Question:
Please explain the difference between the new and the old dispensation. There is much talk about the superiority of the present “age of free grace,” the “age of the Holy Spirit,” etc. There must be a significant difference, as evidenced by the angels singing for joy at Christ’s birth. However, the “law” or commandments are just as binding now as they were then, and faith was just as essential then as it is now. The righteous people of old were filled with the Spirit just as fully as people are now, and they were saved then, just as people are now, by Christ’s sacrifice. Of course, Christ’s life and death clarified the character of God and His plan of salvation, but is that all?
Answer:
The term “dispensation” refers to the distribution or administration of God’s blessings rather than to the nature of the blessings themselves. God’s character and requirements remain constant throughout all ages, demanding obedience to His will and keeping His commandments. The means of salvation, through the sacrifice of Christ and faith in God, also remain unchanged.
However, there has been a progressive revelation of God’s plan throughout the ages, with increasingly detailed instructions. In the patriarchal era, worship centered around the family, with the head of the household serving as the priest and distributor of God’s blessings. During the Levitical age, worship and ceremonies became more elaborate, with the Levites serving as the primary ministers and distributors of God’s truth. All the foreshadowing from the past found fulfillment in the person and sacrifice of Christ Jesus, and the dispensation of blessing was mainly among the ministers and elders of God. But there were “free grace” and “the Spirit” of old, and the efficacy of Christ’s offering availed then as it does now, and it was necessary to believe in God for salvation.
What is the main difference, then? The main differences are as follows: (a) It represented a significant advancement in God’s plan; (b) It showcased God’s power over sin in human form; (c) In the perfect life of our Lord, the world safely navigated its crisis (John 12:31), and the fate of Satan and sin was irrevocably sealed; (d) Until that point, even the angels had been, if not in doubt, at least perplexed; but everything was resolved through Christ’s triumph. See Rev. 12:10-12, Rom. 16:25, 26, Eph. 3:3-6, and Rev. 5:1-10 for further evidence. Much more could be said, but our correspondent will recognize that the magnificent confirmations in the fulfillment of all God’s promises in Christ Jesus were extraordinary events. All these were revelations of the mystery of godliness for which the church had longed, and the world had awaited.
