One? Two? Nine?
This is a study in Understanding Dispensations.
Ephesians 3:2 – If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God
which is given me to you-ward.
What is a dispensation? Is all Scripture applicable to believers today?
Dispensations or administrations are defined periods of time when God changed how He related to mankind since creation. All Scripture is for us but not all Scripture is to us.
2 Timothy 2:15 – Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
We see that we are to ‘rightly divide’ the truth, or discern and understand the context and audience of each passage of Scripture.
How is someone saved today? Which passage(s) are applicable today?
1.) Put on a fig leaf to cover your sin: Genesis 3:7 – And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.
2.) Kill an animal and burn it for an atonement for your sin: Exodus 29:36a – And thou shall offer every day a bullock for a sin offering for atonement.
3.) Ask God to purge you with hyssop: Psalm 51:7 – Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
4.) Have your friends carry you to Jesus (which is impossible since He ascended to His Father): Matthew 9:2 – And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.
5.) Endure on your own until the end (no one knows when the ‘end’ is; your death? Until Jesus returns?): Matthew 24:13 – But he that shall endure unto the end, the same
6.) Forgive everyone who has ever sinned against you (if you forget one person your sin won’t be forgiven): Luke 6:37b – …forgive, and ye shall be forgiven.
7.) Repent and be baptized in water: Acts 22:16 – And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.
8.) By works via being good to others: Matthew 25:34-35 – Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in.
9.) Believe by faith the gospel of Jesus Christ: 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 – Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures.
As you can, there’s nine ways to be saved. Which one is it? It is all of them, whichever one you choose, or just one? What your church teaches?
Do any of them contradict each other? If so, then isn’t Scripture full of error?
Confused? Not sure? Then please study dispensations, for this will clear it up for you.
The correct answer is 9.), for this is the way currently God’s has chosen to administer salvation – in this Dispensation of Grace.
I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. — Galatians 1:6-8