Hi Rene

That is a very good question. So many today cannot grasp the simple concept of this. Most churches have "fallen away" from this Gospel of grace and are mixing two dispensations together. Paul tells us in Galatians this can be very dangerous.

 

Now as far as the age of Grace starting with John the Baptist or anywhere in the four Gospels, it just did not. They were still under the law as the new covenant or "testament" could not begin until Jesus died and rose from the grave.

 

Hebrew 9

¹⁷ For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.

 

Now the Age of Grace or this dispensation we are now living in could not have started until after Jesus died. But it also could not of started before God called Paul to be our Apostle. The mystery of this Age of Grace was not known until God showed it to the Apostle Paul.

 

1 Corinthians 2

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

 

Romans 16

²⁵ Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,

 

Then Paul tells us that the dispensation or age of grace began with him.

 

Ephesians 3

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;

 

You see the Age of Grace was kept secret and was revealed to Paul by God. Jesus sent the eleven (twelve once they chose Mathias) out to reach Israel first. Had this happened then the 7 year tribulation would have begun and the nation of Israel would have become the nation of priest that is prophesied in the Old Testament. Jesus would have come back and the Gentiles would have been witnessed to by the nation of priest and brought to God that way. Instead Israel rejected Jesus and God blinded that nation and called Paul to lead the Gentiles during this age of grace. It is a free gift if we just believe the Gospel that Jesus died and rose from the grave for our sins. Accept that by faith and a person is saved. After the rapture God will turn his attention back to Israel and the Gospel of the Kingdom will be preached once again.

 

By the way, the ones called out during the dispensation of Grace are part of the Body of Christ. A separate "calling out" than the "priest" of Israel will be.

 

I hope this helps

thanks

Mike W