May 11, 2020
As we embark on another week of combatting against this coronavirus pandemic and all the changes it has brought to our lives, I want to deal with the subject of “GRACE” this week.
As I mentioned in the sermon yesterday, we are living in the “Dispensation of Grace”. Over the history of mankind, God has revealed His plan for the ages through both the Old Testament Prophets and the New Testament Apostles. God has completed His revelation to mankind and recorded it in the 66 books of the Bible. This is our guide to help us better understand God and His plan for our lives.
You and I are the beneficiaries of all those who have gone before us. I believe that we are living in some of the most exciting times for a child of God. We are living in the “dispensation of the grace of God”. You can read about it in Ephesians 3 as the mystery was made known to the Apostle Paul.
(Ephesians 3:1) For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,
(Ephesians 3:2) If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:
(Ephesians 3:3) How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,
(Ephesians 3:4) Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)
(Ephesians 3:5) Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;
(Ephesians 3:6) That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:
(Ephesians 3:7) 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.
(Ephesians 3:8) Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;
(Ephesians 3:9) And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:
(Ephesians 3:10) To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,
(Ephesians 3:11) According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:
(Ephesians 3:12) In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.
(Ephesians 3:13) Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.
It was always a part of God’s plan for the Gentiles (non-Jews) to be included with God’s chosen people (the Jews). The church (which is a called-out assembly consisting of both Jews and Gentiles) was a mystery until after Jesus went to the cross and died for us all. We then entered into the “Dispensation of the Grace of God” which is also known as the “Church Age” and we will remain in this “dispensation” until “the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled” (Luke 21:24). This “dispensation” will end at the return of Christ for His bride (the church).
According to v. 9, this was a part of God’s plan from the beginning of the world, but was hid in God for all those years now to be revealed in Christ Jesus. I thank God this morning that I am a part of the “church of the living God” and that my name is recorded in heaven. As I said before, I believe that we are living in some of the most exciting times in history for the child of God. With that in mind, let’s take advantage of these days of grace that we are so fortunate to be a part of and use the time we have left to reach out to the lost and invite them to accept the Lord Jesus Christ before it be too late.
By His Grace,
Bro. Rick
