## Dispensation of Grace

## John 1:12

Over the last several weeks we have been looking at the Scriptures from a dispensational point of view. We have seen how that God has dealt with man in a number of ways throughout history to accomplish His plan and purpose.

Tonight we come to the most exciting of all the dispensations: Grace. One of the reasons that I believe this to be the most exciting is that we are privileged to be living and experiencing this dispensation first hand. It begins with the first advent of Christ and will come to a close with the second advent.

As we have seen in our past studies, there is a transitional period of time that exists between the dispensations of Law and Grace. It is during this transitional period that Jesus was born, grew, taught, died, arose, and ascended into heaven. During this dispensation we see a number of exciting events take place. We will look at a few of them this evening.

I. Establishing of the Local Church.

A. The church was established during the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ.

1. Notice Jesus' instruction to Peter concerning the building of the assembly.

2. Matthew 16:18, "And I say unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it."

3. Later Christ instructs the disciples concerning discipline in Matthew 18:17, "And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican."

4. The church was in existence prior to the day of Pentecost because on that day "there were added unto them about three thousand souls" and "the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved" cf Acts 2:41 & 47

B. The local church was empowered by the Holy Spirit upon the day of Pentecost.

1. Pentecost means fiftieth.

2. The feast of Pentecost took place fifty days after the feast of firstfruits.

3. The importance is not so much on the feast day, but on the fact that Jerusalem would be crowded with people at this time.

4. Jesus had instructed His disciples to "tarry in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high." cf. Lk. 24:49

5. The Holy Spirit came and filled them.

6. Note: The purpose of this filling was for power to witness and fulfill the great commission! cf Acts 1:8

7. The ministry of the infilling of the Holy Spirit characterizes this age. cf Ro. 8:9

8. The phrase "in the Spirit" is used 25 times in the New Testament. We are instructed to:

a. "walk in the Spirit" cf. Galatians 5:25

b. "pray in the Spirit" cf. Ephesians 5:18

c. "live in the Spirit" cf 1 Peter 4:6

C. The purpose of the local church.

1. To bring honor and glory unto the Lord. cf. Ephesians 3:21

2. This is brought about by several different activities performed in and through the local church.

a. Teaching the doctrine of Christ.

b. Obedience to the ordinances.

c. Fellowship among the brethren.

d. Giving to meet the needs of the church and its related ministries.

e. Offering up praise and worship.

f. Continual outreach for souls locally and around the world.

II. The End of the Age.

A. The "Rapture" of the believers.

1. The meaning of the rapture is the catching up of those in Christ.

2. cf. 1 Thess. 4:16-17 & 1 Co. 15:51-52

3. This event will involve both the dead in Christ and the living believers.

4. Only those who are Christians will be raptured, the unsaved will be resurrected after the millennial reign of Christ.

5. The rapture will take place before the tribulation begins.

6. The nature of the tribulation is that it is a time of wrath (Re. 6:17, 14:7) and God's Word promises the believer that:

a. "For God hath not appointed us to wrath..." cf. 1 Th. 5:9a

b. And that Jesus has "delivered us from the wrath to come." cf. 1 Th. 1:10b

c. Romans 8:1a, "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus..."

B. The Tribulation.

1. The duration will be seven years.

2. The purpose for the period of judgement is two-fold.

a. To prepare the nation of Israel for her Messiah.

b. To pour out judgment upon unbelieving man and nations. cf. Re. 6:12-17

3. This is the 70th week of Dan. 9:24-27.

C. The Judgment seat of Christ and the Marriage of the Lamb.

1. Both of these events will take place in heaven after the rapture, during the tribulation, and prior to the second advent.

2. According to Lk. 14:14, reward is associated with the resurrection.

3. When the Lord returns to the earth with His bride to reign, the bride is seen to be already rewarded. cf Re. 19:8

4. The marriage of the Lamb is not the same event as the marriage supper, that will take place on earth after the return of Christ cf. Re. 19:9

Man's failure in this dispensation is not believing on Jesus Christ. The invitation is for 'whosoever will' to come, by grace are we saved through faith. Christ has commissioned the local church to take the gospel around the world to every nation, and He has enabled us through the Holy Spirit.