Lesson #10

Course in Biblical Doctrine
Lesson #10

• Ages, Dispensations, and Covenants — continued
• #6 THE AGE OF GRACE, A DISPENSATION OF GRACE (ACTS 2:1-REV 3:22)
• This is the age in which we live today.
• This age began at the crucifixion and will continue until the second coming of Jesus Christ.

THE NEW COVENANT (Heb 8:6-13 Jer 31:31-34)

• Read Heb 8:6-13
• Read Jer 31:31-34
• This covenant is unconditional and unilateral. (Only one party needs to fulfill it.)
• It was first given to the Israelites in Jer 31 and therefore refers to the Jews who will accept Christ as their Messiah at the second coming of Christ.
• In this New Testament Age of Grace, God has extended this covenant to the Gentiles through Jesus Christ. This is the reason it is repeated in Heb 8:7-13.
• God will fulfill all His promises without giving man any responsibility, except personal faith in Jesus Christ.

• The new covenant is established on better promises (Heb 8:6). What are the better promises?

PROMISES TO ABRAHAM	PROMISES TO MOSES	THE BETTER PROMISES TO US
SPIRITUAL: BLESSINGS TO ALL NATIONS WITH SALVATION BY FAITH TO THE CIRCUMCISED WHO KEPT THE COMMAND OF BLOOD SACRIFICE WHICH COVERED SIN.	SPIRITUAL: SALVATION THROUGH FAITH IN THE BLOOD SACRIFICE OF ANIMALS DONE BY THE PRIEST TO COVER SIN	SPIRITUAL: SALVATION THROUGH FAITH IN THE BLOOD SACRIFICE OF JESUS CHRIST THAT WASHES AWAY ALL SIN
PHYSICAL: A HEALING OF SARAH’S WOMB SO AS TO PRODUCE A SON AND A NATION.	PHYSICAL: ALL THOSE WHO LOOKED AT THE SERPENT ON THE POLE WERE HEALED. NUM 21:4-9 JOH 3:14	PHYSICAL: NOT JUST HEALING WHEN ONE LOOKS AT THE ACTUAL CROSS OF CHRIST, BUT BY FAITH LOOKING AT JESUS IN PRAYER. JAM 5:13-15
MATERIAL: ALL THE LAND FROM THE EUPHRATES RIVER TO THE NILE RIVER.	MATERIAL: THE PROMISED LAND FLOWING WITH MILK AND HONEY.	MATERIAL: NOT JUST MATERIAL BLESSING WHEN YOU ENTER AND REMAIN IN A GEOGRAPHICAL LAND, BUT THE FULL BLESSINGS OF GOD WHEN WE ENTER INTO THE PROMISED “REST” OF GOD. HEB 4:1-11

• A symbol or sign of the covenant: the blood of Jesus Christ.
• Covenant duration: an eternal covenant in force forever.

• #7 THE AGE OF MESSIAH, A DISPENSATION OF LAW (REV 20:4-5)

• This age begins at the second coming of Jesus Christ when he comes to establish his kingdom on earth.
• Jesus Christ will physically reign on earth for 1000 years.
• Because this is a dispensation of law, Jesus Christ will reign with a strict code of justice.

THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT (MAT 5-7)

• This is a conditional covenant in a time of law. In other words, both God and man were expected to fulfill their part of the covenant in perfect justice and without exception.

GOD’S PROMISES	MAN’S RESPONSIBILITIES
INHERITANCE IN THE ETERNAL KINGDOM OF GOD	POOR IN SPIRIT = HE PUTS HIS WHOLE TRUST IN GOD
COMFORT	TO MOURN = COMPLETELY BROKEN FOR HIS OWN SIN
YOU WILL INHERIT POSITIONS OF AUTHORITY ON EARTH	MEEK = UNDER THE CONTROL OF GOD
SPIRITUAL SATISFACTION	HUNGER AND THIRST = SATISFIED ONLY WITH THINGS OF GOD
I WILL GIVE MERCY	MERCIFUL = TO HAVE A DEEP FEELING FOR OTHERS
YOU WILL BE ABLE TO SEE GOD FACE TO FACE	PURE IN HEART = CLEANSED OF ALL INNER IMPURITIES
YOU WILL BE MY CHILDREN	PEACEMAKERS = MAINTAINS RIGHT RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHERS.
INHERITANCE OF BLESSINGS IN GOD’S KINGDOM.	PERSECUTED FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS = PERSECUTION BECAUSE OF YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST
REWARED FOR FAITHFULNESS	SALT = A LIFE FULLY COMMITTED TO MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN THE WORLD (MAT 5:13)
GOOD WORKS ARE REWARDED	LIGHT = LET THE LIGHT OF CHRIST SHINE THROUGH YOU (MAT 5:14)
YOU WILL PRODUCE SPIRITUAL FRUIT AND REWARDED WITH GREATNESS	TEACH THE TRUTH (MAT 5:19)
YOU WILL LIVE IN A RIGHTEOUS ENVIRONMENT	RIGHT ATTITUDES AND RIGHT ACTIONS (MAT 5:21-32
	KEEP YOUR WORD AND KEEP YOUR PROMISES (5:37)
	DO MORE THAN IS EXPECTED (Mat 5:39)
RIGHTEOUSNESS WILL FOLLOW YOU	LOVE YOUR ENEMIES (MAT 5:44)
PUBLIC REWARD FOR GOOD NEEDS	GIVE PRIVATELY TO THE POOR (MAT 6:1)
	PRAY AND FAST WITH HONESTY AND SINCERITY (MAT 6:6)
GOD WILL GIVE TO YOU AN ABUNDANT PROVISION.	GIVE ABUNDANTLY
I WILL GIVE YOU ANSWERED PRAYER	DON’T JUDGE (MAT 7:1)
I WILL GIVE YOU WISDOM	BEWARE OF FALSE DOCTRINES AND FALSE TEACHERS
I WILL GIVE YOU A FIRM FOUNDATION OF FAITH	OBEDIENCE TO THE WORD OF GOD

• You will notice the conditional element. “If you will fulfill man’s responsibilities, God will fulfill his promises.”
• The environment in the Millennial Kingdom will be perfect:
• Christ will reign personally on earth with perfect justice and perfect mercy equally balanced.
• In a time of strict law, the only death will be for blatant rebellion.
• There will be no death from illness. Therefore the duration of life will be extended for 1000 years.
• Satan’s influences and temptations will be absent because Satan will be bound for a thousand years.
• Man will have only his flesh nature to control.
• Initially all the inhabitants of the Millennial Kingdom will be born again believers, but as the thousand years progress, there will be many new people born during this age that don’t recognize Christ as their King.
• At the end of the thousand years, Satan will be released to raise an army against God for one final rebellious war. This is the final war, the final rebellion, and the end of Satan.