God has had expectations for humanity from the beginning of time (Genesis 2:16-17). The Creator’s revelation to mankind has been progressive. The three dispensations of time are (1) Patriarchy, (2) Judaism or Mosaic and (3) Christianity. Any good teacher brings pupils along by gradually increasing the difficulty of the material being studied. Students begin by learning simple concepts, and then they progress to more complex matters. During the first period of time, God provided basic revelation. For the descendants of Abraham, Jehovah provided a detailed written law. The final segment of revelation is the New Testament of Jesus the Christ. This covenant was ratified by the blood of the Son of God (Matthew 26:27).
In former times God exercised toleration, as would a parent with young children. When the Jews questioned Jesus regarding “a bill of divorcement” (Matthew 19:7), our Lord responded: “Moses for your hardness of heart suffered [allowed] you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it hath not been so” (Matthew 19:8).
There was some relaxing of God’s demands while the immature Jewish people were waiting for the arrival of the Messiah. However, once the Savior arrived, He became the “mediator of a better covenant” (Hebrews 8:6).
Today, the ethical standard for all of humanity is this better covenant of Jesus Christ. “The times of ignorance therefore God overlooked; but now he commandeth men that they should all everywhere repent” (Acts 17:30). Note three important things this verse reveals. First, there was a time in the past when ignorance was overlooked. Second, God has commanded; this is not a mere suggestion. Third, His demands are universal. No wonder Jesus said, “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to the whole creation” (Mark 16:15).
[Editor’s Note: No pseudo, manmade ethical standard will suffice when each of us takes our turn to appear before the Judgment Seat of Jesus Christ. “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew [approved of] you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’” (Matthew 7:21-23 NKJV). Furthermore, relying upon a divinely given but obsolete and replaced law of God will prove useless for those who lived in the Christian Age. “You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt To be justified by law; you have fallen from grace” (Galatians 5:4). ~ Louis Rushmore, Editor]
