Dispensational Faith Part II

Faith is a New Testament operation, in the King James Version of the Bible, Faith is only found in the Old Testament twice (Deuteronomy 32:20; Habakkuk 2:4).

Both of these passages of scripture are prophecies of something that was to come.

Habakkuk 2:1-4

1 I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will watch to see what he will say unto me, and what I shall answer when I am reproved.

2 And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it.

3 For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.

4 Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.

The prophet declares the vision is for the end time, which implies faith is an operation that will take place in the last days.

Deuteronomy 32:20

And he said, I will hide my face from them, I will see what their end shall be: for they are a very froward generation, children in whom is no faith.

Moses also makes the declaration this would happen in the end time. He stated that in the end, the children of Israel would be a people in whom there will be no faith. In other words, they would not have faith Both of the above Old Testament prophecies point us to what will take place in the New Covenant.

Galatians 3:10-11

10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.

11 But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.

Those who live in the New Covenant, but yet operate as if under the Law, the scripture places them under a curse. Anyone not continuing in all the Law is cursed. However, no man can be justified by the Law, because the just live by faith.

Galatians 3:12

And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.

When the children of Israel were given the Law, they could not keep it; which placed them under the curse of the Law. In addition, this implies that faith can justify; for whatsoever is not of faith is sin (Romans 14:23). If we cannot be justified, we cannot be saved. Salvation is a justification process; if we can’t be saved, we are doomed. Salvation only comes by faith; and there is no faith in the Law.

God dealt with the Jews under the Dispensation of the Law. However, a change has taken place. We are in another dispensation. In other words, we are in another period of time and the method by which God is dealing with His people has changed. The Law cannot justify us. God is no longer dealing with mankind under the Law; He is dealing with us through faith.

We live in a time of Dispensational Faith; which means the method by which God is dealing with man during this time period, is by faith. This period of time started at Pentecost and it will end at the rapture. This time period is known by several names, a few of them being, the Church Age, Grace and Truth and the Mystery of Godliness.

Revelation 10:7

But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets.

In the days of the sounding of the seventh trumpet the mystery of God or the Dispensation of Faith will be finished. There are scriptures in the New Testament where faith means trust or belief. However, in this dispensation of grace and truth, it is impossible to please God without faith (Hebrews 11:6). God has provided a dispensational faith with the new covenant; its definition will establish what faith is for the new covenant.

Galatians 3:22

But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe

The promise is by the faith of Jesus Christ; the promise is the faith of Jesus Christ; these two are synonymous. This scripture tells us where God obtained the gift to give us. The gift came from the faith of Jesus Christ, because without the faith of Jesus Christ, there would be no promise. In other words, what God wanted to give us, was provided by Jesus Christ. He provided it by living here, obeying God for 33 1⁄2 years, dying and allowing God to resurrect Him from hell.

God has a gift that is in Him; and He wants to give it to us. However, Jesus had to come and work the promise first. He came as kindred to us, because He came fashioned as a man; flesh and blood. He could not purchase us without being related to us; this was the law of God. He has been established as kinsmen to man. He is also the Son of God. He is the seed of Abraham because of the body; and the Son of God because of the Spirit, which makes Him Son of God and Son of man. The redeemer had to be related to mankind.

Jesus Christ received the gift and walked on earth for 33 1⁄2 years in obedience to the gift. He was slain by the wicked hands of men and hung on the cross. He then gave the gift back to the Father by giving up the ghost; went to hell to pay the penalty for the sins of the world and stayed there for three days and nights. God Himself mounted up on two cherubs; went into hell and retrieved His Son. On their way out, Jesus stopped and retrieved the Old Covenant saints from the pains of death, and they came out with Him (Matthew 27:52-53). Jesus remained at the grave site to meet Mary Magdalene, while the other saints walked the street of Jerusalem; being seen of the Jews.

Once Jesus ascended back to the Father and presented the sacrifice to Him, it was approved of the Father and Jesus received the gift again and sent it back to earth. That gift is the promise of the Spirit; the Holy Ghost. Remember, Jesus told the disciples to go and wait in Jerusalem for the promise of the Father. They would be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence. And when the Day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. The Holy Ghost came and filled everyone who was in the upper room

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Ephesians 4:3-5

3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;

5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism,

Our one Lord is Jesus Christ. He is the author and finisher of our one faith. We have been baptized into Christ. Therefore, we walk by the faith of Jesus Christ.

Philippians 3:9

And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

Our righteousness is in the faith of Jesus Christ. When we walk in His faith, we are righteous. This will take the stress out of believing God, because all we have to do is obey the Spirit of God that is within us.

Galatians 3:14

That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

By His faith, we have received everything God has for us. The sinner must believe on Jesus in order to receive His faith.

Galatians 3:22

But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.

This implies that faith for the New Covenant is something more than simple belief.