THE DISPENSATION OF GRACE
The Definition
The Greek word for dispensation is “oikonomia” meaning an administration, stewardship, leadership or guardianship. It also refers to a moral period in human history during which God dealt with angels or mankind according to a particular test or responsibility in which God is the proprietor of the administration.
There are Nine Dispensations in the Bible
1. The Dispensation of Angels
2. The Dispensation of Innocence
3. The Dispensation of conscience
4. The Dispensation of Human Government
5. The Dispensation of Promise
6. The Dispensation of The Law
7. The Dispensation of Grace
8. The Dispensation of Divine Government or Millennium age
9. The Dispensation of the faithful Angels and the Redeemed.
For the sake of our topic in this chapter, I will explain it briefly till the dispensation of grace.
THE DISPENSATION OF ANGELS
This is the period when celestial beings called Angels were given the authority by God to govern the earth and other planets according to God’s commands. This is also known as the “Ante-chaotic” age. This period started from the creation of the Earth to the Chaos – Gen.1:1-2.
In the book of Genesis chapter one and two, the Bible says “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.” (NKJV)
In verse one the heavens (the first, second and third heavens) and the earth were created and of course whatever God created will be nothing but the best. But in verse two, there arose a different story. This beautiful, filled and attractive earth became formless, empty and full of darkness. What happened? This was where the fall of Satan, who was known in heaven as Lucifer came from. When Lucifer rebelled against God through the sin of pride and slander, he was thrown down from heaven to earth which brought about the desolation of the earth in Gen. 1:2. His fell brought in formlessness, emptiness and darkness upon the once beautiful and attractive earth of God. All beings at that time died due to his rebellion. His rebellion made him the opposite of God. Satan was once called the Lucifer meaning ‘son of morning’ i.e. the beauty of the earth but after his fall he became ‘devil’ meaning ‘the evil one’. So his fell made the earth helpless. (For more insights read- Isa. 14:12-14; Ez. 28:11-17; Luke 10:18; Rev. 12:7-10)
THE DISPENSATION OF INNOCENCE
This is the period when Adam and Eve were created and made till they committed the sin of eating the forbidden fruit. This dispensation is also known as the “Edenic” age. This period started from the creation of man to the fall and expulsion from the Garden of Eden (Gen. 1:3 - 3:24).
THE DISPENSATION OF CONSCIENCE
This is the period when the conscience ruled man. Corruption entered the earth through the seed of Cain. This dispensation is also known as the “Ante-diluvian” age. This period started from expulsion from the Garden of Eden to the flood (Gen. 4:1 - 8:14).
THE DISPENSATION OF HUMAN GOVERNMENT
This is the period when man was ruling the earth and doing what they know best. In this dispensation, the flesh of animals was now permitted for food for the first time and the sacredness of life was made impressive by the institution of capital punishment.
“Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things. Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man” (Gen.9:3,6)
This dispensation is also known as the “Post-diluvian” age. This period started from the flood to the dispersion of the tower of Babel (Gen. 8:15-11:32).
THE DISPENSATION OF GRACE
The Definition
The Greek word for dispensation is “oikonomia” meaning an administration, stewardship, leadership or guardianship. It also refers to a moral period in human history during which God dealt with angels or mankind according to a particular test or responsibility in which God is the proprietor of the administration.
There are Nine Dispensations in the Bible
1. The Dispensation of Angels
2. The Dispensation of Innocence
3. The Dispensation of conscience
4. The Dispensation of Human Government
5. The Dispensation of Promise
6. The Dispensation of The Law
7. The Dispensation of Grace
8. The Dispensation of Divine Government or Millennium age
9. The Dispensation of the faithful Angels and the Redeemed.
For the sake of our topic in this chapter, I will explain it briefly till the dispensation of grace.
THE DISPENSATION OF ANGELS
This is the period when celestial beings called Angels were given the authority by God to govern the earth and other planets according to God’s commands. This is also known as the “Ante-chaotic” age. This period started from the creation of the Earth to the Chaos – Gen.1:1-2.
In the book of Genesis chapter one and two, the Bible says “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.” (NKJV)
In verse one the heavens (the first, second and third heavens) and the earth were created and of course whatever God created will be nothing but the best. But in verse two, there arose a different story. This beautiful, filled and attractive earth became formless, empty and full of darkness. What happened? This was where the fall of Satan, who was known in heaven as Lucifer came from. When Lucifer rebelled against God through the sin of pride and slander, he was thrown down from heaven to earth which brought about the desolation of the earth in Gen. 1:2. His fell brought in formlessness, emptiness and darkness upon the once beautiful and attractive earth of God. All beings at that time died due to his rebellion. His rebellion made him the opposite of God. Satan was once called the Lucifer meaning ‘son of morning’ i.e. the beauty of the earth but after his fall he became ‘devil’ meaning ‘the evil one’. So his fell made the earth helpless. (For more insights read- Isa. 14:12-14; Ez. 28:11-17; Luke 10:18; Rev. 12:7-10)
THE DISPENSATION OF INNOCENCE
This is the period when Adam and Eve were created and made till they committed the sin of eating the forbidden fruit. This dispensation is also known as the “Edenic” age. This period started from the creation of man to the fall and expulsion from the Garden of Eden (Gen. 1:3 - 3:24).
THE DISPENSATION OF CONSCIENCE
This is the period when the conscience ruled man. Corruption entered the earth through the seed of Cain. This dispensation is also known as the “Ante-diluvian” age. This period started from expulsion from the Garden of Eden to the flood (Gen. 4:1 - 8:14).
THE DISPENSATION OF HUMAN GOVERNMENT
This is the period when man was ruling the earth and doing what they know best. In this dispensation, the flesh of animals was now permitted for food for the first time and the sacredness of life was made impressive by the institution of capital punishment.
“Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things. Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man” (Gen.9:3,6)
This dispensation is also known as the “Post-diluvian” age. This period started from the flood to the dispersion of the tower of Babel (Gen. 8:15-11:32).