What is a Dispensation, anyway?

Scripture Reading: Ephesians 3:1-2

"What is a dispensation"? If we were to ask this question to some average church members, we would probably get answers like this: "I don't know," "I don't like to talk about theology," or "I think it is a period of time." Of course, none of these answers tells us what a dispensation is, including the last one.

The Bible word, "dispensation," is a combination of the Greek words for "house" and "law." Therefore, a dispensation is the "household law" at any given time. In Old Testament times, the "household law" was the Law of Moses. At that time, God dealt with man according to the precepts and principles set forth in the Law, and by this Law those people will be judged: "as many as have sinned in the Law shall be judged by the Law" (Romans 2:12b).

Today the "household law" is Grace. "For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles, If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward" (Ephesians 3:1,2). According to this text, God's household law today is the grace message committed to the Apostle Paul. These are the principles by which God deals with men at this time, and it is by this message that we will be judged: "In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel" (Romans 2:16).

The dispensation of the grace of God, then, is not a period of time, but rather it is the method by which God deals with us during this present time. Praise God it is by grace!