hello, i stumbled onto this site and have a few questions about dispensationalism. can anyone tell me where this denomination is headquarted, what their doctrine is, and when the denom. was started, where and by whom? this would be most helpful, as I find the concept very interesting, and along the same lines as my own beliefs.
ps--is there an official website for this denom.? thanks
i will continue to read the posts and learn as i go. thank you
Dispensationalism is big word used by some people to describe people that "Rightly divide the word of truth". I'm sorry to say, but you will run across other big words like hyperdispensationalists and ultradispensationalists. Don't let these bother you. Some people use these terms to describe people that rightly divide the word of truth but differ on different issues like when the church the body of Christ started. All these big words are based upon pride. Always remember the bible says, "Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth".
The apostle Paul used words that were easy to understand and so should preachers and teachers of God's holy word.
The bible talks about them that "believe and know the truth" and that is how I prefer to be known, as a plain old everyday bible believer. Even though I rightly divide the word of truth as others at this forum, I do not claim to a dispensationalist, but rather just a bible believer. The apostle Paul never claimed to be a dispensationalist, but just a simple believer with a special message of grace.
But anyway, to answer your question, dispensationalism is not a denomination but rather a belief. The apostle Paul received a special doctrine of grace from the Lord Jesus Christ, and was told to preach it unto the Gentiles. These teachings were passed on to Timothy, Titus and many other fellow laborers in Christ and passed down through the ages until this present day. So if you want to, you could say that it was started by the apostle Paul sometime during the first century. As far as I know, all the preachers that teach this grace are independent as was the apostle Paul. There is no denomination. The Lord never made denominations. Man did.
Personally, I cannot belong to a denomination. Why? Because denoninations cause division among the body of Christ. Denominations speak different things, they believe different things. In 1st Corinthians it says we should, "all speak the same thing and let there be no divisions among you". So true believers should strive to speak the same thing, but there is a lot of division among the body of Christ. I wish I could do something about it, but I can't.
You will not find a headquarters for this so-called dispensationalism, because none exists. But I do encourage you to continue to seek the truth. People that really want to know the truth are very few and far between, and it really excites me to find someone that is really seeking the truth. You are a rare breed.
My name is Jerry Pourcy and I am the pastor of Grace Bible Study. We have just started our own website and though we don't have a lot of features up and running yet, we have a forum along with a live chat room that is operational. I will be more than happy to discuss the bible there with you. On our site we also have links to other grace sites that might be helpful to you. If you are interested check us out at http://www.gracebiblestudy.net
Like you, I just so happen to stumble across this site. I find it interesting, so I'll probably come back to it again.
Once again, I don't know how you came about your beliefs, but I do encourage you in continuing to seek the truth. Once you see it, it will open up a whole new world of understanding.
I believe that the OT Saints were not saved in the same way we are today. We (the body of Christ) are saved by our belief in the shed blood of Jesus upon the cross; we faithfully believe he was crusified for our sins and was ressurected. By God's grace we are saved by our belief in Jesus Christ.
The OT Saints had no knowledge of Jesus. How could they have been saved by the shed blood of Jesus? Those that followed God's commandments were saved, by faith in God, however, they also had to follow God's commandments, to show their faith. Had they not followed the commandments and laws, i.e., the 10 commandents, blood sacrifices and baptism for remission of sins, they would have died in their sins and gone to hell. Those OT Saints who followed the commandments and the laws of the time before the physical death of Jesus, were saved, however, could not enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only through Christ can one enter into heaven.
It was after the physical death of Jesus, when he first descended, to Abraham's Bosom, to take the OT Saints into heaven with him.
I would like to hear your view on faith and works salvation for the OT Saints.
I believe that the OT Saints were not saved in the same way we are today. We (the body of Christ) are saved by our belief in the shed blood of Jesus upon the cross; we faithfully believe he was crusified for our sins and was ressurected. By God's grace we are saved by our belief in Jesus Christ.
The OT Saints had no knowledge of Jesus. How could they have been saved by the shed blood of Jesus? Those that followed God's commandments were saved, by faith in God, however, they also had to follow God's commandments, to show their faith. Had they not followed the commandments and laws, i.e., the 10 commandents, blood sacrifices and baptism for remission of sins, they would have died in their sins and gone to hell. Those OT Saints who followed the commandments and the laws of the time before the physical death of Jesus, were saved, however, could not enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only through Christ can one enter into heaven.
It was after the physical death of Jesus, when he first descended, to Abraham's Bosom, to take the OT Saints into heaven with him.
I would like to hear your view on faith and works salvation for the OT Saints.
Dispensationalism is not a denomination. It is a theological view of Scripture based on a literal interpretation with distictions for differenct administrations of God in directing the affairs of the world.
C. I. Scofield (1843-1921) was an early proponent of dispensationalism. There are Scofield Study Bibles available that contain his notes. Scofield's definition of a dispensation: A dispensation is a period of time during which a man is tested in respect of obedience to some specific revelation of the will of God. Scofield identifies seven dispensations (aka administrations, stewardships, or economies) 1. Innocence 2. Conscience 3. Human Government 4. Promise 5. Law 6. Church 7. Kingdom. There is wide disagreement amongst dispensationalist in defining dispensation. I am not a Scofield proponent but he is a widely known dispensationalist due to his study bible.
I became a believer at 47 after reading the Bible. I was raised in the church but I wasn't able to generate any faith to it's truth. Romans 10:17 spoke to me "Faith comes from hearing and hearing from the Word." I was being drawn near as I progressed through the Scripture. I considered my early years in the church as spiritual abuse so I was reluctant to return. I studied the Scripture on my own and watched all the Charismatic preachers on TV. I was first drawn to Pentecostalism as I was open to believing anything quoted from the Bible. I prayed for a healing of a hearing impairment but I didn't receive one even though I considered myself to have great faith. I also struggled with a couple of verses that haunted me. (Mark 16:17-18). I knew I was a believer but I didn't have any of the sign gifts described in these verses.
I was talking with a Christian business associate long distance that I had never met but I asked him about the verses bothering me. He told me I wasn't rightly dividing the word of truth. He instructed me on right division and I realized all the scripture is the truth but not necessarily truth for today. After I realized the signs and wonder gifts were a part of the New Covenant reoffering of the Kingdom to Israel, I could understand why it is not a part of the ministry today. Since I have viewed the Scripture as a progressive revelation from a dispensational view it falls into place and makes sense. The Book of Matthew has numerous verses that don't mesh with Christian teachings. I understand that Matthew was written to the Jews and Christ (in the flesh) said he came only for the lost sheep of the house of Israel. That doesn't bother me because I know he was a minister of the circumcision offering Israel the King and the Kingdom.
I attend a covenant theologically based church whose pastor prefers the teachings of the ministers of the circumcision and loves to preach out of Matthew. I am always griting my teeth as numerous teachings are not for today. Recently we had a sermon on Matt 6:15 which says God will not forgive you if you do not forgive your fellow man. I know this is scriptural and a good teaching but I also know this goes against God's (after the cross)view of a heathen's sin debt. After the cross, nobody is required to forgive others before than can become a believer. Also, a believer's sins past, present, and future are forgiven. If Matt 6:15 was true today then the bar of salvation would be raised for some. My dispesational view helps me understand the Book of Matthew and allows it to be disgestible.
I think you will find a dispensational view of scripture allows you to have a better understanding of scripture and appears more appropriate than the grab bag mishmash approach of covenant theology.