Do you realize that the Lord’s Grace is the time we’re living in? For the Gentiles, this is our time, and it is a time of Grace. Even in the midst of all the foolishness and divisiveness surrounding us, which only scratches the surface on what’s happening in the world… You may not feel you have any control when it comes to these forces. In a global sense, you don’t, but you also don’t have to succumb to this hopeless state (remember Whose you are). And you do know the times that are coming…yes? The following scripture is talking about these times of the Gentiles:
“I do not want you, believers, to be unaware of this mystery [God’s previously hidden plan] — so that you will not be wise in your own opinion—that a partial hardening has [temporarily] happened to Israel [to last] until the full number of the Gentiles has come in; and so [at that time] all Israel [that is, all Jews who have a personal faith in Jesus as Messiah] will be saved; just as it is written [in Scripture],
“The Deliverer (Messiah) will come from Zion, He will remove ungodliness
from Jacob.” “This is My covenant with them, When I take away their sins.”
From the standpoint of the gospel, the Jews [at present] are enemies [of God] for your sake [which is for your benefit], but from the standpoint of God’s choice [of the Jews as His people], they are still loved by Him for the sake of the fathers. For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable [for He does not withdraw what He has given, nor does He change His mind about those to whom He gives His grace or to whom He sends His call]. Just as you once were disobedient and failed to listen to God, but have now obtained mercy because of their disobedience,”
(Romans 11:25-30, AMP)
That’s a great deal of meat. It’s important and we need to see the time of the Gentiles, our time, in the light that the Father sees it – plus why it happened and what should be happening as a result. Grace is what we (Gentiles) have received but the time is limited so it shouldn’t be wasted.
Grace also needs defining and I am presenting the information from “Got Questions”, a Christian resource.
“Grace is an essential part of God’s character. Grace is closely related to God’s benevolence, love, and mercy. Grace can be variously defined as ‘God’s favor toward the unworthy” or “God’s benevolence on the undeserving.’ In His grace, God is willing to forgive us and bless us abundantly, in spite of the fact that we don’t deserve to be treated so well or dealt with so generously.
To fully understand grace, we need to consider who we were without Christ and who we become with Christ. We were born in sin (Psalm 51:5), and we were guilty of breaking God’s holy laws (Romans 3:9–20, 23;1 John 1:8–10). We were enemies of God (Romans 5:6, 10; 8:7; Colossians 1:21), deserving of death (Romans 6:23a). We were unrighteous (Romans 3:10) and without means of justifying ourselves (Romans 3:20). Spiritually, we were destitute, blind, unclean, and dead. Our souls were in peril of everlasting punishment.”
What does this have to do with you and the world you live in? Absolutely everything. No. we’re not innocent. Thankfully, forgiveness goes beyond by ‘only’ cleansing us. I think that it is also meant to empower us to touch our world, to be whoever we are where we are and to share the incredible news that we can be saved and enter into the family of God. All are invited, but the time of living in grace will give way to the next season. We really can’t postpone. The fields ARE white unto harvest (John 4:35).
Obviously this is merely an introduction on the Time of the Gentiles and our time of Grace. The point is that these are incredibly important times and we have a responsibility to not waste any opportunity that may present itself. We are His workman – Ephesians 2:10..
