When did this Dispensation begin?

Had to share this outline from Justin Johnson... GREAT PICTURE of the real question that needs to be asked...

WHEN THIS DISPENSATION BEGAN
IDENTIFYING THE MOST RECENT CHANGE IN GOD’S WAYS

“Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.”

1. Why it is important?
~ Ephesians 3:7
a. The opposition thinks its an insult to say we are the logical conclusion of disp. thinking
b. Ryrie says it is important because of church practice, scripture relevance/interpretation
c. Ruckman says the key issue is “when the body began” thinking baptism is the issue
d. Mid-Acts Pauline right division affects many things: tradition, church, gospel, pattern
e. When do they say it began? Matt 16, the cross, Acts 2 - though no one knew it yet.

2. What is ‘it’?
a. The question posed is always: when did the church begin? But that would be wrong.
b. Which church? Which gospel? An age is a period of time, the church is not an age.
c. If we are looking for church ages we might accept Matt 16:18, or Acts 2:47, 5:11
d. The church is many members joined together by one gospel -1Co 12:13, Eph 3:6, 4:16
e. What comes before the church, is the message; the revelation of the mystery.
f. The question should be “when was this dispensation given?” – Eph 3:1, Col 1:25
g. ‘It’ is the dispensation of grace, not when faith came, Christ came, the Spirit came

3. Distinguishing the Dispensation of Grace
a. A dispensation is a revelation from God that describes his dealings with us, and our responsibility toward him
b. The dispensation of the grace of God is the same as the revelation of the mystery
c. If man does not know it, then it is of no use to us at all, and is not a dispensation.
d. The church is just one aspect of it, others include:
       i. 1) Israel is fallen Rom 11:25; (2) salvation to the Gentiles w/o Israel Col 1:27
       ii. (3) the preaching of the cross 1 Cor 2:7-8, 9:17;
       iii. (4) the riches of God’s grace Col 1:27, Eph 3:8-9
      iv. (5) Christ over all things, heavenly places Eph 3:9-10, Eph 1:10
e. When we are trying to determine when ‘it’ began, we must know what ‘it’ entails

4. When did it start? Answer: With the revelation given to Paul.
a. Ryrie says, “If it can be proven that to Paul exclusively…”
b. To Paul, “last of all” – 1 Corinthians 15:8-10, Acts 9:15
c. To Paul, “first of all” - 1 Timothy 1:12-16
d. Israel’s fall - before Acts 28 (Rom 11:11), after Acts 3:26
e. Apostle to the Gentiles – Peter was not this apostle - Acts 10:28, 11:19; Gal 2:7-9
f. The preaching of the cross – not at Pentecost, not with Peter - Acts 2:38, Acts 15:1-2
g. Riches of grace – forgiveness now? Col 2:13; or later? Acts 3:19, 1 John 1:9
h. Christ over all heavenly places– they sought an earthly kingdom–Heb 13:14, 2Pe 1:11