Lesson 8: Resolving Issues With Dispensationalism

When dispensationalism is confronted with objections, it is due to the faulty understanding of the objector

Arguments Against Dispensationalism

Dispensationalism is sometimes rejected on spurious grounds. In this last lesson I will cite five of the main objections and speak briefly to three of them; followed in the next section by some of the consequences of rejecting biblical dispensationalism.

The five most given objections are:

• That parts of the Bible are rejected
• That it teaches different ways of salvation
• That it rejects the gifts of the Holy Spirit
• That it was a late coming upon the scene
• That the unity of the Bible is destroyed"

Neither do Christians have to keep the Jewish holidays. We can if we so wish, but there is no command to do so. Neither are Gentile Christians required to make a pilgrimage to Jerusalem every year. Well, can Christians observe a Passover Seder? Sure, no problem there, but we are not commanded to do like the Jews of the past. So, yes, we believe everything in God's Word, but we are not required to do everything. As John MacArthur says, "dispensationalism can be stated in one sentence: it is a distinction between the Church and Israel. Period. That is it. We just need to keep the Church and Israel distinct."[1]

The second argument involves salvation. Some have accused dispensationalists of teaching various ways of salvation. That is not true. Let me interject here that dispensationalism is NOT a church. Anyone can be a dispensationalist, regardless of his church affiliation, for example, I happen to be Southern Baptist who is also a dispensationalist. The Scriptures are plain in teaching that there is only one way of salvation and that is through belief in the death, burial, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ - by God's grace through faith. Further, Hebrews 11 gives numerous Old Testament individuals living in various dispensations who lived - Abraham, Abel, Enoch, Noah, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, David, Samuel, and the judges and prophets.

"Although some say Dispensationalism destroys the unity of the Bible, this system of theology recognizes God's unifying work throughout the ages, while at the same time makes room for important diversities in God's "economies." Though God occasionally changed His governmental relationships with humankind, giving different individuals and groups differing responsibilities at different times, these economies carry out His overall purposes of the glory of God and the salvation of man.

Regarding unity, God's nature is unchangeable. Messiah is the focus of all Scripture. Salvation is and has always been by God's grace, never by human effort or works. Salvation takes place when human beings place their faith in the one true God, submit to His Word, and accept the sacrifice of Messiah on the cross.

And I will give you one last one, and that will cite the Charismatic issue.

[2] Some good people reject dispensationalism because they believe the gifts of the Holy Spirit are rejected. That also is not true. One can certainly be a dispensationalist and believe that all of the Spirit's gifts are available. There are many charismatic believers who are also dispensationalists.

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