Age of Grace

VictoryinJesus said:

Does the age of Grace have an end?

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Eventually....
The age (administration or dispensation) of Grace was set up by God for the purpose of the mystery.

The mystery > Eph 3:6 That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel: (i.e. the one new man Eph 2:15).


Technically the administration of grace ends with the “gathering together unto Him” ….the harpazō ….aka rapture (1Th 4:13-18)…. which involves ONLY those in Christ …born again believers (the one body) both asleep and alive …no one else.

At that time commences the beginning of sorrows…Revelation.

Grace is used 116X in Acts and the epistles …Only 2X in the Revelation the opening and closing salutations (verses 1:4 & 22:21)

If we remove the salutations with grace from the epistles…. it would leave us with 89x …Remove salutations from Revelation….. leaves … zero times. ..................There is no grace in Revelation.

Grace.
I was thinking about Adam and Eve living in the garden. We don't know how long they were there before God gave the commandment not to eat the fruit.
Grace is not law.
So when they fell from Grace the law came. Or could it be the time of grace had expired and now they were to be tested?
If a day is as a thousand years, then according to that reasoning, Adam and Eve could have been living in the garden for a thousand years.
And that would bring us to Revelation where the devil was locked up for a thousand years and then let loose to tempt the world.

2Pe 3:8
But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

Rev 20:2
And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,
Rev 20:3
And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.

Again there is no law until the commandment came for Noah to build an Ark.
Again this time of grace was growing to a close.
Gen 6:8
But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.

And again punishment of the wicked would be unleashed upon the world. They had a chance to believe God and join Noah, but chose not to.

Again there was no law until the commandment came for Abram to leave his home and travel in a country and begin a new relationship built on faith with God.
Rom 4:3
For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.
I believe Abraham lived in an age of grace.
And not until the 400 years of bondage by his children would the age end. And a new day would begin with Moses.

While the children in the wilderness walked with God for 40 years, even though they grumbled and were unsatisfied with God's provisions,
the age of Grace would end when God called Moses to Mt. Sinai, where a written law was given because of their sins.

From Moses until Jesus the world live in an age of law and judgment. Under Moses law there was no grace.

When Jesus came we were then again ushered into the age of grace, and grace was given to those under the law, and those who were of the faith of Abraham.

How much time transpired between Moses and Jesus. Was it 2 days or perhaps 3?
God has his own clock but is usually accurate in his balances and measures.

Does the story of Pharoah who had a birthday party planned and his butler and his baker, give us a clue as to the dividing of the wheat and tares? Two men shall be in the field, one taken and the other left.

Gen 40:20
And it came to pass the third day, which was Pharaoh's birthday, that he made a feast unto all his servants: and he lifted up the head of the chief butler and of the chief baker among his servants.

Hos 6:2
After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight.

What day are we in? Are we still in the age of grace? Are we nearing the third day?
When all hell once again gets unleashed upon the earth.

It's been 2 days since Jesus came to save us. To free us from the law. It's been 2000 years.

How close are we to the end of this age of grace?

Act 17:30
And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:
Act 17:31
Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.

This command is the one command God gave Adam and Eve. Do not eat the fruit of the unrighteous knowledge of good and evil.

And they were naked and unashamed.

Is there no humility left in the world today?
Pro 22:4
By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, and honour, and life.

1Pe 5:5
Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.

Grace is a gift, and time is running out.

Does anybody really know what time it is?
Hugs

Does God change? Does he behave in contradictory ways?
Are his emotions fickle like that of Man?

God's reality is graciousness. It will never end otherwise I have no assurance of security.

VictoryinJesus said:

That is what I was thinking too. It just hit me one day about the age of Grace…and I had this question of: does the age of God’s Grace come to an end? Or is it an age without end?

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What would it mean if the "Age of Grace" came to an end? Any idea what would follow it?

The age of Judgment

VictoryinJesus said:

I hope I’ll be Judged by Grace and Mercy?

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We are not under judgment. Because we believe and have faith in God.
I believe the day of judgment is for unbelievers.

Although we all must stand before the judgment throne, I believe believers recieve a full pardon.
Hugs

VictoryinJesus said:

Does the age of Grace have an end?

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Grace is extended to us. It's undeserved by us and not required of Him, but it's in His nature to be merciful, to forgive and to extend this grace toward us.

I think you are asking if grace goes on forever...? Or if at some point, this grace he offers-- runs out. It might help to consider all the things that were taught about 'the end of the age.' He put it in terms of a season, that has a natural beginning and end, with parts between those two points, and which repeats without end.

So then, does it have an end? Yes. And no. If the cycles of seasons (and ages) repeat and continue forever, then-- while each age does come to an end, these ages as a whole, do not end.

Ziggy said:

The age of Judgment

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It's often thought of in these terms, but I think that's rather unfortunate. You aren't wrong, but the way many people think of this judgment concept is inaccurate. They think in terms of wrath and punishment coming for folks 'at the end of the age' and while that has some bearing on evildoers- it's not a great image or explanation of all that takes place.

It might help to think of the judgment in terms of 'determining worth' --the way you would sort out the bad apples and discard them at the apple harvest. Or- by examples he offered-- separating the chaff from the wheat, pruning off unfruitful branches and vines, etc. Folks think about olives being pressed- and the oil being squished out of them, or grapes having the life trampled out of them... Is that wrath? Or is it the very purpose of growing olives and grapes? You see, there's another way of considering the end of the age-- if you can see it as completely natural and necessary and purposeful-- you begin to understand and fear is gone.

The measuring and weighing that we associate with judgment isn't a bad thing. Unless you're a bad apple.

Mr E said:

It's often thought of in these terms, but I think that's rather unfortunate. You aren't wrong, but the way many people think of this judgment concept is inaccurate. They think in terms of wrath and punishment coming for folks 'at the end of the age' and while that has some bearing on evildoers- it's not a great image or explanation of all that takes place.

It might help to think of the judgment in terms of 'determining worth' --the way you would sort out the bad apples and discard them at the apple harvest. Or- by examples he offered-- separating the chaff from the wheat, pruning off unfruitful branches and vines, etc. Folks think about olives being pressed- and the oil being squished out of them, or grapes having the life trampled out of them... Is that wrath? Or is it the very purpose of growing olives and grapes? You see, there's another way of considering the end of the age-- if you can see it as completely natural and necessary and purposeful-- you begin to understand and fear is gone.

The measuring and weighing that we associate with judgment isn't a bad thing. Unless you're a bad apple.

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Maybe the same way I see the lake of fire as a purging process. Removing the dross from the silver.
Pro 25:4
Take away the dross from the silver, and there shall come forth a vessel for the finer.

I don't believe in a cruel and unmerciful God. I believe we imagine him to be that way, because that is mans way to be unmerciful and cruel.
I believe God is just. And you will reap what you sow. And destruction from the Lord is actually a good thing because he is destroying the bad in you making you good.

But there some really bad people in this world. Really bad. What kind of judgment will they recieve?
All I know is that I am blessed to be saved by God. And we can pray for them. But if they don't change, then maybe that purging process takes a whole lot longer than average.

Eternally even.
Deep thoughts today.
Shovelling snow this morning. Got about 3 maybe 4 inches, not bad.
Now I'm hungry...

Hugs

Ziggy said:

Maybe the same way I see the lake of fire as a purging process. Removing the dross from the silver.
Pro 25:4
Take away the dross from the silver, and there shall come forth a vessel for the finer.

I don't believe in a cruel and unmerciful God. I believe we imagine him to be that way, because that is mans way to be unmerciful and cruel.
I believe God is just. And you will reap what you sow. And destruction from the Lord is actually a good thing because he is destroying the bad in you making you good.

But there some really bad people in this world. Really bad. What kind of judgment will they recieve?
All I know is that I am blessed to be saved by God. And we can pray for them. But if they don't change, then maybe that purging process takes a whole lot longer than average.

Eternally even.
Deep thoughts today.
Shovelling snow this morning. Got about 3 maybe 4 inches, not bad.
Now I'm hungry...

Hugs

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I'm 3 or 4 sips into my coffee. No snow here, but deep thoughts, yes.

I think you've got it. --And the harvesters are angels--

It's neither tragic nor sad when the weeds are pulled and the brambles and pruned branches are gathered and burned in the fire. And yes-- for silver and gold, the same fire purifies-- a refining fire-- no one mourns for the dross.

VictoryinJesus said:

I don’t see in “seasons” that have an end …where Grace is included as that which has an end…but trials and temptations and heaviness have an end. Death has an end. But not Grace, Mercy And Truth? for example that promise “to give unto them the garment of praise” for mourning … “to give the Oil of Joy for heaviness” …

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Aww.... you're a good grape. Let's assume you are. Are you then joyful in the tribulation that yields good wine? Can you give up your life-blood, with gladness, knowing that though husk and skin are being destroyed-- you have lived your life, served your purpose and provided 'the juice' that gives HIM joy? Then, you are indeed a good grape.

And the oil of joy from the olive comes only from the tribulation of pressing. The seed is all that is preserved, while the oil's purpose is for consumption. But for the olive itself? It's an entirely uncomfortable process. Yet with every end of the age, a new age begins and that seed is returned to the soil. He taught often about seeds and seasons.