THE DISPENSATION OF GOD AND THE FULFILLMENT TRUTH

THE DISPENSATION OF GOD AND

THE FULFILLMENT TRUTH

Colossians 1:25 Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God;

The Dispensation of God

To Paul the apostle was given the “dispensation” of God.  What is this dispensation?   Before we answer that, let us define first the word “dispensation”.

The word “dispensation” is used in the Bible 4 times (in the King James Bible).  These are the verses about”dispensation”.

1 Corinthians 9:17 For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me.

Ephesians 1:10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:

Ephesians 3:2 If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to youward:

Colossians 1:25 Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God;

In the verses above, we can see the word dispensation as having been “committed” and “given”  to Paul for or toward the Gentile saints. Based on this, we can see the meaning of dispensation as “something committed” or “given” to someone from another for others.  Another word for dispensation is “stewardship”.

Stewardship and House Management

The word “stewardship” is found in the KJV 3 times:

Luke 16:2 And he called him, and said unto him, How is it that I hear this of thee? give an account of thy stewardship; for thou mayest be no longer steward.

Luke 16:3 Then the steward said within himself, What shall I do? for my lord taketh away from me the stewardship: I cannot dig; to beg I am ashamed.

Luke 16:4 I am resolved what to do, that, when I am put out of the stewardship, they may receive me into their houses.

Like the word “dispensation”, stewardhip is something given and “taken away”.  

The word “steward” in the New testament is used 8 times and 5 times in the Old Testament, 13 times all in all. 

A “steward” is somebody entrusted of the owner’s house.  He is the servant or the chief-servant of the house.

The word “stewardship” and “dispensation” came from the Greek word “oikonomia”.  Oikonomia are composed of two words, “oikos”  (house) and “nomos” (law). The word “economy” is the transliteration of the Greek word “oikonomia”. Oikonomia means “house law”, “house management”, “administration”, “oversight”, “stewardship” and “dispensation”.

Titus 1:7 For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;

A bishop of the church who serves as an overseer of the church of God is called by Paul as “the steward of God”. As steward of God, he takes care of the church of God which is “the house of God” (1 Tim. 3:1,5,15). So a bishop is a house-manager.

The Dispensation of the Grace of God

Paul the apostle was given the dispensation, stewardship or house-management from God to manage the house of God. According to him in Colossians, God gave him the dispensation of God which is “to fulfill the word of God”.

What is this dispensation?  If we go to the Ephesians, we will understand more about this dispensation. In Ephesians 3:2  Paul said that to him was given “the dispensation of the grace of God” toward the Gentile saints. And in Ephesians 3:8, 9 he continues: “Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; and to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ”.

That dispensation or stewardship of the grace of God that was given to him was to “preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ and to make all men see the fellowship of the mystery”.  The mystery is “That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel” (v.6). In other words, the stewardship given to Paul is to make all men see the truth that the Gentiles who were once “have no Christ” and “no hope” and “strangers of the covenant” are now given the exclusive rights as God’s children and heirs in Christ. That everybody is welcome to the family of God. No discrimination. No jew, no Gentile, no bond, no free.  Christ is all and in all.

This kind of dispensation was not given to any man of God in the past. Only to Paul was given this dispensation as “the apostle of the Gentiles” (Romans 11:13; 1 Timothy 2:7; 2 Timothy 1:11).

This dispensation is called by Paul as “the dispensation of the grace of God” or “the fellowship of the mystery”.  Others contend that the correct term is “the dispensation of the mystery” and not “the dispensation of the grace of God”. They say that because they say that there was grace before Paul.  Yes, that’s true. In fact, the Bible says: “For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.” (John 1:17). But investigation of John 1:17 leads us to think that grace was not dispensed there. The law was “given” by Moses to Israel.  It was not  said that “grace was given to or by Jesus Christ”, but rather “grace and truth came by Jesus Christ”.  Grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.  Why? Because Jesus Christ is both grace and truth (Titus 2:11; John 14:6).

Minister of Circumcision

Jesus Christ’s ministry when he came as “the Son” was to minister to Israel only.

Matthew 10:6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

Matthew 15:24 But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

Jesus Christ then was a minister of the circumcision.

Romans 15:8 Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers:

When he came the first time “in the flesh”  his purpose was to minister to the circumcision only, or to Israel only.  (I dont say “to Jews only” for Jews are only half part of the house of Israel). Does it mean he didnt come for the “Gentiles”? Yes. He came to “save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21).  Remember that the subject of prophecy is the house of Israel, God’s people (Matthew 2:6). Does it mean Gentiles are not part of God’s plan?  NO. The Gentiles are included in his plan called “The mystery”.

To Jesus Christ was not given “the dispensation of the grace of God” toward the Gentiles. Even Peter and John were not given that dispensation. Yes, there was grace even before Paul, but this grace was not given or dispensed before until the nation of Israel (which was then the House of Judah, the Jews) rejected the counsel of the Lord as a nation through her chief leaders, when Paul said:

Acts 28:26 Saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive:

 27 For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.

 28 Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it.

Since that time, Israel or Judah was declared “Lo-Ammi” or “no more God’s people” . The nation of Israel became “counted among the nations” or “Gentiles” and no more a special people of God enjoined by God’s covenant.  What happened to “the House of Israel” (Northern kingdom) in the Old Testament happened also to “the House of Judah” (Southern kingdom) in the New Testament.  Israel became mixed with Gentiles and became Gentiles.

Hosea 8:8 Israel is swallowed up: now shall they be among the Gentiles as a vessel wherein is no pleasure.

Since that declaration of Paul, Israel ceased as a covenant nation. No more covenant and no more covenant nation.  How would God deal now with any nation of this world? It would be by “grace”.

The world

And since that time God revealed to Paul the mystery “that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs and of the same body and partakers of God’s promise in Christ by the gospel”. And that the Gentiles were “chosen by God” in Christ before the foundation of the world.  The world founded was “Israel”.  The Gentiles were chosen even before the foundation of the nation of Israel.

John 1:10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.

John 18:20 Jesus answered him, I spake openly to the world; I ever taught in the synagogue, and in the temple, whither the Jews always resort; and in secret have I said nothing.

God concluded all (Jews and Gentiles) in unbelief , that he might have mercy upon all (Gentiles).

Romans 11:32 For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.

After the Acts period, God gave to Paul the dispensation of the grace of God and a new order began which will last forever in the “world without end” (Eph. 3:21). Since that time, God has not dealt with any nation favoring a specific nation. The specific instructions for us in this dispensation  are found in his post acts epistles such as Ephesians and Colossians.

The Last Book and Writer                 

Paul said in Colossians that God gave him the dispensation of God, to fulfill the word of God.  The word “fulfil” means “to make complete”.  Paul’s job assignment was to make complete the word of God. And he did it by writing the last epistle to the body of Christ, which is the bookof Colossians. Paul was the last apostle and the last writer of the Bible.

The book of Revelation is not the last book of the Bible.  It was just written in the canonical lineup as the last but chronologically it was not written as the last. The popular belief that the book of Revelation was witten on 90 to 100 A.D. is without Biblical  support. It was written before 70 A.D. Another thing is that the writer of the book of Revelation was not John the apostle, but it was John the Baptist, the son of Zacharias the priest (Luke 1:13), the last prophet of the Old Covenant (Luke 16:16).  John the apostle was not so much learned about the temple  and priesthood unlike John the Baptist who was a son of a priest himself. So if thats the case, the Book of Revelation was not written after 70 A.D.

Paul the apostle was the last apostle and the last to see Jesus (1 Cor. 15:8). He was the last writer of the Scriptures.  He completed the revelation of God when he wrote the last book/ epistle.

When Paul wrote the last epistle, God’s revelation was completed.  All the gifts given during the Acts period (Romans 12, 1 Corinthians 12 and Ephesians 4 gifts) ceased. God’s edification is from his written words only, which are the Holy Scriptures composed of 66 books.

2 Timothy 3: 16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

Not anymore

During this dispensation in the world without end, there are no more gifts, no more water baptism needed, no more Lord’s supper, no more ordinances to follow, no more physical temple to go to, no more law of Moses, no more condemnation, no more hell, no more covenant, no more covenant nation, no more favored nation, no more Jew-Gentile wall division, no more Sabbath and holy days keeping, no more visions and more revelations, no more apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers gifts.

We submit to the authority of the Lord and the dispensation given to Paul by obeying the instructions in his letters.  Yes, Paul is dead but his letters are still here as God’s words. We follow Paul as he follows Christ.

Paul was given the dispensation to “fulfil” the word of God or “make complete” the word of God. And he did! We have now the complete word of God.

All Things Fulfilled!

Not only that.  We dont only have complete revelation today because of Paul’s ministry but also because the Lord Jesus Christ himself “fulfilled” all things. He fulfilled all prophecies given to Israel by his first and second coming. Actually, Jesus Christ fulfilled all the 7 feasts of the Lord in their chronological order plus the weekly Sabbath and the New moon.

1.    New moon. Psalm 81:3

2.    Seventh day Sabbath. Leviticus 23:3

3.    Feast of Passover. Leviticus 23:5

4.    Feast of Unleavened Bread. Leviticus 23:6 (7 days)

5.    Feast of Firstfruits. Leviticus 23:20

6.    Feast of Weeks /Pentecost (50 days after Firstfruits). Leviticus 23:16. Harvest (Ex. 23:16).

7.    Feast of Trumpets. Leviticus 23:24

8.    Feast of Atonement. Leviticus 23:27

9.    Feast of Tabernacles. Leviticus 23:34

The Lord Jesus Christ “fulfilled” all things  (Matt. 24:34) that God “hath spoken by the mouth of all his prophets since the world began” (Acts 3:21) in the first century Israel generation. He came first as “God manifest in the flesh”  (1 Tim. 3:16) called “the only begotten Son”  (John 1:18)  to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself (Heb. 9:26) and appeared the second time (Heb. 9:27)  for the day of redemption  of his people and of judgment of his adversaries (Luke 21:22,28). And he did finish the transgression (Daniel 9:24) and he burned up and dissolved the heavens and the elements of heavens (the temple of Jerusalem and the law) through the Roman armies (2 Peter 3:10).

I believe in the “dispensation” that God gave to Paul our apostle.  Does it make me a “dispensationalist’?  Yes. Do I believe in the so-called 7 dispensations?  No, for they are not Scriptural. The only dispensation I know is the dispensation given to Paul the apostle.  Thats why I am a dispensationalist in that sense.

I believe in the fulfillment or completion of the word of God and in the fulfillment of all prophecies by Jesus Christ. So I am a “fulfilled” believer or believer of fulfillment.

I believe in “THE DISPENSATION OF THE FULNESS OF TIMES”

Ephesians 1:10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:

This dispensation is the dispensation of the Body of Christ where all things in heaven and on earth (believers) are gathered together in ONE, that is IN CHRIST.

So who am I?  I am a dispensationalist and I believe that God gave Paul the dispensation of the grace of God after the Acts period. God revealed to him the mystery of his will. So the new dispensation which is for the body of Christ began after the Acts period and then God gave Paul new instructions that fit the new dispensation.  I am also a believer  of fulfillment.  Not all dispensationalists believe in the “fulfillment” truth.  Most of the dispensationalists are futurists and premillenniallists who believe in the future fulfillment of prophecies and the “kingdom postponed” theory. That kind of eschatological view doesnt hold water. But there are some dispensationalists who believe in fulfillment and call themselves believers of fulfilled prophecies or in other words “preterists”.

I am both a dispensationalist and a preterist. A dispensationalist- preterist or preterist-dispensationalist. Or a “fulfilled dispensationalist”. But I prefer “FULL REVELATION-IST”.

What is FULL REVELATION-ISM?

Full [Scriptural] Revelation-ism. It is faith in the full/complete revelation of God in the Scriptures, particularly the revelation of the mystery to apostle Paul and the fulfilment of all prophecy. That’s why it is full revelationism. All the prophecies were already fulfilled. No more prophecy to be fulfilled. All mysteries were revealed. So they are no more mysteries but REVELATION.

Full revelation-ism is communicating “THE FULFILLED WORD OF GOD”. Apostle Paul, God’s apostle, teacher and preacher to the Gentiles was the one who “fulfilled [completed] the word of God” when he wrote his last epistle to the church. He was not the one who fulfilled prophecies, but it was Jesus Christ himself who fulfilled all prophecies. But it was to Paul to whom the mystery was revealed by Jesus Christ and he completed the written words of God by writing his last epistle to the church containing the revelation of the mystery. 

Full revelation-ism is communicating 
1. the “full” words of God, “THE HOLY SCRIPTURES”, the inspired, complete, all-sufficient, inerrant, authoritative, accurately preserved 66 books; 
2. the “full” GOD, “CHRIST IN ALL” in whom dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; 
3. the “full” name of the Godhead, “THE LORD JESUS CHRIST”, the Great I AM, the name above every name; 
4. the “full” state of the saints in Christ as “COMPLETE IN HIM”, chosen, called, regenerated, justified, washed, forgiven, saved, sanctified, Holy Ghost baptized, circumcised without hands, quickened, empowered, preserved, eternally secured, reserved for eternity with Christ; 
5. the “full” church or body of Christ, “THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE MYSTERY-REVEALED” composed of all men without distinction;
6. the “full” office of the minister, “THE OFFICE OF A BISHOP” that does all the work of apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers [that ceased in the first century]; 
7. the “full” grace of God for “ALL MEN”, God’s plan of salvation, redemption, edification eternity for all men, based on the full revelation of his grace and love.

Full revelationism is a view that presents the GOD of the Holy Scriptures as an eternal all-sufficient GOD, in whom we live and move and have our being. He is Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and for ever. He revealed himself to Abraham as Almighty God or Al Shadi [All-sufficient God] and to Moses as “I AM THAT I AM” [Aeie asher aeie (Exo. 3:14) or JEhoVAh [IEUE or YEWE but not YHWH or Yahweh (Exo. 6:3). When he was made flesh, he revealed himself as “JESUS CHRIST” [Ieusho e Mashih], the name above every name (Phil. 2:9,10). In other words, this ONE GOD manifested himself in Scriptures as the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost (Matt. 28:19). The name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost is JESUS CHRIST, in whom dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily (Col. 2:9).

I am a FULL SCRIPTURAL REVELATIONIST. 

See www.fullrevelationbible.blogspot.com  and https://facebook.com/pleromabible for more information and blogs.

To God the Lord Jesus Christ be the glory!

Full Revelation Bishop Mati Avvakoum Kalubusan Austria

Pliroma Revelation Bible Ministry

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