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Hyper-Dispensationalism and the New Covenant:
Dangers, False Doctrines, Truth!
Hyper-Dispensationalism (also known as Ultra-Dispensationalism, Mid Acts
Dispensationalism) is a movement that sounds Biblical, but in essence have
doctrines that are false and that are dangerous to the body of Christ. The
main doctrines of Hyper-Dispensationalism concerning the New Covenant are:
The Bible is written for us but not all of it is for us, that is the body of
Christ only is to follow what the Apostle Paul taught in his Epistles for
doctrine and practice. Paul was the first Christian and the body of Christ
(Christian Church) started with his conversion. The Gospels are not for the
body of Christ but are for the nation of Israel. Jesus only came to save the
nation of Israel and His teachings were faith plus works for salvation, and
the New Covenant was only for the nation of Israel and the body of Christ is
not in the New Covenant.
Biblical response to Hyper-Dispensationalism on "New Covenant for Jews only."
The main problem with Hyper-Dispensationalism is the misconception of what
the New Covenant is and whom it is for. Throughout the Bible it is clear God
works with His people by covenants, that is agreements. A covenant is defined
as a "contract or agreement." God throughout the Scriptures calls out to
people to follow His ways, to turn from their ways, and in that they will be
delivered from their sins. The Bible speaks of a Messiah who comes to give
His life as an atoning sacrifice for the transgressions of mankind, both for
those of Israel and the Gentiles.
Hyper-Dispensationalism teaches that this text is proof that Jesus the
Messiah came only for the nation of Israel to give the New Covenant, therefore
since these verses only speak of Jews in context it means that the New
Covenant is not for the Gentiles. The belief is that the New Covenant was in
effect from the time of the Jesus dying on the cross until conversion of Paul
for Jews, then the time of grace started with the body of Christ being both
Jews and Gentiles.
This is prophecy of the coming Messiah who would bring judgment for the
nations, that is the Gentiles. This prophecy speaks of the Servant, which is
referring to the suffering Messiah as
Isaiah 53:1-12
teaches. Jesus spoke of coming for the whole world in John 3:16, "for God so
loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in
Him shall not perish, but have eternal life." Jesus spoke of Him coming for
the nation of Israel in
Matthew 15,
but Jesus also spoke of His coming for the Gentiles to trust in Him as well in
the Gospel of Matthew.
Jesus spoke this directly from the prophecy in
Isaiah 42
and was referring this to Himself. Jesus was teaching that He came also for
the Gentiles to trust in Him. The Bible teaches that Jesus the Messiah came
for the nation of Israel, the Gentiles, that is Jesus came to give His life
for the whole world. Jesus giving His life as an atoning sacrifice is what
established the New Covenant for anyone to trust in Him for salvation.
Paul taught that the sacrifice Jesus was "prophesied for both Jews and
Gentiles."
Hyper-Dispensationalism teaches that only Paul spoke of the cross being
atonement for sins for all people, and that is just not true. Paul shared
what was already spoken of by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit to God's
prophets.
These two Scriptures go together in fulfillment for all people to look to
God for salvation, and that was done through the work of Jesus Christ from
what Paul is teaching. Paul is quoting Isaiah 49:8 which was a covenant for
salvation for all people.
Paul speaks of the "new testament" which is literally the "New Covenant"
in which the work of the cross has established for all people. Throughout
Paul's writings he speaks of salvation being of the heart, not of works or the
flesh. Paul in writing to Gentile Christians in Corinth speaks of "us" as
being the body of Christ being able ministers in the "New Covenant."
Paul in Epistle to the Romans speaks of prophets foretelling salvation
being able to the Gentiles. If Hyper-Dispensationalism would examine closely
the teachings of Paul they would see the truth is that the coming of the
Messiah was for both the Jews and the Gentiles.
It is clear that Paul acknowledged that the prophets spoke of this
salvation for both Jews and the Gentiles. Jesus came not only for the Jews
but also for the Gentiles.
It is true that Jesus came for the house of Israel, the Jews. But
prophecy spoke in advance that God was not only giving this salvation only for
the Jews but also for the Gentiles. Paul acknowledges that God not only was
reaching out to the Jews but also to those who were Gentiles, and to those who
were not looking for Him. We read in the New Testament that after Christ was
raised the commandment was given to go to all nations, and reading in the book
of Acts the message of Jesus Christ crucified, raised, and all who trust in
Him will be saved from the sins.
Jesus spoke of His death and resurrection many times to His disciples, but
they did not understand this until He was raised from the dead. Jesus told
them to go to all nations and they did. The message for salvation is for all
people. Jesus said that these things were written in the Law of Moses, the
Prophets and Psalms, which shows that this message was spoken of before the
Apostle Paul. It is true that Paul clarified and expounded on many things,
but it is not true that it was only Paul who spoke of salvation for the
Gentiles.
Conclusion to Hyper-Dispensationalism and the New Covenant.
This information has shown that God made a way for both the Jews and the
Gentiles to be saved from their sins through the work of Jesus Christ. The
Apostle Paul teaches that this New Covenant is for both the Jews and the
Gentiles, for those who are in the body of Christ. Paul in writing to the
Corinthians spoke of partaking of the Lord's Supper.
Paul writing to Gentile Christians spoke of them partaking of the Lord's
Supper, which was done in remembrance of Christ's shed blood for the New
Covenant. If the New Covenant was only for the Jews why is Paul not rebuking
the Corinthians for partaking of this covenant ordinance that is not for
them? Reading the context of the passage Paul is teaching them on how to
partake of it properly, which shows Paul did not teach that the body of Christ
was not a part of the New Covenant.
Those who teach that the body of Christ is not in the New Covenant through
the atoning shed blood of Jesus Christ are themselves in deception. If a
person has not come to accept Jesus Christ being the only atoning sacrifice
for our sins and is in covenant with God, that is in agreement with God's
provision for dealing with mankind's sins than they are truly not of Him. The
purpose of sharing this information is that Hyper-Dispensationalism is in
error on the work of Jesus Christ establishing a new covenant with man for
them to have atonement for their sins. May this information be used to
glorify Christ and help those who are misled understand the glorious work of
the cross.
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