(15) 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
(16) All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for
doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
2 Timothy 3:16
Dispensationalism is simply the act of dividing the bible into sections based on doctrine. It is commanded of us to do (2 Tim. 2:15) and is the key to figuring out the bible as a whole.
Every Christian is a dispensationalist (even if they don’t know or won’t admit it) as we clearly divide the Old Testament from the New.
The bible says that all scripture is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness (2 Tim. 3:16), but that doesn’t mean all at the same time. As a famous saying goes, “The whole bible was written FOR you but it wasn’t written TO you.” We can get to know and understand God better through the old testament, for example, but we are no longer under the Law of Moses like the Jews were and yet the old testament is scripture.
But we aren’t under the law anymore, we now live in the dispensation of grace:
(1) 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:
Ephesians 3:1-2
However, most Christians today don’t understand that a lot of the new testament wasn’t written for them, as far as DOCTRINE is concerned.
For example, the new testament itself doesn’t even really begin until AFTER the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. The new testament begins AFTER the death of the testator (Jesus Christ):
(16) For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of
the testator.
(17) For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no
strength at all while the testator liveth.
Hebrews 9:16-17
While we can gain a lot of instruction in righteousness from the words of Jesus Christ himself (and all of the bible), much of what he said while on earth was directed toward the Jewish people and the bringing in of the Kingdom of Heaven (which they rejected). Our doctrine doesn’t fully come into play until it is revealed to Paul, after the Jews reject the gospel of Jesus and stone Stephen to death in Acts ch.6-7.
Likewise, once we reach the books of Hebrews and James in the new testament, our dispensation of grace ends and a new dispensation of faith and works begins.
We get into murky territory here, especially with the hyperdispensationalist movement (which I reject), who only think that the books of Paul are of any importance to Christians and the rest can be chucked. All of the bible is useful to us today, it’s just not all doctrine. If we don’t divide the bible then the bible can even become hypocritical.
Take these two verses for instance:
(6) And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more
grace. But if it be of works, then it is no more grace: otherwise work is
no more work.
Romans 11:6
(17) Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
James 2:17
How can we justify these two statement? We know that:
(8) For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves:
it is the gift of God:
(9) Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Ephesians 2:8-9
The doctrine of grace is brought about through faith alone. Not of works. In fact, the passage above in Romans 11:6 says that IF it is of works then grace is no more grace. But James 2:17 says faith without works is dead!
What a pickle!
To a non dispensationalist, at least.
As you study the bible it will be revealed to you that while we are under the doctrine of grace, it will not always be so for future believers. Our faith is perfect because faith is the evidence of things UNSEEN (Hebrews 11:1), but Jesus will not always be unseen. In Revelation Jesus will return, bringing about the Kingdom of Heaven he spoke of for a thousand year reign. During this time faith is not necessary because everyone will be able to see Jesus reigning from Jerusalem. If you can SEE Jesus, then faith doesn’t exist because faith is the evidence of thing UNSEEN.
So, how would a dispensationalist handle the conflict in the above two passages between Romans 11:6 and James 2:17?
Well, quite easily.
Right off the bat the dispensationalist would realize that there is a hypocrisy that needs to be divided to make right (knowing that the KJV is the perfect word of God and can’t have hypocrisies, only perceived hypocrisies). Operating under the dispensation of grace, the issue rests with the book of James. Well, James ch.1 vs.1 actually tells us who the book is written to… The 12 tribes of Israel! Are you an Israelite of the 12 tribes? No! (Even if you are there is currently no difference between a saved Jew and a saved gentile (us). Galatians 3:28-29).
So when do the 12 tribes show up again (they are missing right now, scattered across the globe)? In Revelation (Rev.7:4).
There, problem solved. We can read James 2:17 and understand that works are good, but unlike the doctrine for whom they are for, our faith is not dead without works. Jews in the future will need to work AND have faith because Jesus will no longer just be an UNSEEN force.
Still don’t believe that the new testament is split into different dispensations? Try these two passages:
(8) But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto
you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
(9) As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other
gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.
Galatians 1:8-9
(6) And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the
everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth,
and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,
Rev. 14:6
So in Galatians Paul says if anyone, EVEN AN ANGEL, brings a different gospel than him let him be accursed! And then in Revelation we see that an angel brings the everlasting gospel! Two different gospels for two different dispensations. How do we know that the gospel in Revelation isn’t for us? Well, check out the Pre-Trib rapture page under our First Steps guide for more on that (hint: we won’t be here for the everlasting gospel).
As with all these tenets, KJV pictures will be making a video better explaining all the facets and tiny details of these concepts in the future but for now please check the videos below for even more information on dispensationalism.
I know it’s a lot to take in, so don’t expect to get it all in one sitting. Just know that it exists and pray about it when you come across passages that seem to contradict themselves. With enough thought and prayer you will find that nothing in the KJV bible contradicts. It is the perfect word of God.
As always, thank you and God Bless.
- Understanding Dispensationalism (by Bryan Denlinger)
- Amazing Dispensational Truth (by Dr. Gene Kim)