Dispensationalism

Dispensationalism is the same word as Administrationalism. It simply means there are different periods of time in the bible where our understanding of God and His operations make a major shift. A simple chart would be divided like this: The dispensation of Law (Old Testament), The dispensation of Grace (Jesus Christ and the cross), and The dispensation of The Kingdom of God (Christ's literal 1000 year reign on earth). I was not taught dispensationalism growing up because our church teaches that scripture is more symbolic. Traditionally the Church of God is Amillennial, meaning there is no literal 1000 year reign of Christ on earth. Whether you're amillennial or pre-millennial, Christ is coming back for His church, and we don't know the day nor the hour.


What's so cool about my church is that we are a melting pot of beliefs, all worshipping together, loving each other despite our differences, and agreeing at times to disagree. I happen to believe the literal interpretation of the bible, so you could call me a dispensationalist, pre-tribulationalist, and a pre-millennialist. I know, these words are ridiculous. But what this means in a nutshell is that I believe the whole bible was written for me, I can learn from all of it. However I do not believe all of scripture directly applies to me. I believe Paul's message directly applies to me and all non-Jewish people. I believe Christ is coming back for me along with the rest of the Gentile Christians at the rapture, which will be followed by a tribulation period (duration of the period is unsure), and finally I believe Christ is coming back to set up a literal kingdom here on earth for the nation of Israel. After 1000 years (millennium) we will have the Great White Throne judgment followed by the last events recorded in scripture, the consummation where death is abolished (1 Cor 15). That's it in a nutshell, to get into details would take a book. What's interesting is that 5 years ago I didn't believe this way, and 5 years before that I believed something very different. I believe this change in thinking is a good thing, and if it's not happening in your walk with the Lord then maybe you're not asking the right questions. Remember that the message of Jesus Christ never changes.

1Co 15:3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which also I received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
1Co 15:4 and that he was buried; and that he hath been raised on the third day according to the scriptures; (RV)


File:Millennial views.svg - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (For further study of Dispensationalism)

Grace, MB

Are you a debtor?

Romans 1:14 "I am a debtor both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to wise and to unwise."

It's nice not to owe anyone anything, isn't it? To be debt-free is for many a passion, their sole desire, top on the list of things "to do". It is a good feeling when we are debt-free, I can relate. Here's something ironic - we are never debt-free. Think about it. We are always going to owe the Man who died for each one of us our life. How can you repay God for that sacrifice without also dying yourself? Paul especially had reason to be in debt to God.

1Co 15:9 "For I am the least of all the apostles---I do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted God's church." (GNB)

Seriously, of all people, who could be worse? Paul kills 1000's of people in the name of Judaism, his religion. He was working for the enemy, at odds with God, for years. And Paul was very zealous for his beliefs. He was sure he was right, so much so he watched the crowds stone Stephen to death, while he held Stephen's clothes. Bad enough a stoning, but to get pummeled while naked, how could you watch? But what does Paul eventually realize?

1Co 15:10 "But by God's grace I am what I am, and the grace that he gave me was not without effect. On the contrary, I have worked harder than any of the other apostles, although it was not really my own doing, but God's grace working with me." (GNB)

What motivates you to do what you do? Is it your past? Is it what you find yourself in now? Your kids? Your friends? Your family? I am so pumped I can barely keep this to myself, so I'll share something with you. I am realizing ever so slowly, by reading Paul's writings, that God not only has a plan for the believers (His Church/the Body of Christ), but for the whole world. Christ died on the cross for your sin and mine. That's for the whole world, not just the US of A. And these sins have been wiped out forever. He was emtombed and 3 days later He rose from the dead. (1 Cor 15:3-4) He's alive today, and He's the only one who has risen and stayed that way out of all the people who ever lived. This is so unique it's crazy. To get this salvation, acquire immortality, and reign with Christ all you have to do is receive this gift. Believe it! Now I've been given the greatest gift anyone could ever give, I can say with Paul I am a debtor to anyone God puts in my path. "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to all who believe..." Romans 1:16

Grace, MB

Homosexuality?

Due to comments made by one of our readers regarding homosexuality, I feel lead to supply this link to a website which covers all the angles much better than I could.

http://www.faithfacts.org/christ-and-the-culture/gay-rights#top

Homosexuality is nothing new. It is spoken of in the Old Testament and the New. Here is God's take on it from Paul's writings in Romans. It's a pretty black and white issue.

Romans 1:18-32 (New King James Version)
"God’s Wrath on Unrighteousness 18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, 21 because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Professing to be wise, they became fools, 23 and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things. 24 Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, 25 who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. 26 For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. 27 Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due. 28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; 29 being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality,[a] wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, 30 backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving,[b] unmerciful; 32 who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them."

Grace, MB

Recent Bible Conference Notes

I thought I would share with you some of the neat things I learned at a recent bible conference in Richmond, VA.

First brother Farwell spoke on the word "all". He stressed how important it is to keep the context in mind. For instance 1 Corinthians 11:12 "...but all things are of God." Is alcoholism from God? We can not use this text as proof of the specific origin of evil. True, there may be grounds for an argument that God did indeed create evil, Colossians 1:16 being very convincing, however many times people take passages out of context to prove their point. One more example would be 1 Timothy 4:4 "...and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving." Really? What about cocaine? or a bribe? You get the point.

Another point brother Farwell made was that God can change His mind without upsetting His grand scheme. I thought this was encouraging considering our fatalistic attitudes we have regarding prayer. Why pray when God already knows what you want? Matthew 6:8 "For the Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him." And if God already has His grand plan in motion who can stop it or change it's course? Ephesians 1:11 "...who works all things according to the counsel of His will." Romans 9:19 "...For who has resisted His will?" But keeping these scriptures in context we understand that just because He has a plan B doesn't mean His final plan has changed at all. Here we have some great examples: 2 Kings 20:6 After Isaiah prophesied that Hezekiah would die, Hezekiah prayed and wept, God saw and heard his cries and gave him 15 more years. Jonah 3:4 Jonah prophesied that God would destroy Nineveh in 40 days. v 10 "Then God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way: and God relented from the disaster that He said He would bring upon them, and He did not do it."

God is amazing, beyond our comprehension, and He loves us and has made it possible for each one of us to have an intimate relationship with Him even though we are imperfect beings. You can't fall out of His grace,it's impossible.

Grace, MB

Don't lose hope!

(RV) Though he slay me, yet will I wait for him: nevertheless I will maintain my ways before him. Job 13:15

(RV) For which cause I suffer also these things: yet I am not ashamed; for I know him whom I have believed,... 2 Tim 1:12

"An old seaman once said, 'In fierce storms we must do one thing, for there is only one way to survive; we must put the ship in a certain position and keep her there.' And this, dear Christian, is what you must do.

Sometimes, like Paul, you cannot see the sun or the stars to help you navigate when the storm is bearing down on you. This is when you can do only one thing, for there is only one way. Reason cannot help you, past experience will shed no light, and even prayer will bring no consolation. Only one course remains: you must put your soul in one position and keep it there.

You must anchor yourself steadfastly upon the Lord, firmly holding your confidence in God's faithfulness, His covenant promises, and His everlasting love in Christ Jesus." (Richard Fuller, "Streams in the Desert" p 137)

I sense we are moving into a time in history like none other. I can see as Christians living in America we've had a convenient life, at least my generation. I believe that is about to change. Things will not get easier, they are going to get tougher, and now it's more important than ever to know God's promises. I realize there are good people out there, as well as self-help books and classes that promise to get you through, but when times get really difficult they will be like anchoring to a floating log. God's Word is steadfast and immovable, because He can't lie, and they will never change. God's word will be the only anchor our soul has, and friend let me tell you, it's enough.

Grace, MB

God's Promises. The Edenic Covenant [Gen 2:16]

Covenants are basically promises or contracts. The Old Testament referred to them as covenants. Scholars list 8 major covenants through out the bible which help us understand God's purposes for us. (See February 25 blog for an intro into God's promises)

The Edenic Covenant was the first promise made to man, namely Adam. Adam represented the whole human race, thus this covenant is for you and me. The first promise was this, "but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die." Genesis 2:17

Later after Adam's disobedience God promised many other negative consequences that not only affected Adam and Eve but all their offspring including you and I. They were such things as "enemies "(a continual struggle between good and evil, v15. Ultimately seen in Jesus versus the Devil), to the women "multiplied sorrow and conception; pain in child bearing, and a desire for a husband who then rules over her", and to the man "cursed ground, toiling through it with thorns and thistles, sweating just to eat, and ultimately ending back up in the ground from which he came, i.e. death".

I agree this first covenant isn't much to look at, in fact it's down right disappointing. But before you go blaming Adam and Eve for screwing up your life, remember that before the foundation of the world God had already planned to come to earth as Jesus and die for you and me. (Eph 1:4) I believe He had foreknowledge that every human on the face of the earth was going to make the same choice, given the same situation as Adam and Eve, namely I'm going "to be like God, knowing good and evil". (Gen 3:5) This is ultimately why we are all born in sin, Adam's sin, and his nature is now in us (Gen 5:3 "Adam...begot a son in his own likeness, after his image, and named him Seth."). This nature of Adam's causes us to sin, therefore we are as deserving of death as Adam and Eve was. (Romans 5:12) You could say it's spiritually and physically genetic. The good news is God's covenants/promises get better.

Grace, MB

Becareful what you say!

Proverbs 23:7 says, "For as he thinketh within himself, so is he:"

I was reminded today of a very important truth. I've heard it so many times and yet I continue to forget how important this truth is. Be careful what you say! I understand as most of you do how important it is to chose your words carefully, especially those you speak to others.

Ephesians 4:29 "Let no corrupt speech proceed out of your mouth, but such as is good for edifying as the need may be, that it may give grace to them that hear."

But what about yourself? I was reminded today how important it really is. I had two clients who I've been seeing for some time now, both with a myriad of symptoms, complaining to me for what seemed like hours, maybe 20 minutes. What they said was similar to what they told me last time, but today it hit me. They had nothing positive to say. Every time they said "I am" or "my" it was followed with something negative. The more I thought about it the more I realized that most of the people with chronic conditions have the same thing in common. They speak negative about themselves. They heard it so long that now they believe what they've been saying and their bodies have morphed into that person. They own their illness and no one is going to take that away from them. It's their identity. They are powerless to change their circumstance because it's not their fault, it's somebody else's fault. You don't have to read some self-help book to learn this principle, it's nothing new, just read the Good Book, it's amazing what you can learn about everyday problems.

Mat 12:36 And I say unto you, that every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.
Mat 12:37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.

Gal 6:7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

Grace, MB