Teaching: The Appointed Time of Grace

The appointed time of grace, responding to God’s mercy with repentance and obedience.

The appointed time of grace reveals that God’s mercy, while abundant, operates within divine timing. This teaching explores how grace calls humanity to repentance, obedience, and transformation, and why delaying response hardens the heart and shortens opportunity.

The grace of God is abundant and merciful, yet His offer of grace operates within His divine timing. There is a limit to human opportunity when the heart refuses to respond.

1. Understanding Grace and Its Purpose

Grace is the unearned favor of God. His divine enablement extended to humanity for salvation, restoration, and sanctification. Scripture defines this clearly:

“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God.”

- Ephesians 2:8 (NKJV)

Grace exists to lead people into repentance and a relationship with God. It is never meant to become a license for sin or a reason for delay. When grace is resisted or ignored, the offer remains holy, but the opportunity grows shorter.

Paul warns in 2 Corinthians 6:1-2 (NKJV):

“We then, as workers together with Him, also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain. For He says: ‘In an acceptable time I have heard you, and in the day of salvation I have helped you.’ Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.”

Grace, therefore, operates in the “accepted time”; a divinely appointed window for repentance and transformation. When that time closes, judgment follows.

2. Scriptural Evidence of Grace Limited by Time

Throughout Scripture, God’s patience is abundant, yet not without boundaries. His mercy delays judgment, but does not remove it indefinitely.

“And the Lord said, ‘My Spirit shall not strive with man forever, for he is indeed flesh; yet his days shall be one hundred and twenty years.’” - Genesis 6:3 (NKJV)

Here, before the flood, God announced that His Spirit would not contend with human rebellion indefinitely. There was a set period for repentance before destruction came.

“Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says: ‘Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.’” - Hebrews 3:7-8 (NKJV)

The writer of Hebrews reminds believers that the opportunity to respond is today, not at an undefined future moment. A hardened heart can eventually lose the sensitivity to repent.

“Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart, you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath.” - Romans 2:4-5 (NKJV):

God’s grace delays judgment, but continued rebellion accumulates consequences. The mercy of God is an invitation, not an indefinite postponement.

3. The Misunderstanding of Endless Grace

A false view of grace assumes that God’s patience equals His approval or that mercy will always be available. This misunderstanding dulls spiritual urgency and weakens repentance.

Grace that is continually resisted becomes grace in vain. The parable of the ten virgins (Matthew 25:1-13) illustrates this truth: the door of opportunity eventually closes. The prepared entered in; the unprepared were left outside, even though they once had access to the same grace.

“And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut.” - Matthew 25:10 (NKJV)

4. The Expiration of Opportunity

God’s grace is eternal in essence but temporal in opportunity. His mercy is available until the moment He determines that judgment must begin. Once grace has completed its purpose, calling people to repentance and faith, the time of decision passes.

This is evident in the prophetic words of Isaiah 55:6 (NKJV):

“Seek the Lord while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near.”

The language “while He may be found” reveals the reality of a closing window. The day will come when seeking will no longer be possible. When Christ returns, the dispensation of grace gives way to the day of judgment.

5. The Response Required

Every believer is responsible for walking in continual submission to grace. Grace empowers obedience; it does not excuse disobedience. Titus 2:11-12 (NKJV) declares:

“For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age.”

Grace that does not transform behavior is grace misunderstood. When grace teaches, hearts yield. When grace is ignored, opportunity fades.

Final Exhortation

God’s grace is holy, purposeful, and time-sensitive. Scripture calls every believer to respond now to receive grace as the power to live righteously, not as permission to delay repentance and holiness.

“See that you do not refuse Him who speaks. For if they did not escape who refused Him who spoke on earth, much more shall we not escape if we turn away from Him who speaks from heaven.”

- Hebrews 12:25 (NKJV)

The expiration of grace is not the end of God’s nature; it is the fulfillment of His justice. Mercy and judgment are both expressions of His holiness. Grace opens the door, but obedience keeps it open.

Prayer of Response

Father, thank You for Your grace that calls, convicts, and restores. Keep my heart tender to Your voice and responsive to Your Spirit. Help me to walk faithfully in the time You have appointed. Let Your grace produce obedience, purity, and endurance within me. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.