Does dispensationalism lead to antinomianism?

  • Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.

    If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!

    To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.

Does dispensational theology promote antinomianism?

  • Yes

    Votes: 3 33.3%
  • No

    Votes: 4 44.4%
  • I don't know

    Votes: 2 22.2%

  • Total voters
    9

UnitedWithChrist

Well-known member
Aug 12, 2019
3,739
1,928
113
#81
Exactly what I’m saying. The kingdom of heaven is the earthly promised physical kingdom to the Jews. It was literally at hand in Christ’s day with Himself as King. What they didn’t understand is that their king must die first for sins before the physical kingdom could be given.
They are both the same thing and this is easily proven by looking at a harmony of the gospels.

This is another bogus teaching of dispensationalists.

Matthew 4:13-17
13 And leaving Nazareth he went and lived in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, 14 so that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: 15 “The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles— 16 the people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light, and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death, on them a light has dawned.” 17 From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
(Gospel Harmony ESV)

Mark 1:14-15
Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, 15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”
(Gospel Harmony ESV)

Matthew prefers to use "kingdom of heaven" because using God's name casually was not looked upon positively by Jews, and Mark had no such qualms since his gospel was directed to Gentiles, therefore he used "kingdom of God".

Matthew also use the word Majesty to refer to God sometimes for the same reason.

Anyways, this false "kingdom of God" and "kingdom of heaven" difference has been discarded by most dispensationalists.
 
7

7seasrekeyed

Guest
#82
my dear, that's what the Bible says. are you so bent on expressing hatred for Calvin with every breath that will you not hear it?

it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.
(Philippians 2:13)
I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.
(Galatians 2:20)
by one sacrifice He has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.
(Hebrews 10:14)
He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.
(1 Thessalonians 5:24)
being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
(Philippians 1:6)
Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me?
The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority;
but the Father who dwells in Me does the works.
(John 14:10)
so that no one may boast.
I thought I made it clear I do not care to take this up with you again

having a slow day?
 

posthuman

Senior Member
Jul 31, 2013
37,921
13,607
113
#83
I thought I made it clear I do not care to take this up with you again

having a slow day?
Whether you desire to hear the truth or not doesn't really make a difference to me with regard to whether i will speak it

;)
 
Mar 28, 2016
15,954
1,528
113
#84
Then self defense is out of the question. And you better not call someone a fool. Sorry Paul. In order to make this fit the Church, one has to spiritualize the entire message.
Yes only God can see into the hearts of all men .We cannot Judge and know God is not working . Would it be better to call someone foolish that does the things a fool does?

O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh? Galaiatians 3
 

UnitedWithChrist

Well-known member
Aug 12, 2019
3,739
1,928
113
#85
Then self defense is out of the question. And you better not call someone a fool. Sorry Paul. In order to make this fit the Church, one has to spiritualize the entire message.
So, is your claim that the prohibition against calling someone a fool is part of the Mosaic Law?

I don't remember seeing it anywhere in the Law.

However, Christ is saying that it is part of the spiritual intent of the Law, and the believer is to be conformed to the image of Christ, and Christ followed the spiritual intent of the Law.

Therefore I'm confused why you claim this command doesn't matter. It isn't ceremonial or ritualistic or civil..it is a moral issue.
 

John146

Senior Member
Jan 13, 2016
17,152
3,695
113
#86
why does He say His kingdom is not of this world? ((John 18:36))
that the time "
now is" when His true worshippers do so in spirit, rather than on some mountain or another? ((John 4:23))
36 Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.

The kingdom of heaven was at hand. The Jew rejected their Messiah. The kingdom of heaven was postponed. The kingdom of God is not of this world. It’s a spiritual kingdom that resides in the hearts of believers. Both will be realized at His second coming.
 

posthuman

Senior Member
Jul 31, 2013
37,921
13,607
113
#87
The biggest factor was that a postmillennial friend told me some of the problems with premillennialism and they checked out.

The biggest factor was noticing the two similar battles, one before the Millennium and one after. Plus noticing that events pertaining to Christ’s return are scattered throughout Revelation in a manner that is inconsistent with the premillennialism reading of Revelation.
Revelation isn't necessarily chronological in its account
 

John146

Senior Member
Jan 13, 2016
17,152
3,695
113
#88
They are both the same thing and this is easily proven by looking at a harmony of the gospels.

This is another bogus teaching of dispensationalists.

Matthew 4:13-17
13 And leaving Nazareth he went and lived in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, 14 so that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: 15 “The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles— 16 the people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light, and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death, on them a light has dawned.” 17 From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
(Gospel Harmony ESV)

Mark 1:14-15
Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, 15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”
(Gospel Harmony ESV)

Matthew prefers to use "kingdom of heaven" because using God's name casually was not looked upon positively by Jews, and Mark had no such qualms since his gospel was directed to Gentiles, therefore he used "kingdom of God".

Matthew also use the word Majesty to refer to God sometimes for the same reason.

Anyways, this false "kingdom of God" and "kingdom of heaven" difference has been discarded by most dispensationalists.
Pretty simple. In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. God and heaven are not the same thing, thus the kingdom of God and the kingdom of heaven is not the same thing. God is a spirit. Heaven is a physical place created by God.
 

posthuman

Senior Member
Jul 31, 2013
37,921
13,607
113
#89
36 Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.

The kingdom of heaven was at hand. The Jew rejected their Messiah. The kingdom of heaven was postponed. The kingdom of God is not of this world. It’s a spiritual kingdom that resides in the hearts of believers. Both will be realized at His second coming.
doesn't John 4 indicate that spiritual kingdom was indeed both near and present and in effect, at that very time?

i find incredulous the idea that God went to the cross as a sort of 'plan B' after desiring to bring about a physical theocracy but finding His plans ill-suited to the time. iirc, this 'two gospels' idea puts the turning point between His first plan and His second plan at Luke 20 / Mark 12 -- when He began to speak in parables. isn't that correct? but i find in John 6 that the people meant to make Him king, so He withdrew Himself. that's at the feeding of the 5,000 which is in Mark 6 -- so well before Mark 12 He had no intention of an earthly kingdom.

or am i missing something in the timeline?
 

John146

Senior Member
Jan 13, 2016
17,152
3,695
113
#90
So, is your claim that the prohibition against calling someone a fool is part of the Mosaic Law?
Nope, part of living on earth during the reign of Christ. It’s part of His constitution. We turn the other cheek because the Lord, the judge, will be here to rule. During this time, man does not take matters into his own hands.
 

John146

Senior Member
Jan 13, 2016
17,152
3,695
113
#91
doesn't John 4 indicate that spiritual kingdom was indeed both near and present and in effect, at that very time?

i find incredulous the idea that God went to the cross as a sort of 'plan B' after desiring to bring about a physical theocracy but finding His plans ill-suited to the time. iirc, this 'two gospels' idea puts the turning point between His first plan and His second plan at Luke 20 / Mark 12 -- when He began to speak in parables. isn't that correct? but i find in John 6 that the people meant to make Him king, so He withdrew Himself. that's at the feeding of the 5,000 which is in Mark 6 -- so well before Mark 12 He had no intention of an earthly kingdom.
 

posthuman

Senior Member
Jul 31, 2013
37,921
13,607
113
#92
or am i missing something in the timeline?
nvm, by Mark 4 He's always speaking in parables to the crowds, but privately speaking openly with His disciples.
in Mark 2 the teachers of the law are already against Him, before He has even called all of the 12
 

John146

Senior Member
Jan 13, 2016
17,152
3,695
113
#93
Nope, part of living on earth during the reign of Christ. It’s part of His constitution. We turn the other cheek because the Lord, the judge, will be here to rule. During this time, man does not take matters into his own hands.
The following was true prophesy. Please read. Do you see the physical redemption that was promised to Israel?

Luke 1
67 And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied, saying,
68 Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people,
69 And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David;
70 As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began:
71 That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us;
72 To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant;
73 The oath which he sware to our father Abraham,
74 That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear,
75 In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life.

After the resurrection.

Luke 24
18 And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering said unto him, Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days?
19 And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people:
20 And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him.
21 But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done.
 

John146

Senior Member
Jan 13, 2016
17,152
3,695
113
#94
nvm, by Mark 4 He's always speaking in parables to the crowds, but privately speaking openly with His disciples.
in Mark 2 the teachers of the law are already against Him, before He has even called all of the 12
Also, the disciples were still kingdom focused after the resurrection.

Acts 1:6 When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?
 

posthuman

Senior Member
Jul 31, 2013
37,921
13,607
113
#95
Also, the disciples were still kingdom focused after the resurrection.

Acts 1:6 When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?
they're also not especially clear about all the things that have come to pass at that time. they hadn't yet received the Spirit when they ask this.

Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.
And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
(Matthew 19:23-24)
isn't Christ equivocating 'kingdom of God' and 'kingdom of heaven' here?
and if i compare the parable of the mustard seed in Mark 4 & in Matthew 13, i see that Mark records '
kingdom of God' and Matthew records 'kingdom of heaven' describing exactly the same parable -- how should i be convinced that these are entirely different kingdoms, not just variance in vocabulary?
 

John146

Senior Member
Jan 13, 2016
17,152
3,695
113
#96
they're also not especially clear about all the things that have come to pass at that time. they hadn't yet received the Spirit when they ask this.

Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.
And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
(Matthew 19:23-24)
isn't Christ equivocating 'kingdom of God' and 'kingdom of heaven' here?
and if i compare the parable of the mustard seed in Mark 4 & in Matthew 13, i see that Mark records '
kingdom of God' and Matthew records 'kingdom of heaven' describing exactly the same parable -- how should i be convinced that these are entirely different kingdoms, not just variance in vocabulary?
Matthew 25:14-30 talks about the Kingdom of Heaven where an unfaithful servant goes to hell. Luke 19:12-27 talks about the Kingdom of God where the unfaithful servant loses his rewards and this matches up with the Christian at the Judgment Seat of Christ(2 Cor. 5:10). There is obviously a difference between the two kingdoms.
 

John146

Senior Member
Jan 13, 2016
17,152
3,695
113
#97
they're also not especially clear about all the things that have come to pass at that time. they hadn't yet received the Spirit when they ask this.

Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.
And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
(Matthew 19:23-24)
isn't Christ equivocating 'kingdom of God' and 'kingdom of heaven' here?
and if i compare the parable of the mustard seed in Mark 4 & in Matthew 13, i see that Mark records '
kingdom of God' and Matthew records 'kingdom of heaven' describing exactly the same parable -- how should i be convinced that these are entirely different kingdoms, not just variance in vocabulary?
The Kingdom of Heaven is a physical kingdom that will take place on earth and consists of violence. Remember that the earth is in the heaven(Genesis 1:14-16).

Matthew 11:12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.

The first place where the Kingdom of Heaven is mentioned is where John the Baptist was preaching about the the fulfillment of Isaiah 40. John was preaching about the Kingdom of Jesus Christ on this earth. Other Old Testament prophecies also reveal that the Kingdom of Heaven was physical. Read Genesis 49:10; Isaiah 2:1-5, 49:5-13; Psalms 2; Jeremiah 23:5 and Luke 1:30-33.
 

posthuman

Senior Member
Jul 31, 2013
37,921
13,607
113
#98
Matthew 25:14-30 talks about the Kingdom of Heaven where an unfaithful servant goes to hell. Luke 19:12-27 talks about the Kingdom of God where the unfaithful servant loses his rewards and this matches up with the Christian at the Judgment Seat of Christ(2 Cor. 5:10). There is obviously a difference between the two kingdoms.

dude, in both these accounts of this parable the servant who buries the Master's riches is evil, wicked and unbelieving. i'm pretty sure he's not a Christian who receives small reward in one account and an enemy of God dying in his sins in another. Matthew has him cast into darkness where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth and Luke has him put to death; aren't these the same thing, the second death

the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.
(Revelation 21:8)
i realize that the variances in the gospels indicate that probably Christ preached the same parables multiple times, and the apostles are likely recording different 'versions' of some things because different instances were recalled to their minds when they wrote. and i realize that you can argue this, and say that at some point Christ started speaking of the kingdom of heaven instead of the kingdom of God, and that pivotal point represents when Israel as a nation rejected His offer of a physical kingdom on earth, so He changed His message and began preaching a spiritual kingdom for the interim.
but to my understanding, you've just pointed out another example that challenges the supposed difference between the kingdom of God and of heaven - the same God is King of both heaven and earth. i don't see why a distinction should be made? in Luke, this is immediately followed by Christ entering Jerusalem being announced as King, and in Matthew it's immediately followed by Christ speaking about when He will come to sit on His throne as King and separate sheep and goats. so in both accounts - whether they use the term kingdom of God or of heaven - the next thing we read is about Christ as King. in both accounts, this is a very much tangible kingdom, and also very much not a kingdom of this world: He's King of Israel in Luke, tho by the measure of the world He's nobody; Rome rules the city. the truth is that He is though, and is come in meekness to work true, spiritual salvation of His people. in Matthew, He's speaking of when He comes in His glory - not as though He only at that time becomes King, for He is forever - and He speaks of separating sheep and goats, which is a separation to spiritual life and spiritual death, so it is as an heavenly thing. and there, He says this:


Then the King will say to those on his right,
Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance,
the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.
(Matthew 25:34)

what's this kingdom? it's given to His sheep. it's their inheritance. is this maybe what you're speaking about when you talk of an earthly kingdom, different from the kingdom of heaven? i understand the heavenly and the tertiary kingdom to be one and the same kingdom, now partially revealed, later fully. something to think about. things we will not understand fully until they come.

i don't disbelieve in the millennial kingdom. i hope you don't think that of me. but this is one of those things about 'classical' dispensationalism that just doesn't smell right to me -- to me, personally, it is much like issues i take with covenant theology, their habit of inserting 'implied covenants' where nothing in scripture ever speaks of it, for example what they call the covenant with Adam. it just seems all an imaginary thing that was necessary to add in order to patch a hole in the thinking of that theology, like Einstein and the cosmological constant. for Einstein, the truth hadn't been really understood, so going by some assumptions that turned out later to be faulty, he added this number to his theory. to me, the same situation is at hand with these two major branches of Christian thought - there is understanding both lack that so that hey fail in points, and are incomplete. God is infinite; knowing Him is infinite, and it is true life - it doesn't surprise me that our human meditations on Him are imperfect. we will fully know one day though; that is our hope and our promise from Him :)

i appreciate being able to discuss it without throwing stones at each other btw
 

John146

Senior Member
Jan 13, 2016
17,152
3,695
113
#99
dude, in both these accounts of this parable the servant who buries the Master's riches is evil, wicked and unbelieving. i'm pretty sure he's not a Christian who receives small reward in one account and an enemy of God dying in his sins in another. Matthew has him cast into darkness where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth and Luke has him put to death; aren't these the same thing, the second death

the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.
(Revelation 21:8)
i realize that the variances in the gospels indicate that probably Christ preached the same parables multiple times, and the apostles are likely recording different 'versions' of some things because different instances were recalled to their minds when they wrote. and i realize that you can argue this, and say that at some point Christ started speaking of the kingdom of heaven instead of the kingdom of God, and that pivotal point represents when Israel as a nation rejected His offer of a physical kingdom on earth, so He changed His message and began preaching a spiritual kingdom for the interim.
but to my understanding, you've just pointed out another example that challenges the supposed difference between the kingdom of God and of heaven - the same God is King of both heaven and earth. i don't see why a distinction should be made? in Luke, this is immediately followed by Christ entering Jerusalem being announced as King, and in Matthew it's immediately followed by Christ speaking about when He will come to sit on His throne as King and separate sheep and goats. so in both accounts - whether they use the term kingdom of God or of heaven - the next thing we read is about Christ as King. in both accounts, this is a very much tangible kingdom, and also very much not a kingdom of this world: He's King of Israel in Luke, tho by the measure of the world He's nobody; Rome rules the city. the truth is that He is though, and is come in meekness to work true, spiritual salvation of His people. in Matthew, He's speaking of when He comes in His glory - not as though He only at that time becomes King, for He is forever - and He speaks of separating sheep and goats, which is a separation to spiritual life and spiritual death, so it is as an heavenly thing. and there, He says this:


Then the King will say to those on his right,
Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance,
the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.
(Matthew 25:34)

what's this kingdom? it's given to His sheep. it's their inheritance. is this maybe what you're speaking about when you talk of an earthly kingdom, different from the kingdom of heaven? i understand the heavenly and the tertiary kingdom to be one and the same kingdom, now partially revealed, later fully. something to think about. things we will not understand fully until they come.

i don't disbelieve in the millennial kingdom. i hope you don't think that of me. but this is one of those things about 'classical' dispensationalism that just doesn't smell right to me -- to me, personally, it is much like issues i take with covenant theology, their habit of inserting 'implied covenants' where nothing in scripture ever speaks of it, for example what they call the covenant with Adam. it just seems all an imaginary thing that was necessary to add in order to patch a hole in the thinking of that theology, like Einstein and the cosmological constant. for Einstein, the truth hadn't been really understood, so going by some assumptions that turned out later to be faulty, he added this number to his theory. to me, the same situation is at hand with these two major branches of Christian thought - there is understanding both lack that so that hey fail in points, and are incomplete. God is infinite; knowing Him is infinite, and it is true life - it doesn't surprise me that our human meditations on Him are imperfect. we will fully know one day though; that is our hope and our promise from Him :)

i appreciate being able to discuss it without throwing stones at each other btw
Remember, the four gospels are not their versions of the story. They were moved by the Holy Spirit to write exactly what God meant to communicate. There is a purpose behind the two terms.

Let’s do a comparison between the gospel of the kingdom and the gospel of grace.

Matthew 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

Has the end come? Of course not. This kingdom gospel will be preached in all the world during the tribulation. The King is coming. His kingdom is literally at hand.

Paul’s gospel of grace has been preached in all the world. Has the end come? Obviously, two different messages. Some believe they can usher in the kingdom by getting Paul’s gospel out to all the world. News flash...it has gone out into all the world.

Colossians 1
5 For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel;
6 Which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth:

Verse 23 If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;

Romans 16
25 Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,
26 But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith: