Progressive Dispensationalism – June 29

This is my first response to a comment. The request was to blog on Progressive Dispensationalism (often simply called PD). Let me explain what this view is. It is the idea that although God works in distinct periods of administrative structure (a dispensation is a stewardship arrangement), so that Israel is not the church is not the kingdom to come. His plan progresses through increasing realization of the one plan of God as we move from one period to the next. This means that the promises of the promissory covenants (Abrahamic, Davidic, and New) are realized in progressive stages of God’s plan. So the nations are blessed through the seed Christ (Abrahamic). The seed (Christ) does his work through messianic prerogatives that involve his mediating deliverance to God’s people (Davidic) and that those blessings today include the law of God written on the heart through the Spirit of God in us and provision of forgiveness of sins (New).

This is my first response to a comment. The request was to blog on Progressive Dispensationalism (often simply called PD). Let me explain what this view is. It is the idea that although God works in distinct periods of administrative structure (a dispensation is a stewardship arrangement), so that Israel is not the church is not the kingdom to come. His plan progresses through increasing realization of the one plan of God as we move from one period to the next. This means that the promises of the promissory covenants (Abrahamic, Davidic, and New) are realized in progressive stages of God’s plan. So the nations are blessed through the seed Christ (Abrahamic). The seed (Christ) does his work through messianic prerogatives that involve his mediating deliverance to God’s people (Davidic) and that those blessings today include the law of God written on the heart through the Spirit of God in us and provision of forgiveness of sins (New).

Two criticisms have tended to come from those of a more traditional form of dispensationalism. One is that the promises of the covenants are for Israel only. The second is to declare that allowing for such fulfillment means Israel and the church are not distinct, a supposed denial of a key indicator of what dispensationalism is.

Both criticisms are incorrect. The opening up of blessing through the seed to the world as indicated in the promise made to Abraham in Gen 12 means that God’s program always had the nations in view as coming into the blessed people fo God. Israel was to be a means through which such blessing came, which is precisely what happened through Jesus. This criticism also ignores God’s right to expand the beneficiaries as he wishes (as he does through Christ). God can add to his promise without taking away from those he made promises to earlier. So Gentiles can be included in Christ without Israel losing her benefits or promises. In this way, Israel and the church can remain distinct structures in God’s program (a dispensational distinction) without losing the oneness of God’s people Christ was called to bring accordng to Eph 2:11-22.

I hope this is a helpful start in answering the request.