April 28, 2004

PLAINER WORDS …GOD’S DISPLAY OF GRACE

For almost two-thousand years, most all of mankind has been willfully ignorant of what God is doing, or has been doing. Many Christian denominations think that, periodically, He is “sending great revivals,” preparing “His people” to escape the “end-time” judgment. Some believe God is spreading His Kingdom, and, by so doing, the institutions of man will be cleansed and purged of evil.

There are many who are activists in the political and social arenas, attempting to hold back the tidal-wave of evil and corruption which is pervasive in every aspect of society. There are those who see the Hand of God blessing people in a mighty way with the “out-pouring of the Holy Ghost” which is manifested by what they believe to be the receiving of the “gifts of the Spirit.”

There are those who teach and believe that they have discovered the “formula” to win God’s favor in order that the “abundant life” may be enjoyed in the “here and now.” They teach that financial success is a sign of God’s favor and reward for “faith.”

Others have discovered His “plan of salvation.” Some have reduced the “plan of salvation” down to three points: the ABC’s of salvation—Admit you’re a sinner—Believe Christ paid for your sins, and—Confess that you are saved. If someone follows these three steps, they are promised that they will have an eternal home in heaven. And, so, it goes. Man’s fertile imagination is ever at work, devising ways to avoid the need for believers to become workmen, rightly dividing the Word of Truth.

Ever since the inception of Plainer Words, in 1968, it has been pointed out that in order to understand God’s present purpose, one must “rightly divide the Word of Truth” (2 Timothy 2:15). Truth for today is found in Paul’s Epistles which are embossed with the mark of prison upon them. The “prison epistles” speak, clearly, to those who have the eyes of their understanding divinely enlightened (Ephesians 1:18). Ever since the end of the book of “The Acts of the Apostles,” God has been dealing with mankind based upon one principle and one principle alone—GRACE !

In other dispensations, God always exhibited grace, but He, also, demonstrated other actions, such as, wrath, punishment, goodness, truth, and judgment. Ever since the “hope of Israel” (Acts 28:20) was set aside, He has been dispensing nothing but unadulterated grace.

Today, is God rewarding the good and punishing the evil? Does every transgression and disobedience receive a just recompence of reward? Is He dealing with mankind on the basis of absolute justice administered, alike, to one and all? The obvious answer to all three questions is, “No.”

His method of dealing with all men is to show love and favor to the undeserving. Even though He is displaying His grace, or favor to all, the vast majority do not learn from it.

“Let favour be shewed to the wicked, yet will he not learn righteousness:” (Isaiah 26:10).

The present dispensation had been a secret hid in God’s heart and not made known to the sons of men until the Lord Jesus Christ revealed His administration of Grace to Paul, His prisoner. It was never the subject of prophecy. The Ephesian Epistle explains God’s present purpose and His silence during this present dispensation. This truth is overlooked, misunderstood, misrepresented, and denounced by most of Christendom. Most Christians want God to be active in the affairs of men. Active in blessing, cursing, correcting, and demonstrating His awesome power.

God is administering grace, both passively and actively, but if He cannot act in grace, He will not act at all. This is a “hard saying,” yet he who has ears to hear—will hear.

“Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 2:1).

The word, “strong,” is a translation of the Greek word, “endunamoo,” which means to be “empowered.”

Therefore, we are empowered in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.

The display of God’s grace can end at any time. The “blessed hope” of the Church which is His Body, is the next event to take place—the blazing forth of the glory of the great God, our Savior, Jesus Christ (Titus 2:13).

Tom L. Ballinger