Dispensations
and Covenants
Dispensational theology
recognizes seven separate dispensations where God works with
man in slightly different ways. These dispensations can be
related to individual covenants between God and man. This
stands to reason that man’s relationship with God would
change with each new covenant.
In each dispensation God
reveals something to man and man is expected to respond in
obedience and faith. Often dispensations build upon one
another, adding knowledge without doing away with what God
had previously taught. In every age man doesn’t live up to
the standard which God expects. Some individually may follow
but collectively man rejects God’s revelations even up to
today when they reject the gospel of Jesus Christ.
To read more about each
dispensational and how they relate to the covenants, click
the links below.
|
Innocence – Genesis 1:28 |
Edenic Covenant – Genesis
2:16 |
|
Conscience – Genesis 3:7 |
Adam Covenant – Genesis 3:15 |
|
Human Government –
Genesis 8:15 |
Noahic Covenant – Genesis
9:16 |
|
Promise – Genesis 12:1 |
Abrahamic Covenant – Genesis
12:2
Palestinian Covenant –
Deuteronomy 30:3 |
|
Law – Exodus 19:1 |
Mosaic Covenant – Exodus
19:5 |
|
Church – Acts 2:1 |
New Covenant – Hebrews 8:8 |
|
Kingdom – Revelation
20:4 |
Davidic Covenant – 2 Samuel
7:16 |
In each dispensation God reveals
something to man and man is expected to respond in obedience
and faith. Often dispensations build upon one another,
adding knowledge without doing away with what God had
previously taught. In every age man doesn’t live up to the
standard which God expects. Some individually may follow but
collectively man rejects God’s revelations even up to today
when they reject the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Salvation in every dispensation is through the cross of
Jesus Christ. Earlier dispensations look forward to the
coming of the Messiah even while not understanding all there
was to know. Humanity was responsible for responding to what
they did know based on what God told man during each
dispensation.
Covenants are agreements between God and man. Some address
an individual person, some a specific family, some are to
the nation of Israel, and finally others are for all of
mankind. Covenants and dispensations intersect because with
each covenant God reveals something about Himself or His
expectations of humanity. These new revelations lay the
cornerstone for new dispensations.
Most covenants are unconditional in the Bible. God declares
that He will do something regardless of how humanity
responds. God is faithful to His word and we can expect
these to be fulfilled. Even though God has certain
requirements of humanity that He expects in each
dispensation as mentioned above, the covenants are
nonetheless unconditional. A few promises in the Bible are
conditional. These promises are laid out as “if… then…”
statements. Often these refer to punishments that humanity
can expect if they do not follow God’s commands.
Perfection at last
Every dispensation shows the depravity
of mankind. We are sinful through and through. While a
remnant is saved, most of humanity rejects God and will not
acknowledge Him as Lord. The work of Jesus on the cross
opens the door for the forgiveness of sin and many accept it
but still many do not. Even in a time of tranquility under
the reign of Christ, man’s sinful nature comes out and some
rebel.
Perfection awaits humanity though. Like
Christ, we will be resurrected and given a new body. It
won’t be fleshly and sinful. Satan won’t be around to tempt
or deceive us. The flesh will have no power over us. And the
old world will have passed away. We will spend eternity in a
new heaven and new earth in the presence of God Almighty!
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