Republic of Grace

How God deals with Mankind Today

“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. ”
― Miles Coverdale

The above quote is foundational for any one with the desire to read and comprehend the bible! There will be many who will attack the holy scriptures for a variety of personal reasons, religion or politics notwithstanding, but this article will not delve into that. Instead, this feature will focus more on how those of mankind can better understand (stand under) God’s word. The best place to start of course is with the scripture itself, the living breathing Word of God, from Christ Jesus, who IS the living manifestation of the Word as noted in His perpetuity with God The Father;

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God.  – John 1:1,2

In Hebrews chapter one, verses one and two, we are told that God at infinite and various times throughout history has spoken to mankind. Quickly in this text we read that there is a distinction in “how” he has spoken to us from the prophets of the old testament up through to His Son right now! God is always meeting mankind where he is because the bible is not bound by time!

TIME, MANKIND AND GOD’S DEALING WITH HIM
In contrast concerning man, there ARE clocks and watches in the world, there have been time pieces, sun dials of various types in the existence of mankind to differentiate and measure events in order to increase his learning. The Greek word “chronos” refers to and is translated in the English as “time” (in 32 instances), “duration” (which is unlimited unless noted”), and occurs in 53 instances overall in the new testament. “Kairos” is a Greek word used by the translators to pinpoint time for a certain portion or a limited amount of “chronos” such as a season. This word is used in 87 instances and rendered “time” in 65 passages, “season” in 15 other instances. Lastly, many have heard of the word of the Greek word “oikonomia” which means the administration of household rules, or stewardship; such as how another manager runs a business for the owner who hired him. There are several examples used in the four gospels that our Lord Jesus Christ used concerning faithfulness of such a steward. In a more practical example, there can be presidential administrations that differ or how the household of the Browns start their day at 7AM, whereas the Smiths start their day at 8AM! “Oikonomia” occurs 8 times translated “dispensation” in 5 instances and stewardship 3 times. I hope you can begin to comprehend the distinction, importance and frequency of these words friends.

So now, we have finally disclosed the evil word “dispensation”. A word today and in many social media platforms that has come under great attacks from various bible teachers, authors, pastors and other writers. Since Scofield or Darby used it and wrote bible commentaries and bibles with this belief, then it can then be assumed that this whole methodology is in error and that it is all from the devil. Further, we get into the politics of these men such as who was a freemason or who embraced some political stance that because they used this system of bible study, it must all be evil. “Don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater” comes to mind as an old expression. “Eat the meat and spit out the bones” is another useful idiom. If the world divided over the 40,000 denominations (as of the 2004 world book of churches), we would learn nothing from each other. You have to analyze these denominations and test the contextual scriptures to see if common ground can be achieved before dividing or before it becomes a hill to die on. Usually this is found in what is called the statement of faith as those of mankind search for a place to fellowship. As a man who was asked to leave an assembly I pastored at for much, much less then you’d think, I am certainly not suggesting compromising doctrine or embracing a universal belief system that is unbiblical. I am suggesting we remember that Satan wants to destroy mankind, he hates it with a passion. He is the first entitled creation to exist, yet, he had the most blessings and potential blessings available to him yet he thought he deserved equality with God (ref. Isaiah 14 starting in verse 12). In trying to “land the plane” or get back to the main point, its the scriptures that drive the truth. Scriptures in context and in the entirety of said point, rightly divided as Paul told us and as Coverdale stated. Let the bible prove itself and correct itself.

When I was first studying the bible in my thirties, I went to a church that believed and taught that ALL of the bible was written to me and it was up to me to figure out when and how God was dealing with mankind, always wondering why circumstances didn’t seem to work out for me the same way. Further, and looking back on this, I subjected myself to this way of bible study and found that the only way the God’s word could make sense was to “spiritualize” events that would remedy MY lack of understanding God’s word. The bible is replete with wonderful stories, facts and histories of miracles, healings and revelations. I knew God wasn’t the problem with my comprehension, it was me! All of this coming on the heals of an orthodox faith system in Rome starting as a child and being subsequently taught only about Jesus as a powerless baby, then a teacher, then dead on the cross (to some for insurrection) and “eventually” risen. The power of his resurrection was crippled by (and still is by many religious systems). Jesus was so angry with mankind that his mother has to intervene on his behalf because is so pissed! I’m not going to delve into “transubstantiation”; the notion that God himself is in a breaded wafer to be consumed as a means to obtain a right standing with him. It is also taught that due to Christ’s anger, all of the wars and major cataclysmic events of the world are God’s display of “justice” are due to mankind’s failure to appease him. This thought then would imply that what Christ accomplished for mankind at Calvary was insufficient in that God the Father, needs to pass through more of his anger and justice to man as a result. When Christ proclaimed “it is finished” in John 19:30, he really wasn’t done at all… This system of faith of which many, many denominations are influenced by teaches that our relationship to God through Jesus Christ is probationary at best.

Which is it friend? Does the bible tell us that God the Father is satisfied with the work of his Son or not?

Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: 

(Christ) Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. 

And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister; Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church: Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God; Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: 

To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily. – Colossians 1:12-29

The first non orthodox Pastor I encountered was a man that spoke and taught from the bible, which in and of itself was amazing to me because I was always taught “the clergy” or some religious order were only privileged enough to read and understand it. Spending literally all of my life being schooled and attending services in an orthodox faith system was all I knew and when one day I went to sell insurance to my cousin and his then wife told me he was at a bible study, I told HER that I wanted to go to a bible study too! Little did I know my journey was beginning.

I was absolutely amazed at the notion that a man could read and begin to understand the bible. My mind for 30 years had been poisoned to the belief the bible was not meant for mankind to read or study let alone to understand. Eventually I realized I had been deceived and through the power of God’s Holy Spirit, He would teach me. He would point to Jesus Christ, the very Son of God and Savior of mankind. I learned about love and sacrifice and things about Christ that I never could have imagined. Even up through this writing I am still amazed at the right standing I have before God The Father because of His love and my unchanging position in Christ Jesus my Lord. My comprehension changed drastically when I read how that God throughout time and historical events would change his dealings with mankind. He did this in order that mankind would realize his fallen nature and hopelessness without him.

PAUL’S DISTINCTIVE WRITINGS AND MINISTRY
It was only through the magnificence of God’s appointed apostle Paul whose writings were not only more contemporary with mankind, but explained that Christ died, was buried and rose to prove his deity and authorship over life and death, to shed his blood in fulfillment of the old testament scriptures, of how the sanctity of life would be how a holy and just God would save his fallen creation that chose to rebel against him. He, God himself was the remedy for man if only he would take God at his word on this matter. Through the old testament, I learned that man’s history was a hot mess. It has nothing to do with a particular faith system because mankind, both Gentile and Jewish faith systems are a dumpster fire getting worse each day as their influence of Satan and his power increases. Take notice of the governmental treachery and injustices that occurred in Israel’s kingdom. It is the EXACT same plan of evil as what is going on today. God gave us the historical events and in many instances the sordid details of mankind’s past in the old testament. A government of man without God is always absolute failure. Today there is an attack on end time events otherwise known as eschatology. If Satan is a master liar, deceiver, and counterfeiter, why wouldn’t he even counterfeit a “new end times scenario” that would attempt to shift the power of God to the power of mankind and his merit to fix things?

Paul, who was a trained old testament scholar used dozens of prophetic scriptures to depict the unbelief and failure of Israel in taking God at his word against the hope and coming of their Messiah. This fact seems to anger many bible teachers because God has set aside Israel as a nation (in Acts 28) while forgetting that Gentiles had already been written off God in their unbelief at the tower of Babel (Genesis 11). Worse, this failure of the nations to take God at his word was in close proximity to the destruction of the flood! The idolatry, murder and wickedness of mankind continued until God called out a single man, Abraham (then Abram) to use to bring hope and the promise of Christ (Galatians 4) through faith to a lost and dying world. The intent was to grow from Abraham’s loins, a favored nation; Abraham > Isaac > Jacob (Israel) to be a light to the world (Isaiah 54) . However, this resulted in mankind’s failure once more as this favored nation not only failed to attain the righteousness that God wanted mankind to have through him, but eventually became corrupt morally, ethically, spiritually and governmentally (1 Samuel 8:7). Mankind today is providing an encore performance until the “fullness of the Gentiles come in”. Chasing after alternative news sources will be like a cat on catnip chasing its tail. We all have gone from trusting the mainstream news on the tell-lie-vision to alternative news found on our devices where we can get up to the date information (or so it is believed) at will. Most people have become sophisticated now and find the old “mainstream” news agencies that were part of our collective living room for over a half century to be an absolute and complete joke, and rightly so I might add. However, alternative news is now becoming corrupt and has more gatekeepers than ever before as knowledge increases (Daniel 12:4).

To be clear, this is not about minimizing our responsibility as stewards or managers for God, it’s about utilizing proper biblical doctrine only found in Paul’s letters in this dispensing of God’s grace and his revelation of the mystery (Ephesians 3)! As influencers to a lost and dying world we need to put on the full armor of God as shown below in Ephesians 6:10-20. I mean I get it and admittingly I don’t want to be part of “that” generation which allowed our country to go off the rails. But in reality, America’s downfall started shortly after the revolutionary war as all wars are banker wars, but I digress. But what can we do individually, horizontally (aka – man to man), for the betterment of mankind? We cannot neglect that responsibility that friends and should not. Without compromising essential Pauline doctrine we need to stay united in Christ (Philippians 3:15-17). How we handle our finances, fitness, freedom, faith which are of utmost importance in our testimony man to man.

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Philippians 4:8

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak. – Ephesians 6:10-20

While most people are familiar with the new testament, the four gospels, the general letters, Paul’s letters, and the apocalypse. The four gospels and in many editions have the words of Christ colored in red. Yet interestingly, in only the two verses of Hebrews 1, we read that God has made a distinction in “how” he has communicated with mankind over his existence differentiating between past, current and future. Logically then, this a clear reference for us to take heed or pay attention to that difference. This was partly what Coverdale was talking about. Paul states that we should “rightly divide this word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15) as opposed to reading ourselves into every passage from Genesis to Revelation. So there is “time past” versus “last days” and it is essential that we understand which books of the bible feature the good news and doctrine applicable to us today. Our LORD Jesus Christ is the model of this dispensational understanding when in Luke 4:16-20 he is quoting from Isaiah 61:1-2 but leaves off part of verse 2 where it states; “and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn”. Why was this portion of scripture left off? Did Jesus forget the context of the verses in Isaiah? Of course not. Had he quoted that verse in its entirety (as sourced from Isaiah 61:2), he would have had to have ushered in a new dealing with mankind, a new administration, or new dispensation; one that would usher in his Judgement to Israel (including Judah) for their unbelief! According to Jeremiah 3:8, God had divorced Israel for backsliding and committing adultery with the kings of other nations. Wanting her to be a shining light to the nations, she became worse than them losing her light and testimony, the old testament prophets revealing that!
How then could we be sure how God was dealing with mankind then?? Well, we know a few things about how God was dealing with mankind including his relationship to the nation of Israel during the advent of His Son. While written off in unbelief and in a divorced state from her, God in his love for the nation would offer the kingdom to them through his Son Jesus Christ! The rejection of him was demonstrated at his death at Calvary. It would be through Paul’s ministry where God would reveal the complete blessings of Christ’s work, his grace and the revelation of the mystery which was “kept secret since the world began”. That “secret” is available today and is magnified in Paul’s prison epistles.

There is no denying from a biblical perspective a dispensation, administration, or arrangement, during a portion of “chronos” (i.e. time, unlimited unless noted) may, or may not, be equal to kairos (i.e. – a portion of time such as one of the four seasons), according as the context determines. Nothing but confusion can arise from bible readers who “read themselves” into one dispensation which actually belongs to or relates with another. Jesus in his earthly ministry knew that distinction as shown in our Luke example above. Reading yourself into another dispensing of God is no different than expecting The Ark to float by when a strong rainstorm manifests. Do we sacrifice animals to atone for the sins we commit?? Of course not! We can understand how ridiculous those examples are but many do not consider the spiritual harm that can be done without “rightly dividing” what was meant for Israel and what IS meant for the Church of God, the Body of Christ.

WHAT NOT TO DO
By NOT “understanding the Scriptures and NOT marking what is spoken or written, 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”, may create an opportunity for schisms, fierce disagreements and the birth of yet another denominational church or assembly! Should bible readers error and connect with what God said and did in one administration or dispensation with another, in which His administration was on an altogether different principle or instruction set, utter confusion occurs friends. In order to reconcile these differences in how God deals with mankind, many men of God will “remedy” through what Paul says we need to do by “approving that things that differ” (ref Philippians 1:10), with what I call “spiritual gymnastics”. They take doctrine of late revelation and read it into the time when it was “hidden” which always leads to another dumpster fire of bad doctrine. Conversely, THIS mystery dispensation plainly revealed to mankind through the Pauline prison epistles are often hidden by orthodox churches or fellowship assemblies. Some percentage of these assemblies are indeed malicious while hoping to make merchandise out of mankind while other assemblies are truly ignorant of their responsibilities.
The bible shows that “the nations”, Israel (the Chosen Nation}, and the Church of God which is His Body are each dealt with in distinct “times” and on distinct principles, and the doctrine relating to each MUST be kept distinct. When our Lord speaks in our Luke 21:24 example of “the times (kairos) of the Gentiles”, the implication is that there are times of the Jews (under Messiah, Isaiah 33:6), whatever be the contrasted elements. So that what is recorded as connected with the times of the Jews is not necessarily applicable to the times of the Gentiles!

THE PRESENT DISPENSATION
The present administration of God is in grace, not in law, judgment, or future glory, and belongs to the “dispensation” (oikonomia) of the Mystery, that secret “which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but NOW is made manifest to His saints” (Colossians 1:26), that secret “which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men” (Ephesians 3). It was hid in God from the beginning of the world and it was kept secret since the world began (see Romans 16:25).
There is no authority for taking enactments that are divinely fitted for the times of the Jews and transferring them to the present dispensation of God in grace. Similarly, to read the precepts of the “Sermon on the Mount” found in Matthew 5-7, which are the laws of the kingdom of heaven, into Paul’s church epistles of Ephesians, Philippians, and Colossians, not only obscures the truth, but antagonizes one part of Scripture with another.

THE TIMES OF THE GENTILES.
While it is typically taught seven dispensations specified are the main divisions of the long period of the Divine dealings throughout mankind’s existence, there is truly another administration referred to as “the times of the Gentiles”. In this dealing with mankind, their is an overlap of two of the divisions shown below. These “times” began when Jerusalem passed under the power of Babylon (in approximately 477 B.C.), and continue while Jerusalem is “trodden down of the Gentiles” (Luke 21:24). These “times” are referred to in Romans 11:25, which has no reference to the completion of “the church of God”, as is so generally believed, but instead relates to the fullness, or filling up, or completion of the times of the Gentiles, the word “Gentiles” being put for the times which they fill up.

In summary and a complement to how God has dealt with and will deal with mankind is the below information:

THE SEVEN TIMES OR DISPENSATIONS
In the Bible seven distinct administrations are set before us. Each has its own beginning and ending; each is characterized by certain distinctive principles of God’s dealings; God dispenses instructions to mankind, of which mankind rejects (mankind does not take God at his word), of which God in his love, grace, and mercy judges mankind followed by the ushering in of a new set of dispensed instructions.

1.The Edenic state of innocence.

Mankind rejects God’s word and takes from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil
End — the expulsion from Eden.

2.The period or dispensing with law.

God’s gives mankind new instructions “without law” or before the Mosaic law of what Paul refers to as the times of ignorance, (ref. Paul’s dissertation in Acts 17:22-34). Read also mankind’s failure and moral decay in Romans 1
End — The Flood, and the judgment on Babel.


3.The administration under law.

Starting with his promise to Abram of the future seed (Christ) for mankind, God establishes Israel in order to interface with the Nations. They were to take his holy law and bring knowledge, light and righteousness representing the God of Israel. Instead, they made the law their righteousness instead of Jehovah.

Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth. – Romans 10:1-4

End – The rejection of Israel.

4.The dispensing of grace.
The Mystery (kept secret since the world began, but is NOW revealed to
all of mankind). You can make a case for The Mystery to be another change of how God is dealing with mankind, however, this change is really more for the benefit of the Church of God, The Body of Christ.

End – The “day of the Lord”.


5.The epoch of judgment.
End – The destruction of Antichrist.

6.The millennial age.
End – The destruction of Satan, and the judgment of the great white throne.

7.The eternal state of glory.
No End