Part 2 - Today’s Unique “Dispensation of the Grace of God.”

This Article is part of a multi-part Study Series called What is Dispensational Truth?.

Having seen the several Dispensational ages summarized in Part 1 of this study, we need to note the greatest and most significant dispensational change, which transitions from Israel’s The Dispensation of “the Law” to today’s Gentile “Dispensation of the Grace of God.”

Paul in the verse below succinctly declares the grace believer’s freedom from the demand of the “the Law” unto the Blessings of Pauls’ GRACE gospel for the Gentile “body of Christ.” We are saved by pure grace and simultaneously released from the dominion of sin; from Sin’s penalty and Sin’s power.

“For sin shall not have dominion over you: for [since] ye are Not Under The Law, but Under Grace.” (Rom. 6:14)

Note the Law and Sin connection whereby the Law is what empowers Sinning; “The sting of death is sin; and the strength [Grk. dunamis, power] of sin is the law. 1 Corinthians 15:56b (KJV)

The current Dispensational age of ‘the Grace of God,’ which followed ‘The Law Dispensation’ being set aside, is called “The Dispensation of the GRACE of God” (Eph. 3:2). The blessing of this change is immense and far reaching, including several that are listed here.;

  1. Deliverance from “the Law” and “ordinances.” Keeping The Law for righteousness’ has already been fulfilled by Christ’s Cross-work on behalf of all men who would believe.

“[Jesus’ Cross-work was] Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his [Jesus’] cross;” (Colossians 2:14 (KJV)

  1. God’s 100% Pure Grace is available to all believers of all races and genders (Gal. 3:28). This is the ‘free gift program’ of God’s pure grace (cf. Eph. 2:8-9) that makes us “accepted in the beloved” (Eph. 1:6) as opposed to Israel’s ‘Law’ Program which is a ‘Performance Based Acceptance System.’

“For by GRACE are ye SAVED through FAITH [alone]; and that not of yourselves: it is the GIFT of God: 9Not of [religious] works, lest any man should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9 (KJV)

“But [salvation] to him that Worketh Not, But Believeth on him [Christ] that justifieth the ungodly, his Faith Is Counted For Righteousness. 6 Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without [religious] works, 7 Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. 8 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute [count his] sin.” (Rom. 4:5-8)

  1. The genuine Church today consist of the many membered “body of Christ” indwelled by “the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus.”  His “body” not a religious organization but rather an organism built of the One Life of “Christ In You,” in each of us, in our spirit where His Spirit now dwells in union with us.
  2. The “the body of Christ” is already “blessed with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ.” For this is a heavenly spiritual body, not a denomination or organization that you can ‘join.’
  3. The riches of glory of “the Mystery [secret] of Christ” was first revealed to Paul for believers. It had been kept secret since the world began.” (Rom. 16:25), but it is now revealed to us in Paul’s 13 epistles for all the Gentile members of “the body of Christ” which is still being formed during today’s “Dispensation of the Grace of God.” (Eph. 3:2)
  4. The members of “the body of Christ” are included in God eternal plan for “the heavenly places” where we will ‘co-reign with Christ forever.’

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places [the super-heavenlies far above ALL] in Christ:” Ephesians 1:3 (KJV)

If we suffer [learn to endure by Him], WE SHALL ALSO REIGN WITH HIM: if we deny him, he also will deny us [from reigning]: 2 Timothy 2:12 (KJV)

Note that we as saved believers are forever “saved” and “sealed” even if we fail to be entirely faithful. Note the verse below that follows verse 12 (see above). Let us be those who keep trusting Him in all things that we might learn to trust Him in ALL things ‘being renewed in our minds.’

[even] If We Believe Not, yet He Abideth Faithful: He Cannot Deny Himself. 2 Timothy 2:13 (KJV)

“In whom [in Christ] ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,” (Ephesians 1:13 (KJV)

So, Rightly Dividing” Dispensational Truth of one Dispensation from one another, from one Dispensational age from another is a key to understanding the Bible. It helps us to clearly discern whether any particular doctrine, be it command, promise, or prophecy, either does or does not pertain to us or any other particular individual(s) of another age.

E.g., The starkest contrast exposed in this way of Rightly Dividing the Biblical dispensations concerns and distinguishes the ‘Nation Israel’ from … all other men as ‘Gentiles.’ This was the plan and is the history found in the Bible from the time of the fall of Adamuntil the conversion and salvation of the Apostle Paul as “the [one] Apostle to the Gentiles” (Rom. 11:13). Paul introduced the new “Dispensation of the Grace of God” (Eph. 3:2), which we simply call ‘GRACE.’

This ‘division’ of the Dispensations is clearly taught by Paul as a means for our learning and understanding of God’s eternal purpose and plan. Paul tells us exactly How to Study “the word of truth.”

“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15 (KJV)

Now take particular note of the phrase since the world began in words of Peter at Pentecost in Acts 3:21 and the very same phrase used in Pauls’ words of Romans 16:25.

  1. The Acts 3:21 words of Peter on the day of Pentecost refer to and concern Israel Only.

“(Christ) Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath SPOKEN By The Mouth Of All His Holy Prophets SINCE THE WORLD BEGAN.” (Acts 3:21)

  1. By contrast, Paul as the Apostle “to the uncircumcision [Gentiles] (Gal. 2:7-8) writes of what he called “my gospel” had been kept secret by God until Jesus from heaven revealed it to Paul for All men, including individual Jews, all of whom are referred to a Gentiles, during this age of the pure grace of God.

“Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my [Paul’s] gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery [Gk. musterion, the secret], which Was KEPT SECRET SINCE THE WORLD BEGAN,” (Romans 16:25 (KJV)

Therefore, Peter’s and Paul’s Gospels Cannot Be the Same because something SPOKEN since the world began and something that had been KEPT SECRET since the world began” are clearly DIFFERENT.

  • These two gospels refer and apply to two different Dispensational ages,
  • for two different people groups (Israel, and the Gentile “body of Christ”)
  • having two different eternal destinies. (Israel is to reign on earth, His body is to reign in heaven)

Under Pauls’ gospel of “the Dispensation of the grace of God” there are no racial distinctions, thus including ALL grace believing people of all races (cf. Gal. 3:28). So, when we read in the Bible any information or doctrine that is concerns Israel, we then know it does not apply to the believers of the present Gentile “Dispensation of the grace of God.”

Studying the Bible Dispensationally takes note of the differences and thereby helps the Bible student to distinguish between the heavenly spiritual blessings of the body of Christ” and the blessing yet to come to Israel on “the earth.”

Dispensational study clearly tells us Israel is destined to Reign On Earth (cf. Rev. 5:10, 20:6), whereas “the body of Christ” is blessed with “all spiritual blessings in the heavenly places,” being destined to enjoy co-reigning with Christ “in heavenly places” (cf. 2Tim, 2:12, Eph. 1:3).

“For by him [Jesus Christ] were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be [governments ranked by] thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:” (Colossians 1:16 (KJV)

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: Ephesians 1:3 (KJV)