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Posted on 01/22/2010 3:39:47 AM PST by Gamecock
According to influential author Charles Ryrie, whose views are perhaps the most representative of popular Dispensationalism, there are three “sine qua non,” (i.e. non-negotiables) of what constitutes Dispensationalism: a doxological view of history (i.e., with the ultimate purpose of glorifying God), a literal hermeneutic (i.e. method of interpreting the bible), and an ongoing distinction between the two peoples of God, Israel and the Church. A doxological purpose for all of history is certainly not unique to Dispensationalism, however, and is affirmed by many non-Dispensational theologians; so the question of whether or not Dispensationalism is biblical must hinge on what the bible says about the latter two points: its “literal” way of understanding the bible, particularly as it relates to Old Testament prophecies; and its insistence on two peoples of God.
Fortunately, the biblical evidence is not lacking for either of these questions: Dispensationalism teaches that all the promises made to Israel in the Old Testament must be fulfilled to ethnic Israel, in a literal way, that is, in a way that mandates the continuation of all the Old Testament types, regardless of whether or not the anti-types, or ultimate fulfillment of those types have come: for example, the physical land of Palestine must belong by divine right to the ethnic Jews, who will one day possess all its geographical borders in fulfillment of the prophecy of Israel's restoration. However, the bible explicitly declares that all those prophecies have already been fulfilled in the coming of Christ, and are for all who believe in Christ; the land promise made to Abraham is now too great to be fulfilled in the Middle East alone, and so Romans 4:13 says that he was promised to inherit the whole world; and his offspring who inherit it with him are not just believing ethnic Jews, but also his Gentile children by faith (Romans 4:11-17); in fact, all the promises made to Abraham (and to every Old Testament saint) were ultimately fulfilled in Christ, the true Seed of Abraham (2 Cor. 1:20; Gal. 3:16), and so they belong to all who are in Christ, and therefore a part of Abraham's seed (Gal.3:26-29). Further examples of how the New Testament interprets prophecies made to Israel, showing beyond doubt that they are now being fulfilled in the Church, include Acts 15:14-17; Hebrews 8; 10:14-18.
The second “sine qua non” of Dispensationalism, that there is an ongoing distinction between Israel and the Church, is likewise argued against throughout the New Testament, even as was anticipated in the Old Testament. To cite one of many possible examples, in Isaiah 66:18-24, the prophet looks ahead to a time when God would choose people from every nation, and make them his true priests and Levites; and in the New Testament, we find proof that this time has come. The New Testament passages that indicate that Christians are true Jews (some of them very explicitly) include these: Romans 2:28-29; 4:11-17; 9:6-8; Galatians 3:6-9, 26-29; 4:21-31; 6:16; Ephesians 2:11-22; 3:6; Phil. 3:3; 1 Pet. 2:9-10; Rev. 2:9. So then, these “sine qua non” of Dispensationalism prove to be utterly unbiblical and are explicitly argued against in the scriptures.
Romans 2:28 For no one is a Jew who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and physical. 29 But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God.
Romans 4:11 He received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. The purpose was to make him the father of all who believe without being circumcised, so that righteousness would be counted to them as well, 12 and to make him the father of the circumcised who are not merely circumcised but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised.
The Promise Realized Through Faith
13 For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith. 14 For if it is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void. 15 For the law brings wrath, but where there is no law there is no transgression.
16 That is why it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his offspring—not only to the adherent of the law but also to the one who shares the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all, 17 as it is written, “I have made you the father of many nations”—in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist.
Romans 9:6 But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel, 7 and not all are children of Abraham because they are his offspring, but “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.” 8 This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as offspring.
Galatians 3:6 just as Abraham “believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”?
7 Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham. 8 And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “In you shall all the nations be blessed.” 9 So then, those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.
Galatians 3:26 for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. 27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave [7] nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise.
Galatians 4:21 Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not listen to the law? 22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by a slave woman and one by a free woman. 23 But the son of the slave was born according to the flesh, while the son of the free woman was born through promise. 24 Now this may be interpreted allegorically: these women are two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children for slavery; she is Hagar. 25 Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia; she corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. 26 But the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother. 27 For it is written,
“Rejoice, O barren one who does not bear;
break forth and cry aloud, you who are not in labor!
For the children of the desolate one will be more
than those of the one who has a husband.”
28 Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise. 29 But just as at that time he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so also it is now. 30 But what does the Scripture say? “Cast out the slave woman and her son, for the son of the slave woman shall not inherit with the son of the free woman.” 31 So, brothers, we are not children of the slave but of the free woman.
Galatians 6:16 And as for all who walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.
Ephesians 2:11 Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands— 12 remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility 15 by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, 16 and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. 17 And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. 19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 22 In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.
Ephesians3:6 This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.
Phil. 3 For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh—
1 Pet. 2:9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
Rev. 2:9 “‘I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich) and the slander of those who say that they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.
GRPL Ping
Dispensationalism is a bunch of junk.
Dispensationalism isn’t Christian.
Care to elaborate doctor? In what sense do you mean?
Dispensationalism affirms paths that don’t include Christ.
That isn’t Christian.
Thus, dispensationalism isn’t Christian.
Not sure what you mean by this. Paths to what?
Salvation.
Go back to your patients ... because I have none.
Plain reading indicates God is not done with the Jews. Amillennial thought has to twist this Scripture to outlandish extremes to argue that God is done with the Jews.
You asked a question.
The question had a one-word answer.
I gave it.
The soteriology of dispensationalism comes from Protestant theology, so if the criticism is on the issues of salvation, the argument isn’t against dispensationalism, but against Protestant theology.
It is more faithfully advanced than Catholicism, Reformed, or their branch theologies, because it respects the literal interpretation of Scripture based upon Scripture only through faith in the Son of God, seeking to glorify Him in obedient perseverance to His Word.
While Catholicism and Reformed theologies over great foundations when studied through faith in Him, dispensational perspectives also glorify the Son by discerning and placing Him before other doctrines of the church.
While any ‘ism theology may place worldly systems before God, and fail to first glorify the Son, those who remain in faith through Him may continue to grow a great extent within their local church by hearing the Word and allowing God the Holy Spirit to continue His sanctifying work within us for the indwelling of Christ in us.
Do you mean the salvation promised by YHvH ? Could you elucidate in more detail.
shalom b'SHEM Yah'shua HaMashiach
Please: NO profanity, NO personal attacks, NO racism or violence in posts. If you disagree with dispensationalism,Welcome to the religion forum.
shalom b'SHEM Yah'shua HaMashiach
please provide your scriptural reasons why.
because dispensationalism is crazy theology. --dr. n.Please: NO profanity, NO personal attacks, NO racism or violence in posts.
To be personal it has to be about a particular person. Maledicting a group (for example, claiming that one's opponents as a class are crazy, as one of your party is wont to do from time to time) is acceptable to the Religion Moderator.
The quoted comment is none of that.
If you disagree with dispensationalism, please provide your scriptural reasons why.
When we do we tend to get shouted at.
Good point.
http://www.pre-trib.org/articles/view/what-is-dispensationalism
Here is a pretty good article on dispensationalism.
P.S. I’m a “dispy” but the church that I’m at is very, very reformed and amillenial, at least when you listen to the sermons for many years. It calls itself a “bible church”, but if there were truth in advertising, it would be called an “allegorical non-literal group that interprets the Bible through the lenses of the Westminster Catechism” church.
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