The term “dispensationalism” often brings to mind complicated charts, timelines of the antichrist, and prophecy enthusiasts. Yet, this popular image is a distortion—a straw man that intellectual critics enjoy mocking. True dispensationalism, as recovered by the Plymouth Brethren and embraced in Pauline revelation, is not about becoming a prophecy geek. It is about one essential truth: discovering the rule of life for the Christian. It is the truth that enables believers to stand firmly in grace.
The Heart of Dispensationalism: One Plan, Distinct Administrations
At its core, dispensationalism from a Pauline perspective teaches that God has one ultimate plan—to head up all things in Christ—but administers this plan in distinct ways throughout history. The critical distinction that transforms the life of a weary believer is between God’s prophetic program for Israel and the mystery of Christ and the Church revealed to Paul.
Two Great Threads in God’s One Plan
The Bible reveals two great strands. One was prophesied from the beginning; the other was a secret, hidden in the heart of God.
The prophetic program concerns Israel. It is about an earthly people, an earthly land, and an earthly throne. It encompasses the covenants with Abraham and David and the promises of a Messiah who would reign in Jerusalem. This program runs through the Old Testament prophets and was the focus of Christ’s earthly ministry to the circumcision. It was known and anticipated.
Then there is the mystery. This is something entirely new. Paul writes, “Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints” (Colossians 1:26). This was not merely unclear prophecy; it was a secret never before hinted at. What is it? It is “Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27). It is the Church, the body of Christ, a new creation.
This is where the word “dispensation” comes from. Paul said he was given “the dispensation of the grace of God” for the Gentiles, to reveal this mystery (Ephesians 3:2-3). A dispensation is a stewardship, an administration of truth. Paul was entrusted with a new body of truth from the ascended Christ to complete God’s word. This is why those who hold this view are called Pauline dispensationalists. The focus is on that dispensation—the truth that defines who believers are and how they live now.
Why This Distinction Matters: Freedom in Christ
This distinction is not merely academic; it is the key to spiritual freedom. Many who identify as dispensationalists today have missed the very reason the Brethren were raised up. They delight in prophecy charts—Daniel’s 70th week, the beasts, the timelines. They affirm that the Church is not Israel, yet they impose the law on daily Christian living. They speak of the rapture but preach lordship salvation. This is incoherent and betrays the very truth they claim to uphold.
The Brethren were not raised up to be prophecy experts but to recover sanctification by faith amid Calvinistic legalism. They asked: If the Church is not Israel, then what is our rule of life? Their study revealed that the rule of life is not the Law of Moses, not the Sermon on the Mount given to those under law, and not the New Covenant made with Israel. The rule of life is a Person—our union with Christ.
Consider the distinction: the prophetic program is earthly. Our calling is heavenly. “For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Philippians 3:20). The mystery program is about being “blessed… with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ” (Ephesians 1:3). Believers are joined to Christ Himself, made partakers of His inheritance, not Israel’s. The “unsearchable riches of Christ” (Ephesians 3:8) are our portion, not the glories of an earthly kingdom.
One Gospel, Two Destinies, One Head
Does this mean there are two ways of salvation? Absolutely not. That is hyper-dispensationalism, which is error. From Adam to today, justification has always been by faith alone. “Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness” (Romans 4:3). David spoke of the blessing of the man “unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works” (Romans 4:6). Every saved person in every age is saved by grace through faith.
However, salvation and destiny are distinct. A Jewish believer before Pentecost was justified by faith but lived in expectation of an earthly Messiah and kingdom. They were not baptized into the death of Christ, nor told they were seated in heavenly places. That truth belonged to a mystery not yet revealed. Their calling was the earthly strand of the promise—like the sand of the seashore. Ours is the heavenly strand—like the stars of the sky. Both are seed of Abraham but with different callings.
This is part of God’s one great administration. His eternal plan is “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 1:10). Ultimately, everything—heavenly and earthly—will be reconciled and headed up under Christ. Believers will reign with Him, Israel will be restored to her land under His rule, and the New Jerusalem will descend as God dwells with men.
What It Means to Be a Pauline Dispensationalist
A Pauline dispensationalist recognizes that the separation of Israel and the Church is not primarily for plotting end-times events but for liberating the believer from law. This distinction is the necessary foundation for a life of grace. Attempting to apply Israel’s earthly promises and covenants to the Church inevitably reintroduces law, conditionality, and performance into the Christian life, resulting in struggle, discouragement, and uncertainty.
But when this distinction is understood, believers discover their true identity: they are in Christ. They died with Him, rose with Him, and are seated with Him. Their life is hidden with Christ in God. The old man is crucified; they live by the life of the Son of God. This is the believer’s rule of life. This is the dispensation of grace.
This is why Pauline dispensationalism is not about charts or prophecy timelines. It is about Christ in the believer—the truth that allows a weary sheep to finally lie down in green pastures.
