"I see it now; I see it clearly," said a Christian who had long had confused views of the truth. "I see now there is a change in dispensation."
Before this, he did not clearly distinguish between the law and the gospel, Israel and the Church, things earthly and things heavenly; but now he learned from the Scriptures that there was a change in dispensation. And so there is. While God changes not, He was pleased in His sovereignty at one time to give a holy law from the burning mount, and instructed all, under penalty of death, to keep far off; and at another time to send forth His beloved Son with words of pardon and blessing to all that come to Him in faith.
God chose the former to show how great a sinner man is (Rom. 3:20); He chose the latter to show that He loved him, though a sinner, and could save him (1 Tim. 1:15).
It was once God's good pleasure to call an earthly people, the nation of Israel, to serve Him on earth; but now it is God's sovereign will to call sinners (in grace) into relationship with Himself in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.
In this dispensation He is calling out of the Gentiles "a people for His name" (Acts 15:4); in the coming day He will "gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth" (Eph. 1:10). The great changes between the past and present dispensations are plainly set forth in the New Testament in different points of view. Let us look at some of them.
1) AS TO SACRIFICE. In the last dispensation, there were many sacrifices, and often repeated. They were the remembrances of sins, and by virtue of them forgiveness of past sins was provided, but never "took away sins." They could not "make the corners thereunto perfect," nor enable them to "draw near" to God, as having "no more conscience of sins."
In this dispensation we have one sacrifice once offered, never needing to be repeated. Blood so precious, and so entirely taking away sins, that God says, "Their sins and iniquities will I remember no more," thus purging the conscience and enabling the worshiper to enter with boldness into the holiest of all. The change of dispensation is so marked that we are told that "He taketh away the first, that He may establish the second." In the former God had no pleasure; with the latter He is well pleased. (See Heb. 10:1-22.)
PRIESTHOOD. The Apostle says, "The priesthood being changed," etc. How is it changed? The Aaronic order of priesthood was of the tribe of Levi, appointed without an oath, did not continue, passed from one person to another; the high priest was obliged to offer for his own sins, was always standing because his work was never done, and had to remember the sins of the people over again once every year.
The Lord Jesus, the High Priest now, was of the tribe of Judah, and is of the Melchisedec order, was appointed by an oath, continueth forever, and is unchangeable. He had no sins of His own to put away because He is "holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens"; and so perfect is His work that after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, He sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high (Heb. 1:3; 7:8; 10:11, 12).
WORSHIP. In the last dispensation, Jerusalem was the place of worship; the thick veil excluded the worshipper from the presence of God, and no one could enter into the holiest of all but the high priest once a year, and that only with blood and incense. In this dispensation, worship is purely spiritual, no earthly place of worship is recognized, the veil is rent, we enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus.
All believers now are priests. The Father is the object of worship, Jesus the new and living way, and the Holy Spirit who now dwells in every believer, the power of worship. The Lord Jesus so marked the change in worship that He said, "The hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father.... But the hour cometh and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship Him. John 4:21, 23; see also Heb. 10:19-22.
CALLING. In the last dispensation, God called a people from Egypt to Canaan, with a promise of earthly inheritance. Now God calls by His gospel with a high, holy, and heavenly calling, blessing us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ, having quickened us together with Him, and raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Him (Eph. 1 and 2).
HOPE. The true hope of the last dispensation was Messiah the Son of David, coming to set up His kingdom on earth, and reign before His ancients gloriously. The blessed hope of this dispensation is that Christ will come, change our bodies of humiliation, and raise us up to meet Him in the air, to be forever with the Lord (John 14:3 Thess. 4:16, 17).
These are only some of the points of difference, but enough has been advanced to show that there really is a change in dispensation.
May the Lord help His children rightly to divide the word of truth, and serve Him acceptably.