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What is Dispensationalism?

What is Dispensationalism?. What is the Church?. By Dr. Steven R. Cook www.thinkingon scripture .com. Publications by Dr. Steven R. Cook. What is Dispensationalism?. Purpose of this presentation: To explain what the church is, and is not, based on a plain reading of the Bible.

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What is Dispensationalism?

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  1. What is Dispensationalism?

  2. What is the Church? By Dr. Steven R. Cook www.thinkingonscripture.com

  3. Publications by Dr. Steven R. Cook

  4. What is Dispensationalism? • Purpose of this presentation: • To explain what the church is, and is not, based on a plain reading of the Bible.

  5. The Essence of Dispensationalism • Charles Ryrie states: • “The Essence of dispensationalism is (1) the recognition of a consistent distinction between Israel and the church, (2) a consistent and regular use of a literal principle of interpretation, and (3) a basic and primary conception of the purpose of God as His own glory rather than the salvation of mankind.” • Charles C. Ryrie, Dispensationalism (Chicago, Ill. Moody Press, 1995), 45.

  6. The Essence of Dispensationalism • Ryrie further adds: • “A dispensationalist keeps Israel and the church distinct.” • “This is probably the most basic theological test of whether or not a person is a dispensationalist.” • Charles C. Ryrie, Dispensationalism (Chicago, Ill. Moody Press, 1995), 39.

  7. What is the Church? The church refers to the body of Christ which began on the day of Pentecost in Acts chapter 2. It is comprised of Jews and Gentiles who have believed in Jesus as Savior. The church exists universally as an organism, the global presence of Christians who form the body of Christ. The church also exists locally as an organization, a nearby assembly of believers who gather together for Bible study, worship, fellowship, and the practice of the ordinances of baptism and the Lord’s Supper. The Christian church is a mystery not revealed in the Old Testament and is separate from Israel, having a different identity and purpose.

  8. The Meaning of ἐκκλησίαekklesia The term church is a common translation of the Greek word ἐκκλησίαekklesia, which means ”called out ones, assembly, congregation, or community of Christians.” Walter Bauer, A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature, rev. and ed. Frederick W. Danker, 3rd ed. (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2000), 303-304.

  9. General use of ἐκκλησίαekklesia The New Testament writers use the word both in a general and technical sense. When used in a general sense, the word refers to any assembly, such as an assembly of non-Christian residents in a city (Acts 19:32, 39, 41).

  10. General use of ἐκκλησίαekklesia • “So then, some [angry residents of Ephesus] were shouting one thing and some another, for the assembly [ἐκκλησίαekklesia] was in confusion and the majority did not know for what reason they had come together.” (Act 19:32)

  11. General use of ἐκκλησίαekklesia • “But if you [the angry residents of Ephesus] want anything beyond this, it shall be settled in the lawful assembly [ἐκκλησίαekklesia] . For indeed we are in danger of being accused of a riot in connection with today's events, since there is no real cause for it, and in this connection we will be unable to account for this disorderly gathering.” After saying this he dismissed the assembly [ἐκκλησίαekklesia] . (Acts 19:39-41)

  12. General use of ἐκκλησίαekklesia It is interesting that the assemblymentioned in Acts 19 refers to pagan worshippers of the Greek goddess Artemis and does not refer to Christians at all (Acts 19:34-35).

  13. General use of ἐκκλησίαekklesia The word  ἐκκλησίαekklesia is also applied to Israel as a general assembly or congregation (Matt. 18:17; Acts 7:38; Heb. 2:12). In Matthew 18:15-17 Jesus addresses the subject of discipline within the fellowship of a community (ἐκκλησίαekklesia); however, the evidence of the passage favors a Jewish assembly (i.e. a synagogue) and not the Christian church.

  14. General use of ἐκκλησίαekklesia In Acts 7:38 Stephen is speaking to a Jewish audience and mentions “the congregation [ἐκκλησίαekklesia] in the wilderness.” Stephen’s use of the word  ἐκκλησίαekklesia simply refers to the assembly of Israelites who were brought out of Egypt by Moses. In Hebrews 2:12 the writer quotes Psalm 22:22, in which the Septuagint has the term  ἐκκλησίαekklesia, again, used in a general way of an assembly or congregation of Jewish people.

  15. Technical use of ἐκκλησίαekklesia When applied to Christians in the New Testament, ἐκκλησίαekklesia takes on a technical meaning and refers to those who have been joined spiritually to the body of Christ (1 Cor. 12:13; Eph. 1:22-23) by means of personal faith in Jesus as Savior (Acts 4:12; 1 Cor. 15:3-4; Eph. 2:8-9).

  16. Technical use of ἐκκλησίαekklesia The first reference to the Christian church occurs in Matthew 16:18 after Peter had confessed that Jesus is “the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matt. 16:16), and based on the rock-solid truth of Peter’s statement, Jesus said, “I will build [future tense] My church [ἐκκλησία ekklesia]; and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it” (Matt. 16:18).

  17. Technical use of ἐκκλησίαekklesia Jesus’ future tense statement reveals a church that was not in existence when He spoke. The Christian church began on the day of Pentecost, in Acts 2, when the Holy Spirit began His baptizing ministry of placing believers into the body of Christ. Concerning this work of the Holy Spirit, Paul writes, “For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit” (1 Cor. 12:13; cf. Gal. 3:26-28). 

  18. Technical use of ἐκκλησίαekklesia • Dr. Robert Lightner comments: • “The Holy Spirit of God is the primary agent who identifies the believer with other believers. Each one is a member of the body, and each member is united with the other members and with Christ (Rom. 6:1–4).” • Robert P. Lightner, Handbook of Evangelical Theology: A Historical, Biblical, and Contemporary Survey and Review (Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Publications, 1995), 229.

  19. Technical use of ἐκκλησίαekklesia • It is mainly in the writings of Paul that the Christian church is identified as the body of Christ. Note the following Scriptures: • And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all. (Eph. 1:22-23) • For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. (Eph. 5:23)

  20. Technical use of ἐκκλησίαekklesia • And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence. (Col. 1:18) • I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church. (Col. 1:24)

  21. Believers in Christἐν Χριστῷ Paul first learned about the body of Christ when he, as an unbeliever, encountered the Lord Jesus on the road to Damascus when he was persecuting Christians and putting them in prison. While on the road, the Lord Jesus appeared to him in a bright light, which caused him to fall to the ground, and then a voice said, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” (Act 9:4; cf. 22:7; 26:14). When Paul asked, “who are You Lord?” The reply came, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting” (Acts 9:5). Paul learned that an attack on Christians is an attack on the Lord Jesus Christ Himself.

  22. Believers in Christἐν Χριστῷ • Dr. Stanley Toussaint writes: • “The question, ‘Why do you persecute Me?’ (cf. Acts 9:5) is filled with significance for it shows the union of Christ with His church. The Lord did not ask, ‘Why do you persecute My church?’ The reference to ‘Me’ gave Saul his first glimpse into the great doctrine of Christians being in Christ.” • Stanley D. Toussaint, “Acts,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 375–376.

  23. Believers in Christἐν Χριστῷ The prepositional phrase in Christ (ἐν Χριστῷ), or in Christ Jesus (ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησου) is theologically rich; for it reveals the believer’s place of union with Christ as part of His body, the church.

  24. Excurses: Identification This positional identification is also a reality for believers living during the Tribulation. After His Second Coming, Jesus will evaluate Gentiles—both saved a lost—and either bless or curse them based on how they treat persecuted Jewish believers during the seven year Tribulation (Mat 25:31-34).

  25. Excurses: Identification • Jesus will praise Gentile believers, saying: • “I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.”(Mat 25:35-36)

  26. Excurses: Identification • “Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You something to drink? And when did we see You a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You? When did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ The King will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.’” (Mat 25:37-40)

  27. Excurses: Identification • Jesus will rebuke Gentile unbelievers: • “Then He will also say to those on His left, ‘Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry, and you gave Me nothing to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me nothing to drink; I was a stranger, and you did not invite Me in; naked, and you did not clothe Me; sick, and in prison, and you did not visit Me.’” (Mat 25:41-43)

  28. Excurses: Identification • “Then they themselves also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not take care of You?’ Then He will answer them, 'Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’” (Mat 25:44-45) • The charge is one of passive abuse where people see persecuted believers and do nothing.

  29. Excurses: Identification • “So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.” (Gal 6:10)

  30. Faith in Christ • When a person believes in Jesus as Savior he/she is united to the body of Christ by means of the Holy Spirit. This is a new designation in which ethnic, social, and gender identity are all secondary to the believer’s new identity of being in Christ Jesus. • “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” (Gal 3:26-28)

  31. Faith in Christ • One is added to the body of Christ by the simple act of faith in Christ. When the Philippian jailer asked Paul, “What must I do to be saved?” (Acts 16:30); Paul replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved” (Act 16:31). • πίστευσον ἐπὶ τὸν κύριον Ἰησοῦν καὶ σωθήσῃ συ (Act 16:31) • Believing in Jesus means we trust Him to do for us what we cannot do for ourselves; to save us. Salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone.

  32. Faith in Christ And everyone said: Amen!

  33. The Universal Church The New Testament church is understood both in a universal and local sense. The universal church refers to the global existence of the body of Christ. This is the organic church as it exists all over the planet. Several passages in the New Testament communicate the idea of a universal church.

  34. Universal Church • “Give no offense, either to the Jews or to the Greeks or to the church of God” (1 Cor. 10:32) • “God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues” (1 Cor. 12:28) • “He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all” (Eph. 1:22-23).

  35. The Universal Church What is noticed in these and other places in Scripture is the use of the term churchwithout a specific location (Matt. 16:18; Acts 8:3; 9:31; 20:28; Rom. 16:16; 1 Cor. 15:9; Eph. 3:10, 21; 5:23, 32; Col. 1:18, 24).

  36. The Universal Church • Dr. Robert Lightner states: • “There are a number of usages of ekklesia that do not seem to refer to a local assembly of believers. Instead, they speak of that company of believers formed on the day of Pentecost into the body of Christ, which has been growing ever since as sinners trust Christ alone as Savior and are added to it. This company of the redeemed is called the church without consideration of whether or not those who are a part of it are members of local churches.” • Robert P. Lightner, Handbook of Evangelical Theology: A Historical, Biblical, and Contemporary Survey and Review, 228.

  37. The Universal Church The universal church exists all over the earth. When the rapture of the church occurs, all believers, wherever they are on the planet, will be caught up to meet the Lord in the air (1 Thess. 4:13-18). That is, the church, as it exists globally, will be removed from the earth and taken to be with Christ. Also, whenever we meet another Christian, we are meeting someone who belongs to the global body of Christ, whether they belong to a local assembly or not.

  38. The Local Church The word church is also used to refer to a local assembly of those who regularly meet at a specific location. Luke mentions “the church which was at Jerusalem” (Acts 8:1), and “the church that was at Antioch” (Acts 13:1). Paul mentions “the church of God which is at Corinth” (1 Cor. 1:2), “the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi” (Phil. 1:1), and “the saints and faithful brethren in Christ who are in Colossae” (Col. 1:2). The apostle John wrote the book of Revelation to churches in Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea (Revelation 2-3).

  39. The Local Church Christians met in the homes of specific church members within each city. Luke records Paul’s ministry to Christians in Ephesus and explained that he taught “publicly and from house to house” (Acts 20:20). Paul mentions several home churches such as the one run by Aquila and Priscilla and “the church that is in their house” (1 Cor. 16:19), and about “Nymphas and the church that is in his house” (Col. 4:15), and “to the beloved Apphia, Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church in your house” (Phm. 1:2).

  40. The Local Church

  41. The Local Church CATCH Church at the Cook House

  42. The Local Church

  43. The Local Church

  44. The Local Church To be a local church there must be: 1) a gathering of Christians, 2) at a specific location (home or other facility), with 3) an accepted authority (Pastor/Elder/Overseer).

  45. Who Were Members? From several writings in the New Testament we get a demographic breakdown of church members, which consisted of: Men and women (Eph. 5:22-23) Parents and children (Eph. 6:1-4) Slaves and free persons (Eph. 6:5-9) Rich and poor (1 Tim. 6:17-19; Jam. 2:2-5) Spiritual and carnal (1 Cor. 3:1-3; Gal. 6:1) Mature and immature (1 Cor. 2:6; 1 Pet. 2:2).

  46. Who Were Members?

  47. What was the Early Church Doing? We can also surmise that home churches generally had few members because of the size of the homes (probably not exceeding 50 persons) and the fellowship probably tended to be personal, with an emphasis on learning God’s Word and enjoying Christian fellowship. Luke gives us a snapshot of some of the values and practices of the early church in which he tells us “They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer” (Acts 2:42).

  48. What was the Early Church Doing? “And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common; and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need. Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.” (Acts 2:44-47)

  49. What was the Early Church Doing? • What Luke gives us is descriptive of early church practices. • Devotion to authoritative teaching by the apostles. • Fellowship with other Christians. • A communal meal as well as the Lord’s Supper. • Prayer sessions. • Sharing personal resources to meet needs. • Unified thinking = “one mind”. • Worshipping God.

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