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The Age of Grace

Most Christians today consider that we are living in a period called the “church age”. This is to distinguish it from the period of time God was dealing with the world through Israel. The English word “church” carries with it so much of a picture of modern denominational practice that it can lock one into thinking that what we do today was ordained from the start of the “church age”.

The Greek word ecclesia (that we translate church) simply meant a calling out of people. The Greeks used it of a gathering of citizenry to discuss a matter of concern for the city. It is perhaps more accurate to refer to this period of time (since the rejection of the kingdom offer by the nation of Israel) as a time where God is holding back his wrath and offering grace to anyone willing to accept it.

Paul was made the apostle (messenger) of the gospel (good news) of grace (Eph 3:2). His “dispensation” of grace was to let people know that they could have eternal life by trusting in the death burial and resurrection of Jesus in payment for their sins (1Cor 15:1-4). This trusting (faith) places one in what is called “the body of Christ” (Eph 5:30). This placement provides a connection with God that was lost in the garden of eden and is often called regeneration (Titus 3:5).

For the last 2,000 years (interestingly almost the same amount of time of the nation of Israel up until the time of Christ) the earth has not experienced much in the way of God’s intervention or wrath. Satan has sent the course of this world (Eph 2:2). He has used various wars and technology to usher in a world of material prosperity such that even the idea of God seems an abstraction to most. It is perhaps at the peak of his influence (the world collectivized for his use) that the time of grace will end.

In the book of Revelation a description is given of Jesus receiving a scroll (Rev 4-5) which might be considered the title deed for earth the right to which he earned on the cross. Ownership of the earth was given to Adam and lost to Satan. By paying for the sins of the whole world Jesus redeemed us. As the scroll is opened starting in chapter six, the wrath of God is poured out on the world putting an end to the corruption Satan has led us into.

Many churches are involved in the Christianity business. However, at the core, Christianity is simply the individual relationship God offers us with him through Christ. This gift is given us by his grace. There is nothing we can do to earn this gift. The ones most likely to see value in this gift are those who value truth and can see past the deceptions of the world and the flesh. While it was prophesied that Jesus would be put to death, no mention was ever made that by this death Jesus would earn back the control of earth. What this death would accomplish and the opportunity to offer salvation by grace was kept secret (mystery) so that Satan would not understand that he would lose what he thought was his kingdom.

But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not -have crucified the Lord of glory. - 1 Corinthians 2:7-8

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