; 2:11, 12). The early church practiced "the apostles' practical doctrine" (Acts 2:42; John 14:26). This new teaching includes the several mysteries revealed through the apostle Paul. Recall that mysteries are truths which were previously unrevealed but now are made plainly known.

8. A New Object of Faith -- We are now to believe in Christ (Galatians 3:22, 23). In 1 Peter 1:19-21, we find that while God the Father foreknew Him as a lamb slain, that fact has only been "made plainly visible in these last times for you."

9. A New Organization -- The Church Acts 8:1; Galatians 1:2. In Matthew 16:18 Jesus said "I will build ..." He did not say that He was going to add to His church or change it. He was going to build it. He had not yet begun to build it when He was speaking. He began to build it on the day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit baptized the first believers into Christ (cf Acts 1:5).

10. A New Destiny -- Grace believers are the first saints to go directly to heaven at death (2 Corinthians 5:8; 12:2; Philippians 1:21-23). Old Testament saints went to the Paradise part of Hades. They consciously rested, awaiting the day Christ would rise. When Christ rose again, He led those in captivity away. Those Old Testament saints are now in Paradise, which Christ moved to the edge of the third heaven.

11. New Rewards -- The believer has the potential to win or earn five Crowns. He can be rewarded with the crown of righteousness for loving Christ's appearing. He does this by living righteously in anticipation of His appearing (2 Timothy 4:8). He might receive the crown of joy for struggling to have self-control. The ultimate purpose is so that no activity interferes with one's God-given ministry (1 Corinthians 9:25). The crown of boasting will be given to those who win a person to Christ (1 Thessalonians 2:19; Philippians 4:1). The crown of life will be the reward for those bearing up under temptation (James 1:12). This bearing up is also an act of love for one's Savior. Finally, an elder may receive an incorruptible crown if he shepherds the flock well and according to the biblical standards (1 Peter 5:4; Revelation 4:4). He shepherds them willingly, not out of necessity, not out of a desire for pay, and not by being their boss or bullying them. Rather, he leads them by being an example. A good elders' walk matches his talk or teaching. This crown may also be given to other saints who properly exercise their spiritual gifts for the benefit of the body.

12. New Promises -- The believer has received several new promises. In Hebrews 7:18, 19; 8:6 we see that the believer can draw near to God in his position in Christ. Since he approaches on the merits of his Savior, he approaches with boldness. By approaching God and enjoying that access to God, the believer can mature [A.V. perfect].

13. New Temple -- Actually two temples are mentioned in the New Testament. The believer's body is the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19). All believers in this present dispensation, without regard to racial distinction, without regard to locality, make up one large temple in which God dwells (Ephesians 2:20-21).

These new things give a depth to the grace believer's salvation. The more the believer knows and understands these new things, the broader his appreciation can be for God's grace and for God's provisions by grace. This adds depth to his spiritual life, which can encourage him to live and grow by grace. This adds more appreciation for God's multifaceted wisdom (Ephesians 3:9-11). God is demonstrating that He can accomplish His purpose by various means which do not conflict with His nature. God is not confined to accomplish His purpose by the same means under all circumstances. These new things, these new provisions and benefits, demonstrate aspects of God's wisdom, many of which were frequently unseen prior to this present dispensation.

Angels have an interest in our salvation and the nature of God's grace and wisdom. Peter wrote that they have intense cravings to look into our salvation (1 Peter 1:12). How God has accomplished this salvation and how He is presently applying it are things of interest to them. These new things give us a hint why they take such interest. They are learning something new about God. Yet the writer of Hebrews indicated that some believers neglect this great salvation (Hebrews 2:3). The writer warned that we can try to run from problems, but we can't run from God. The late Lewis Sperry Chafer closed a book on the theme of grace with these words, "The unregenerate can hardly be expected to see more in Christianity than its ethical teaching, but the people of God should be led on to the full knowledge of the great realities in grace."*12 He then wrote, "The importance of a daily life lived in the full measure of divine blessing provided under grace is likewise beyond human estimation."*13 The apostle Peter wrote in his last letter, "You grow by the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." When the apostle Paul was teaching new believers, he persuaded them to continue in the grace of God (Acts 13:43). As we leave the topic of this present dispensation, Paul's words to the Ephesian elders will hopefully stick with us, "I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to edify you and give you an inheritance among all those who are being set apart." (Acts 20:32).

Law and Grace

I've witnessed quite a little controversy over the simple issue of whether a believer today is to live by law or by grace. We've already seen the Scriptures. Paul makes it very plain that we are not under law but under grace. Some writers interpret Paul's words to mean, "not under law as a means of salvation." However, the Law was never given as a means of salvation. Therefore, Paul's words have a different meaning. We have examined that meaning and seen that it refers to the life we now live, to a proper motivation.

The issue is sometimes confusing because various teachers have used the words law and gospel rather than law and grace. This further illustrates the confusion over salvation by grace versus living by grace. In our study on the principles of a dispensation, we saw that dispensations are not about how one is saved initially. Salvation has been consistently by faith and grounded in God's grace not works. Therefore, the Scriptural terms are law and grace.

The simple difference between these two principles is one of motivation. Law motivated by promising blessings for obedience and punishment for disobedience. Law required a penalty for violating the law. Grace does not require a penalty. Does anything go for the believer today? No! certainly not. However, in contrast to law, when the believer disobeys or sins, there is not an automatic penalty. God might chasten a believer, or He might suffer long with the believer. Under grace, God doesn't deal with the believer on a reward and punishment system as He did with Israel under the Law. That difference is to be a motivation for the believer. He is to be motivated to live righteously because of what God has already done for him. He is to live righteously because that great salvation is certain and will not be altered. It is largely a matter of the right motivation.

However, the difference does go further. Under grace, God has given the Spirit to the believer to lead him. The believer does not need a set of rules, a set of do's and don'ts to guide him. When he relates to the benefits of God's grace, the Spirit is able to be a far better guide than even the ten commandments. Now, when the believer is not relating to God's grace then he isn't following the Spirit's lead. It is at those times that the kinds of restrictions mentioned by Paul come into play (e.g. Galatians 5:19-21). Remember Paul's words to Timothy, that the Law is not for a righteous man (the man who walks by faith). Paul then listed those who fall under law. So, some days the believer lives beyond the requirements of the Law. Other days, he brings himself under the Law. Even then, the Law only serves to point out that he is not relating to the benefits of God's grace. Living in God's grace by the work of the Spirit is far superior and holds far greater joy. It draws attention to God's character, and this is God's purpose in the dispensation of grace.Go to Contents

Chapter 17
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The Dispensation of the Fullness of Times

This dispensation is referred to by believers with many titles: the Millennium, Messianic dispensation, Christ's earthly rule, the Kingdom. Each of these bears some truth regarding this final dispensation. As a dispensation, it is only given a title one time. In Ephesians 1:9, 10, Paul called it the dispensation of the fullness of times. By this is meant the dispensation in which all times are made full or filled up. It is the dispensation after which there will be no more time. An angel spoke prophetically with regard to the kingdom, which will be operating during that time, "time shall no longer exist." (Revelation 10:6).*1

The Steward

Old Testament believers will be raised following Christ's physical return at the end of Daniel's 70th week (Daniel 12:2-3, 12-13). Among these believers will be David, the second king of Israel. God will install David as king over a united Israel (Ezekiel 34:23-24; 37:24-25; Hosea 3:5). The description "one king" does not mean that only Christ will reign. Revelation 20:4 states that a group of martyrs will sit on thrones, and live and reign in a loose association with Christ for a thousand years. The believers of the Church are promised to reign with Christ, sitting with Him on His throne (Revelation 3:21). Christ is the ultimate King and when He is in view, David is called "prince", the Hebrew nasi, distinct from melek. "One king" means that there will no longer be a divided kingdom with a divided monarchy. Rather, Israel and Judah will be reunited under one king -- David, who will rule under the rule of Christ. David will be the steward on the earth.

The Household

Believing Israelites will be raised shortly after Christ's second coming. God gave Ezekiel a vivid vision of Israel's resurrection (Ezekiel 37). This chapter begins with Israel's condition, looking hopeless, a valley of dry bones (vv. 1-3). Most of the nation had no hope that God would keep His covenant promises regarding them and their land. Unlike Joseph, who had been so certain that God would keep His promises and gave charge concerning His bones, these bones represented Israel's hopeless state of mind (v. 11). God then graphically depicted a real resurrection of all these bones (vv. 3-10). Though many might have said, "all things continue since the Fathers," those bones waited the time in which they would be raised. In connection with their resurrection, they would then have God's Spirit placed in them and God would place them in their land (v. 14). Thus, part of the household in the dispensation of the fullness of times will be resurrected Israel.

There will be a large number of Israelites who will survive the Tribulation. These will have been scattered among the nations, but God will bring them out of the nations back to their land (Ezekiel 36:24-25). God will remove their hearts of stone and give them hearts of flesh (Ezekiel 36:26-28). God promised this as early as Deuteronomy 30. He stated that He would bring Israel back from their captivity (vv. 3-4). He would bring them to their land and cause them to possess it (v. 5). He would circumcise their hearts and the hearts of their descendants (v. 6). These will be part of the household. "They who endure to the end will be saved." (Matthew 24:13). If they survive the awful Tribulation period, if they endure and do not abandon during that time of pressure, they will experience salvation. Daniel prophesied that the 70th week was to bring an end to transgression and sins (9:24). God will act as a shepherd, causing His sheep to pass under the rod and purging out the rebels (Ezekiel 20:37-38). This purging will result in only believing Israelites surviving, so that all Israel will be saved (Romans 11:26).

There will also be a large number of Gentiles who will survive the Tribulation. These Gentiles will be gathered before our Lord (Matthew 25:32). He will separate them like a shepherd separating sheep from goats, believers from unbelievers. The sheep, the believers, are placed on His right and are told to inherit the kingdom (vv. 33-34). The Son of Man will show the reality of their faith by pointing to their works, which they did for His brothers (v. 40). These brothers are fellow Jews, specifically the sealed 144,000 Jews who will be moving throughout the earth during the Tribulation. Times will be harder than any in history, yet these believing Gentiles will share the very little they have with these brothers and even risk visiting them when they are imprisoned. This has nothing to do with believers in the dispensation of Grace, but with Gentiles caring for Jews during the Tribulation. The goats, the unbelieving Gentiles, will go into eternal fire because they never provided for these Jews (vv. 41-46). The fact that these unbelieving Gentiles stand before the Son of Man is evidence, that though unbelieving, they refused the mark of the beast (Revelation 14:9-11). They maintained some form of religious commitment, but remained unbelievers as evidenced by their lack of help for the Jewish believers.

The Gentile believers will enter the kingdom. God will take some from among these Gentiles to serve as priests and Levites during the next 1,000 years (Isaiah 66:21). John saw the 144,000 Jews sealed. He also saw the result of their sealing, namely, an innumerable crowd of Gentiles (Revelation 7:9). These are they who come out of the Tribulation and have washed their robes (Revelation 7:14). They do a priestly service to God day and night as God tents out [dwells] over them (Revelation 7:15). The Gentiles will multiply over the next 1,000 years and will go up to Jerusalem to worship the King, Jehovah of hosts (Zechariah 14:16).

Direction -- Rule of life

The governing principle in this dispensation involves an understanding of Ephesians 1:10. Paul wrote of "the dispensation of the fullness of times." Fullness of times could be the title or principle which governs the lives of the household. It could simply be a description of the time during which the dispensation is in effect. In the context, Paul is describing the governing principle. The citizens of the kingdom must live in light of the fact that all time is coming to its fullness. Six times John wrote that the rule will last 1,000 years. When those 1,000 years are complete, time will be complete, time will be filled up.

In Romans 16:25, Paul pictured time as sandwiched between eternities, "according to the mystery kept silent during times in eternities."*2 Therefore, when time is complete, all of mankind will enter eternity. Each man's eternal condition will have been determined during time. Those who will enjoy God's presence will have been believers during time. Those who will be eternally separated from God in the Lake of Fire will have spent their time in unbelief. Every individual who will spend eternity in the Lake of Fire will be personally judged by the Lord Jesus Christ before being cast out from His presence. In Matthew 7:22 and 23, Christ describes the judgment of Jews who did works in His name but were never known by Him. He personally tells them to depart. In Matthew 25:41, He addresses unbelieving Gentiles and tells them to depart. At the Great White Throne, all the remaining dead stand before our Lord (Revelation 20:11-12). "The dead" describes those unbelievers who have not yet been judged. So in each case, Christ personally judges the unbelievers before they are cast into the Lake of Fire.

The rule of life for the dispensation of the fullness of times will involve understanding the kingdom from the heavens. Popularly translated "the kingdom of heaven" it is a kingdom which is governed from the heavens (cf Daniel 4:26). The kingdom of God is the sphere of salvation (cf John 3:3, 5). The new birth was necessary to see and enter that kingdom. The kingdom from the heavens is similar to the kingdom of God, as each is a kingdom under God involving men. However, when speaking the mysteries of the kingdom from the heavens, Christ used descriptions which demonstrate some differences. The kingdom from the heavens involves believers and unbelievers, described as different soils with different relations to the gospel of the kingdom (Matthew 13:18-23). It involves believers and unbelievers, described as wheat sown with tares (Matthew 13:36-43). It involves believers and unbelievers, described as good fish and bad fish (Matthew 13:47-50). Therefore, during the one thousand years which Christ will rule over the earth, believers will live alongside unbelievers.

Believers and unbelievers will be required to obey the divine law enforced from the heavens. That law will go out from Zion (the New Jerusalem, Isaiah 2:3). That divine law was stated in part in the sermon on the mount (Matthew 5-7). Portions of the sermon on the mount addressed the Jews regarding the kingdom's entrance requirement. Other portions of the sermon explained the strict laws of that kingdom. Under the Mosaic Law, one who murdered brought judgment on himself. In the kingdom, being wrathful against a brother will (Matthew 5:21-22). Saying "raca", that is, "a dunce", will make one guilty of being taken before a council. Saying "moron" to another will put one in danger of gehenna fire. Under the Mosaic Law, the act of adultery brought judgment; in the kingdom, looking at a woman for the purpose of lust will put one in danger of being cast bodily into gehenna (Matthew 5:27-30). These examples demonstrate the strict punishment for breaking laws of the kingdom. Members of the household will be in danger of being cast bodily into the Lake of Fire. This should not be allegorized away but accepted literally. Some who have denied the severity of this judgment have eventually denied the very existence of gehenna, more commonly referred to as Hell. *3 This strict judgment will motivate the household to obey the kingdom laws.

Christ also described this strict judgment in Matthew 13:40-42, 49-50. The Son will send His angels out into His kingdom and they will gather out the things which scandalize, those people who do lawlessness and those who are evil. They will then cast all these into a furnace of fire. Seeing angels remove evil doers from among the righteous will motivate others to obey during the kingdom. It might even cause some to physically remove a hand or eye if it helps them to avoid unrighteousness. This takes place in the consummation of the age.

Isaiah 65:20 indicates that God will allow the inhabitants of the kingdom time to learn obedience. One being a hundred years old will still be like a child. The sinner at a hundred will be accursed. It is at that age which God will hold them responsible to conform to the laws of the kingdom.

God will require the nations which survive the tribulation to come to Jerusalem yearly (Zechariah 14:16). They will celebrate the feast of tents [booths]. These nations come from believing Gentiles who come out of the Tribulation into the kingdom. Those who refuse to come to Jerusalem will be punished by God stopping the rain from falling on them (Zechariah 14:17-19). Therefore, they will be motivated to keep this feast because of the agricultural need for rain.

These nations will be required to bring their forces and their wealth to Jerusalem. Their "forces" are the produce of their land, upon which all people will feast. The earth will be returned to its pre-curse productivity and will therefore bear fruit in abundance (Amos 9:13-14: Isaiah 35:1-6; 65:21-25). Man will need to trust that God will continue to provide this abundance in accordance with their obedience.

At the end of the Tribulation, all the heavenly lights will be darkened. The earth will be in darkness (Matthew 24:29). On this black background the heavenly Jerusalem will begin to descend out of heaven (Matthew 24:3b, 30). It will be lit by the glory of the Father and the Lamb. Christ warned the Jews not to be deceived by false christs who claim to secretly come in a room or in the desert (Matthew 24:5, 23, 26). The sign of His coming will be unmistakable and no one will be able to miss it. The sign is a bright light, which comes out of the east and travels to the west (Matthew 24:27). It is the New Jerusalem, lit brighter than the sun, descending and then orbiting the earth in the blackness of the Tribulation. Out of the New Jerusalem will come the Son, to make war on earth and to set up His kingdom (Revelation 19:11-21). This ends the Tribulation.

In the following thousand years of the kingdom, mankind will observe the New Jerusalem daily as it continues to orbit the earth, both lighting and sheltering it (Isaiah 4:5-6). Ezekiel 37:27 states that God's dwelling place will be "over them." *4 They will know that the Father and Son are on that great city. It's measurement is approximately 1,500 miles square and high. This is the basis of the rule of life during this fullness of times. Mankind will see that city, knowing the Father and Son are there, and will have to believe that judgment can and will come out of that city.

On that city will be the river of life and the tree of life (Revelation 22:1-2). The leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. This describes the city in the Millennium, not eternity. During the kingdom, those on earth who are not yet glorified will still need healing for their natural bodies. Revelation 21:1-6 is a brief picture of the city in eternity. In that situation there will be no crying or pain. Only those who are clean will be allowed into the New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:27); therefore, only millennial believers will have access to the heavenly city to obtain these leaves. This will also be a matter of faith and daily life.

The seven years of tribulation, which precede the dispensation of the fullness of times, demonstrates that God's presence does not cause men to obey or repent. During the first half of the Tribulation mankind recognize that they are suffering at the hand of the Lamb, but they do not repent, but only desire to be hid from Him (Revelation 6:16-17 cp 9:20-21; 16:9, 11). The Father and Son will be present over the earth on the New Jerusalem for the one thousand years. However, their daily visible presence will not cause everyone to believe. Many will outwardly obey the laws but remain unbelievers in their hearts.

Failure

At the end of the Tribulation, Satan will be bound in the Abyss, so that he cannot deceive the nations (Revelation 20:2-3). This is not the present, for Satan is blinding the minds of the unsaved of the nations today (2 Corinthians 4:3-4). At the end of the one thousand years, he will be released (Revelation 20:7). He will go forth and deceive the nations (Revelation 20:8). All those who have not believed during the thousand years, but have only obeyed outwardly, will unite with Satan. They will go up and surround the camp of the saints (Revelation 20:9). "Camp of the saints" refers to the earthly Jerusalem. This is the city from which believers will be transported back and forth to the New Jerusalem. They surround the city, for the nations have been bringing their wealth to this city for the past one thousand years (Isaiah 60:11; 61:6). Their act of surrounding the city is a rebellion against God's established governmental order. They do not like God's design and thus they rebel against it. They fail to see that outward conformity to the laws of the kingdom do not produce inner righteousness. They fail to see that eternal judgment follows this filling up [fullness] of times.

Judgment

The judgment is clean and decisive. Fire comes down out of heaven and consumes this mass of humanity that has gathered around the earthly Jerusalem (Revelation 20:9). The Devil is then cast into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:10). When he is cast into the lake of fire, the Beast and the False Prophet are already there. They were cast into it at the end of the Tribulation. He was bound not in the lake of fire but in the abyss, Hades, a temporary place, which is itself cast into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:14). At that time the Beast and the False Prophet have been in the lake of fire for one thousand years. This indicates the punishment in the lake of fire is not temporary, nor is it annihilation, it is eternal torment.

Grace believers, those from the dispensation of grace, will be ruling with Christ on His throne (2 Timothy 2:12). They are promised authority with Christ over the nations (Revelation 2:26-27). Christ has promised them to sit with Him on His throne (Revelation 3:21). With this future expectation of judging the world, churches should not be afraid to judge in matters between believers (1 Corinthians 6:2).

Revelation

The dispensation of Human Government demonstrated that man will not submit to God's will nor act righteously by means of secular government. The dispensation of Law demonstrated that man is the same under a religious government mediated through men. The dispensation of the fullness of times will demonstrate that a religious government enforced directly from God will only produce outward conformity. However, given the opportunity, man will rebel against God. God will provide man a wonderful environment in which the curse will be removed and longevity of life will be restored. Despite this, man will find it repulsive to submit to God and His rule. Given the opportunity, man will rebel against God's rule.

God's Grace

God will allow people 100 years to learn to conform to the rule of this dispensation before they suffer punishment. These people must learn to curb their sin nature. God will also allow those who scandalize themselves to remove the offending member rather than being thrown directly into the lake of fire.

The Godhead

The Father and Son will reside on the New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:22). The Father will give the Son the kingdoms of the earth, and He will rule them (Psalm 2:7). He will then sit on His throne, in contrast to His present place on the Father's throne (Matthew 25:31; Revelation 3:21). The Son will descend to earth for the feasts (Zecheriah 14:16). Israel will continue to celebrate the feast of new moon and sabbath (Isaiah 66:23). When they observe these feasts, they will bow down "before Me" or literally, "before my face." When God comes and His glory fills the temple, Israel will continue to observe the appointed feasts (Ezekiel 44; 4, 24). Among the feasts will be the Passover (Ezekiel 45:21). The Holy Spirit will be poured out on all flesh and will be on the earth (Joel 2:28-29).

A Millennial picture of the New Jerusalem is seen in Hebrews 12. Those on this city will be the Father, the Son, an assembly of angels, the assembly [church] of firstborn ones [i.e. heirs], and the spirits of righteous men made perfect. The Spirit is absent during the one thousand years of the kingdom because He is poured out on all flesh on the earth. Israel is also absent, as they are on the earth as God promised them (Ezekiel 37:14; Deuteronomy 30:5-6). "The spirits of righteous men" most likely describes those believers who lived from Adam to the calling of Abraham. These are the only group of saints unaccounted for in prophecy.

Unrighteousness

Satan is bound at the end of Daniel's Seventieth Week, prior to the beginning of this kingdom (Revelation 20:2-3). He will not be able to deceive the nations during the time he is bound. When Christ gave His kingdom manifesto, as Matthew recorded in chapters 5-7, He only mentioned temptations which come from the flesh. Murder and hostility are works of the flesh (Matthew 5:21-22). Adultery and sexual lust are works of the flesh (Matthew 5:27-28). Divorce involves both adultery and hostilities (Matthew 5:31-32; Mark 10:4-5). This is true of committing one's self without ability to finish one's vow, avenging one's self, or hating an enemy. Each of these expresses problems of the works of the flesh. Temptations from Satan are conspicuously absent, as he will be bound. Unglorified, unsaved mankind will contend with their own sin natures, not with Satanic temptation or problems from Satan's world system, which Christ destroyed at His second coming.

Christ mentioned some issues of Satanic temptation such as "worry" (Matthew 6:25), because these were anxieties which His immediate audience experienced at that time. They wouldn't experience these during the kingdom. For this reason, unrighteousnesses will be limited to works of the flesh.

You and I have the opportunity to see that even that great kingdom, which was prophesied long ago, will end in failure. It is not a failure on God's part. As with the other dispensations, it demonstrates the general inability of man to live by the various standards which God can impose. We might like to think that if the curse were lifted from the earth and God were present overhead so that everyone could see Him, it would really change people. Well, it will encourage most of them to be obedient, but that obedience will not be genuine. It will not be an obedience that comes from a changed heart. It will be obedience that is waiting for an alternative to come along. In that is a lesson we can learn and apply to the present. We often find ourselves tempted to impose some form of Biblical rules or values upon the world. For the present, this is not sanctioned. It is not the purpose God has for His Church. Since we have seen what the end response is to such an imposition, we are challenged with the foolishness of trying to make the unsaved live like the redeemed. God will not be foolish, for He will be teaching mankind a lesson. However, that is not God's lesson for us now!
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Chapter 18
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Into Eternity

We Grace believers will be present at the Great White Throne but will not be judged there. We are promised that we will never come into judgment. We have passed out of death [spiritual] into life (John 5:24). Grace believers will be present with our Savior Jesus Christ as the unsaved come before His Great White Throne. Through the Church's history, many have tried to place the Church under the Mosaic Law, which was for the nation Israel. By doing this they made themselves not a church but a synagogue*1 of Satan (Revelation 3:9). Many of these have been unbelievers and will stand at this judgment. While they have ridiculed believers who live by grace rather than by law, they will "worship before the feet" of the Grace believers. They do not worship us. They worship our Lord and Savior. Because we are with Him and they are being judged before Him, they will know that He has indeed loved us!

Grace believers will see many at this judgment whom they have known during this earthly life: friends, relatives, co-workers, neighbors. Will there be pain? Our Savior promised believers, who are victors by faith, that nothing will come out of the second death to hurt them (Revelation 2:11). The believer is in no personal danger of the second death. Jesus wasn't speaking about our being saved from the second death. That matter was settled when we believed the good news of Jesus Christ. So what is this promise? The Greek preposition ek emphasizes something coming out of or having its source in the second death. In our glorified state we will be able to appreciate God's objective judgment. In this life, believers may have pain at the thought of others spending a Godless eternity in the Lake of Fire, but we are promised that in the future nothing will come out of this event to hurt us.

New Heavens and New Earth

We saw that God will destroy the present heavens and earth (2 Peter 3:10). Because these will be gone, God will then create new heavens and a new earth (Isaiah 65:17). In that new universe the former things will not rise up in the hearts of God's peoples. There will never be a fond remembrance of the past. We will always be looking ahead not behind, anticipating God's future. Right now we should live with an anticipation of the new heavens and new earth (2 Peter 3:13). Knowing that this present creation will be removed encourages us to live our daily routine in holiness and godliness (2 Peter 3:11). Know this is all temporary.

The nation of Israel will retain their identity as God's Israel (Isaiah 66:22). They will not lose their identity nor be blended into something new or different. Their father Abraham was promised to be heir of a*2 world (Romans 4:13), and at that time God's final covenant promise with them will be fulfilled on that new earth. The nature of that earth will be different from the present earth. The future earth will have no oceans (Revelation 21:1). Beyond this we do not know what it will be like. It will be Israel's great eternal inheritance.

The Church is made up of those who are citizens of heavens (Philippians 3:20). Note that heavens is plural. We will be citizens not only of the present but also of the future heavens. Earth is not our home now, nor will it be in the future. Revelation 21:2-3 describes the New Holy Jerusalem. It is a heavenly city, therefore it is associated with the heavens not the earth. The Biblical evidence indicates that it remains situated in the heavens and never rests upon the earth, either the present earth or the future earth. That city is God's tent (Revelation 21:3). It is not God's permanent dwelling. Remember that we Grace believers are promised to always be with Christ from the moment He snatches us out of this present world (1 Thessalonians 4:17). Therefore, if He is present on that city, we will also be present. That future city has no temple in it (Revelation 21:22). God the Father and the Lamb are the temple during the kingdom. We would surmise that this will be similar to eternity, with the addition of the Spirit's presence. Grace believers are characterized as pillars in that future temple (Revelation 3:12). God will never go out from that temple. When He goes the Church goes with Him, and in this way, He never departs.

The Church also remains a unique entity into eternity. God's distinct peoples remain distinct. Each enjoys their own unique relationship with the members of the Godhead. When Paul wrote Ephesians, he saw a plurality of ages in the future (Ephesians 2:6). In those ages God will be using His church to display something about His grace. His grace will be seen by means of His kindness. Kindness is an attitude which puts others at ease, which is easy as opposed to abrasive or rude. God has dealt and will continue to deal with the Church in His grace and in a manner which puts us at ease, which makes Him immensely approachable, even though He is the holy, righteous, all-powerful God of everything.

The Day of God

After the Church is snatched from this earth, the day of the Lord will begin. That day will continue through the seven years of the Tribulation and the one thousand years of His kingdom. The believer anticipates not only God's work in the day of the Lord but the day of God (2 Peter 3:12). The day of God is beyond. The day of God is in eternity. It is the day in which the Son will turn over the kingdom to the Father (1 Corinthians 15:24-28). Then "God will be all things in all ways". Keep in mind that when Gabriel appeared to Mary, he said that Jesus would rule over the house of Jacob into the ages and His kingdom would have no end (Luke 1:33). "Of His kingdom, there will be no end." Since He turns the kingdom over to the Father at the end of the 1,000 years, "the no end" would mean that He continues to rule, and must share in the rule with the Father. We should really anticipate this time. Throughout our history, we know that the Father, Son and Spirit are absolutely one God and equal, yet we have never been able to witness what that is truly like. When God is all things in all ways, the Spirit is no longer in submission to the Father and Son, and the Son will have turned over the kingdom to the Father and submitted Himself to the Father. This will allow for the full sharing of authority. The Godhead will be seen as that perfect oneness. All God's peoples will witness and begin to learn that, which cannot be comprehended at the present. New aspects of God's character will be revealed. God's great glory will go on being seen.
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Chapter 19
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Some Other Ages

Following the flood, mankind united to build a city and a tower. The purpose of the tower was the worship of the heavens. The top of the tower was into the heavens (Genesis 11:4). The people who remained in the region of Babel became known as Chaldeans, a name meaning "stargazers" or "astrologers."*1 Paul explains in Romans 1 that the people were worshipping the creature alongside the creator (Romans 1:21-23, 25). Scripture reveals that God cannot be represented by created things (Isaiah 40:18-20). God is invisible by nature because God's essence is spirit (Colossians 1:15; 1 Timothy 1:17; John 4:24). God would later forbid such attempted representations in His law to Israel (Exodus 20:3-5). That revelation was given over a thousand years later. Prior to Babel, God had given no such revelation. At this time, God's intelligent created beings learned that He cannot be represented and would not tolerate such. God also revealed His power by confounding the languages of mankind. He demonstrated His sovereign ability to get rebellious mankind to do what He instructed, even if they did not do so willingly.

During the dispensation of Promise, God focused His work on the family of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. To these He revealed Himself as God Almighty (Exodus 6:2-3). Moses used the title Jehovah, but it was to those from Moses' time that He was known as Jehovah. He was not commonly known as Jehovah before the time of Moses. Abraham's family were idolators. They had worshipped multiple gods. When God appeared to these men, He often identified Himself. To Abraham He said, "I am the God who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldees." (Genesis 15:7; cf 17:1). To his son Isaac, He identified Himself as "I am the God of your father Abraham" (Genesis 26:24). He did the same with Jacob, and later "I am the God of Bethel," so that Jacob knew He was the same God (Genesis 28:13; 31:13). He identified Himself as the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob when He first appeared to Moses (Exodus 3:6). By doing this God revealed that He is not a God who is limited to one location, but men could make contact with Him in many places. He also emphasized His power and faithfulness in continuing the work which He first promised to Abraham. By repeated appearances and promises to these descendants, God made this point.

To understand this, it is necessary to understand that idolatry has spiritual forces behind the idols. Paul wrote that the idol is nothing (1 Corinthians 8:4). He pointed out that indeed an idol is not anything, but what is sacrificed to idols is sacrificed to demons (1 Corinthians 10:19-20). He wrote that one who ate and drank of the table and cup of idols was partaking in the table and cup of demons (1 Corinthians 10:20-21). Believers should not be superstitious about this and afraid of these things, but should be mindful of how others perceive our actions. The demons behind the idols could do spectacular things in a limited manner, such as aiding humans in divining the future (though this was not real). For Abraham and his family of idolators it was a unique situation that the same deity would continue to appear to them and continue to faithfully hold to His promises. This would have been a contrast to any activity that might have existed in relation to idols. In this way, God distinguished Himself from false gods.

Two ages parallel the dispensation of Grace. One age began long before the dispensation of Grace, and the other began at or about the same time. The former age will continue after the present dispensation ends, and the latter ends at the same time as the dispensation.

The first of these ages might be called the legal age. It is the age to which the believer is not to be conformed (Romans 12:2). Romans 12 follows an extended section dealing with Israel (Romans 9-11). These chapters explain how God's present work relates to His promises to Israel. Peter spoke of this age in Acts 3:21, "Whom it was necessary that heaven welcome, until the times of reorganization of all things, which God spoke through the mouth of His holy prophets from an age." The Old Testament prophets anticipated the rearrangement of all things on earth under the kingship of Christ. They anticipated an anointed ruler, God himself, to rule over them during this time. These Old Testament prophets were prophesying during that age, which we might call "legal" for lack of another description.

In many places prior to Romans 9, Paul dealt with the issue of the Law and its challenge to man and especially believers. In Romans 7, Paul detailed his own experience as a believer under the Law. He shared with us his failure to live the Christian life when he tried to use the Law. He expressed his frustration with himself, not the Law. The Law was good, it just couldn't help him do the right thing. This legal problem naturally led Paul to explain what is happening with Israel and how it relates to the Church. When Paul wrote, Jews were still trying to live by the Law. That hasn't changed in the past 2,000 years. They may not read their law correctly, but in one form or another they still attempt to be law keepers.

The Mosaic Law was the rule (dispensation) for 1,500 years. It demonstrated that man cannot live righteously before God. Remember, a dispensation reveals something about man to man. Since an age reveals something about God, the purpose of the age must be distinct from that of the dispensation. What did God reveal about Himself in this legal age? God demonstrated a small aspect of His holiness. The Law was to set Israel apart from the other nations. Consider the regulations regarding food. Some have taught that the clean and unclean animals were naturally clean or unclean and God was only looking out for Israel's health. However, God had not given anyone regulations prior to this time. Were those foods clean before the Law? Did some of them suddenly become unhealthy? For the present, Paul states that nothing is unclean of itself, and no food is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving (Titus 1:15; 1 Timothy 4:3-5). God presented Peter with a sheet full of unclean animals and told Peter to slay and eat (Acts 10:10-13). Peter refused because he did not eat anything common or unclean (v. 14). God responded that Peter was not to consider anything common, which God had made clean (v. 15). While God's point was directed to Peter's attitude toward the Gentiles, this incident illustrates that no food is to be considered unclean for the believer today.

Since this is the case on either side of the Law, why were clean and unclean distinguished during the Law? God was making a distinction between Israel and the other nations (Leviticus 20:22-26; Deuteronomy 7:6). Many aspects of Israel's Law were intended to make them different, to set them apart. Israel had great difficulty trying to be distinct and holy from these other peoples. This communicates something of God's holiness. He is distinct. He is so very different from anything else that might erroneously be called God. He alone is the "set-apart One", without any conflict (cf Isaiah 43:3; 44:6-8).

In this same way, the legal age reveals that God's righteousness is distinct from Law righteousness (Romans 3:21; 10:3-8). God's holiness and righteousness are far removed from anything involving human effort.

The legal age also demonstrated that God is merciful and kind. In our English Bibles various words are translated mercy. The expression "mercy seat" (cf Exodus 31:7) does not even use a Hebrew word for mercy. It is literally "a place of covering", *2 the lid on the ark of the covenant. The Hebrew word for grace or favor is translated mercy several times. The Hebrew chesed, meaning kindness, is also mistranslated mercy. Chesed is the second word "kind", which God demonstrates. The Hebrew word racham properly describes mercy. This word derives from the idea of soft or tender. A form of this word is used of a mother's womb. The Old Testament picture of mercy is that God is soft or tender towards those to whom He chooses to show mercy (Exodus 33:19). God is also kind. This Hebrew word, in a positive sense, emphasizes a zeal or a diligent faithfulness to act on another's behalf. God continues to guard kindness with thousands, and He diligently maintains that kindness (Exodus 34:7). Throughout Israel's turbulent fifteen-hundred years under the Law, God showed Himself merciful and kind, even in His judgment upon Israel throughout those years.

Unlike man, God maintains His righteousness and holiness even when He is showing mercy and kindness. Jesus expressed this to the Pharisees. He told them that one should attend to the proper tithes under the Law, while giving attention to the weightier matters: judgment, mercy and faith (Matthew 23:23). The prophet Micah communicated God's will under Law: to do judgment, to love mercy, to walk humbly with God (Micah 6:8). God does this. God is truth and always lives up to what He knows of Himself, and in this way God is faithful.

The legal age began at Sinai. It continues through the seven future years of tribulation. When Christ returns that age will be concluded during Christ's kingdom. Christ's disciples asked, "What is the sign ... of the end of the age?" (Matthew 24:3). It is in the consummation of this legal age that the Son of Man will send His angels out into the kingdom to remove all things which offend and the ones who do lawlessness (Matthew 13:39-41). The English "end" is a compound form of the word meaning to be complete or finished. W.E. Vine notes, "The word does not denote a termination, but the heading up of events to the appointed climax." *3 The consummation of the age is when the events and matters of that age will be brought together so that the age might be concluded. This conclusion will last 1,000 years. At present, the age has lasted 3,500 years and will last at least 1,007 more years.

In the consummation of the legal age, Christ will reign for 1,000 years. When He first spoke of that kingdom to Israel, He expressed God's mercy and kindness. The Beatitudes expressed these to those Jews who understood what God valued. Jesus promised happiness to the poor in spirit, the grieving, the meek, the ones hungering and thirsting for righteousness, the merciful, the clean of heart, the peacemakers, the ones pursuing righteousness, the ones reviled (Matthew 5:3-11). These will not be problems during the 1,000 years of the kingdom. These were problems experienced among the Jews when Christ came to offer the kingdom. The Old Testament ended with Micah's cry against the lack of mercy among the people and the twisting of the law in favor of the powerful. These problems will again be a problem in the seven tribulation years, which precede that coming form of the kingdom. The God of mercy and kindness, who is also righteous and holy, will address these needs in that kingdom.

The other age which parallels the present dispensation is the age of an evil quality, which exists now (Galatians 1:4). Paul wrote that the present age has the quality of the world (Ephesians 2:2). *4 Most of our English Bibles translate this as "the present evil age." The word "evil" is the Greek poneros. It means to lack in character and to be malignant. This age spreads it corruption. This age is malignantly evil. It places a high value on wisdom, scholarship and debate (1 Corinthians 1:20). Wisdom in this passage is the wisdom of the world, better known as philosophy,*5 the discipline of basics and beginnings, which engages in speculations and human reasonings in an attempt to make sense of truth. The term "scribe" originally described one who copied written material and later came to refer to scholars.*6 The Authorized Version's "disputer" was one who debated. Rather than accepting truth, one debated truth, perhaps in a round table discussion. These are the aspects of the age, which do not lead to faith in Christ nor to Christian living. Paul's message was in contrast to the wisdom or philosophy of the age (1 Corinthians 2:6-8). Paul's message was simple yet powerful (cf Romans 1:16). God is working in believers to bring to shame those who operate in this age and in this world. By changing believers, by His powerful work in their lives, God is demonstrating that His own work is necessary, it doesn't come by human effort or education. This is in contrast to the age, which tests everything by the measure of human learning.

Eternal life is unique to this age. In Mark 10:30, Jesus Christ told His disciples that they would receive eternal life in the coming age. They didn't have eternal life at that time. The Old Testament Jew did not receive eternal life during his earthly existence. God promised the Old Testament saint that he would receive eternal life when he would be raised from the dead (Daniel 12:2-3). Eternal life was a future hope for them. When Christ was on this earth, He promised eternal life in the coming age. That age now exists.

Eternal life is God's kind of life. When the Son became man, the Father gave Him this eternal life (John 5:26). The Son had life as God, but this statement referred to the Son possessing life in His humanity. As far as the Scriptures reveal, in His humanity, the Son was the first man to possess eternal life while walking upon this earth. This life is in the Son (1 John 5:11). The believer has eternal life because the Son indwells him.

Why does God give eternal life to believers during the present evil age? God's life is seen by a contrast between believers who use that life and those of the age who do not have it. Believers are to work out their own salvation with fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12). The working out of the salvation is because God is directly operating in the believer so that the believer desires and is energized to do God's good pleasure (v. 13). The working out of one's salvation involves believers doing all things without grumbling and arguing (v. 14). When believers live out their salvation, they shine like little lights, like little stars in the midst of a crooked and perverted race (v. 15). We stand out! God's life is contrasted to the characteristics of those in the age. Therefore, by means of a contrast, this age reveals something about God's life.

Eternal life is not directly connected with the rule of life but the age. It isn't revealing something about us but reveals something about God, specifically His kind of life used in a human nature. God's life lived out through believers testifies that the glory of God can be contained as a treasure in clay pots (2 Corinthians 4:6-7). It demonstrates that we don't have to be glorious. That's God's job. His work in the life of a believer is so full that the foolishness of God is wiser than that of men, and His weakness is stronger (1 Corinthians 1:25). Paul used a comparative figure of speech. There is no foolishness with God, and He is not weak. However, these ideas vividly contrast God's character to that of man's. How God employs His wisdom in the life of believers reveals this contrast. Paul noted that God's wisdom has many facets, and God is showing some of those facets now (Ephesians 3:9-10). By governing the lives of His people by grace, God is making it possible for them to live out His kind of life, to use His kind of power. God is demonstrating His life and power through changed lives. God does not have to demonstrate His power in the same way at all times. He demonstrated His power in the past by creation, by judgment, by fantastic works such as parting the Red Sea. Today, God is primarily demonstrating His power by His work in believers' lives.

Each age reveals something about God. Even during the ages, which parallel God's dispensational program, God continues to reveal aspects of His character. God has even used the various rules of life as part of this revelation. I'm sure God's angels are learning something about God as they watch God's present work with us. Are we learning something about God? I'm not talking about our impressions, "Well, I think that God is ... ." I'm talking about what God is plainly and clearly revealing about Himself. He explains more than enough in His Word. We learn it from God's Word. His Word sets the boundaries. It keeps us from making ridiculous claims about God, claims that might be down right wrong and blasphemous, though we might not intend to do so. It doesn't end with the written revelation. As mankind has lived under God's various rules throughout time, we've been able to experience first hand what God has said about Himself, whether through written revelation or His oral revelation, as in the days before Moses or in the days of the prophets. Ages are the opportunity to go from just a set of objective facts regarding God to a genuine experience of those facts. God has been doing this with us and He has been doing it with His spirit beings also. Because God is so infinite, He will continue to reveal long into eternity. Just think, God has many more ages, because God has so much more to show us about Himself. Eternity will be immensely exciting.
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Chapter 20
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Daniel's 70th Week

Jesus Christ told His disciples that He called them friends and for this reason He told them what He was about to do. A master doesn't explain His plans to His slaves but to His friends. The book of Revelation is the New Testament capstone to these future plans. When we hear Revelation, we are happy ones (Revelation 1:3). We are also happy when we guard the truths of Revelation. It is a reminder that the time is near. Our move from earth to heaven and God's righteous judgment and wrath are an arm's reach away.
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Chapter 21
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Some Closing Thoughts

However, reading the Biblical history, the revelation for our daily lives as revealed in the New Testament letters and those Scriptures which describe God's future works, the believer is encouraged to be those little shining lights in the midst of a crooked and perverse race. The believer is encouraged to look beyond today and anticipate the Day of God. The believer is encouraged to love His Lord's appearing. The believer is encouraged to stand firm and immovable by God's grace. The believer is encouraged to do God's will as opposed to prevailing opinion. This is God's challenge for me. This is God's challenge for you. Recognize what God has done before our time, see what God is doing now and what He will enact in the future. In light of this and all God will ultimately accomplish, we can ask with Peter "how then should we live in our daily routine of life?" (2 Peter 3:11).
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Index of Select Scriptures

Revelation: 1:6; 20; 20:7-9; 21:22.
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FOOTNOTES
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Chapter 1
*1 Andrew Miller, Miller's Church History (Addison, IL: Bible Truth Publishers, 1980 (reprint)) 687. Back

Chapter 2
*1 See Charles Caldwell Ryrie. Dispensationalism (Chicago: Moody Press, 1995), chapter 4; Larry V. Crutchfield, "Part 2 Interpretive Systems Throughout History" in An Introduction to Classical Evangelical Hermeneutics, ed. Mal Couch (Grand Rapid: Kregel, 2000); "Israel and the Church in the Ante-Nicene Fathers," Bibliothecca Sacra 146:254-76 (July-September 1987) and part two "Ages and Dispensations in the Ante-Nicene Fathers"147:377-401 (October-December 1987).
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*2 Since I am writing in North America, we'll illustrate this by reference to English translations.
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*3 This is a large issue, and beyond the scope or intent of this text. For more information, I would refer the reader to some brief works which are helpful. The Bible Version Debate (Plymouth, MN: Central Baptist Theological Seminary, 1997). Robert G. Gromacki, Translations on Trial: Is Your Bible the Word of God? (Lincoln, NE: Back to the Bible, 1990). Norman L. Geisler & William E. Nix, From God to Us, (Chicago: Moody Press, 1974).
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*4 This chart is adapted from Bibliology notes by Dr. H.L. Schafer of Dispensational Theological Seminary, Gaston, OR. Back
*5 To suggest that the original writers made errors, implies either that the Spirit too made an error, or the Spirit didn't truly carry them along, perhaps He acted more as a guiding influence. However, the first contradicts the testimony regarding God, and the second the testimony regarding how God brought revelation into existence. Back
*6 This passage requires some form of interpretation in order to render a translation. The translator must decide whether Lord is predicate "as Lord" or requires no article "the Lord Christ." Back
*7 In fact, many good books exist, which provide an English-only-reader some access to the Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek. Back
*8 A reference to the house of David was found on three fragments, the "Tel Dan Inscriptions" in 1993. See Bill T. Arnold and Bryan E. Beyer, Readings from the Ancient Near East (Grand Rapids, Baker Academic, 2002) 164-165. Back
*9 For one good case see John C. Whitcomb Jr., Darius the Mede (Philadelphia: The Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing Co., 1963). Back
*10 These verses are not included in most early Greek manuscripts of John. Back
*11 Some modern translations translate this "they." Back.
*12 It is interesting that the translators of the A.V. almost always switched these two ideas around, that is, they translated the word for son by child and visa versa. They were accurate in the translation of the Son with reference to Jesus Christ, and also in the first verses of Galatians 4. Though just above in 3:26, they mistranslated it "children."Back

Chapter 3
*1 George W. Dollar, The History of Fundamentalism in America (Greenville, SC: Bob Jones University Press, 1973) 1. Back
*2 Here glory refers to Christ's reputation, i.e. Who He is. All unsaved people have some deficiency in their understanding of who He is.Back
*3 It is a sabbatismos [sabbatismo§] a rest that has the quality that results from a sabbath but is not a sabbath itself. Back

Chapter 4
*1 Richard A. Steeg, (1982) "A STUDY IN DIDASKALIA AND DIDACHE" a paper presented at the Theological Forum on Contemporary Issues, Gaston, OR: Dispensational Theological Seminary.
A. Naismith summarizes W.E. Vine's conclusions, "distinguishes between the two Greek words commonly translated 'doctrine' in the New Testament -- Didaskalia, which lays emphasis on the objective aspect and is essentially active, and Didache, which is more often subjective and implies the application of truths and principles to heart and life by the act of teaching." The Faith -- A Symposium ed. Fredrick A. Tatford, (London: Pickering & Inglis LTD, 1952) 309. Mr. Naismith distinguished these two words more clearly than Vine. It demonstrates that there is indeed a difference. Klaus Wegenast noted that the rarity of the term didaskalia in the Septuagint is due to its meaning "intellectual teaching with a view to knowledge, whereas Israel saw teaching as meaning the law of God, to which the only appropriate response was obedience." Dictionary of New Testament Theology 3 vols, ed. Colin Brown, (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1978) 3:769. See also his comments on p. 771.Back
*2 The NET and ESV have "unfit", the AV and ASV "reprobate." The word adokimoi means to fail an approval or testing process.Back

Chapter 5
*1 Carl E. Sanders II, The Premillennial Faith of James Brookes (Lanham, MA: University Press of America, 2001) Back
*2 John H. Gerstner, Wrongly Dividing the Word of Truth, (Brentwood, TN: Wolgemuth & Hyatt, 1991, p. 86.Back
*3 Ryrie, op cit. 80-81.Back
*4 See The Origins of Dispensationalism in Ryrie, op cit. Also Arnold D. Ehlert, A Bibliographic History of Dispensationalism (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1965), and Larry V. Crutchfield, "Rudiments of dispensationalism in the ante-Nicene period", op cit.Back

Chapter 6
*1 William Gesinius, A Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon to the Old Testament, (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1979) 804. Back

Chapter 7
*1 See David Dockery, Biblical Interpretation Then and Now (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1992) 90-92. Back
*2 ibid p. 97.Back
*3 R.C.H. Lenski, Interpretation of the Acts of the Apostles (Columbus, OH: Lutheran Book Concern, 1934) 879. See also F.F. Bruce, The Acts of the Apostles (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1951) 394.Back
*4 F.F. Bruce, The Acts of the Apostles, (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1951) 56. Homer Kent places this one year earlier. Jerusalem to Rome, (Winona Lake, IN: Brethren Missionary Herald Books, 1972) 106, see also Mal Couch, ed. A Bible Handbook to the Acts of the Apostles, (Grand Rapids: Kregel Publications, 1999) 404. Bac,

Chapter 9
*1 In the following study, the King James Version frequently mistranslates the noun aiwn [aion] "world" rather than "age." This reflects the amillennial theology of the translators. It should be translated "age" and may be noted in the margin of some Bibles.Back
*2 C.I. Scofield, Scofield Bible Correspondence Course, 6 vols. (Chicago: Moody Bible Institute, 1959) 1:46. Back
*3 In Romans 9-11, Paul explains God's righteous dealings with Israel in the past and present, to assure the Romans saints that nothing could separate them from God's love for us in Christ. In these three chapters, Paul is relating to the legal age. It is the age to which the believer is not to conform (Romans 12:2). Back

Chapter 11
*1 cabash "... subject, ... make subservient." William L. Holladay, A Concise Hebrew And Aramaic Lexicon of The Old Testament, (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1971) 151.Back
*2 abvad means to work, till, cultivate, serve, slave, perform, serve. see Holladay, op cit. p. 261. Back
*3 "It is not as a living soul that man is distinguished from the brute creation, for the same expression is applied to the creatures in vv. 20 and 24, where 'creature that hath life' and 'the living creature' are equivalent to 'living soul.'" J.H. Large in The Faith: A Symposium, op cit 131-132.Back
*4 For instance, the NET Bible translates this, "You will want to control your husband, but he will dominate you." Back

Chapter 12
*1 William Gesinius, op cit 731 qjn.Back
*2 For the use of chattahth as sin offering see Exodus 29:14, 36 et al. Also J.N. Darby The Holy Scriptures A New Translation on Genesis 4:7. See also Adam Clarke's very lucid notes on this passage in his Commentary on the Whole Bible.Back
*3 "That the respect and honour implied in this expression was a distinction of the elder brother forming an important part of the birthright is clear from Gen. 27:29." George Bush, Notes on Genesis (Minneapolis: James & Klock Publishing Co, 1976 (reprint)) 99-100. See Robert Jamieson, Andrew Robert Fausset & David Brown, A Commentary, Critical and Explanatory, on the Old and New Testaments. This section was written by Jamieson. See also Adam Clarke's, Commentary on the Bible.Back
*4 The Greek verb sfazw has a stronger emphasis than mere murder. See Kenneth Wuest, In These Last Days (Grand Rapids: Wm B. Eerdmans, 1954) 151 and Geoffrey W. Bromiley, Theological Dictionary of the New Testament, abridged (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1985) 1125-1126.Back
*5 Peter used the verb "tartarused," which his readers would have plainly understood to be the place of the lost dead. See comments in D. Edmond Hiebert's, Second Peter and Jude: An Expositional Commentary (Greenville, SC: Bob Jones University Press, 1989) 97.Back
*6 Some disagreement exists as to the meaning of this name. Many modern scholars have taken the name to be from meth male or few and shelach a spear or thing thrown. The resulting meaning is man of a dart or spear. Accepting this list of names to have a prophetic or revelatory significance as also with Cain's descendants, his name is taken from mooth death or dying and shelach to send or a sending. "He dieth, and the sending forth;" as if it were an intimation of the sending forth of the waters of the deluge about the time of his death." Bush, Notes on Genesis op cit 1:112. Merril F. Unger understood it, "man of sending," evidently referring to water ... Apparently his godly father Enoch gave him this name as prophetically anticipative of the Flood as a judgment upon sinful humanity." Unger Commentary on the Old Testament, 2 vols. (Chicago: Moody Press, 1981) 2:34 See also The Pilgrim Study Bible, p. 11. Back

Chapter 13
*1 Miller, Miller's Church History, op cit. 358. Back
*2 C.F. Keil and F. Delitzsch, Commentary on the Old Testament, 10 vols., (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1982) 1:165-166. "Nimrod was mighty in hunting, and that in opposition to Jehovah; ... not before in the sense of, according to the purpose and will of Jehovah;" "The name itself, Nimrod from _mrd "we will revolt," points to some violent resistance to God." p. 166 "..., Nimrod the hunter became a tyrant, a powerful hunter of men." George Bush noted, "The original term for 'hunting' occurs elsewhere, not so much in reference to the pursuit of game in the forest, as to a violent invasion of the persons and rights of men." Notes on Genesis op cit, 1:171.Back

Chapter 14
*1 The record of God's words to Abraham were made by Moses. Moses would have received these by revelation and not by a transmission through generations.Back
*2 "Keep" is not "doing". The two Hebrew words _shamer and _asah are used together in many passages, each expressing a distinct idea. In Deuteronomy 5:1, Israel was to guard and do the statutes and judgments. Guarding meant to keep it safe and to be certain that if anything was to be done it was completed. "Doing" is only a part of guarding if there was something to be done. Back
*3 This word tamae described ceremonial uncleanness or pollution.Back
*4 Israel had twelves sons but Joseph received a double portion, one for each of his two sons, Manessah and Ephraim. The tribe of Levi did not receive a specific division in the land but had portions within all the tribes.Back
*5 "Special son" might also be unique son. It is the expression used of Jesus being the "only begotten" (John 3:16). It does not mean the only one begotten, but rather the only one of a kind or unique one. God has had other sons; He created angels and calls them sons, He formed the nation Israel and called them His sons, He placed us in Christ and calls us sons. None of us are the special son because only Jesus is God, and can therefore represent God. Back

Chapter 15
*1 "Ten words / sayings" Exodus 34:28; Deuteronomy 4:13; 10:4.Back
*2 God promised Israel that the Israelite women would have no miscarriages in the land if they obeyed God (Exodus 23:24-26).Back
*3 The combination "keep and do" is used in many passages regarding the Law (e.g. Exodus 31:16; Leviticus 19:37; 22:31; Deuteronomy 4:6; 5:1). Therefore, "keeping" is different than "doing." The Hebrew shamar means to keep or guard. Being certain that others do the Law and that the penalties of the Law are carried out is part of guarding.Back
*4 This was for Israel because as a nation they had been given the Law. There is no nation today who is under the Law and there is no nation today that is the specific object of God's work as a household; therefore, believers today are not to confess the "sins" of their nation or of others. Confession is for individual sins only. Back
*5 (Jewish year of 360 days versus our Roman year of 365).Back
*6 chen "agreeableness, charm ... favor" William Holladay, op cit. 110.BACK
*7 chesed -- among the definitions given, "faithfulness, kindness, grace" are significant. See Holladay, op cit 111.Back
*8 The word "angel" simply means messenger. In this Hebrew construction the idea is "the Messenger who is Jehovah." Back
*9 Literally, "alongside" -- para. Back
*10 The two prepositions al [al]- upon and b [b]- closely upon. See J. Ronald Williams, Hebrew Syntax (Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 1967) 47, 54.Back
*11 Cause is indicated by l, "with respect to" Williams, p. 52.Back
*12 One would not condemn a medical scan as evil because it helped identify the existence of a tumor. Likewise, the Law helped make sin identifiable, and was therefore good. Back

Chapter 16
*1 The words save and salvation have several uses in the New Testament. They refer to physical healing, physical salvation or rescue from danger, and initial salvation at the point one believes the good news of Christ.Back
*2 He also distinguished the Spirit's work from John's.Back
*3 Literally, "not after many of these days." Back
*4 kainos is new in quality, or that which hasn't existed before. It would be a new variety of vegetable, not simply this year's fresh new crop.Back
*5 Literally, "frame of mind".Back
*6 The Authorized Version translates this "godly edifying." No form of the word "godly" is used. Rather Paul employed a Genitive form of God, theou. Neither did he use oikodomh [edify], but the noun oikonomia which means dispensation.Back
*7 The word astorgos derives from storgos which describes love within a family. See G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (Edinburgh: T & T Clark, 1948) 65. Back
*8 The Greek word [bema] is used and translated "judgment seat." I feel it is unfair to call or translate it bema in English because that word means nothing to us in English; it isn't really a translation, but a transliteration. "Judgment seat" communicates part of the truth, but may indicate that the believer is being subjected to judgment. However, in each occurrence which refers to believers, the picture used is rather that of one judging games, not alleged criminals. The point of the judgment is to award believers based upon how they have run the race.Back
*9 Some Greek manuscripts have [faulon] being worthless, as in a fallow field. This illustrates the understanding of evil, in the context being that which lacks in character. A field which lies fallow does not have the character expected of it. Similarly, the works a believer does for God which lack in the specified areas, are evil or lacking in character. Back>
*10 Some Greek manuscripts omit the word "you" at the end of the verse. It should read "and in you all." Back
*11 The Greek clause os sumbibasei auton can be interpreted as a statement rather than a question. The verse may now read: "For who has known the mind of the Lord? The one joined to Him. We now have the mind of Christ." (cf Ephesians 4:16).Back
*12 Lewis S. Chafer, Grace, The Glorious Theme (Grand Rapids: Dunham Publishing, 1967) 355.Back
*13 ibid, 357.Back

Chapter 17
*1 The Greek text reads, cronos ouketi estai. "there will be delay no longer," in the NASB, ESV, ASV, AV, NET, NIV, and Darby are interpretations of this phrase. It can be argued that the time comes to its fulfillment with the seventh trumpet, which signals the second coming, and ushers in the realized form of the kingdom.Back
*2 The two words cronois aiwniois could be taken as a noun and adjective, "eternal times." This almost seems an oxymoron. However, the adjective is the word for eternal or eternity. It only refers to eternity in the adjectival form. It is therefore acceptable to take both as locative nouns and translate it "in/during times in eternities." The idea is that since time, which lies between eternities, began, this mystery had remained unrevealed. Back
*3 Hell translates three key words: Sheol, Hades, Gehenna. The first two refer to the same place, the temporary location of the departed dead. In the Old Testament it described the location of both the saved and unsaved dead (Jonah 2:2; Psalm 49:15; 86:13). Gehenna refers to the future permanent place of punishment of the unsaved. Hell in Old English and Old High German referred to the "unseen" or "concealed", related to the Greek kalupto "to veil". Thus the Old English idea of hell was less specific than it has come to be interpreted since the translation of early English versions. For this reason "hell" is probably not a clear translation of the biblical Hebrew and Greek words.Back
*4 The Hebrew preposition al with the pronominal suffix "them" is represented in many English Bibles as "with them."Back

Chapter 18
*1 Church and synagogue are similar words, both indicating an assembly. Yet God chose the Greek word for Church instead of continuing to use the word common among the Jews. By changing to a different word, God added another example that the Church is not a Jewish entity and is not Israel.Back
*2 While most translations have "the", "world" has no article, and therefore refers to "a quality of world" that is the future creation.Back

Chapter 19
*1 See [kashdim] Gesinius, op cit, 418. He adds, "From the Chaldeans having been greatly addicted to astrology, this name is also applied to (20 astrologers, magians, Dan. 2:2, 4 ...)" Back
*2 Alexander Harkavy, Student's Hebrew and Chaldee Lexicon to the Old Testament (New York: Hebrew Publishing Company, 1914) 309 "cover of the ark of the covenant".Back
*3 W.E. Vine, Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words, (McLean, Virginia: MacDonald Publishing Company nd) 367. Back
*4 "Course of this world" in the AV is literally, "age of the quality of the world." World is a descriptive Genitive, which modifies "age."Back
*5 Robert G. Gromacki explains about the word "wise" in 1 Corinthians 1:20, "The "wise" refers to Gentile philosophers, like those who mocked Paul for preaching the resurrection of Christ (Acts 17:22-32)." Called to Be Saints, (The Woodlands, TX: Kress Christian Publications, 2002) 19.Back
*6 Regarding the word scribe, Gromacki explains, "Later they were known as learned in the law because they transcribed, expounded, and administered it." ibid, 19.Back

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