Innocence
Definition
A dispensation may be defined as a period in time in which God manifests Himself in some particular relationship to man, having reference in all cases to the trial of the human race.
What is Innocence?
What is a state of innocence? It is not a condition of ignorance, because Adam had knowledge, and what knowledge it was, to be able to name all of God's creatures: "Whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof." Gen. 2:19. One sometimes hears the thoughtless query: Why could not God have created man incapable of sinning? Had He done so, man would have been a mere automaton, incapable of responding to the divine mind, incapable of virtue; in a word, he would not have been a moral being at all, but a mere creature void of personality. Innocence therefore is not a state of virtue, but a state of never having fallen. It is not a goal of attainment, but virtue, purity, righteousness, holiness, are objects which the Christian in his practical life seeks to exhibit. "Not as though I had already attained," says the apostle, "but... I press toward the mark." Phil. 3:12-14. Adam was created innocent but not holy.
The Fall—Innocence Lost
He forfeits all committed to him. Innocence is lost. This state is forever gone. The knowledge of good and evil comes in its place.
Conscience
Responsibility
Man tried under conscience is the subject of the next age. The sense of responsibility is coupled with the knowledge of good and evil which man got by the fall. Responsibility is not a mode of thought, but the very basis of all morality.
Accusing or Excusing Monitor
We have no prohibition now as in the former age, but instead a living monitor, conscience, "accusing" or else "excusing," but never acquitting.
Government
Added to conscience, which ever remains, we now have government. The transition is marked by the establishment of God's covenant with creation: "I do set My bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between Me and the earth." Gen. 9:13.
Inflexible Principle of Government
Government, or magistracy, is now introduced, the inflexible principles of which are laid down in Ex. 34:7. Let man hear this divine pronouncement: "Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children's children, unto the third and to the fourth generation." The sword of justice, as a means of restraint upon fallen humanity, is put into the hands of Noah. This principle soon develops into what we know as civil government.
Adam held sway over the lower creation and Noah over man, as well as over the animal creation. Gen. 9:6 now becomes the penal code for the punishment of human violence: "Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed.”
Calling and Promise
The first rays of a new light, that is, sovereign election, unconditional grace, are the next unfoldings of the heart of God to man. God begins another character of trial of the race.
Abraham
Abraham comes before us as the first heir of promise. "By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out... obeyed." Heb. 11:8. But very soon we see these promised blessings lost to Abraham's children for over four hundred years while they groan under the taskmasters of Egypt. This, however, did not abrogate the divine covenant, although so far as testing was concerned, the age ended when the people surrendered grace for law at Sinai (see Ex. 19:8). A dispensation has to do with testing, a covenant with the unchangeable, eternal purposes.
Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph
This dispensation, with these added unfoldings of God's ways, extends from Gen. 12:1 to Ex. 19:8, a period of 430 years, more or less. In this period we get the history of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph, whose lives furnish us with many beautiful types.
Law
Grace Surrendered for Law
At Sinai, Israel voluntarily accepted the law and surrendered unconditional favor, divine grace. But God does not fail His failing people. He ever has a resource at hand. The law did not abrogate the Abrahamic covenant and so Israel is still "beloved for the fathers' sakes." The law came in as a disciplinary measure, until the "Seed" should come. It was our "schoolmaster" until Christ. "It was added because of transgressions." Gal. 3:19.
This dispensation now under review is a very long one, covering a period of approximately 1491 years. It extends from Exodus chapter 19 to the end of Malachi.
From Law at Sinai to the Incarnation
There are some 1091 years of the inspired record, added to which we have the 400 silent years and this brings us right up to the incarnation. It is an account of God's dealings with His people Israel, the then depositaries of His counsels. Trial in a' new relationship is now begun with an especially favored nation in view. In Ex. 19:5, we have the first "if" in God's relationship with His people. Pure grace, without the admixture of law, was now over. Conscience and government still go on but with man under added responsibility. Israel (not the heathen), a favored nation, comes under law.
Age Closes in Judgment
Coming then to the incarnation, the public ministry and rejection of Messiah the Son of God, we find that God closes the long period of "Law," in judgment. "Behold, your house is left unto you desolate.... Ye shall not see Me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord." Matt. 23:38, 39.
Grace
Incarnation
The New Testament begins with that inscrutable mystery, the Incarnation. "Great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh." 1 Tim. 3:16. "The Word was made [became] flesh, and dwelt among us." John 1:14. "That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; (for the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and show unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us.") 1 John 1:1, 2.
The Eternal Son, Born in Time
The Son of God, begotten in time, is a fact and a truth aside from, or rather let us say, additional to, His eternal relationship with the Father before any work of creation was wrought. "This is My beloved Son,"—the eternal Son is owned and sealed also as Son of man (see Matt. 3:16, 17).
New Testament—Display of Grace
The New Testament then is the opening of that period which we speak of as the dispensation of the grace of God: His clemency toward sinners. Indeed, it is more than this, for the history of man's responsibility was closed at the cross, and we now come in on the ground of sovereign grace. God allowed ages to pass (the different, distinct periods in which man has in divers ways been put to the test, and in which he has had time to show what he is) without yet accomplishing His work of grace.
Trial of Man
This trial of man has served to show that he is bad in nature and in will. The multiplication of means only made it more evident that he was essentially bad at heart, for he availed himself of none of them to draw near to God. On the contrary, his enmity against God was fully manifested.
Kingdom
The fifth kingdom: the millennium begins. It supersedes the four Gentile dominions. It is the kingdom age, when righteousness reigns. "Thy people also shall be all righteous." Isa. 60:21. Undoubtedly the nucleus with which this period begins, by reason of the outpoured Spirit, will be characterized by genuine conversion (see Isa. 4:3; Ezek. 36:24-27). The long-looked-for age in which the "God of heaven" sets up a kingdom, at last arrives.
Creation Delivered
Creation "shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption." Rom. 8:21. It will be the rest that remaineth for the people of God (see Heb. 4:9), the fullness of which will be enjoyed in eternity. The seventy-second Psalm forecasts this peaceful time. Satan lies bound in the bottomless pit.
Reign of Righteousness
A King, David's Son and David's Lord, reigns over the scene in righteousness. The kingdom shall never be moved nor given to another people, but shall endure so long as kingdoms exist.
Righteous Government
The millennium is the last dispensation. It is the final trial of man in responsibility, under the rule of perfect righteousness, for then "a King shall reign in righteousness." Isa. 32:1. R. B. Wallace