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The Dispensation of G R
A C E (Matthew
3:1 — Revelations 19:10) Present Age or Postdiluvian
Age (Genesis 8:15 — Revelations 19:10) From The
Purpose of God for Humankind Name: So-called
because of the fullness of grace brought by Jesus the Christ (Yeshua the
Messiah) (Jn. 1:16-17). People had grace in all previous ages, but not in
fullness. The same was true of laws. People had laws in all periods before
Moses, but the fullness of law came by him. God’s “Grace” Defined in
the Old Testament “ax” (Original Old
Testament Hebrew): “the free, unmerited favor
of God toward the undeserving
and the ill-deserving.” Grace
is always
associated in the Bible with the big-heartedness, love, compassion, mercy,
and kindness of one individual to another, whether it be person to person or
God to person. God’s “Grace” Defined in
the New Testament God’s New Testament word
translated grace is “chairis” (original New Testament Greek). It is defined
primarily: “The
cheerful, divine influence upon a person’s heart [spirit] and its reflection in the person’s life; including
gratitude” In other words, God’s grace (or
“chairis”) is no longer “unmerited favor…” but is the power of God’s love transforming the person more
and more into the image of Jesus from the inside-out and genuinely yielding the
fruit of thankfulness. This is versus the law, affecting only the external life. And repeating, grace is always associated in the Bible with the big-heartedness, love,
compassion, mercy, and kindness of one individual to another, whether it be
person to person or God to person. Grace from God is His power coming to empower the person to do
with ease what s/he could never accomplish on his or her own. (See also John
15:5.) Length: From the preaching of the
kingdom of heaven by John (Mt. 11: 11; Lk. 16:16) to the 2nd arrival of Jesus
the Christ (Yeshua the Messiah). Considering that we reckon our time in AD
from the birth of Christ, and that He was about 30 years of age (in AD 30)
when John the Baptist announced the kingdom and when Law ended
and Grace began (Lk. 1:26; 3:23), then we know that we had already come 1,970
years in this dispensation by 2000. How many more years Grace will continue
is not known because we do not know when the 2nd advent (which is to
terminate this dispensation) till take place. A review of the 7 Dispensations of Mankind up to this point will
show that we have come 6,201 years or more since Adam to AD 2,000 as follows: (Years) (1) Innocence unsaid length of time (2) Conscience 1,656 years (3) Human Government 427 (4) Promise 430 (5) Law 1,718 (6) Grace 1,980 Total 6,211 Favorable beginning: Satan was
defeated on the cross and made powerless to overcome any believer who would
put on the whole armor of God (Eph. 6:10-18) and resist him (Eph. 4:27; Jas.
4:7; 1 Pet. 5:7-9). In this matter, no difference was made between Jew or
Gentile, male or female (Acts 2:1621; 1 Cor. 12:13; Gal.
3:28; Col. 3:11). Furthermore, the dispensation of Grace began with
ministries of power - that of Jesus the Christ (Yeshua Messiah), John the
Baptist, the apostles, and other men and women endued to perform miracles, as
recorded in the Gospels and Acts. It began with complete grace (Jn. 1:16-17),
promises of the fullness of the Spirit (Jn. 7: 37-39), and a full commission
to represent God and do the works of Jesus the Christ (Yeshua Messiah) (Mk.
16:1520; Jn. 14:12). There is now no limitation to the believer regarding
what he wants from God according to the promises. Everyone is privileged
to receive according to his or her faith (Mt. 8:13; 9:29; 17:20; 21,21-22; Mk. 11:22-24; Jn. 14:12-15;
15:7, 16; Heb. 11:6; 1 Jn. 3:21-22; 5:13-14). Test: Obedience to the faith of the gospel
in all its teachings (Mk. 16:16; Jn. 3:16; Rom, 1:5,16; 16:26; Heb. 11:6;
Jas. 1:5-8). Purpose of God in this dispensation: The purpose has been to save all who would believe, to call out a
people for His name, and to build the Church (ekklesia)
(Jn. 3:16; Acts 15:13-18; 1 Cor. 1: 18-24; 12:12-3 1; Eph. 2-14-22; 4:7-16;
5:25-32; 1 Tim. 2:4; 2 Pet. 3:9; Rev. 2i-17) There were 333 prophecies – spoken centuries before – fulfilled
in the life of Yeshua Messiah (Jesus the Christ). Means of God in accomplishing His purpose: Preaching the gospel is His means to call out a people for the
Church (ekklesia)
(Mt. 28:19-20; Mk. 16:15-20; Rom. 1: 16; 1 Cor. 1: 18-24; 2 Cor. 4:4). For
this work He uses called and gifted people (Rom. 12; 1 Cor. 12; Eph. 4:7-11).
He also uses angels (Heb. 1: 14) and ordinary saved people to propagate the
gospel as directed by the Holy Spirit (Jn. 14:16-17, 26; 15:26; 16:715- Acts
1:4-8; 2:38-39; 5:32). Failure The failure of Israel is seen in
their rejection of John, Jesus (Yeshua), and the apostles; in the crucifixion
of their Messiah; and in war on the early Church (ekklesia).
The gospel first went to Israel (Mt. 10:5-6) but they would not obey, so it
was taken from them and given to Gentiles (Mt. 21:33-46). Judgment for sin: For their
rejection of John (Mt. 3:7; 21:23-27), Jesus (Yeshua) (Mt. 11: 11-27; 12:1
-50; 23:1-39), and the early disciples (Acts 4:1-31; 6:8-7:59; 8:1-4; 9:1-8;
12:1-5; 16:19-38; 17:1-8:18; 22:1-28:31), Israel was destroyed as a nation in
AD 70 and scattered among the other nations (Mt. 24:1-3; Lk. 21:20-24). God's provision of redemption: See Points 15 and 22 of God’s Purposes for
Humankind Learn more truth about
God’s grace As you may know, there is a mountain of confusion and controversy
regarding Christ’s second coming and “the rapture of His Church—pre-trib, mid-trib, or post-trib.”
Be strongly encouraged to get crystal clarity by understanding an important
comprehensive Bible study entitled “Victorious
Eschatology” by Dr.
Harold R. Eberle. It just may surprise you. See some
thoughts about Reasons for God's
Dispensational Dealings Thank you also Finis
Jennings Dake, Dake Publishing, and their book, God’s Plan for Man. |
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