2012
Learning the Way of God More Perfectly
King James Bible 1611

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Specific
Contrasts in Scriptures
- Not Contradictions -

11.

Grace in a Dispensation
Psalm 84:11
The Dispensation of Grace
Ephesians 2:8,9
There was never a time when God did not exercise grace in dealing with His people.

Psalms 84:11 - For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.

God has bestowed His grace in many specific instances and to accomplish certain goals in accordance with His plan and purpose.
Ezra 9:7-9 - And said, O my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to thee, my God: for our iniquities are increased over our head, and our trespass is grown up unto the heavens. Since the days of our fathers have we been in a great trespass unto this day; and for our iniquities have we, our kings, and our priests, been delivered into the hand of the kings of the lands, to the sword, to captivity, and to a spoil, and to confusion of face, as it is this day. And now for a little space grace hath been shewed from the LORD our God, to leave us a remnant to escape, and to give us a nail in his holy place, that our God may lighten our eyes, and give us a little reviving in our bondage. For we were bondmen; yet our God hath not forsaken us in our bondage, but hath extended mercy unto us in the sight of the kings of Persia, to give us a reviving, to set up the house of our God, and to repair the desolations thereof, and to give us a wall in Judah and in Jerusalem.

Proverbs 3:34 - Surely he scorneth the scorners: but he giveth grace unto the lowly.

Psalm 45:2 - Thou art fairer than the children of men: grace is poured into thy lips: therefore God hath blessed thee for ever.

Today, instead of praying for and trying to live upright enough - approaching the throne, etc. for His grace, we live in the Dispensation of Grace.

Although salvation was always by grace through faith, there was, in past dispensations, an additional ingredient: certain works were required in order to prove genuine and sincere faith.
Habakkuk 2:4 - Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith. 

Note this statement by Jesus Christ as he sent out His apostles: "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved."


See how different the salvation is today: 
Ephesians 2:8,9 -  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Romans 4:5 - But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.

Ephesians 1:13,14 - In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.


Grace Today
Ephesians 3:8 - Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;

II Thessalonians 2:16 - Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace,

I Timothy 1:14 - And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.

Titus 2:11 - For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,

Titus 3:7 - That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.