Mike W (4 Dec 2012)
"respond to Greg Dispensation of Grace"

Hi Greg
I will not speak for Jimmy but I can give you the answer I have received from studying the Bible. We are all saved by God's Grace. He has shown his grace throughtout the different "dispensations". The difference is what God had them to do to "prove" their faith. Noah had to build an ark. The Jews had to be circumcised and follow the law. We do not have to prove anything during our dispensation. We hear the Gospel that Jesus died was buried and rose on the third day. He took our place and is our substitute. We believe this Gospel and we are sealed with the Holy Spirit.This dispensation ends at the rapture of the Body of Christ. Then the Gospel of the Kingdom which Jesus and the 12 apostles preached will be started back up. This will usher in the final 7 years. During this time they will again have to prove their faith by helping their neigbors(love thy neighbors) and by NOT taking the mark of the beast.
 
Paul called it the gospel of grace in the following.
Acts 20
24 But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.
Ephesians 3
1For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,2 If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:3 How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,4 Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)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;
 
It is also called the Gospel of uncircumcision and "my gospel". Paul called it "my gospel" because it was given to him for us directly from God. We are to believe this Gospel during this time. Remember it is a "mystery gospel" that no-one knew but God until he revealed it to Paul. Everything the 12 apostles wrote were written in the context that Jesus would soon come to set up his kingdom. This was the Gospel of the Kingdom. When Stephen was stoned to death God started the switch from the Kingdom Gospel to the Gospel of Grace or the Gospel of uncircumcision. He blinded Israel and gave Paul 3 parts of a mystery. I will list below.
 
1-The first part of the mystery was he blinded Israel but only until the total number people are saved in this dispensation.
2-The second part of the mystery is the Gospel of grace which is the death burial and resurrection of Jesus.
3-The third part of the mystery(which by the way he promised to the people of Corinthian church and all in this dispensation no matter how bad or good we are as long as we believe this mystery gospel) is the rapture in the twinking of an eye. The dead in Christ will rise first and we shall follow him in the air.
 
Please notice that the "taking away of the believers" was part of this mystery. That means what Jesus was talking about in Matthew 24 and other parts of the Bible (Revelations and Daniel) is not about the rapture but about the resurrection.
 
So even though we are all saved by God's Grace the fact is during different dispensations God required different things. Paul tells us in Romans what happens to a person who does no works after he believes.
 
Romans 4:5
5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
 
If the people of this time period would just preach and teach the simple Gospel for this time period a lot more people would accept it. THEN and only THEN do they become sealed with the Holy Spirit and then and only then will that person have the help of the Holy Spirit to get him through the troubles of this life.
 
thanks
Mike W