The Apostle Paul said we live in “this present evil world” (Gal 1:14), and today we live in a time of pandemic and social crisis.

During the present pandemic the ‘religious church organizations of men’ and their doctrines are being challenged as to whether they meet the needs of people.

How do the confused ‘religious church organizations of men’ continue their religious practices and hold to their often unbiblical or undispensational, unworkable and ineffective belief systems during the present death threat of the pandemic with its lockdown/shutdown and all the fear and distress it involved?

• Are the prevailing religious doctrines, laws, precepts, liturgies, rituals and rites essential in times such as this?
• Do their teachings work for rest and peace in the hearts of men in “such a time as this”?
• What then has God done in preparing genuine believers in the truth? He offers us today as He has for nearly 2,000 years, His written word “for such a time as this.”

In view of today’s pandemic and the government’s effort to stem its affects, some churches repeat the desperate mantra of the world, “We will get through this setback, and get back to church as normal someday.” What a shame that Christians see the present distress as a setback, an interruption in the usual ‘church’ life that is now on pause.  

Actually, doing ‘church’ as it has been (for the most part) needs to stop permanently. The truth is we need something better than man’s evolved false religious ideas as seen and promoted throughout Christendom today.

Thankfully, God has already provided ‘something much, much, better’!

That ‘something’ is for us to know and acknowledge the life-sustaining truths of the Pauline “dispensation of the grace of God” that we find in His book… truths that establish believers on a sure footing … apart from the externalities of man’s ‘religion.’

²⁵ Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my [Paul’s] gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery [Gk. musterion, secret plan of God], which was kept secret since the world began, ²⁶  But now is made manifest [revealed], and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith: Romans 16:25-26 (KJV)

²⁵ Whereof I [Paul] am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God; ²⁶  Even [that is] the mystery [the secret plan of God] which hath been hid from ages and from generations, BUT NOW is made manifest to his saints: ²⁷  To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery [secret plan] among the Gentiles; which Is Christ In You, the hope of glory: Colossians 1:25-27 (KJV)

Sadly, the pitiful presentation of God and His purpose and plan in the church today and for most of the past 75 years is almost as if “the revelation of the mystery” of God’s secret plan has never been revealed.

Thankfully it has been revealed. The “mystery [secret]” of God’s All-Sufficient GRACE in Christ and His Cross was given to us for everyday living. His grace is sufficient for times such as this. Recall how that Paul with his physical maladies asked God for healing, but God rather than heal Paul, had something BETTER for Paul, saying, “My grace is sufficient for thee.”  Paul then discovered how that God’s grace has supplied him all that he needed, the power to endure any situation or circumstance.

⁹ And he [Father God] said unto me [Paul], My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 2 Corinthians 12:9 (KJV)

Paul’s Grace Doctrine excels by preparing us for operating in a present evil world that is filled with crisis on every hand. When evil is present the power of His grace abounds.

²⁰ Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: - Romans 5:20 (KJV)

We have an eternal expectation of heaven. Thus, come what may… We Win!

²⁰  For our conversation [citizenship] is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: ²¹  Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious [resurrection] body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself. Philippians 3:20-21 (KJV)

Here are a few points of ‘church as usual,’ listed so to help us consider them by contrast with the ways of Pauline grace age doctrine which actually does work for rest and peace in such a time as this.

Religion’s Tithing and Money System:

How are churches supposed to meet their budgets if everyone stays home? Some preachers have shamelessly instructed those that lose their jobs to make sure they continue tithing if they want to find a new one. This is disgraceful.

Grace is better: Tithing puts people under a curse.

¹⁰ For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. Galatians 3:10 (KJV)

Believers today are to ‘give [only] as they purpose in their hearts;’  

⁷ Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. - 2 Corinthians 9:7 (KJV)

With the lockdown many churches say they cannot meet their budgets. To avoid passing along the virus, churches have stopped passing plates for collection. At Grace assemblies, grace teaches us not to pressure anyone to give. We should never pass a plate even in the pandemic.

So, by contrast the true assemblies of the “body of Christ” do not operate above their means or by leaps of faith, but as they would their own house: responsibly and with hard work to provide.

⁸ But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel. - 1 Timothy 5:8 (KJV)

Holy Days:

If the Bible commands Israel to keep the sabbath holy, and to not forsake the assembling of ourselves, then what should churches today do if they can’t physically meet?

Pauline Grace doctrine teaches us us that we “are not under the law” of the sabbath, not to let any man judge us in respect to the sabbath.

¹⁴ For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. Romans 6:14 (KJV)

¹³ And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened [made alive] together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; Colossians 2:13 (KJV)

And, because we can read who the book of Hebrews was addressed to, we know that Hebrews 10:25 was written to and for covenantal Israel not “the church, the body of Christ.”

²⁵ Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. Hebrews 10:25 (KJV)

Neither days nor places are holy during today’s “dispensation of the grace of God.”

What has been set apart during today’s “dispensation of the grace of God” is us as believers… by God’s grace we were set into the body of Christ.

‘Church’ Attendance:

No assembly of believers should keep church attendance records. Why? Because, coming to a building or meeting does not make you the church any more than going to McDonald’s makes you a large fry.

Can’t meet in a building? Assembling in a special building never was the church anyway. It was only a place the church, the believers themselves met. Does grace teach that we should meet? Yes. Does grace give us the liberty to stay home when we are infectious? Yes.

There are no gold stars for attendance under grace. You are a member of “His body” whether in the building or not. Live accordingly as such wherever you are.

Salvation:

What can “following Jesus,” “loving the Lord,” “accepting Jesus,” or “making him Lord of your life” do to save people from sickness and death? Absolutely, nothing!

All of these watered-down versions of the many non-gospels we hear of today could not save anyone.

Paul’s true “gospel of the grace of God” that SAVES requires hearing and believing the preaching of the necessary and glorious death of Christ and the power of his resurrection.

The full scope of the Pauline “gospel of the grace of God” gives believers genuine hope, knowing that the power of the resurrection life of Jesus Christ is now in us, we who believe, and that death, for the believer, is gain!

⁵¹ Behold, I shew you a mystery [Gk. musterion, a secret]; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, ⁵² In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we [who may be alive when He return] shall be changed. ⁵³ For this corruptible [body] must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. ⁵⁴ So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. ⁵⁵ O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? 1 Corinthians 15:51-55 (KJV)

All glory is to God for His pure grace, unadulterated by religion!

And Much More:

This is just the beginning of how God’s grace prepares us for living in such a time as this.

Sadly, religious churches struggle with a doctrinal conflict when faced with the evil circumstances of this time and the many such times yet to come.

Grace was given to an evil world because of the evil. For grace, nothing has been challenged. Instead, there are abundant opportunities for us to minister the all-sufficient Grace supplied by God to those who have not yet clearly heard of it in their ‘religious churches’ or anywhere else.

To hear more on the grace way of living go to my website at www.artlicursi.com and read the lengthy Study Series titled: “A New Way of Living” at  http://artlicursi.com/series/new-way-living