Two Dispensations

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Paul Hesitates

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Paul has been going on for some time; suddenly he stops and wonders if he has been coming on to strong? Was he complaining too much? Paul had been establishing his credentials when he realized that these people were his "credentials". He neither needed nor desired any recommendation from any one. Only those who were teaching a false doctrine needed a recommendation. Despite the bad publicity from the problems in their church, these Corinthians were still a witness to Paul's ministry in the Gospel. They still reflected the Gospel of Jesus Christ, in spite of themselves, because of the Holy Spirit.

They were like letters that witnessed of Christ in the Spirit of the Living God. They established a Law, not written on tablets of stone, but written on human hearts. Thus they, like we, are what we are because of God. Therefore, let us do what we do with confidence, for it is not us but the Lord, it is not in ourselves that we boast, it is of the Lord. God does the qualifying, He also gives the results. This is His new covenant, bought and paid for by the death and resurrection of His Son, Jesus Christ.

Remember, we are no better than the Grace of God makes us.

Codes, Covenants and Dispensations

There were two codes, two covenants and two dispensations. In these verses, Paul attempts to explain the difference to his Jewish friends at Corinth. The old codes and the old covenant and dispensation meant nothing to the Romans and the Greeks, yet the Jews were constantly trying to impose them on Gentile believers.

Notice, Paul, in no way, try's to play down the Divine revelation of the Old Testament, the Jewish Law. Nor does he diminish the splendor of its presentation described in Ex. 34:29-30. But as great as it was, it cannot compare to God's revelation thru Jesus Christ.

God's people have lived thru two dispensations. The Dispensation of the Law from Abraham to the Coming of Christ. The Dispensation of Grace from the coming of Christ until the end of time. Lets make some comparisons between the two.

1. The Dispensation of Law was God's covenant given to Moses at Mt. Sinai, the 10 commandments. Paul calls them "Letters written in Stone". Notice what Paul calls this dispensation, "A dispensation of death" and "a dispensation of condemnation". Why? Because the Law failed, it did not bring salvation to man.
2. The Dispensation of Grace, the covenant of the Gospel given by the teachings of Jesus Christ and the revelation of the Holy Spirit to the Apostles. Paul refers to this as the Dispensation of the Spirit, the Dispensation of Righteousness. Righteousness means, being made right with God. So where the Law failed, the Gospel succeeded. Where the Law was only to continue for a time, the Gospel is for eternity.

So Paul, and the ministers of the Gospel, are ministers of the Spirit, therefore their credentials are eternal.

Boldness

Boldness, the Gospel ministers approach to God. Paul approached God with boldness. Moses put a veil over his face. Why did Moses do this? He did this to protect his eyes. Paul had experienced the Glory of God and loss his eyesight for three days. Moses came down from Mt. Sinai and placed a veil over his face so the Israelites could not see the light fading from his face. The light of Paul's Gospel never faded. The effects on Moses faded with time, but the effects on Paul grew as Paul grew in Grace, magnitude, enthusiasm and enlightenment as he grew in years.

So the veil became a sign of the separation between the Israelites and God. Paul says that this is still so today, because they have not accepted Christ and only thru Christ can this veil be taken away. Remember that it was at the moment of Christ's death that the veil of the Temple was rent, but the Jews still think that it is there.

What is the boldness that we have that the Israelites do not have? It is Jesus, for through Christ we have access to God, freedom to approach God, freedom to grow in Grace. Growing in His likeness, in one degree or another, remembering that this growth comes from the Lord. It was Moses' privilege to speak with God face to face, but now all true Christians can do this, and do so "boldly".

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