Hello,
John and Doves,
I most totally
disagree with this statement "The
Age of Grace ending?? Who are you trying to kid?"
and the post so named.
The "Age of Grace,"
CAN end. The "Age of Grace" can end but "Grace"
will never end. You can't confuse these two completely different concepts,
which the author did.
The name "Age of Grace"
was given to this period because, during this dispensation, Gentiles
as well as Jews were now saved by the "unmerited favor (grace)"
of God by believing in the redemptive act at the cross and given the
"unmerited favor" of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
The three bible verses mentioned
in the sections of that post were from the word of God and therefore
fits the "For it is written" heading, but using three (3)
different versions (mixing and matching...as I call it) should never
be done in studying God's word. Using three different versions of the
bible can, at the very least, lead to confusion in your conclusions.
We all understand
we are saved by grace, and by His grace we remain His children for all
time and finally if His grace should fail, then we have no hope.
Grace (the unmerited favor ) of God was and is ALWAYS available. It was available
when Adam & Eve were in the garden - they did not "merit favor"
through a life in the garden. It was available when Adam & Eve sinned
- they did not "merit favor" with God's redemptive plan promise.
It will be available to the Jewish nation during the tribulation - they
do not "merit favor" in God's protection during this time.
Mercies, loving
kindnesses, and steadfast love are part of God's grace but they do not
define grace as was inferred in the post - but, as I said, "grace"
is the "unmerited favor" of God. Similarly to infer that the
end of the "Age of Grace" is the end of God's grace is not
only a narrow interpretation but is also incorrect.
The "Age of Grace" was taken from Ephesians 3:2-8,
where Paul talks about the grace (unmerited
favor) of God was now also given to the Gentile and it included
the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
The end of the Age of Grace has nothing to do with the end
of grace. It has everything to do with 2Th 2:6-7 - the Restrainer, which
is the Holy Spirit being removed so that the Age of the anti-christ
(tribulation) can begin. Paul through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit
called it "The dispensation of the Grace of God" when writing
to the Thessalonians and this "dispensation" or "age"
will be ending very, very soon - and not the grace of God.
I hope that readers understand the difference now between
the term "the age of grace" and just the word "grace"and
are no longer confused by the original post to which this refers. The
Grace of God will never end but the Age of Grace will.
YBIC
Rich
E.
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