In my understanding, Dispensationalism (per se) does not contradict the doctrines of grace, nor does it imply them. Its basic tenets, however, are incompatible with Covenant Theology.

Historically speaking, it was following the independent Bible institute and Bible church movement in the U.S. (1890-1920), and the popularity of the Scofield Reference Bible, that many free-will independent Baptists and others adopted dispensationalism.

This was in spite of the fact that Darby, J. H. Brookes, C. I. Scofield and L. S. Chafer (and their strain) were fairly Calvinistic.

Darby had an Anglican background. In the U.S., Brookes was Presbyterian, Chafer and Scofield were of (presbyterian) Congregationalist background.

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Jim
1689 LBCF
Independent Bible Church
North Texas, USA