Scripture interpretation

[Amanah]

A dispensationalist is a Christian who believes in a literal interpretation of Scripture and a distinction between Israel and the Church. They argue that God has two separate covenants

1. Israel: God's earthly people, with promises and prophecies yet to be fulfilled (e.g., kingdom restoration, land inheritance).
2. The Church: God's spiritual people, comprising believers from all nations, grafted into the olive tree (Romans 11).

Dispensationalists believe that the Church is not spiritual Israel or the Israel of God (Galatians 6:16), but rather a distinct entity. They emphasize that the Church did not replace Israel but is a separate entity with its own unique purpose and destiny.

In contrast, non-dispensationalists see the Church as the spiritual continuation or fulfillment of Israel, with the promises and covenants extending to the Church.

Key dispensationalist beliefs:

- Distinction between Israel and the Church
- Literal interpretation of Scripture
- Separate plans and purposes for Israel and the Church
- No equivalence of Israel with the Church

Some notable dispensationalists include John Nelson Darby, Charles Ryrie, and Hal Lindsey.

[Tithesmeister]

Originally Posted by Amanah

A dispensationalist is a Christian who believes in a literal interpretation of Scripture and a distinction between Israel and the Church. They argue that God has two separate covenants

1. Israel: God's earthly people, with promises and prophecies yet to be fulfilled (e.g., kingdom restoration, land inheritance).
2. The Church: God's spiritual people, comprising believers from all nations, grafted into the olive tree (Romans 11).

Dispensationalists believe that the Church is not spiritual Israel or the Israel of God (Galatians 6:16), but rather a distinct entity. They emphasize that the Church did not replace Israel but is a separate entity with its own unique purpose and destiny.

In contrast, non-dispensationalists see the Church as the spiritual continuation or fulfillment of Israel, with the promises and covenants extending to the Church.

Key dispensationalist beliefs:

- Distinction between Israel and the Church
- Literal interpretation of Scripture
- Separate plans and purposes for Israel and the Church
- No equivalence of Israel with the Church

Some notable dispensationalists include John Nelson Darby, Charles Ryrie, and Hal Lindsey.

What if?

What if both are correct (to some extent) and both are partially in error?

I definitely agree with some points of dispensationalism (as you have defined it) AAAAND I certainly agree with some aspects of covenantism (once again, per your definition).

We often think that we all have to be either all this or all that. Sometimes the correct answer is in the middle (in my humble opinion).

Also I think your definition of the two covenants may be in error, but that’s a different subject for another post, or even another thread.

[Amanah]

Bro TM please explain how the definition of the two covenants may be in error.

[Tithesmeister]

Originally Posted by Amanah

Bro TM please explain how the definition of the two covenants may be in error.

Yes ma’am. I will try. But I worry that it will torpedo your thread and I’m not sure how much time I can devote for defending my position. Please be patient.

[Amanah]

Originally Posted by Tithesmeister

Yes ma’am. I will try. But I worry that it will torpedo your thread and I’m not sure how much time I can devote for defending my position. Please be patient.

Okay. We can address it in a separate thread.

[Amanah]

Jeremiah said the New Covenant would be with the house of Israel, and the house of Judah:

Jeremiah 31:31-34 KJV
31 Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:
32 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the Lord:
33 But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the Lord, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.
34 And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the Lord: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.

Hebrews also says the the new covenant is with the house of Israel and the house of Judah.

Hebrews 8:8-11 KJV
8 For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah:
9 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord.
10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:
11 And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.


The Old Covenant was the law written on tablets of stone, the 10 commandments:

Exodus 34:27-28 KJV
27 And the Lord said unto Moses, Write thou these words: for after the tenor of these words I have made a covenant with thee and with Israel.
28 And he was there with the Lord forty days and forty nights; he did neither eat bread, nor drink water. And he wrote upon the tables the words of the covenant, the ten commandments.

The New Covenant is the law written on fleshly tablets of the heart. Hebrews 8:8-11

The Old Covenant had animal sacrifices.

The New Covenant has the blood of Messiah for remission of sins. The church is grafted in and is the Israel of God.

Both covenants contain the law of commandments.

[Amanah]

The New Covenant, established through Jesus Christ, is a fulfillment of the Old Covenant. The core elements remain the same, but the medium and sacrifice change.

In the Old Covenant, the blood of bulls and goats was used to atone for sins (Hebrews 9:12-14, Leviticus 17:11). However, this was only a temporary and imperfect solution, as it did not completely remove sin (Hebrews 10:1-4).

In the New Covenant, the blood of Messiah (Jesus Christ) replaces the blood of animals. Jesus' sacrifice is the perfect and eternal atonement for sins, accomplishing what the Old Covenant could not (Hebrews 9:23-28, Hebrews 10:12-14).

The New Covenant is built on the same promises and commandments as the Old Covenant but is now ratified through Jesus' blood, making it a better covenant (Hebrews 7:22, Hebrews 8:6-13). The old is fulfilled in the new, and the shadows give way to the reality of Christ's sacrifice.

Key points:

- Same covenant, different sacrifice
- Blood of Messiah replaces blood of animals
- Fulfillment of Old Covenant promises
- Transformation from temporary to eternal atonement
- Better covenant established through Jesus Christ

This understanding is central to Hebrews 8-10, where the author explores the relationship between the Old and New Covenants, highlighting the superiority of Jesus' sacrifice and the New Covenant it establishes.

[Amanah]

Here are some New Testament scriptures that affirm the importance of keeping God's commandments as a demonstration of loving Him:

1. John 14:15 - "If you love me, you will keep my commandments."
2. John 14:21 - "Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me."
3. John 15:10 - "If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love."
4. 1 John 2:3-6 - "And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments... Whoever says 'I know him' but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him."
5. 1 John 5:2-3 - "By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments."
6. Revelation 12:17 - "And the dragon was angry with the woman, and went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus."
7. Revelation 14:12 - "Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus."

These scriptures emphasize that loving God is not just a feeling or intellectual assent but is demonstrated through obedience to His commandments. The new covenant is the law/commandments written on the heart

[Amanah]

Awesome Elder Esaias! Thank you!

[Esaias]

Originally Posted by Amanah

Awesome Elder Esaias! Thank you!

You are welcome. Just thinking out loud here.