Two of the smallest words in the Bible actually carry great impact upon how we understand Scripture. These two words are "but now," meaning something has changed from a former state.

The Apostle Paul uses this term 21 times in His epistles – drawing a contrast between what was and … what now is in this day of "the dispensation of the grace of God." Then this indicates that there must be things of contrast to be noted.

While God does not change in His nature and character, His dealings with mankind have changed through the ages.

While the Bible is the written word of God from cover to cover, it was not all given or revealed at once, or to the same parties. What was spoken to one group of people at an earlier time in Bible history (i.e. Israel) largely does not apply to another group of people in later times (i.e. the church, which is the body of Christ). Jesus made this clear in these verses. Matthew 10:5-6 These twelve (Apostles) Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go Not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: 6  But Go Rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

This may be called "progressive revelation," and we may find many examples of this in Scripture.

The Apostle Paul, "the Apostle to the Gentiles." (Rom 11:13) received multiple revelations, progressively, concerning that which pertains to "the dispensation of the grace of God" for "ye Gentiles" (Eph 3:1-5).

In Romans 3:21a the Apostle Paul wrote this beginning with those two words I mentioned earlier; "But Now the Righteousness of God Without The Law is manifested."

You see, at an earlier time, "the Law of Moses" given to Israel and played an integral part in determining their righteousness before God. Not that "the law" could ever really bring righteousness, it could not. But before "the dispensation of the grace of God" (Eph 3:1-2) was committed to Paul for the Gentiles, "the law" was God's prescribed method of demonstrating ones righteousness, which comes by faith. In other words, if a godly Jew under "the law" wanted to show that he believed God, there was only one way to do it - be in obedience to "the law." Therefore, while "the law" did not actually bring or impart righteousness, keeping the law with its sacrifices demonstrated one's 'faith' and would be counted as a righteousness.

Thank God we eventually come to a "But now," according to Paul in Rom 3:21; now God's righteousness is no longer associated with law-keeping. This is why Paul goes on to proclaim in Romans 6:14b … for ye are not under the law, but under grace. Today Christians live under a new paradigm... called grace, expressing God's free gift of salvation by faith in Christ's cross-work for us.

Thus Paul wrote in Galatians 2:21 I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.

Those who do not recognize the principle of God's  progressive revelation to mankind through the Bible ignorantly continue to draw people back under the Mosaic laws with its Sabbaths, baptisms, and ordinances.

'But now,' let us rather move on in this new blood-bought grace relationship we have and enjoy "in Christ" and in His all-sufficiency.