FRIDAY July 8, 2022

The Dispensation of Grace

But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
Titus 3:4-7

The purpose of the book of Acts is seen in God’s plan and power for every believer during the period of the dispensation of His grace. Chuck Smith explains simply that: “We are living in an age in which God relates to we Gentiles by His grace. It is a dispensation of grace given to us.”

As long as the dispensation of grace is here, the Holy Spirit will be able to work among the Gentiles. He will continue to convict a person of sin, of righteousness and of judgment (John 16:8). The moment this period of God’s grace comes to an end, and the Rapture happens, taking the Church out of the world (1Thessalonians 4:16-17), the Holy Spirit will stop working in that gracious way among the Gentiles. The Spirit of God will then be poured out on the Jews. The period of grace for the Gentiles has ended.

Imagine, the Gentiles have had the Holy Spirit working among them for 2,000 years, but once the Church has been raptured, the seven year Tribulation Period begins. God will use this time to get the attention of His people––the nation of Israel.

If you miss the Rapture and go on to be saved, you will pay the price of martyrdom––it will be a horrible time. Some may survive without taking the Mark of the Beast on the right hand or the forehead. They can flee to the mountains, but if anyone takes the Mark of the Beast, they are damned forever (Revelation 13:16-18; Revelation 14:9-11).

Some people feel they can postpone accepting Jesus. Know this: if you do not repent of your sins and receive God’s grace now, it will be very difficult without the presence of the Holy Spirit in the Tribulation Period.

...the Old Testament prophets did not really see this age of grace, when God would be drawing from among the Gentiles the body of Christ.
~Chuck Smith~

For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!