What is a Dispensation?

We need to take Scripture in the normal way we take any document we read. It was written in the common language for this purpose. When God is addressing Israel, He is not referring to the Church or Gentiles. A promise to Israel is always for Israel, where a promise for the Church is only for the Church. The Old Testament was written for the Church's admonition on what not to do, where the New Testament gives the Church information for practice (doctrine). So next time you read Scripture, determine who God is addressing, don't take promises given to others as your own, and don't miss apply sections of Scripture to the Church when the Church was not even in existence.