If there was ever a word in Christian studies that generated more questions, disdain, misunderstanding, vitriol and division (certainly NOT the "right" division Paul wrote about), it is the word "dispensation". It is not only used in the bible, but it's principles of stewardship are scattered throughout it. Even Jesus Christ referred to the "parable of the talents" in Matthew 25:14-30, and in Luke 19:11-27 well before appearing to the apostle Paul and revealing to him about a special mystery dispensing part of God's dispensation of grace to mankind. Paul spoke on the topic of stewardship to the church at Corinth; 

 

1 Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. 2 Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful...” - 1 Corinthians 4:1-2

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For the church of God, there is a clear relationship to performance with faithfulness here friends. Again, I'm not talking about a works salvation, I'm speaking to the church of God right now. WE are saved by grace through faith, and that NOT of ourselves it is the gift of God (the gift of Christ's righteousness) NOT of works (from OUR righteousness), lest any man should boast. WE simply took God at His word, which is the definition of faith!

 

So, while the verses in Matthew 25, Luke 19 and 1 Corinthians 4 show us examples Christ used to the Nation of Israel concerning their obedience, the principal of stewardship is there for us today in the majestic, amazing grace we are under!

 

It has been my experience of late that unique faith systems, movements and fellowships are attempting to bring back "law keeping" as a means of acquiring their right standing with God, some with a unitarian belief system, apart from Christ. This doesn't make them evil, or bad it makes them uninformed. There is no way of knowing their motivations without a discussion, so I am reluctant to say they are purposefully "lying" because I truly don't know and I would like to give the benefit of doubt.​

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What I do know is that if a man or woman is attempting to get their righteousness from the law or self-righteousness, they are making a grave spiritual mistake, one to this day still separates the nation of Israel from The Messiah, The LORD Jesus Christ. 

 

19 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. 20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. 21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; 22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: 23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; 24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: 25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; 26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. 27 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith. 28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law. - Romans 3:19-28

 

For the purposes of this topic let me be brief and point readers to Romans chapter 5 and Paul's writings (that he received from Christ directly) in accepting the free gift of righteousness for much more on this....

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Right Division ​

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Myles Coverdale said, “It shall greatly help ye to understand the Scriptures if thou mark not only what is spoken or written, but of whom and to whom, with what words, at what time, where, to what intent, with what circumstances, considering what goeth before and what followeth after”.

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I have little care for the politics and belief how of John Darby or C.I. Scofield saw things, whether or not they were Masonic members so that because they understood right division at some level which I may agree with, that I automatically agree with everything they embraced. Is this the time I can use the "don't throw the baby out with the bathwater" expression? I am hoping that without being tossed to and fro by every wind of doctrine, that those that have trusted Christ can grow to have the "mind of Christ" and not only embrace the grace of God, but to grow to understand the mystery in Ephesians, Colossians, Philippians as Paul wrote in Colossians 2:10, so that you are complete in Him. 

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You may indeed be a "non-dispensational believer" if you have (or still sacrifice) sacrificed a calf or the "best of the flock", a turtle dove or pigeon recently. If you haven't done that and do embrace law keeping as a means to get right with God, then we do have a conflict. But if you believe that Jesus Christ accomplished the holy, sacrificial requirements of God The Father for mankind per Hebrews 8 through 10 on our behalf then you are a dispensational believer whether you want to admit that or not because you changed your mind and believed the new set of instructions that the Risen Christ gave Paul to give us, found only in his letters.

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Definition of Dispensation:

• the act of dispensing or something dispensed;

• a specific arrangement or system by which something is dispensed.

• the study of how God deals with mankind

 

Moses "dispensed" the Law and was entrusted with the dispensing of the Law as he was God's steward of that dispensation!  God has been dispensing instructions to mankind since Adam. Even in the letter to the Hebrews we see in chapter 11, the Hall of Faith, those that responded to God's dispensed instructions were counted as right with Him. 
 

Since the beginning of creation, God has dispensed instructions for man to follow. God did this for mankind's well-being, prosperity and most importantly, to assure that His relationship would never be broken with man. However, since man's rebellion in the Garden of Eden, he has continued to disobey God to his own destruction. Because of God's grace, love and mercy, the bible shows us that God gives man repeated opportunities to respond to Him. Man, in turn, responds with disobedience. God judges mankind and then counters mankind's rebellion with the ushering in of a new set of dispensed instructions called "dispensations". Since the beginning the bible has been shown us:

 

1. God dispenses instructions for man to follow so that man will take God at His word

2. Man rebels through unbelief and rejects God's instructions

3. God judges man

4. God in His grace, love and mercy ushers in a new set of instructions

 

How should I read the bible then?
Do you find when you read the bible you sometimes come across passages or chapters of the bible that are difficult to understand? Yet, in our ignorance, we know that its not God’s Word that is the problem but instead our lack of comprehension! Our sin nature is more attracted to man’s tradition (what man says about God) rather than holding obeisance to the bible (what God says about man). 

 

"Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover, it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.” - 1 Corinthians 4:1-3

 

• Before a child of God can truly begin to apply God’s Word to His life while studying the bible, he must understand several important concepts including:

• How is God dealing with mankind at this time (or in other words, what are the current marching orders of the day)?

• Who is God talking to?

• What is the context of the conversation?

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While I am convinced that the canon of the bible given to us by the church forefathers is accurate, there is not enough emphasis on the timeliness of when the letters were written; I am talking about the NT here for the most part, excluding Matthew (66 - 68 A.D.) and Mark (64 - 65 A.D.) because  you can make the case to say THEY are OT scriptures but I digress... Luke (66 - 67 A.D.) is a hybrid of sorts because while he wrote of the events from the earthly ministry of Christ he was the apostle Paul's friend and doctor and was an eyewitness to God's changeover to how HE dealt with man; from law to grace and the revelation of the mystery. The date stamp of when the synoptic gospels were written show later dates then when Paul wrote, even though the actual events occurred BEFORE Paul wrote his letters. It is my opinion that the forefathers wanted that order through the guidance of the Holy Spirit so that all the world could, through faith, come to a relationship in Christ as one Body, one true church. The doctrinal applicability of all non-Pauline letters will be of most value to those of Hebrew lineage and faith left after the church of God is taken away to be with Christ in the air, an event that Paul thought would occur when he was writing to the Thessalonians just before God's offer of the kingdom (and return of Jesus Christ's 2nd coming) would end. These future saints would need scripture to understand and live by (doctrine) not only historically, but to navigate through the most difficult of times. It makes more sense to me personally now why there was 30+ years for 1st, 2nd, 3rd John, his gospel and The Revelation of Jesus Christ to be written. 

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Regarding The Acts of Apostles, Paul's Letters, The General Letters - st, 2nd, 3rd John and Jude and The Dispersion Letters - 1 and 2 Peter & James, there is "more to meet the eye" as their canon and historical date stamp are more relational than we have been taught toward ensuring a better comprehension for readers. Worse yet, is if canon and the historical date stamp components aren't considered, (and it they haven't been for quite some time unfortunately...) myriads of denominations and beliefs will continue to spring up. It is my opinion that this is the reason that churches across America better resemble mental institutions instead of Holy Spirit Healing Centers. We just haven't done a good job at translating what God has given us to us vertically, horizontally to mankind. Writings by John, the beloved one that leaned on the breast of Jesus are credited with a much later date (80-97 A.D.) including The Revelation. There is little evidence to suggest that contemporary members of the church of God or the apostle Paul read or had access to these letters, which would make perfect sense to me. Trying to read the church of God into the gospel of John, 1, 2, 3, John or the Revelation has made mincemeat of minds of believers and non-believers alike. Those brought to the saving faith of Christ prior to His second coming will use these letters to navigate through the most difficult of times ever recorded in the history of mankind. The church of God, the very Body of Christ will have been called to meet Him in the air, (on His way down to fulfill The Lord's Day) to be with Him forever. Again, it is still a 2nd coming, not a "down-up-down" behind the scenes appearing as many commentators describe. In all transparency, I had thought "the elevator" Jesus  would  pick up His saints too if I could inject some humor here. But now it is my hope and prayer this understanding should help reconcile much of the confusion that has occurred with comprehending the books of John and the other NT, non-Pauline letters (although I do believe Paul to be the author of Hebrews). This is also why I noted the important relationship between cannon and the written date stamp above.

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Timing is everything

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Why is timing everything you might ask? I think the main issue is that we haven't allowed the Third Person of the Godhead, The Holy Spirt to do His work. Christ in His earthly ministry to Israel told them in John 16:12-16 that " I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now." There is an order, a time, a series of events, that must happen in order for us to understand God's revelation to mankind. In the end, the Holy Spirit (the Spirit of Truth) "will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come." This foundational principle is again referred to and it is where Paul tells us in 2 Timothy 2:15 that in order to be approved and not ashamed unto God as His workman, we must rightly divide the Word of truth.  

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In addition, there is the "carnality factor" amidst members of the church of God as Paul addressed this in one example, shortly after his introduction in 1 Corinthians:

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10 Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. 11 For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you. 12 Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. 13 Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul? - 1 Corinthians 1:10-13

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While the church of God understood Jesus Christ's special dispensing of grace, His gradual revelation to Paul would apex at the "revelation of the mystery". It was THIS that Paul wanted to continue to expand upon, notice:

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1 And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. 2 For I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. 3 And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. 4 And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: 5 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. 6 Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought: 7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: 8 Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

 

Paul wrote that at least 5 years before he penned Ephesians, Colossians and Philippians which were the details of the mystery. This is why Paul asked them in Ephesians 3 starting in verse 1:

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...for this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles, 2 If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward: 3 How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words)... Let's stop there for a second. The grace of God had been revealed, and even Peter knew God was changing how He was now dealing with the nations, just read Acts 10 and the conversion of Cornelius. Even in Acts 8:27-40, Phillip, prompted by the Holy Spirit, witnessed to a man from the ancestry of Ham right out of the book of Isaiah:

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And he (Phillip) arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship, was returning, and sitting in his chariot reading Esaias the prophet....

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Paul reiterated that Christ made known TO HIM, the mystery, AS HE WROTE BEFORE IN A FEW WORDS.  ​ There was clearly an issue here. Paul wanted to give them the meat of the word but could not get beyond giving them the milk of the word. He told them in 1 Corinthians 3 that he had fed them with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto they were not able to bear it. 

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We must remember that when Paul received his revelation from Jesus Christ, he didn't pull out his mobile device or computer or use social media to communicate to mankind instantly. Years and years went by and to say there was latency between when he received information from The Risen, Glorified Christ, to when he would write, visit, teach and preach this doctrine to churches is an understatement! Further, there were many sects of Judean believers in synagogues with converted Gentile believers at various phases of "belief" all going on at once.

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In Acts 21 starting in verse 18, Paul wrote that while in Jerusalem he visited James and the elders and after salutations were made, he gave an account of the things God had accomplished with the Gentiles through his ministry. The news that Paul would hear next had to have troubled him, please notice: 20 And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord, and said unto him, Thou seest, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are which believe; and they are all zealous of the law 21 And they are informed of thee, that thou teachest all the Jews which are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise their children, neither to walk after the customs. ​​

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None of these accusations were true. We do not know where these Jews came from or the depth and understanding of their faith. All we can ascertain from the bible is that thousands of these "believers" were zealous of the law. But what was it that they believed?? With the offer of the kingdom still on the table and Israel as a nation yet to make their law failure confession, they were in fact STILL in unbelief. You want proof? Look at the next passage where they falsely accused Paul of forsaking Moses and teaching not to circumcise or walk after the customs. They wanted these things to be followed as their way to get right and stay right with God.

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In an attempt to be all things with all men, the apostle of the Gentiles took the recommendation to go with the four men who have taken a vow, pay for them (and yourself) and partake in the head shaving purification vow which will prove to the Jewish "believers" of your sincerity Paul.... And concerning the Gentile Christians, all we require of them is that they should not eat food offered to idols, consume blood, or eat meat from strangled animals, and they should stay away from fornication. This was all theater friends. There are no Jewish Christians or Gentile Christians, there is only the church of God, the Body of Christ. But I share this with you because this was Paul's reality. They again stirred up the crowd and began to beat Paul. The chief captain had to intervene to quell the mob and as a result gave Paul an opportunity to give one of the many great speeches in the book of Acts in chapter 22! God would use these events to show Paul " how he should suffer" for the name of Christ " the prophesy Christ made to Ananias in Acts 9:15,19.

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Today, we have the completed story and the ability to make sense of foundational doctrine, but we will be unsuccessful without rightly dividing the word of truth.

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More confusion

Enter the words Jew, Jews and Jewish and the confusion continues, let's explore:

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"Jews" occurs 257 times in 244 verses in the KJV from 2 Kings 16:6 through Revelation 3:9 so to really unpack the meaning of the word, students should review the context around the word; I use www.blueletterbible.org

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• The KJV translates Strong's H3064 in the following manner: Jew (74x), Jew (with H376) (1x), Judah (1x).

• ye-hudi  pronounced  yeh-hoo-dee'  a Jehudite (i.e. Judaite or Jew), or descendant of Jehudah (i.e. Judah)​
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"Jew" occurs 32x in 32 verses of the KJV from Esther 2:5 through Colossians 3:1 and oddly enough is first used all the way up in the Book of Esther, 8x alone. Please note that the specs of the Hebrew are identical as the KJV translates Strong's H3064 the same.

 

The Greek word ioudaios (pronounced: ee-oo-dah'-yos) or Jew, which was short for Judean could have meant any number of things including:

• being from the tribe of Judah (and/or Benjamin); a Judahite 

•  KJV Strong's G2453 matches the Greek (ioudaios), occurs in 186 verses in the KJV.

• Judean, i.e. belonging to Jehudah from and living in the region of Judea(n)

• Of Judea that did not necessarily translate to that of a Christian faith system.

• The apostle John, inasmuch as agreeably to the state of things in his day he looked upon the Jews as a body of men hostile to Christianity, with whom he had come to see that both he and all true Christians had nothing in common as respects religious matters, even in his record of the life of Jesus not only himself makes a distinction between the Jews and Jesus, but ascribes to Jesus and his apostles language in which they distinguish themselves from the Jews, as though the latter sprang from an alien race: John 11:8; John 13:33.

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Note the word "Jewish" is used only once in Titus 1:14 - Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth.

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We have no idea what it was that Jews or Gentiles believed, but we can be sure it had nothing to do with the simplicity that is in Christ or an intersection of "the faith" at the church of God, Christ's Body.

 

More clarity

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What I never understood is that most of the OT we see the children of Israel being referred to as Hebrews. That makes sense to me because "Hebrews" comes from "Eber" the forefather of Abraham. And if you believed in the God of Abraham, Issac and Jacob, then all believed in the Most High God (Jehovah translated as The LORD in the KJV). You first see in the book of Esther in Chapter 2. Here the word "Jew" is presented in 2:5 "Now in Shushan the palace there was a certain Jew, whose name was Mordecai, the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, a Benjamite;" So per above note on this topic, ye-hudi  pronounced  yeh-hoo-dee'  is used.  No one amidst the nations would care to distinguish between "Judah and Israel" and as far as Nebuchadnezzar was concerned his crusade was against Judah, so "Jew" became the name used by Gentiles. I found that even today, the term "Jew" can take on many different meanings depending on context. I think this ambiguity causes a big problem but at least I think I may be on to something that will help readers understand the bible better!

 

In summary and applicable to the NT, we have Jews, Gentiles and the church of God in the bible friends! No one should assume any belief or faith system being tied to Jew or Gentile. The church of God according to the Lord Jesus Christ and what he revealed to the apostle Paul is the intersection point of where both Jew & Gentile can exist together, but only in Christ Jesus! The name Jesus Christ, The God Man, the Word of God, the Second Person in the Triune God is indeed God. Now you might be getting the picture as to why this fact incites so much division in "faith systems" across not only America, but the world. It is in fact exclusive but really inclusive to all of mankind to those that take God at His word in this matter. 

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29 Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also: 30 Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith. 31 Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law. - Romans 3:29-31

 

It is my opinion as to why it seems when we read some NT scriptures there is the challenging of their faith because not everyone trusted God according to what HE had to say. If we read ourselves in to other areas of the bible not meant for us only confusion awaits.

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​Paul's letters provide the solution

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It is of my understanding that the apostle Paul was driving the point of right division to the church at Corinth. The division started right here with this assembly and was a very similar overall threat to the church of God. He attempted to address the issue in the first chapter of 1 Corinthians 1:10 - Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. 

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While the Word of God is indeed written FOR all mankind, and FOR all ages, not every part of it is addressed TO all of mankind or ABOUT all of mankind IN all time.

 

The three major factions: Jews, Gentiles, and the church of God are the players. It is up to us through the power of the Holy Spirit to rightly divide which faction is being addressed. In addition, God always establishes a requirement or criteria (faith - taking God at His word) of which mankind can have a relationship with Him. Note that every word is "written FOR our learning," and contains what all mankind should know but now, the specific subject-matter starts and ends with the preaching of the cross!

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18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. 20 Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? 21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. 22 For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: 23 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; 24 But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.

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Jew and Gentile can intersect at the church of God. This is a component of the mystery; the apex of the benefits of Christ's work at Calvary much beyond being delivered from the debt and penalty of sins friends. It is how we can have the mind of Christ. I have a littel acronym of which I remember the main facets of the mystery, PURE God

• P - preaching of the cross (1 Corinthians 1:18)

• U - union of Christ via the Holy Spirit with man, intersecting in His Body between Jew and Gentile (Ephesians 3:6)

• R - rapture of the church of God better known as the upgathering or being called out (Titus 1:13)

• E - equality of Jew and Gentile (Ephesians 4:4-6)

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​The mystery kept secret since the world began (Romans 16:25) was spoken of by Paul but its schematic is the book of Romans. It drives the apex of "the mystery" found in:

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• Ephesians A.D. 62 written from Rome while Paul was imprisoned

• Colossians A.D. 62 also written from Rome while Paul was imprisoned

• Philippians A.D. 62 written later in the year from Rome while Paul was still imprisoned 

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17 He has brought this Good News of peace to you Gentiles who were far away from him, and to us Jews who were near. 18 Now all of us, both Jews and Gentiles, may come to the Father through the same Holy Spirit because of what Christ has done for us. 19 So now you Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along with all of God's holy people. You are members of God's family. 20 We are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself. 21 We who believe are carefully joined together, becoming a holy temple for the Lord. 22 Through him you Gentiles are also joined together as part of this dwelling where God lives by his Spirit. - (NLT) Ephesians 2: 17-22​​

 

The purpose of this web site is two-fold. One - to equip the believer so that they can understand the true nature of God's dealings with mankind as well as Paul’s distinctive ministry, which has not been faithfully taught in this age of grace. Two - to proclaim "the ministry of reconciliation" (2 Corinthians 5) or "The Grace Commission". God The Father through the person and work of God The Son, The Lord Jesus Christ, reconciled the WORLD to Himself not imputing (charging) their sins against them. Jesus Christ died for our offenses but was raised again for our justification (righteousness); (Romans 4:25). SIN WILL NOT KEEP MAN OUT OF HEAVEN; IT IS THE ISSUE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS THAT WILL. Jesus Christ took sin off the table through His death at Calvary centuries ago. When He cried "It Is Finished" He meant it! His death vanquished all sins; past present and future. His burial put away sin out of God's sight, nowhere to be found thus "hilariously" and completely satisfying the holy and righteous requirements of God The Father (Hebrews 8-10, Colossians 1,2, Romans 4, 5). TO ACCESS HEAVEN, YOU NEED TO BE AS RIGHTEOUS AS GOD! ANYONE WHO TAKES GOD THE FATHER AT HIS WORD AND BELIEVES (ACCEPTS) CHRIST'S FREE GIFT OF RIGHTEOUSNESS WILL DWELL WITH HIM FOREVER!

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God wants all people do dwell with Him forever. God will NOT violate man's free will, instead He wants man to chose whether or not he will take Him at His word. Once saved, we are to take this message to a lost and dying world that has relied on superstition and false religious activities in an attempt to get to heaven based on their own righteousness.