Dispensationalism - How God Deals With Mankind (Part II)

Dispensationalism Teaching Outline: Lesson 2

Title: Dispensationalism: The Study of How God Deals With Mankind (Final Draft J, 2/15/23)

• Dispensationalism is a study of how God deals with mankind throughout time and teaches that there are different “dispensations” or different ways in which God deals with man. 
• Some Bible-believers define dispensations as different time periods in which God deals differently with mankind. These are two ways of saying the same thing.

Why should we care about How God Deals with Man? Why should we care about this enough to conduct a study of it?

1. Proverbs 15:28 (KJV) The heart of the righteous studieth to answer: but the mouth of the wicked poureth out evil things.

• People are confused today. (A lot of false teaching results from ignoring the historical and dispensational contexts of the Bible.) (See for example Leviticus 17:11)
• We should study the word of God to help others.
• To answer or explain what we believe and why we believe it.
• Bible-believing Baptists don’t believe mankind needs a Catholic or Anglican priest for salvation. Why is that?
•  Bible-believing Baptists don’t believe water Baptism is necessary for salvation. Why is that? Methodist’s do; Mormon’s do. Roman Catholic’s do. Lutheran’s do. Anglican’s do. Episcopalian’s do. Why don’t Baptists believe people have to be baptized to be saved?
• Bible-believing Baptists don’t believe salvation is dependent on man’s works. Why?
•  The answer to these and many more questions resides in understanding how God deals with man. 

2. I Thessalonians 4:11 (KJV) And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you.

• Quietness means restful.
• To be free from alarm and disturbance.
• To be free from strife.
• To be calm, peaceful, tranquil, quiet. Sound doctrine quiets our hearts and spirits.

3. II Timothy 2:15 (KJV) Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth (See Isaiah 66:2; Jeremiah 5:1; Hosea 4:6).

• Study builds a relationship with God.
• Study demonstrates God’s approval.
• Study involves properly or rightly dividing the word of truth (Scripture).
• This is our subject matter encapsulated in Scripture. 

So, we’re looking at this subject to be a help to ourselves and others. Jesus said in John 8:32, And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. Truth is like nutrients and medicine. It carries a power to help, free.  It’s not just to play brain games. 

By conducting a historical survey of the Bible, we concluded last time that God deals differently with different people at different times. 

For example:

• God didn’t put you or me in a perfect paradise, but He put someone there.
• God didn’t give you or me an opportunity to eat of the tree of life, but He gave someone the opportunity.
• You or I don’t live 900 years, but other people in Bible history did.
• God destroyed someone with the waters of a worldwide flood, but it wasn’t us.
• God commanded somebody to sacrifice animal blood daily and annually, but it wasn’t you or me.
• God allowed some people to literally witness the earthly and resurrected life of Jesus Christ, but it wasn’t us. 

So, it is very evident that God deals differently with mankind at different times.

This means:
1. Not all the bible is about you (I Peter 1:10-11). (Involves, applies, is written to, is written about). Just because the Bible says something, that doesn’t automatically mean that it involves you. (All scripture is given for us, but it is not all addressed to us. James 1:1; Hebrews 1:2)

1 Peter 1:10-12 (KJV) Of which salvation the prophets have inquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into. (see Jeremiah 31:31-34)

• The Bible is about some people that lived in a garden paradise. But that’s not you.
• The Bible is about some people who lived before the flood (1,600 years) But that’s not you.
• The Bible is about some people who lived before the law was given. But that’s not you.
• The Bible is about some people who lived under the law (Old Testament). But that’s not you.
• The Bible is about some people who live under Grace (New Testament, Romans 6:14, 15). THAT’S YOU.
• The Bible is about some people who will live during Daniel’s 70th week (Revelation 7:4). But that’s not you.
• 2/3 of the Bible is about the people of Israel. (O.T.) But that’s not you. 

2. Not all the bible is about the same time (I Peter 1:9-11).

1 Peter 1:10-12 (KJV) Of which salvation the prophets have inquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into. (Isaiah 9:6, 7 versus 53:6)

• Past – Sufferings Isaiah 53:3-6 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
• Present – Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
• Future – Glory Isaiah 65:25 The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock: and dust shall be the serpent's meat. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith the LORD.

3. What’s true at one timemay not be true at another (matthew 24:33).

Matthew 24:33  So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.

• Deuteronomy 24:1 When a man hath taken a wife, and married her, and it come to pass that she find no favor in his eyes, because he hath found some uncleanness in her: then let him write her a bill of divorcement, and give it in her hand, and send her out of his house. Matthew 5:31-32 It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement: But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery. True.
• Mankind could’ve eaten of the tree of life and lived forever in Genesis 2 and 3. BUT NOT NOW. TRUE. It looks like someone will be able to eat it in the future (Revelation 22:14). BUT NOT NOW.
• True. Mankind could live to be 900 years old (Genesis 5-9), BUT NOT NOW.
• True. God didn’t impute sin to mankind before the law of Moses. BUT HE DOES NOW.
• True. Under the law of Moses, God required animal blood sacrifices (Leviticus 17:11). BUT HE DOESN’T NOW.
• True. Mankind could have literally sat down and ate with Jesus Christ, on earth (the Gospels record this). BUT HE CAN’T NOW.

4. What’s true for one group of people, may not be true for ANOTHER (John 4:22).

John 4:22 Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.

Romans 3:1-2, What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision? Much every way: chiefly because that unto them were committed the oracles of God.

• Deuteronomy 4:32-33 For ask now of the days that are past, which were before thee, since the day that God created man upon the earth, and ask from the one side of heaven unto the other, whether there hath been any such thing as this great thing is, or hath been heard like it? Did ever people hear the voice of God speaking out of the midst of the fire, as thou hast heard, and live?
• Deuteronomy 4:34 Or hath God assayed to go and take him a nation from the midst of another nation, by temptations, by signs, and by wonders, and by war, and by a mighty hand, and by a stretched out arm, and by great terrors, according to all that the LORD your God did for you in Egypt before your eyes?
• Deuteronomy 4:37 And because he loved thy fathers, therefore he chose their seed after them, and brought thee out in his sight with his mighty power out of Egypt;
• Deuteronomy 9:5 Not for thy righteousness, or for the uprightness of thine heart, dost thou go to possess their land: but for the wickedness of these nations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee, and that he may perform the word which the LORD sware unto thy fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
• Deuteronomy 10:15 Only the LORD had a delight in thy fathers to love them, and he chose their seed after them, even you above all people, as it is this day.
• Deuteronomy 14:2 For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God, and the LORD hath chosen thee to be a peculiar people unto himself, above all the nations that are upon the earth.
• God doesn’t do this for any other nation.

5. Scripture may apply at one time but not at another (matthew 16:20). (Human obligations may be required at one time in Bible history but not at another…of one people but not of another.) 

Hebrews 1:1-2, God, who at sundry (different) times and in divers (different) manners spake in time past unto the fathers (different people) by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;

Matthew 16:20, Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ.

Matthew 10:5-6, These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

Matthew 10:7, And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Matthew 28:19, 20, Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost…teaching them to observe….

• Animal Sacrifices were required at one time. Hebrews 9:22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission. But not now.
• The Gospel of the Kingdom was preached at one time. Matthew 4:23 And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people. But not now.
• Man could get eternal life eating the fruit of a literal tree. Genesis 3:22 (KJV) And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever. But not now.
• Luke 4:21 And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.

6. Every passage of scripture has a Historical context (II Corinthians 6:2). The historical context will help identify the dispensational context.

• Two questions the believer should always ask.

1. When in history is this taking place?  
2. How is God dealing with mankind at this time?

Matthew 10:5-7, These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Matthew 10:22, And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.

Matthew 24:9-10, Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake. And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. 

Matthew 24:13-14,  But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

Hebrews 9:16-17 For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.

7. Truth removed from its context becomes heresy (II Peter 3:16). (truth out of place leads to heresy.)

• The intercession of a priesthood is needed for salvation. True in Leviticus [O.T.], But not now.
• Water Baptism is necessary for the gift of the Holy Ghost. True in Acts 2, But not now.
• Enduring to the end is necessary for salvation. True in Matthew 10 and 24, But not now.
• To stop sinning and live a sinless life is necessary for salvation. True in Hebrews 10:26, But not now.
• Not taking the mark of the beast is necessary for salvation. True in Revelation 14:9-12, But not now.
• Obeying commandments and eating of the tree of life is necessary for salvation. True in Revelation 22:14, But not now.

Truth out of place becomes heresy. Truth misplaced becomes heresy. truth out of place leads to heresy.

Conclusion:

• God can teach knowledge and doctrine to youth. But precept and line and patience must be employed.
• The Bible is a Historical record. It records God’s dealing with man throughout time. Believe it.
• Dispensationalism is the study of how God deals with mankind throughout time.
• A Dispensation is a particular way God treats man at a particular time. A Dispensation is a period of time in which God deals with mankind in a particular way.
• God doesn’t deal with everyone the same way. God is always Holy, Righteous, Merciful, and Just in His dealing, but He doesn’t treat everyone the same.
• Some people had the privilege of hearing His voice…God deals with those people in a particular way.
• Some people had the privilege of walking with God in the Garden of Eden…God deals with those people in a particular way.
• Some people got to hang out with the Lord Jesus Christ…God deals with those people in a particular way.
• Some people got to live to be 900 years old…God deals with those people in a particular way.
• Some people were miraculously confronted by literal encounters with God…God deals with those people in a particular way.
• Some people had to take the gospel record by faith, having never seen, heard, or touched Jesus Christ, that’s you and I…God deals with us in a particular way.
• What God does for one group or time period, He doesn’t necessarily promise to do for another group or time period.
• What God requires from one group or time period, He doesn’t necessarily requires from another group or time period.
• Scripture doesn’t all apply to the same people; it doesn’t all apply to the same time; it doesn’t all apply to you.

• 10 Precepts or lessons of Bible History (Dispensationalism.)

1. God’s dealing with man changes (Acts 17:30).
2. God doesn’t treat everyone the same way (John 21:22).
3. God deals differently with different people at different times (Hebrews 1:1). 
4. Not all the bible is about you (I Peter 1:10-11). (Involves, applies, is written to, is written about).
5. Not all the bible is about the same time (I Peter 1:10-11).
6. What’s true at one time may not be true at another (Luke 4:21).
7. What’s true for one group of people, may not be true for another (John 4:22).
8. Scripture may apply at one time but not at another (matthew 16:20). 
9. Every passage of scripture has a Historical (dispensational) context (II Corinthians 6:2).  
10. Truth removed from its context becomes error (II Peter 3:16).