What Exactly Is A “Dispensation”?

By Arthur J Licursi

 

In my writing I often refer to the wonderful “dispensation of the grace of God” in which we live and of which Paul wrote here.

Ephesians 3:1-3 For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles, ² If ye have heard of THE DISPENSATION OF THE GRACE OF GOD which is given me (Paul) to you-ward: ³ How that by revelation he (Jesus) made known unto me the mystery (secret plan); (as I wrote afore in few words,

Many people have a mistaken idea that when the Apostle Paul uses the word “dispensation” he is only referring to a period of time. This is not correct. There is much more to this word dispensation. The word “dispense” simply means “to deal out,” to “to administer.” The word “dispensation,” then, means “the act of dispensing, administering, or dealing out,” or “that which is dispensed, administered, or dealt out.”

This becomes clear when you consider this, taken from Cornelius Stam. “There are medical dispensaries, for example, where medicines are dispensed to the poor. Sometimes these dispensations are conducted on a particular day of each week. Such a dispensation of medicine may take a full twelve hours each week, but it does not follow from this that a dispensation is a period of twelve hours. It is rather the act of dispensing or that which is dispensed.”

God committed to Paul, the “Apostle to the Gentiles” (Act 11:13) His wonderful message of pure grace for Paul to dispense to others, including us today. Thus here below we read Paul’s stirring words, spoken in the face of persecution and death.

“But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, AND THE MINISTRY WHICH I HAVE RECEIVED OF THE LORD JESUS, TO TESTIFY THE GOSPEL OF THE GRACE OF GOD.” (Acts 20:24)

The “gospel” or “good news” of “the grace of God” is the dispensation committed to Paul for Paul to dispense to us. Paul received this message directly from the crucified and ascended Lord Jesus.

Galatians 1:12 (AMP) For indeed I (Paul) did not receive it (this gospel) from man, nor was I taught it, but [IT CAME TO ME (PAUL)] THROUGH A [DIRECT] REVELATION [GIVEN] BY JESUS CHRIST.

Today, God’s pure unadulterated Grace defines the believer’s relationship with God. Grace, which is God freely given unmerited favor, defines the gospel message that Paul was given to dispense to us.

Paul’s Christ-given ministry and work was always to dispense this glorious “gospel of the grace of God.”

“Where sin abounded GRACE did much more abound... the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His GRACE... justified freely by His GRACE, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus... by GRACE are ye saved, through faith… not of works” (Rom.5:20; Eph.1:7; Rom.3:24; Eph. 2:8, 9).

Previously, there was a time when “the Law” was given to Moses (John 1:17) at Mount Sinai, about 1300 BC, for Moses to dispense to the children of Israel . Paul says “The Law” was for Israel but it is not for the Gentiles in this age of “the dispensation of the grace of God.

Romans 6:14b … for YE ARE NOT UNDER THE LAW, BUT UNDER GRACE.