The Transition From Law to Grace
“Now it occurred three days after, that he (Paul) calls together those who are foremost of the Jews. Now, at their coming together, he said to them "I, men, brethren, doing nothing contrary to the people or to the hereditary customs, was given up a prisoner out of Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans…For this cause, then, I call for you (the Jews), to see and speak to you…Now setting a day for him, more came to him in the lodging, to whom he expounded, certifying to the kingdom of God, besides persuading them concerning Jesus, both from the law of Moses and the prophets, from morning till dusk…Now there being disagreements one with another, they were dismissed, Paul making one declaration, that, "Ideally the holy spirit speaks through Isaiah the prophet, to your fathers, saying, 'Go to this people and say, "In hearing, you will be hearing, and may by no means be understanding, And observing, you will be observing, and may by no means be perceiving,"…Let it be known to you, then, that to the nations (Gentiles) is dispatched this salvation of God, and they will hear." Now he remains two whole years in his own hired house, and he welcomed all those going in to him…heralding the kingdom of God, and teaching that which concerns the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness, unforbidden.” (Acts 28:17-31)
The book of Acts records the transition of God dealing exclusively with Israel under the Law of Moses to the current era in which God is dealing with the whole world of mankind (Jew and Gentile) under GRACE apart from the Law given to Moses for Israel. Looking back on that transition period Paul later writes to the Gentiles…
“You were, in that era, apart from Christ, being alienated from the citizenship of Israel, and guests of the promise covenants, having no expectation, and without God in the world” (Ephesians 2:12, CLNT).
In regard to the era of God’s dealing with Israel under His covenants with them, the Gentiles were “alienated from the citizenship of Israel”. They were “guests and sojourners…having no expectation, and without God in the world”.
During the transition period Paul wrote Romans, 1 and 2 Corinthians, Galatians, 1 and 2 Thessalonians, and 1 Timothy. During Paul’s imprisonment in Rome, the transition to pure GRACE was complete. God’s dealing with Israel under the covenants was set aside, and the era of GRACE apart from the LAW began where there is no longer a distinction between Jew and Gentile that had existed during the transition. Paul wrote Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 2 Timothy, Titus and Philemon after the transition was complete and wrote…
“Consequently, then, no longer are you (Gentiles) guests and sojourners, but are fellow-citizens of the saints and belong to God’s family.” (Ephesians 2:19 CLNT)
Failure to distinguish and rightly divide what went on during the transition period where Gentiles continued to be merely “guests and sojourners” from what we all have now is the source of all the divisions within the religion of Christianity. The mixture of law and grace is so engrained in the religion that it is now impossible to correct the errors.
Paul’s message of the grace of God in saving all mankind apart from the Law was being rejected toward the end of his life by the church. So he wrote to the few who remained faithful to the message, and encouraged them to keep reminding people to rightly divide the word of truth...
“Of these things be reminding them, conjuring them in the Lord's sight not to engage in controversy for nothing useful, to the upsetting of those who are hearing. Endeavor to present yourself to God qualified, an unashamed worker, correctly cutting the word of truth. Yet from profane prattlings stand aloof, for they will be progressing to more irreverence, and their word will spread as gangrene…” (2 Timothy 2:14-17 CLNT)
So I use Facebook and my BlogSpot to occasionally “remind” people who will listen of the GRACE of God and encourage them to “rightly divide the word of truth”.
The book of Acts records the transition of God dealing exclusively with Israel under the Law of Moses to the current era in which God is dealing with the whole world of mankind (Jew and Gentile) under GRACE apart from the Law given to Moses for Israel. Looking back on that transition period Paul later writes to the Gentiles…
“You were, in that era, apart from Christ, being alienated from the citizenship of Israel, and guests of the promise covenants, having no expectation, and without God in the world” (Ephesians 2:12, CLNT).
In regard to the era of God’s dealing with Israel under His covenants with them, the Gentiles were “alienated from the citizenship of Israel”. They were “guests and sojourners…having no expectation, and without God in the world”.
During the transition period Paul wrote Romans, 1 and 2 Corinthians, Galatians, 1 and 2 Thessalonians, and 1 Timothy. During Paul’s imprisonment in Rome, the transition to pure GRACE was complete. God’s dealing with Israel under the covenants was set aside, and the era of GRACE apart from the LAW began where there is no longer a distinction between Jew and Gentile that had existed during the transition. Paul wrote Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 2 Timothy, Titus and Philemon after the transition was complete and wrote…
“Consequently, then, no longer are you (Gentiles) guests and sojourners, but are fellow-citizens of the saints and belong to God’s family.” (Ephesians 2:19 CLNT)
Failure to distinguish and rightly divide what went on during the transition period where Gentiles continued to be merely “guests and sojourners” from what we all have now is the source of all the divisions within the religion of Christianity. The mixture of law and grace is so engrained in the religion that it is now impossible to correct the errors.
Paul’s message of the grace of God in saving all mankind apart from the Law was being rejected toward the end of his life by the church. So he wrote to the few who remained faithful to the message, and encouraged them to keep reminding people to rightly divide the word of truth...
“Of these things be reminding them, conjuring them in the Lord's sight not to engage in controversy for nothing useful, to the upsetting of those who are hearing. Endeavor to present yourself to God qualified, an unashamed worker, correctly cutting the word of truth. Yet from profane prattlings stand aloof, for they will be progressing to more irreverence, and their word will spread as gangrene…” (2 Timothy 2:14-17 CLNT)
So I use Facebook and my BlogSpot to occasionally “remind” people who will listen of the GRACE of God and encourage them to “rightly divide the word of truth”.