Be Encouraged….
You are in the Dispensation of Grace (Part 1 -
Pastor (Mrs.) Christy Ogbeide
BBA and MA(Counseling)
Grace be to you and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.” Ephesians 1:2. Growing up in a Christian home, I have always have faith in God but little knowledge of how gracious, powerful and merciful He really is. The good news of the gospel was taught us in Sunday School and it was interesting. But as time goes on and different chapters of life steps in prove of what was learnt was almost invisible due to unbelief and lack of understanding of the power of God.
Time and time again during serious challenges on things like taking exams to choosing a life partner and career, choices must be made. Many however, even turn away and not seek God before making their choice. However, if anything goes wrong we jump into conclusion that God is angry and have decided to punish us for our sins. Some may loose job, sickness steps in, divorce, childlessness and God is to be blamed. Even we blame God for wrong choices made. Many justifies their blaming God for quoting incidence between Moses and Miram whereby Mariam was strike with leprosy for complaining against Moses; Saul lost the Kingdom due to disobedience and Moses could not get to the Promised Land due to anger and disobedience.
Many see God not to be merciful. However, faithful people like Abraham, Joel, Isaac, and Jacob are going to dispute that, although they were under the dispensation of the Law. God almighty came through and dispatched messages through them, rewarded and complimented their efforts of obedience. God in His infinite mercies after the fall of man in the Garden of Eden immediately sent us a savior to save us from sin and death. (Isaiah 9:6) It is interesting to know that the good new of the gospel is that Jesus Christ was born, was crucified, and rose again that we may have eternal life with Him. God gave His only Son to die on the cross so that we may be saved from our sins. “For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.” Matthew 26:28 This is the basis of our faith, the blood that was shed for our transgressions. My husband Dr. Emmanuel Ogbeide always say, “Christianity is simple and easy, no one should complicate it.” I feel he is speaking from the above scripture; because we must recognize by Faith God has our Creator and sovereign Lord and accept His authority and forgiveness.
That Christ died and rose from the dead thereby conquering death and hell,
is the beginning of a new dispensation called GRACE. It is an unmerited favor. The
word of God says, that by GRACE we are save through faith and it is not of our works.
Today Christianity is made so complicated by adding salt and pepper to it. Many
set up their own non-