How do I know if a Bible verse or passage applies to me today?

How do I know if a Bible verse or passage applies to me today?

QUESTION:

Is 1 John‬ ‭2‬:‭12‬-‭16‬ trans-dispensational?

ANSWER:

Before we evaluate the requested passage, let me first explain the term ‘trans-dispensational” and then provide a few examples of verses that are trans-dispensational and compare them with others that are not. I aim to provide some insights into how we can determine one from the other.

The term "trans-dispensational" refers to a concept that transcends the different dispensations, or periods of time, throughout bible history. Dispensationalism is a framework for interpreting the Bible that sees God's work and purpose as being carried out in different ways during different ages. A trans-dispensational verse, therefore, would be one that holds true and is applicable across all these dispensations, reflecting a principle or truth that is consistent throughout the entirety of Scripture, regardless of the specific time period or dispensation it addresses.

With this understanding, let’s now have a look at some verse examples and see if we can pick up some trends or insights into how to identify trans-dispensational verses from those that are not.

For instance, the bible statement, “All have sinned” is true irrespective of whatever dispensational age it is connected to. Consider these additional statements, “God is just”, or “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom”, or “Open rebuke is better than secret love”, or “A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.” All these are true “under grace” as it is under “the law.” By contrast, the statements, “To the Jew first”, or “we are not under the law, but grace”, or “repent and be baptised for the remission of sins”, are only true within their respective dispensational periods. Why? Because the conditions for their application can change when God reveals new truth and revelation in his progressive redemption plan.

So, what is fundamentally different between these statements? Can we see a pattern or glean insights to understand which is trans-dispensational or not? 

Well, the first set refer to what we can call, “Foundational truth”. These are facts concerning God’s character and attributes, man’s character and attributes, details of creation, heaven, earth, the spiritual realm, and things pertaining to God’s eternal purpose. The contrasting set is not so much fact as it is doctrine. These statements are what we call, “Dispensational truth”, and are not related to character or attributes of God or men, or facts about creation or God’s plan, but are rather instructions or practices that are dispensed to a people group or applicable to doctrine for a period of time, be it command, promise, calling, or prophecy. 

“Dispensational Truth” leads the believer to distinguish between the blessings such as say, “The meek shall inherit the earth,” as compared with those blessings which are described as “all spiritual blessings” and to be enjoyed “in heavenly places.”

It is obvious that the people of Israel were called to be a “royal priesthood” and “holy nation” with its sphere of influence on the earth. On the other end of the spectrum, we have the directives of Paul in Ephesians chapters 4 to 6, for example, that are addressed to the Gentiles and are set in the spiritual “heavenly places.” In like manner, today’s church that Paul called the “Body of Christ” has no guarantee that obedience to Israel’s Mosaic Laws will result in its prescribed blessing.

There are other categorical ways to analyse a verse to determine if it is trans-dispensational or not. Consider if the verse is clearly addressed to Israel or the Body of Christ. Consider if the verse is specific to law and prophecy or if it is specific to grace and mystery. Consider also by whom, and when the passage or wider book was written. These might not be as clear as determining verses as Foundational (factual) truth, or Dispensational (doctrinal) truth, but they will provide helpful context.

Thus, in a generalized summary, attributes like, love, wisdom, justice, righteousness, holiness, sin, unrighteousness, ungodliness, etc., are all factual or attributes that are relevant across dispensations. On the other hand, instructions, or actions like, praise and worship, prayer, observances and laws, practices, customs, traditions, and freedoms, that come from doctrine and are applicable to people groups and periods, will never truly be trans-dispensational. 

Now, let’s end with our opening passage in question, 1 John‬ ‭2‬:‭12‬-‭16. Is this passage trans-dispensational or not? Let’s put it through our filters and see.

1Jn 2:12-16  I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake.  (13)  I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father.  (14)  I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.  (15)  Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.  (16)  For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

Although the passage is penned by the apostle John, which we associate more with the Kingdom gospel and the early church, the content of the epistle, and this passage, cannot be directly linked to Kingdom doctrine. By the time of writing, the Kingdom program was greatly diminished, and John’s writing has been influenced by the increasing grace truths of Paul’s ministry. The passage is also predominantly concerning spiritual attributes, specifically of love. Thus, it applies more to trans-dispensational values than specific doctrinal practices.

Although we, in this grace dispensation, can agree with the advice concerning love written within it, we must acknowledge that the recipient of this epistle, as with all the epistles from Hebrews to Revelation, is not the Body of Christ, but rather the believers who are experiencing the prophetic “last days” as preached in the following verses,

Act 2:17  And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:

Heb 1:2  Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;

2Pet 3:3  Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,

In this respect, grace believers can learn from 1 John 2:12-16, and receive truth from it due to its general advice, if it witnesses in spirit and agrees with Paul’s doctrine, but it is not a passage that is naturally turned to and understood in terms of pure grace doctrine. I’ll end with this example. If someone gets saved under grace today, the love of the Father is in them, even if they are still carnal in mind and drawn to the world. Consider the carnal Corinthians. They were babes in Christ and had many worldly traits, but Paul still called them saints, 1Cor 1:2. This context will be different in the “last days” Tribulation period in which this letter is particularly addressed. If any man loves the world, during these “last days”, the love of the Father is not in him because the love of the world is in essence an allegiance to the Antichrist. The context is different. Thus, the attribute of love is what we can agree with today, but the passage is more appropriate to a period when the Body of Christ is not even on earth anymore. Timing here is a point of consideration.

In closing, we cannot be so rigid and simply dismiss verses and passages if they are not written by Paul. There is a lot of truth and inspiration in the whole of the Bible, but when scriptures appear to be trans-dispensational, we need to weigh them up first and then we can gladly receive and apply them if it is not in contrast to that which Paul writes for us.