(I just ran across this brief article by Erik Raymond in a search on “Calvinism and Dispensationalism” – since I sometimes feel like I’m the only human being on the planet that adheres to both of these teachings in my theology – but in reality the few words below explain exactly what I believe and I think a few other men you may have heard of as well – John MacArthur, James Montgomery Boice, Erwin Lutzer, Steve Lawson, Thomas Ice, John Hannah, Robert Saucy, and S. Lewis Johnson – to name a few [DPC])
Labels are often difficult. It is usually better to define terms before endorsing or rejecting them.
By saying I am a dispensationalist I mean the following:
(1) I see a distinction between the church and the nation of Israel
(2) I see a future for the nation of Israel
(3) I employ a consistent literal historical-grammatical approach to Bible interpretation
(4) The major theme in the Scriptures is the glory of God
Also, by saying I am a dispensationalist I also believe the following:
(1) I do not see multiple ways of salvation in the Bible, sinners are saved by grace through faith (whether Paul or Abraham, cf. Rom. 4.1-5)
(2) I do not believe that some parts of the New Testament are not for us today (i.e. the Sermon on the Mount)
(3) I do not believe that Jesus may be our Savior without being our Lord
Some people think it is odd that we could be both Reformed and Dispensational. I like to remind folks that it is the same approach to the Bible that produces both for me. I am not Reformed because Calvin was Reformed and I am not Dispensational because Ryrie is. I think the Bible teaches Reformed soteriology (doctrine of salvation) and Dispensational eschatology (doctrine of things to come).
Amen Erik – I couldn’t agree more! [DPC]
About the Author: Erik Raymond has been writing at Ordinary Pastor since 2006. He lives in Omaha with his wife and kids while pastoring at Emmaus Bible Church. Follow regular updates on Twitter at www.twitter.com/erikraymond. This brief article was adapted from his website http://www.ordinarypastor.com on February 16, 2007.
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