New And Unique

3. Universal Indwelling of The Holy Spirit

This too, is new and unique. No Old Testament saint was 

ever indwelt by the Holy Spirit. A few Old Testament saints

were empowered by the Spirit for the performance of special

jobs. This is called "enduement". But in the Church Age, every

believer is indwelt by the Holy Spirit for the purpose of function.

Phase Two, the Christian way of life, is a supernatural way of life

and demands a supernatural means  of  execution which can be 

accomplished only through the filling and power of the Holy Spirit.

Guide our feet into the way of peace.

Luke 1:79

Indwelt

2. Universal Indwelling of Christ

Every believer is indwelt by the Lord Jesus Christ.

This was prophesied by the Lord Jesus Christ Him-

self when He said, "...ye in me, I in you" John 14:20.

The moment we accept Jesus Christ as Savior, we

are entered into union with Him, and Christ "dwells"

within us for the purpose of  fellowship.

The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?

The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

Ps. 27:1

Spirit Baptism

Blessings

God's blessings are innumerable! Spirit baptism, as

its name implies, is entirely a work of  God the 

Holy spirit, who enters the believer into a relationship 

with the Son of God and makes him a member of 

royal family forever.

When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, 

your sleep will be sweet.

Prov.3:24

Unique Assets

There are eight characteristics of the Church Age

And these are the believer's unique assets:

 

1. Positional truth--union with Christ

This union never existed before the Church Age. 

At  the moment of salvation, God the Holy Spirit 

places every believer in union with Jesus Christ

by means of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. This 

explains why Christianity is a relationship with a

Person and not a religion. In no previous Dispensation

did the Baptism of the Spirit occur; not even the greatest

saint in the Old Testament was in union with Christ!

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you 

trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power

of the Holy Spirit.

Rom. 15:13

Rapture Or Resurrection

The Postcanon Period

From 96 A.D., with the death of the Apostle John, to the present.

The Age of the Church will terminate with the Rapture or -------

resurrection of the Church.  The way of life for Church Age 

believers

 and the doctrines pertinent to this period are found in the New

Testament Epistles---Romans through Revelation, Chapter 3. A

picture of the Church in heaven is described in Revelation,

Chapters 4 and 5.

God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of

 power, love, and self-discipline.

2 Tim. 1:7

A Historical Development

The Precanon Period

From the day of Pentecost (about 33 A. D.) The New Testament

was in the process of being written, but was not complete. The 

Book of Acts does not present the doctrines of the Church, but

gives the historical development of the precanon period of the 

Church Age. It declares, historically, how this segment differed

from the postcanon period. For example, precanon activity was

characterized by such temporary spiritual gifts as apostleship,

healing, tongues, miracles, etc. These gifts no longer exist, and

today we have no bona fide apostles, healers, or people speaking 

in tongues.

"I have said these things to you, that in Me you may have peace.

In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world."

John 16:33

Part Of The Timetable

Age of The Church

The third part of the timetable we call Dispensations

is the Church Age. The Scripture covering this period

of time is John, Chapters 14 through 17, the Book of Act

plus the New Testament Epistles, with the exception of

certain parts that deal with the Tribulation, Second Advent

or Millennium. An example of this would be portions of

Revelation, 2 Thessalonians 2 and 1 Peter 3. This Age is

divided into two parts: precanon and postcanon .

God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can

bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out.

1 Cor. 10:13