Representational Dispensation

Dispensation is a theological term. In American Heritage dictionary dispensation is defined as divine ordering of worldly affairs. Considering the order of Divine Will in Old Testament pertains to Israel in terms of other nations it is implied that His Dispensation is representational in its working. It becomes all the more significant since dispersal of Israel happened as a result of His judgment for their unbelief and apostasy, the blessing of God was to cover all other nations as well.(Gen12:3)This being the case judgment on Abraham’s seed was to work as a blessing for the gentiles by the same token. Like the widow whose lump of leaven covered the whole dough Divine chastisement though bitter at first shall work for the blessing of the whole nations. Hence we need to see Divine Will in terms of Judgment as representational in essence.
In Old Testament the Law of Moses set apart strangers from the Children of Israel. But in the New Testament grace that came with the advent of Jesus(Jn1:17) would reach the ends of the earth. The nation of Israel also would be reinstated consequently. (Rom 8:24) Such promises ought to show dispensation of God in setting apart the line of Seth from that of Cain would set apart a nation of Israel. As a prelude to this we see God sending a great flood. Did that cover the whole earth? In my opinion it was more of a local occurrence, which judged the nations inhabiting around what is now Middle East.
Divine dispensations prior to Last Judgment must be thus seen as representational in its nature.
benny

Law and Grace

‘I heard thy voice in the garden and I was afraid…’(Gen3:10)
Third chapter of Genesis is seen from the standpoint of son of Man: in three states we see him express his relationship to God.
1.He hides from the presence of God.
In the first gospel of John we read that ‘He that feareth is not made perfect in love’(4:18,16-17). Adam had cause to fear. He had gained Knowledge of good and evil at the expense of disobedience. Conversely obedience of Adam would have meant he was in the garden even as God was. Of this we read in the verse quoted from John. ‘ As he is so are we in this world’ In ourselves we have no merit but the knowledge that our Redeemer lives and his grace has covered all our insufficiency. This is the hallmark of obedience that every Christian should develop. Adam by sinning sees much more into his body than was necessary. He was like God or in the image of God and yet he discovers he was naked.
2. He learns to shift the blame.
God created man, male and female created he them. Now having disobeyed he distances himself from her in a manner not intended by God. It will eventually be made concrete in host of traditions, customs and also by law. Woman as a result comes to be someone to be subjugated and her dependence to man shown in injunctions as we read in Paul’s epistle, ‘every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth head…’(1 Co 11: 3-12) Law is the natural consequence of man’s disobedience. Thus when we read in the gospel of John that law came from Moses and grace and truth came by Jesus’(1:17) we have to understand the origin of law as a matter of necessity that man’s disobedience warranted.
3.He admits his insufficiency. The aprons of fig leaves that man made were inadequate. These were replaced by coat of skins. Lambskins or any other would require shedding of blood. We read of the first sacrifice mentioned in the Bible. This may be seen as a forerunner of the redemptive work of the Son of Man.
benny

Capital Punishment

GENEVA (Reuters) - The United States has 90 guns for every 100 citizens, making it the most heavily armed society in the world, a report released on Tuesday said.

Boobus Americanus is a genus
As we see, different from us;
They all need a gun
In order to have fun;
They have the rod
To let off their steam.
The law is serious
With gun-toting Americanus.
But what is the point
To fry their own?
For shooting out of season
Mostly the fellow gets the chair?
Justice is always done
Among the Americanus.


benny