lewis sperry chafer dispensationalism

8/12/2019 Lewis Sperry Chafer Dispensationalism

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DispensationalismBYLEWIS SPERRY CHAFER

Chapter I

Introduction to Dispensationalism

Author's ote! "a# $he title o% this thesis has &een chosen reluctantl( It is notintended & it to impl that those )ho hold )hat are here set %orth asdispensational &elie%s are a&normal or disproportionate in doctrine( $his thesispurports to demonstrate that so*called dispensationalists %ind the speci%icmeanin+ o% the Scriptures )hich ,od intended to impart and are there%ore- &the most e.actin+ proo%s- %ound to &e &oth reasona&le and normal in theirinterpretations( $his title is used onl that this discussion ma &e identi%ied in

its relation to /arious articles others ha/e )ritten on this theme( " 0uchScripture is cited( 1suall the citation is not e.hausti/e- &ut ser/es onl topro/ide one proo%*te.t out o% the man( For )ant o% space- the Scripturescould not &e 2uoted( $he sincere reader is re2uested to loo3 up eachpassa+e( 4ther)ise- the /alue o% this thesis- such as it is- )ill not &e +ained($his is the second reprint o% an article pu&lished in Bi&liotheca Sacra "5CIII-678*997(#I( $he Word :Dispensation:

A contro/ers amon+ orthodo. theolo+ians o/er dispensational distinctions isnot ne)( ;onathan Ed)ards "


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this material- the de%inition ad/anced & the late Dr( C(I( Sco%ield "Sco%ieldRe%erence Bi&le- p( >#- namel- :A dispensation is a period o% time durin+)hich man is tested in respect o% o&edience to some speci%ic re/elation o% the)ill o% ,od-: is hardl entitled to the criticism )hich is aimed a+ainst it(What men- then- accordin+ to these de%initions- should &e classed as

dispensationalists $he ans)er to this 2uestion mi+ht &e stated in a /ariet o%)as( $hree o% these ma su%%ice! "


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"6>9*968- A(D(#- :Distin+uish the a+es and the Scriptures harmonie-: couldhardl &e considered modern( 1ntil the distorti/e spiritualiin+ method o%interpretation )as introduced & the scholars o% the Ale.andrian School there)as no %ormulated opposition to the simple &elie% in and understandin+ o% allthat the Sacred $e.t implies( A&undant e/idence %or this statement ma &e

dra)n %rom the )or3s o% the earl %athers- e/en +oin+ &ac3 to the Didache-)hich e/idence esta&lishes the %act that Chiliasm- )ith those dispensationaldi/isions )hich &elon+ to it- )as the orthodo. %aith o% the earl church and)as %ar %rom the heres that some )riters represent it to ha/e &een(@( It has &een claimed that dispensationalism is in some respects :illo+ical:and :leads to disastrous conse2uences(: o ar+ument a+ainst this claim need&e ad/anced here other than to point out that dispensationalism has no)&ecome one o% the most %irml esta&lished %eatures o% Christian education andis the ac3no)led+ed source o% untold &lessin+s as )ell as the inspiration tosacri%icial ser/ice to uncounted multitudes )ho testi% that the Bi&le &ecame ane) and trans%ormin+ messa+e to them )hen dispensational distinctions )ere

o&ser/ed( Li3e the contro/ers &et)een Arminianism and Cal/inism )herein a/er +reat compan ha/e &een )on %rom Arminianism to Cal/inism and %e) i%an %rom Cal/inism to Arminianism- so o% the /ast compan )ho ha/e turnedto dispensationalism /er %e) are 3no)n to ha/e e/er a&andoned the ne)+round the ha/e ta3en( It is the dispensationalists )ho are promotin+ Bi&lestud mo/ements o/er the )hole land and the are the maor %actor in alle/an+elistic and missionar acti/it toda( Dispensationalism has al)as&een disastrous to theolo+ical dicta that cannot stand the acid test o% Bi&licalproo%(6( Another claim has &een made in recent discussions! :I am apremillennialist- &ut not a dispensationalist(: $his statement e/identlsupposes that premillennialism is a &elie% in an e/ent )hich is isolated %rom allthat precedes and all that %ollo)s it( $he term premillennial con/es thethou+ht that Christ comes &e%ore the millennium( In realit premillennialism&ecomes a dominatin+ %eature o% interpretation since it &ears on the )holedi/ine pro+ram %rom its &e+innin+ to its end( As )ell mi+ht it &e ar+ued thatthou+h the sun rises in the mornin+ it )ill neither &e preceded & dar3nessnor accompanied & li+ht as to contend that Christ )ill come to the eartha+ain- as the Scriptures relate that comin+ to all that precedes it and all that%ollo)s- )ithout causin+ the most stupendous dispensational chan+es(9( And- %inall- it has &een contended o% late that dispensationalism is a

modern heretical departure %rom sound interpretation o% the Scriptures- andthat the scholarl research o% dispensationalists ")ho o% all men are most%aith%ul de%enders o% e/er cardinal doctrine o% the Word o% ,od# should &eclassi%ied as a %orm o% Hi+her Criticism( $o 2uote! :Dispensationalism shares)ith Hi+her Criticism its %undamental error(: And- a+ain- :In a )ord- despite alltheir di%%erences- Hi+her Criticism and Dispensationalism are in this onerespect stri3in+l similar( Hi+her Criticism di/ides the Scriptures up intoDocuments )hich di%%er %rom or contradict one another( Dispensationalistsdi/ide the Bi&le up into dispensations )hich di%%er %rom and e/en contradictone another and so radical is this di%%erence as /ie)ed & the e.tremist thatthe Christian o% toda )ho accepts the Dispensational /ie)s %inds his Bi&le

"the part directl intended %or him# shrun3 to the compass o% the ImprisonmentEpistles: ":0odern Dispensationalism-: & 4s)ald $( Allis- %ormer pro%essor o%


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He&re) in Westminster $heolo+ical Seminar- Philadelphia- E/an+elicaluarterl- Edin&ur+h- Scotland- ol( III- o(


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Rome )hich is to the e%%ect that the do+mas o% the church are e2ual inauthorit )ith the Scriptures( $he theolo+ian )ho dra)s his proo% as much%rom the standards o% his church as %rom the Bi&le is slippin+ %rom the trueProtestant position( $o a student )hose conception o% doctrine is +ained %rom%irsthand searchin+ o% the Scriptures- the con%essions or creeds- thou+h

appreciated %or )hat the contain- are ne/ertheless characteried & )hatthe do not contain( An o/er)eenin+ de/otion to creedal statements maeasil lead to a ne+lect o% much important truth )hich is outside the ran+e o%those creeds(When +ood men disa+ree a&out doctrine it is usuall due to a %undamentaldi%%erence in premise( Per%ect lo+ic- )hen &uilt on di/er+ent premises- )illusuall result in irreconcila&le conclusions( $he contro/ers &et)een partialdispensationalists and dispensationalists is due to a )ide di%%erence inpremise( $his di%%erence cannot &e stated apart %rom an e.tended preliminaranalsis(

Chapter II

$he Creatures o% ,od ie)ed Dispensationall

$he Bi&le is ,od's one and onl Boo3( In it He discloses %acts o% eternit as)ell as o% time- o% hea/en and hell as )ell as o% earth- o% Himsel% as )ell as o%His creatures- and o% His purposes in all creation( $he reader o% the Scripturesshould &e prepared to disco/er re/elation )hich at times deals )ith other&ein+s and their destin 2uite apart %rom himsel%( $he Bi&le presents theori+in- present estate- and destin o% %our maor classes o% rational &ein+s inthe uni/erse! the an+els- the ,entiles- the ;e)s- and the Christians( othin+could &e more +ermane to true Bi&lical interpretation than the o&ser/ance o%this %act that these di/isions o% rational &ein+s continue )hat the arethrou+hout their histor( $he re/ealed di/ine pro+ram %or each o% these +roups)ill here &e traced in &rie%(I( $he An+els

$he an+els are created &ein+s "Ps( Col( !!9


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sermon "Acts @!@>*6#- in )hich he is pro/in+ that the Lord ;esus is- in spiteo% His death- the eternal 0essiah to Israel( $hus it )as disclosed that the Sono% Da/id )ould %irst die and then &e raised a+ain- that the Da/idic promise o%an eternal occupant o% Da/id's throne mi+ht &e %ul%illed( Ho)e/er- it )as asde%initel predicted that Christ )ould at His %irst ad/ent o%%er Himsel% to Israel

as their Gin+- not in the role o% a resistless con2uerin+ monarch- as He )ill etcome "Re/(


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$)o ears a%ter their departure %rom E+pt- ,od o%%ered to Israel an entranceinto their land at Gadesh*Barnea( $he reected the o%%er( ,od 3ne) the)ould reect it- et it )as a &ona %ide o%%er He made to them( Yea- it )as in thedi/ine counsel that the )ould reect- &ecome +uilt o% that speci%ic sin- and-as a punishment- &e returned to thirt*ei+ht more ears o% )ilderness

e.perience( A%ter that- the )ere ta3en into the land & His so/erei+n hand)ithout a 2uestion concernin+ their o)n )ishes( Since He had )or3ed in theirhearts to do His +ood pleasure- the )ent in )ith son+s o% reoicin+( $hishistor is alle+orical- i% not tpical( $he t)o ears o% )ilderness e.perienceprecedin+ the o%%er at Gadesh are tpical o% the si. hundred ears Israel had&een out o% their 3in+dom )hen Christ came( $he reection o% the di/ine o%%erat Gadesh is tpical o% the reection o% Christ( A possi&le entrance into the landat Gadesh )as a &ona %ide o%%er to Israel made & ;eho/ah in the %ull3no)led+e that the )ould reect it- and in spite o% the %act that His eternalpurpose re2uired them to reect the o%%er and return to thirt*ei+ht more earso% trial( Had the sal/ation o% the )orld hun+ on the added ears o% trial a%ter

Gadesh- hesitatin+ Cal/inists )ould shrin3 &ac3 %rom admittin+ that theGadesh o%%er )as e/er made- or- i% made- )as +enuine( All )ould &e &randedas a theor characteried & intricacies and impossi&le( $he added thirt*ei+htears are tpical o% Israel's present condition as a people et depri/ed o% theirland and the &lessin+s o% their co/enants( $he entrance o% Israel into the land& so/erei+n po)er corresponds to the %inal restoration o% that nation to theirinheritance )hich ;eho/ah co/enanted to them as an e/erlastin+ possession",en(


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are- there%ore- e/er one to parta3e o% His standin+- &ein+ in Him- to &e li3eHim- and to rei+n )ith Him on the earth "Re/( @8!9- @@!>#( $o the nationIsrael Christ is 0essiah- Emmanuel- and Gin+ to the Church He is Head-Bride+room- and Lord- the last desi+nation connotin+ His so/erei+n authorito/er the Church( $hese statements- admittedl do+matic- are easil /eri%ied(

At the end o% this a+e- Israel must pass throu+h the +reat tri&ulation- )hich isspeci%icall characteried as :the time o% ;aco&'s trou&le: ";er( 68!9*= Dan(!@9 Rom( ?!

Scriptures )hich &ear upon the past- the present- or the %uture o% Israel to another people than that nation o% )hom these Scriptures spea3( $he real unit


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consistent )ith that standin+ "6# a di/inel appointed ser/ice "9# a ri+hteous+round )hereon ,od ma +raciousl %or+i/e and cleanse the errin+ "># aclear re/elation o% the responsi&ilit on the human side upon )hich di/ine%or+i/eness and cleansin+ ma &e secured "# an e%%ecti/e &asis upon )hich,od ma &e )orshiped and petitioned in praer and "=# a %uture hope(

It should &e o&ser/ed that thou+h ;udaism and Christianit ha/e much incommon- the ne/er mer+e the one into the other( Ha/in+ each its o)neschatolo+ reachin+ on into eternit- an attempt to %use these t)o sstemsin the interests o% a mere idealistic unit o% the Scriptures is doomed to %ailunder the acid test o% an unpreudiced- %aith%ul searchin+ o% the Word o% ,od(A constructi/e )or3 on the eschatolo+ o% ;udaism- such as an 4ld $estamentscholar o% the standin+ o% Dr( Allis mi+ht produce- is a desideratum( It should+o &eond the &ounds o% the Westminster Con%ession- )hich is itsel% +reatlrestricted in its eschatolo+( E2uall to &e desired is an e.hausti/e )or3 onthe soteriolo+ o% ;udaism o&ser/in+ in it the %irst la) o% a true 4ld $estament$heolo+- namel- that in e/er instance its doctrine shall stand onl on the

&od o% truth )hich o&tained in the period under consideration( $he all*too*common practice o% imposin+ Christianit &ac3 upon ;udaism or ;udaism%or)ard upon Christianit- is the cause o% that dire con%usion )hich appears insome theolo+ical literature( $he Word o% ,od distin+uishes &et)een earth andhea/en- e/en a%ter the are created ne)( Similarl and as clearl itdistin+uishes &et)een ,od's consistent and eternal earthl purpose- )hich isthe su&stance o% ;udaism and His consistent and eternal hea/enl purpose)hich is the su&stance o% Christianit- and it is as illo+ical and %anci%ul tocontend that ;udaism and Christianit e/er mer+e as it )ould &e to contendthat hea/en and earth cease to e.ist as separate spheres( Dispensationalismhas its %oundation in and is understood in the distinction &et)een ;udaism andChristianit(I( An Accepta&le Standin+ on the Part o% 0an Be%ore ,od

Whate/er ma ha/e &een the di/ine method o% dealin+ )ith indi/iduals &e%orethe call o% A&raham and the +i/in+ o% the la) & 0oses- it is e/ident that- )iththe call o% A&raham and the +i/in+ o% the la) and all that has %ollo)ed- thereare t)o )idel di%%erent- standardied- di/ine pro/isions- )here& man- )ho isutterl %allen- mi+ht stand in the %a/or o% ,od- namel- "a# & phsical &irth into;udaism or " & spiritual &irth into Christianit or the 3in+dom o% ,od(


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+eneration- &ut Israel remains a redeemed nation throu+hout all her histor"Isa( 6!9#( 4n the human side- the passo/er lam& sa/ed the phsical li%e o%Israel's %irst*&orn( 4n the di/ine side- the lam&- as an anticipation o% ,od'sper%ect Lam&- +a/e ;eho/ah %reedom to redeem a nation %ore/er( $hat Israel)as alread in ;eho/ah's %a/or is re/ealed in E.odus ?!@6 7!- @

Christ- is- ne/ertheless- a record in anticipation o% all that )ould &e a%ter Hisdeath and e/en a%ter Pentecost(


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II( A Di/inel Speci%ied 0anner o% Li%e

uite apart %rom the re/ealed )ill o% ,od as recorded o% earlier a+es- the Bi&lesets %orth at len+th three distinct and complete di/ine rulin+s )hich +o/ernhuman action( one o% these rulin+s are addressed to the an+els or to the

,entiles as such( $)o are addressed to Israel ** one in the a+e that is past-3no)n as the 0osaic La)- and the other the settin+ %orth o% the terms o%admission into- and the re2uired conduct in- the 0essianic 3in+dom )hen that3in+dom is set up in the earth( $he third is addressed to Christians andpro/ides di/ine direction in this a+e %or the hea/enl people )ho are alreadper%ected- )ith respect to standin+- in Christ ;esus( Since the Bi&le is ,od'sone &oo3 %or all the a+es- it should &e no more di%%icult to reco+nie itsre%erence to %uture a+es than to reco+nie its re%erence to completed pasta+es( $hese three rules o% li%e do present )idel di%%erent economies( $his ise/ident &oth %rom their distincti/e characteristics as set %orth in the Word o%,od and %rom the /er nature o% the case( Concernin+ the nature o% the case-

it ma &e said that the di/ine administration in the earth could not &e the samea%ter the death o% Christ- a%ter His resurrection- a%ter His ascension and theinau+uration o% His present ministr- a%ter the ad/ent o% the Hol Spirit on theDa o% Pentecost- and a%ter the ad interim disannullin+ o% ;udaism- as it )as&e%ore those e/ents( or could the di/ine administration &e the same a%ter theremo/al o% the Church %rom the earth- a%ter the re+atherin+ o% Israel and therestoration o% ;udaism- a%ter the ud+ment o% the nations- a%ter the &indin+ o%Satan- and a%ter the seatin+ o% Christ at His second ad/ent on Da/id's throneto rule o/er the )hole earth- as it is no) &e%ore those e/ents occur(Since the %aith o% some cannot &e e.tended to the point o% /isualiin+un%ul%illed prophec into realit- it mi+ht &e the part o% )isdom to restrict thisar+ument to the %irst +roup o% e/ents- namel- those )hich %orm a clea/a+e&et)een the past a+e and the present a+e( Because o% the %act that thesee/ents are no) histor "thou+h at one time the )ere predicti/e prophec#their realit is hardl disputed e/en & the unre+enerate man( e/erthelessthe second +roup o% e/ents- )hich separate the present a+e %rom the a+e tocome- are the 3es to the understandin+ o% ,od's 3in+dom purposes in theearth- and )ithout these 3es the casual reader is le%t )ith little else to doother than to %all in )ith the Romish %iction o% a )orld*con2uerin+ church undera supposed supremac o% an irresisti&le 3in+dom o% ,od on the earth( odou&t )ill &e raised & an intelli+ent Christian concernin+ the truth that it is

)ithin the ran+e o% di/ine po)er to trans%orm societ in this a+e- or at another time( $he 2uestion is reall one o% )hether )orld*trans%ormation is thedi/ine purpose %or this a+e and until the one )ho &elie/es that this is thedi/ine purpose has made a reasona&le e.position and disposition in harmon)ith his /ie)s o% the /ast &od o% Scripture that discloses the con%usion and)ic3edness )ith )hich this a+e is said to end- there is little to &e +ained &accusin+ those )ho &elie/e ,od's present purposes to &e the outcallin+ o% theChurch o% :dishonorin+ the Spirit o% ,od-: or o% :minimiin+ the /alue o% thecross(: Especiall is such a char+e )ithout %orce )hen it is 3no)n that thoseso accused &elie/e that all o% ,od's triumph in this and e/er a+e )ill &e onl& /irtue o% that cross(

$he 0osaic sstem )as desi+ned to +o/ern Israel in the land and )as an adinterim %orm o% di/ine +o/ernment &et)een that +racious administration-


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descri&ed in E.odus


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in the 4ld $estament portions )hich anticipate the 0essianic 3in+dom and inlar+e portions o% the Snoptic ,ospels( $he essential elements o% a +raceadministration ** %aith as the sole &asis o% acceptance )ith ,od- unmeritedacceptance throu+h a per%ect standin+ in Christ- the present possession o%eternal li%e- an a&solute securit %rom all condemnation- and the ena&lin+

po)er o% the ind)ellin+ Spirit ** are not %ound in the 3in+dom administration(4n the other hand- it is declared to &e the %ul%illin+ o% :the la) and theprophets: "0att( >!


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this is natural and reasona&le( Ho)e/er- certain complications arise )henthese o&/ious %acts are considered in their relation to other phases o% truth(It is important to o&ser/e that in the 4ld $estament a+es no pro/isions )eremade- so %ar as Scripture records- %or ,entile needs( We reco+nie that A&el-oah- ;o&- and 0elchiede3 sacri%iced o%%erin+s %or sin- et no %orm o%

doctrine is disclosed re+ardin+ these o%%erin+s( 4n the other hand- the ;e)s-&ein+ a co/enant people- )ere- )hen inured & sin- +i/en the sacri%ices as a&asis %or di/ine %or+i/eness and as a )a &ac3 into those &lessin+s andrelationships &elon+in+ to their co/enants( It must &e o&ser/ed that thesacri%ices ne/er constituted a +round %or the entrance into the co/enants-)hich +round )as alread secured & their phsical &irth- nor )as ansacri%ice the +round o% personal sal/ation( 4n the contrar- the sacri%ices %orIsrael ser/ed to pro/ide a +round %or %or+i/eness and restoration o% co/enantpeople( $he parallel in Christianit is the pro/ision throu+h the death o% Christ)here& the Christian ma &e %or+i/en and cleansed( ;udaism re2uired ananimal sacri%ice Christianit loo3s &ac3 to the sacri%ice alread )rou+ht( $he

onl parallel in ;udaism o% the present sal/ation o% an unre+enerate person isthe %act that the ;e) )as phsicall &orn into his co/enant relations( $hepersonal sal/ation o% a ;e) in the old order is a theme )hich is et to &econsidered(I( An E%%ecti/e Basis %or Worship and Praer

1nder this headin+ it is to &e o&ser/ed that the &asis o% an appeal on )hichthe 4ld $estament saints praed )as that o% their co/enants( A stud o% therecorded praers )ill disclose the %act that the pleaded )ith ;eho/ah too&ser/e and do )hat He had promised He )ould do( $he +round o% praer inthe e) $estament a%ter the death- resurrection- and ascension o% Christ- andthe descent o% the Spirit- is such that the ne) approach to ,od is in the nameo% Christ( Bein+ in Christ- the &elie/er's praer arises to the Father as thou+hit )ere the /oice o% Christ- and it is +ranted %or Christ's sa3e( $hat this is ne)is indicated & the )ord o% Christ )hen He said- :Hitherto ha/e e as3ednothin+ in m name: ";ohn !


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demonstrated in this thesis- eternal li%e )as a %uture e.pectation and related tothose re2uirements )hich are peculiar to ;udaism( I% an clarit is to &e+ained on the di%%erence &et)een Israel's pri/ile+es under the 0osaic sstemand the present pri/ile+es o% the Church- distinction must &e made &et)eenthe la) as a rule o% li%e )hich none )ere a&le to 3eep per%ectl- and the la) as

a sstem )hich not onl set %orth the hi+h and hol demands upon personalconduct- &ut also pro/ided complete di/ine %or+i/eness throu+h the sacri%ices($he %inal standin+ o% an ;e) &e%ore ,od )as not &ased on la) o&ser/ancealone- &ut contemplated that ;e) in the li+ht o% the sacri%ices he hadpresented in his o)n &ehal%(All consideration o% the doctrine o% eternal li%e- )hether o% one a+e or another-must distin+uish &et)een mere endless e.istence and the impartation o% thatli%e %rom ,od )hich is as eternal in e/er aspect o% it as is the Author Himsel%(o human &ein+ can e/er cease to e.ist e/en death- )hich appears toterminate li%e- in due time )ill &e dismissed %ore/er "< Cor( !@ Re/( @

e.istence- is ,od's +racious &esto)ment o% eternal li%e- )hich eternal li%e is a/ital part o% the eschatolo+ o% ;udaism as it is a /ital part o% the soteriolo+ o%Christianit( A /er clear and comprehensi/e &od o% Scripture &ears oneternal li%e as related to ;udaism( Ho)e/er- it is there contemplated as a%uture inheritance( $he doctrine as related to ;udaism is %ound in )ell*identi%ied passa+es! "a# Isaiah >>!6 "c%( Deut( 68!#- in )hich conte.t theprophet is callin+ on a co/enant people to enter %ull into the &lessin+s )hich;eho/ah's co/enants secure( In the midst o% these is this promise that :oursoul shall li/e(: " Daniel


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he shall ne/er perish- is o&/ious indeed( 4/er a+ainst this e.tended &od o%Scripture &earin+ on that particularied- %uture %orm o% eternal li%e )hich- &ein+a %eature o% ;udaism- is related to the earthl 3in+dom- is another &od o%Scripture %ar more e.tensi/e )hich declares that eternal li%e %or the Christian isan impartation %rom ,od and is the +i%t o% ,od ";ohn


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3in+doms( Such contrasts mi+ht &e cited to +reat len+ths- &ut the importanto&ecti/e has &een +ained i% it has &een made clear that there is aneschatolo+ o% ;udaism and an eschatolo+ o% Christianit and each- thou+h)holl di%%erent in details- reaches on into eternit( 4ne o% the +reat &urdens o%predicti/e prophec is the anticipation o% the +lories o% Israel in a trans%ormed

earth under the rei+n o% Da/id's Son- the Lord ;esus Christ- the Son o% ,od($here is li3e)ise much prediction )hich anticipates the +lories o% theredeemed in hea/en(o di/ision o% theolo+ is more &eset )ith pro&lems than soteriolo+( $he plano% sal/ation itsel% is the solution o% the 2uestion o% ho) ;eho/ah mi+ht remainust and at the same time usti% a sinner )ho does no more than to &elie/e in;esus "Rom( 6!@#( $he di%%iculties are no less in the soteriolo+ o% ;udaismthan in the soteriolo+ o% Christianit( $he ultimate hol estate o% each +roup issuch that ,od )ill &e e2uall %ree to ta&ernacle )ith them &oth( In @ Peter6!


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&e care%ull estimated( At least three aspects o% the doctrine o% +race arein/ol/ed- namel!I( $he Di/ine Freedom to Act in Behal% o% Sin%ul 0en

1nli3e His )isdom- po)er- and +lor- )hich could &e mani%ested in creation-

the +race o% ,od could &e mani%ested onl as there )ere %allen &ein+s to)ard)hom He could &e +racious( It is di%%icult to &elie/e that the e.ercise o% thisessential part o% His nature )ould &e suppressed %ore/er- or that- )hen it ise.pressed- it )ould not &e on a plane as per%ect and as )orth o% Him as areall His )or3s( In /erses 9 and > o% the conte.t o% Ephesians @!


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man e.positors a+ree is the Hol Spirit- +oes on restrainin+ until He is ta3enout o% the )a( $his important passa+e records the %act that the Spirit- )ho ise/er omnipresent &ut speci%icall resident in the )orld in this a+e- )ill lea/ethe )orld( Ho)e/er- accordin+ to ;ohn


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the :horse: o% %aith- or- in some instances- the horse is in the cart or e/enunder the cart as %anc dictates(As &e%ore stated- )hate/er ,od does %or sin%ul man on an terms )hatsoe/er-&ein+ made possi&le throu+h the death o% Christ- is- to that e.tent- an act o%di/ine +race %or )hate/er ,od does on the +round o% Christ's death is

+racious in character- and all )ill a+ree that a di/ine co/enant )hich is /oid o%all human elements is more +racious in character than one )hich isother)ise( $hese distinctions appl onl to the di/ine side o% an co/enant(4n the human side ** a theme et to &e considered ** there is no e.ercise o%+race in an case &ut the human re2uirements )hich the di/ine co/enantimposes ma &e either a&solutel lac3in+ or so drasticall imposed as todetermine the destin o% the indi/idual( When an person &ecomes the&ene%iciar o% ,od's unconditional- unaltera&le promise apart %rom anconsideration o% human merit- his o&li+ation %or ri+hteous conduct &ecomesthat o% adornin+- or )al3in+ )orth- o% the position into )hich the co/enant has&rou+ht him( I% ,od has made a co/enant declarin+ )hat He )ill do pro/ided

man does his part- it is conditional and the human element is not one o%)al3in+ )orth o% )hat ,od's so/erei+n +race pro/ides- &ut rather one o%&ein+ )orth to the end that the promise ma &e e.ecuted at all( When theco/enant is unconditional- ,od is limited in )hat He )ill do onl & the3no)led+e*surpassin+ &ount o% His in%inite +race( When the co/enant isconditional- ,od is restricted & )hat man is a&le or )illin+ to do( As ane%%icacious appeal- the o&li+ation to )al3 )orth- thou+h in no )aconditionin+ the so/erei+n purpose- secures more normal and spiritualresponse than all the meritorious sstems com&ined( $he human heart is %armore responsi/e to the proposition couched in the )ords :I ha/e &lessed ou-no) &e +ood-: than it is to the proposition couched in the )ords :Be +ood-and I )ill &less ou(: $he element o% human conduct thus appears in each%orm o% the di/ine co/enant &ut in such a manner that one is renderedunconditional and the other conditional(4ne %urther distinction is essential &e%ore turnin+ to an e/aluation o% threeunconditional co/enants- namel- ,od's unconditional and so/erei+n dealin+)ith Israel is to the end that the are an elect nation( Concernin+ the nation asan entit- it is said- :For the +i%ts and callin+s o% ,od are )ithout repentance:"Rom( )hen under the 0osaic La)- )as- in the matter o% his personal &lessin+-under a secondar- meritorious co/enant )ith +racious pro/isions in theanimal sacri%ices %or the co/erin+ and cure o% his sins and %ailures( In sharpdistinction to this- the Church is- in respect to her corporate )hole- an electpeople also "Rom( ?!66#- &ut her election and so/erei+n securit is e.tendedto e/er indi/idual in that &od ";ohn >!@9 !6=


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A&raham in the manner o% li%e )hich &ecomes one %or )hom ;eho/ahunderta3es so much( In li3e manner- ,enesis @!> is not addressed toA&raham- &ut is rather ;eho/ah's declaration to Isaac e.tendin+ to him theso/erei+n- unconditional co/enant made to his %ather A&raham( Isaac isadmonished to li/e a %aith%ul li%e under the co/enant :&ecause: o% the e.ample

o% his %ather( In this connection- the e.act readin+ o% ,enesis


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added reasona&l- to the one and onl re2uirement ** &elie/e( Ho)e/er-&elie/in+ as related to the 0essiah must &e distin+uished %rom &elie/in+ untosal/ation( Since the %irst preachin+ o% the 3in+dom +ospel called %orrepentance onl- it is e/ident that it )as addressed to a co/enant people- andit is to &e noted that Israel )as the onl co/enant people in that da( It is also

e/ident that this +ospel call )as not %or the sal/ation e/en o% Israel- &ut )as%or their re/i/al and restoration- "d# Since accordin+ to 0atthe) !@9 !6=


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When a parallel is dra)n &et)een the e) Co/enant no) in %orce %or theChurch "0att( @!@?# and the e) Co/enant et to &e made %or Israel ";er(6

and- thou+h o% the same nature as the co/enant )ith Adam- is )hollseparate %rom and independent o% it(


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Israelites did li/e on a /er hi+h plane and )ere in /er much personal&lessin+( $o this a multitude o% 4ld $estament saints &ear )itness "He&( &lameless: "Phil( 6!#( $his did not impl sinless per%ection- &ut rather that hehad al)as pro/ided the re2uisite sacri%ices( 4n that &asis the %aith%ul ;e)li/ed and )as accepted o% ,od in the 0osaic sstem( Who- indeed- are the:ninet and nine ust persons )ho need no repentance: cited & Christaccordin+ to Lu3e != And )h )ere other co/enant people classi%ied as:pu&licans and sinners: A%ter a ne) order is esta&lished throu+h the deathand resurrection o% Christ- men li3e icodemus- the Apostles- and Saul o%$arsus )ere sa/ed & a ne) &irth- not &ecause the )ere utter %ailures in;udaism- &ut &ecause a ne) and /astl di%%erent relation to ,od )aspro/ided( Wh should Saul )ho &e%ore the la) )as &lameless need to &esa/ed at all Wh should three thousand co/enant people &e sa/ed on the

Da o% Pentecost A%ter the ne) +ospel o% +race )ith its o%%ers o% a per%ectstandin+ in Christ apart %rom human merit )as esta&lished- the Apostlecomplains that unsa/ed ;e)s- )ho as he con%essed had a +reat eal %or ,od-)ere still +oin+ a&out to esta&lish their o)n ri+hteousness and )ere notthrou+h %aith comin+ under the per%ect merit o% the imputed ri+hteousness o%,od "Rom( si+ni%icant that this people- )ho &e%ore had &een dra)n to the heart o% ,od-%ound Him- a%ter their consent to this co/enant- hidden &ehind an


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unapproacha&le %ire and surrounded & &lac3ness and dar3ness "E.( c%( He&(


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2uestions )ill &e con%ined- in the main- to the pro&lems that arise %rom thecare%ul consideration o% &ut one &oo3 o% the Bi&le#!( Was the ministr o% ;ohn the Baptist in anticipation o% a spiritual 3in+dom( Wh )as the 3in+dom messa+e restricted to Israel=( What is the :hope: o% Israel?( Into )hat 3in+dom does an man enter & personal ri+hteousness7( Are the hea/enl people re%erred to as :the mee3: )ho are to inherit theearth!= &e reconciled )ith Ephesians @!9*>


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Sco%ield points out that human %or+i/eness rests upon and results %rom di/ine%or+i/eness- that is- the normal impulse in a human heart to %or+i/e comes%rom the reco+nition that one has &een %or+i/en( It matters nothin+ to thishuman moti/e )hether ,od has %or+i/en &ecause )e %or+i/e- as in 0atthe)!

ho) much it is re/ered- has no authorit to insert into the Lord's Praer thephrase %or Christ's sa3e( $he ne) and limitless pri/ile+e o% praer in the nameo% Christ or %or Christ's sa3e )as not e.tended until in the 1pper Room )henChrist )as anticipatin+ the ne) relationship under +race( In the 1pper RoomDiscourse He said- re+ardin+ the ne) +round o% praer- :Hitherto ha/e eas3ed nothin+ in m name: ";ohn


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appro/al- as %ollo)s! :$he tpical catechisms o% Protestantism ((( areessentiall a+reed( ((( $he teach the articles o% the Apostles' Creed- the $enCommandments- and the Lord's Praer that is all that is necessar %or a manto &elie/e and to do in order to &e sa/ed(: We mi+ht in2uire )hat plan o%sal/ation these &rethren disco/er in the Lord's Praer and the $en

Commandments $he Apostles' Creed does include a statement o% &elie% inhistoric %acts related to Christ- &ut no )ord is %ound there o% personalappropriation o% the /alue o% those %acts( $his essential element is seen inPaul's testimon! :He lo/ed me- and +a/e himsel% %or me(: An in2uir is inorder- a+ain- concernin+ ho) man lost souls ha/e &een led to a sa/in+3no)led+e o% a cruci%ied and risen Sa/ior & the Lord's Praer- the $enCommandments- and the Apostles' Creed( And do these articles contain that+ospel )hich the Apostle Paul declared )as speci%icall re/ealed unto himIn another article Dr( Allis as3s )hether the author o% this thesis teaches hisstudents not to pra the so*called Lord's Praer( In repl- it is as3ed )hetherDr( Allis teaches that one should pra the praer o% 0atthe) @9!@8( It )ill &e

seen that Christ directs the prain+ o% one praer as much as He does theother(

Chapter

Conclusion

$he @@ 2uestions concludin+Chapter I )ith the pro&lems the de/elop mi+ht&e multiplied man times and e.tended to all parts o% the Sacred $e.t(Dispensationalists do not create these pro&lems nor do the in/ent the ri+htdi/isions o% Scripture( For the dispensationalist- these so*called pro&lems arenot onl sol/ed &ut- &ecause o% the distinctions )hich the pro&lems demand-the pro&lems &ecome a part o% the o/er)helmin+ e/idence that his method o%interpretation is accordin+ to truth( $hose )ho pursue an idealism re+ardin+the unit and continuit o% the Bi&le- )hich idealism is &uilt upon andsustained onl & occasional or accidental similarities- must- i% sincere- %acethe pro&lems their method o% interpretation +enerates( $he limited arra o%e/idence a&out ,od's speci%ic purposes )hich this thesis presents is su%%icientto demonstrate that dispensationalism- e/en thou+h it does reco+nie thedi/ine a+e*purposes and does departmentalie the messa+e o% the Word o%,od accordin+ to its o&/ious di/isions- does also disco/er the true unit and

continuit o% the Bi&le( $he outstandin+ characteristic o% the dispensationalistis the %act that he &elie/es e/er statement o% the Bi&le and +i/es to it theplain- natural meanin+ its )ords impl( $his simple plan has chan+ed the Bi&le%rom &ein+ a mass o% more or less con%lictin+ )ritin+s into a classi%ied andeasil assimilated re/elation o% &oth the earthl and hea/enl purposes o%,od- )hich purposes reach on into eternit to come( He is sa/ed %rom)or3in+ at cross purposes )ith ,od- and the e.position he +i/es o% theScriptures- li3e the uncompromised +ospel he preaches- is &lessed to themultitudes )ho are attracted & his understanda&le messa+e( $here is areason )h churches are %illed- souls are sa/ed- and the interest inmissionar )or3 thri/es- )here the )hole Bi&le )ith its /ital distinctions is

%aith%ull preached( A+reement cannot &e accorded to recent )riters )hoaccuse the %aith%ul Bi&le e.positors and e/an+elists o% this and past
http://bartimaeus.us/pub_dom/dispensationalism.html#q1_22http://bartimaeus.us/pub_dom/dispensationalism.html#q1_22


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+enerations o% &ein+ modernists- and onl &ecause the stand %or that %orm o%doctrine and reco+nie those distinctions )hich are in/aria&l disco/ered)hen the )hole Bi&le is considered and &elie/ed and )hen it is +i/en its plainand reasona&le interpretation( $he situation )hich necessitates the )ritin+ o%this thesis ser/es to demonstrate the )ide doctrinal di%%erences that ma e.ist

&et)een supposedl orthodo. men( A crisis is e/identl &ein+ reachedconcernin+ the issues )hich ha/e lon+ separated e.positors %rom theolo+icaltheorists- and this distinction does not impl that the e.positor does not 3no)Sstematic $heolo+- %or usuall he does 3no) it )ell ho)e/er- he &uilds histheolo+ directl upon the Word o% ,od and is in no &onda+e to the opinionso% men(At the &e+innin+ o% this thesis it )as stated that the doctrinal di%%erencesherein discussed are due to the %act that the t)o schools o% interpretationin/ol/ed stand on )idel di/er+ent premises( $he dispensationalist &elie/esthat throu+hout the a+es ,od is pursuin+ t)o distinct purposes! one related tothe earth )ith earthl people and earthl o&ecti/es in/ol/ed- )hich is

;udaism )hile the other is related to hea/en )ith hea/enl people andhea/enl o&ecti/es in/ol/ed- )hich is Christianit( Wh should this &elie% &edeemed so incredi&le in the li+ht o% the %acts that there is a present distinction&et)een earth and hea/en )hich is preser/ed e/en a%ter &oth are made ne))hen the Scriptures so desi+nate an earthl people )ho +o on as such intoeternit and a hea/enl people )ho also a&ide in their hea/enl callin+%ore/er 4/er a+ainst this- the partial dispensationalist- thou+h dimlo&ser/in+ a %e) o&/ious distinctions- &ases his interpretation on thesupposition that ,od is doin+ &ut one thin+- namel- the +eneral separation o%the +ood %rom the &ad- and- in spite o% all the con%usion this limited theorcreates- contends that the earthl people mer+e into the hea/enl people thatthe earthl pro+ram must &e +i/en a spiritual interpretation or disre+ardedalto+ether( $he ad/ocates o% this interpretation oppose e/er earthl %eatureo% the di/ine pro+ram( $he disre+ard or i+nore the earthl co/enants andpromises the spiritualie or /aporie the /ast &od o% Scripture &earin+ onthe Da/idic throne and 3in+dom the present no speci%ic reason )h Christ)as &orn as the Son o% Da/id and the reco+nie no earthl +lor or purposein His second ad/ent( Accordin+ to their sstem- Christ comes a+ain to endthe )orld- &ut- un%ortunatel %or these conceptions- the )orld does not endthen or e/er(0a the num&er- alread /ast indeed- o% those )ho &elie/e the Bi&le and are

su&ect to its plain teachin+s continue to increaseM$he End