Ephesians 1:18
The eyes of your understanding being enlightened;
that ye may know what is the hope of his calling,
and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,
It is an amazing thing to discover that even when the distinctive nature of The Dispensation of The Mystery has been seen, there are some who go back to 1 Thessalonians Chapter 4 for the revelation of their hope. In the nature of things, The Hope of any calling must be in agreement with its peculiarities of sphere and constitution, and it is therefore impossible that The Hope of Israel should also be The Blessed Hope of The Church of The Mystery. It may, of course, be objected that 1 Thessalonians 4 does not represent The Hope of Israel. This, therefore, we must examine.
The Acts of The Apostles opens with The Hope of Israel (Acts 1:6; Acts 3:19-26) and closes with The Hope of Israel in Acts 28:20. This Hope, therefore, is in operation throughout the whole Book and period. It is outside the scope of this teaching to do more than point out simple facts, and we will therefore deal only with The Hope of the Church at the time when Paul wrote the Epistle to the Romans. This must, however, be identical to The Hope of all other churches that came under the same dispensation.
The reader has only to turn to Isaiah 11:1-16 to which Acts refers as The Hope of Israel, to prove beyond the possibility of doubt that The Hope of the "Church" in Rome at this time was Millennial. The reference to the Archangel in 1 Thess. 4:16 makes another link with Israel, as does the connecting passage in 2 Thess. 2:3-10 where the Man of Sin is spoken of. In 1 Cor. 1:7, the "Coming" of The Lord is actually the "Revelation" or "Apocalypse."
The Hope of The Church of The Mystery must be the realization of the calling that places it far above all principalities at the right hand of God, a Hope that is far removed from Isaiah 11:1-16. It is set forth in Col. 3:4, where it is associated with The Manifestation in Glory when Christ Himself shall be made manifest.
The Hope of any company of believers must, of necessity, be the realization of their calling. It is obvious that The Calling of The Church in Ephesians differs materially in sphere, constitution, and destiny from that of the Church at Rome, Thessalonica, Corinth, or anywhere during the time of the Book of Acts. The Hope of these churches must be the fruition of the covenants that were then in force, namely, the covenant with Abraham and the new covenant with Israel and Judah. Members of The Church of The Mystery are taught to set their minds on things above and that their Hope is that when Christ shall be Manifested, they will be there with Him, not in the air or in the New Jerusalem, but "in Glory."
Write comment (0 Comments)Ephesians 2:8
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
The widespread notion is that one can go to heaven by keeping the law, especially the Ten Commandments. But the law was not given to any people who had heaven for their hope. It was given to Israel, God's chosen people. They have their future on earth, not in heaven.
The law was not given to save but to convict folks of sin. It is like a mirror. You look into it and see how bad you are. You can no more cleanse yourself by the law than you can cleanse your face with the mirror.
"Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith unto them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God" (Rom. 3:19).
Note that this is for those under the law, not for unbelievers who disregard the laws of God. And why do unbelievers resist the law?
"The carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be" (Rom. 8:7).
The law was added because of the great transgression, the idol in the wilderness. But it was given by grace, for it was to convict people of their sins and to turn them to Christ. So, the law was given that they might know sin and recognize it in themselves.
It can benefit us today to read about these people, their failures, even under the law, and the One Who came and fulfilled all the requirements of that law and then gave His Life as payment so that they might turn to Him and be saved by Grace.
Moreover, the law could not give life, no one could be justified by its deeds, and it could not give righteousness. But Christ can do all this and more. In the secret revealed to us today, we find that He can seat us together with Him at the Right Hand of God till He is Manifested in The Heavenly Places.
Again, we must note that the law could not give life. Death must be reckoned with. But there is a law in Romans 2:14, which is even today found in man.
One who believes and has the "new nature" does by this "new nature" the things contained in the law (and even more).
In Romans 6:3-5, baptism was known, and so they knew to consider the blessed fact of dying with Christ, being buried with Him, and being raised with Him to walk in the newness of life. It was the goodness of God that brought them to repentance.
The member of The Church, which is The Body of Christ today, enjoys a further identification with Christ, quickened, raised, and seated with Him in Heavenly Places. This identification is a far better incentive and more powerful than being under the law. So grace can bring about what the law cannot accomplish.
"For the grace of God that bringeth salvation, hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;" (Titus 2:11-12).
And the next verse...
"Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;" (Titus 2:13)
Write comment (0 Comments)Philippians 3:20
For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ
Ephesians tells us of the Great Salvation that is a part of The Dispensation of The Mystery. But in Philippians, we are told to work out that salvation with fear and trembling. So then, Ephesians tells us what we are in Christ, but Philippians tells us what we can do with Christ in us.
One of the things that date the Epistle of Phillippians is the mention of Epaphroditus and his illness. Before the end of Acts, Paul could heal all that came to him and even sent articles of his clothing to others who could not make the journey, and upon receiving them, they were healed (Acts 19:11-12). But that sign-gift was available only until Acts 28:28 and was ended as there was no healing from Paul for Epaphroditus or anyone else.
Another thing that dates it is the confession in Chapter 3 that the things which were counted as profitable in the flesh during the Apostolic administration are no longer a ground of confidence but thrown away as trash (Phil. 3:4-8). All the advantages of Israel in the flesh have passed off the scene.
In Phil. 3:11, we find Paul yearning for a resurrection, but before the end of Acts, he was expecting to be here and alive when the Lord came to set up His Kingdom (1 Thes. 4:15). So the Dispensational Frontier had passed, and the coming of the Lord postponed for about Two days (Hosea 6:2, 2 Pet. 3:8), and Paul knew this.
In Phil. 3:20 Paul reminds us that our conversation (citizenship) is in The Heaven of heavens and that it is from this citizenship location that we look for the appearing or manifestation of the Savior, the Lord Christ Jesus. So then, unlike Israel, who will look for Him coming in clouds to the earth, we look for His Manifestation or Coronation in the heavens.
In the past dispensation, men were taught to pray and expect an answer to prayer or to have it done as asked. But that is no longer in order, for here in Philippians, we are to pray thusly;
"The Lord is at hand (His Manifestation could be at any moment), be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:5-7)
How different from the so-called Lord's prayer in Matthew;
"After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen." (Matthew 6:9-13)
The fact that Paul refers to the Praetorian guard in Phil. 1:13 and then expects to be released (his salvation) Phil. 1:19 shows that he was in Rome. This is further shown by the fact that many of Caesar's household were slaves if not all of them. God had put Paul in such a position that he could contact the members of the household of Caesar and give them the good news of The Dispensation of The Mystery.
It might be well for the reader to outline the seven steps in the Lord's humiliation in Chapter 2 and then the seven steps of exaltation which follow.
In chapter 3, Paul gives the seven things which he once thought were an advantage and the seven things he wins in the renunciation of all advantages of the flesh.
Then outline the examples of both Timothy and Epaphroditus, who labored with Paul. See the complaint even then of the lack of those who put Christ first.
Write comment (1 Comment)The Greek Word Ekklesia
The Word Translated Church, What Is Its Fundamental Meaning?
1. The Greek word ekklesia means assembly or a gathering of called-out ones. It is used seventy times in the Septuagint for the Hebrew kahal (from which latter we have our word call), rendered in Sept. by sunagoge and ekklesia. This latter word occurs in the N.T. 115 times (36 in plural) and is always translated as 'church' except in Acts 19:32, Acts 19:39, and Acts 19:41, where it is translated as 'assembly.'
Kahal occurs in the Old Testament 123 times; As 'congregation' eighty-six, 'assembly' seventeen, 'company' seventeen, and 'multitude' three times. The Sept. uses sunagoge and ekklesia as practically synonymous terms. But the sunagoge concerns the bringing together of the members of existing society or body excluding all others, whereas the ekklesia calls and invites all men, including outsiders everywhere, to join it. Sunagoge, being permanently associated with Jewish worship, was dropped by the early Christians in favor of ekklesia as of wider import.
2. Kahal is used;
(1) Of Israel as a People called out from the rest of the nations (Gen. 28:3);
(2) Of the tribal council of Simeon and Levi, those called out from each tribe (Gen. 49:6);
(3) Of an assembly of Israelites called out for worship or any other purpose (Deut. 18:16; Deut. 31:30; Josh. 8:35; Judg. 21:8);
(4) Any assembly of worshippers as a congregation (Psa. 22:22; Psa. 22:25. Ekklesia in Matt. 16:18; Matt. 18:17; 1 Cor. 14:19; 1 Cor. 14:35; &c.);
(5) The equivalent ekklesia of separate assemblies in different localities (Acts 5:11; Acts 8:3; 1Cor. 4:17; &c.);
(6) Of the guild or "union" of Ephesian craftsmen (Acts 19:32; Acts 19:41) and Acts 19:39 (the lawful assembly). Finally, the special Pauline usage of ekklesia differs from all these. Other assemblies consisted of called-out ones from Jews or from Gentiles (Acts 18:22), but this new body is of called-out ones from both.
3. Our word "church" is derived from the Gr. kuriakos, of or belonging to the Lord's house (Gr. oikos). It has an equally varied usage. It is used;
(1) Of any congregation;
(2) Of a particular church (England or Rome, &c);
(3) Of the ministry of a church;
(4) Of the building in which the congregation assembles;
(5) Of Church as distinct from Chapel;
(6) Of the church as distinct from the world, and lastly, it is used in the Pauline sense of The Body of Christ.
4. It is of profound importance to distinguish the usage of the word in each case, else we may be reading "the church which was in the wilderness" into the Prison Epistles, although we are expressly told that there is neither Jew nor Gentile in the "Church which is His Body." And when our Lord said, "On this rock, I will build my church" (Matt. 16:18), those who heard His words could not connect them with the "Mystery" which was "hidden in God" and had not then been made known to the sons of men. Confusion follows our reading of what refers to Israel in the past or the future into the present dispensation.
5. The word church, when qualified by other terms, occurs thus: --
Church of God; Acts 20:28; 1 Cor. 1:2; 1 Cor. 10:32; 1 Cor. 11:16 (pl.); 1 Cor. 11:22; 1 Cor. 15:9; 2 Cor. 1:1; Gal. 1:13; 1 Thess. 2:14 (pl.); 2 Thess. 1:4 (pl); 1 Tim. 3:5; 1 Tim. 3:15 (c. of the living God).
Churches of Christ; Rom. 16:16.
Church in . . . house; Rom. 16:5. 1; Cor. 16:19; Col. 4:15; Philem. 1:2.
Churches of the Gentiles; Rom. 16:4.
Churches of Galatia; 1 Cor. 16:1; Gal. 1:2. Of Asia; 1 Cor. 16:19. Of Macedonia; 2 Cor. 8:1. Of Judaea; Gal. 1:22. Of the Laodiceans; Col. 4:16. Of the Thessalonians; 1 Thess. 1:1; 2 Thess .1:1.
Church of the firstborn (pl); Heb. 12:23.
Church in Ephesus, Smyrna, &c. Rev. 2 and 3;
Churches; Rev. 22:16.
Write comment (0 Comments)1 Corinthians 12
Are The Gifts Listed In 1 Corinthians At Work In The Church Today?
Many have and are claiming to have supernatural gifts and point to Scripture to "prove" they are from God. What is the truth about Sign Gifts Today?
The short answer is The Lord never changes, but His administrations, dispensations, or stewardships when dealing with humankind DO. There was a HUGE change at the time of The Book of Acts 28:27-28.
The long answer is much too lengthy for this teaching, but we shall endeavor to compare spiritual things with spiritual and allow God's Word to be the final Word on the subject. If we look at all of The Epistles written by the Apostle Paul after Acts 28:28, where he is 'bound with a chain for you Gentiles,' the student of The Word will quickly notice there are NO signs, miracles, or wonders recorded during that period. Paul, who could heal others at his word or prayer or by just sending a small piece or article of his clothing, could not now even heal his own faithful fellow laborer, brother in Christ, and friend who he was with night and day in the same prison cell.
Phil. 2:25 Yet I supposed it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, and companion in labour, and fellowsoldier, but your messenger, and he that ministered to my wants.
Phil. 2:26 For he longed after you all, and was full of heaviness, because that ye had heard that he had been sick.
Phil. 2:27 For indeed he was sick nigh unto death: but God had mercy on him; and not on him only, but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow.
Paul could not lay hands on him and make him whole thru the gift of healing, which he had done for countless believers time and time again Before Acts 28:28. Even Timothy, Paul's own 'son in the faith' and who had received the ministry by Paul's 'laying on of hands' could not be healed by Paul. In fact, Timothy could not heal himself:
1Tim. 5:23 Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach's sake and thine often infirmities.
Our Lord Jesus Christ said:
Mar. 16:17-18 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.
This Word of The Lord was true for every single believer when they were saved by believing in Jesus Christ. According to the records contained in The Book of Acts, every believer manifested a sign gift (no one was missed) prior to Acts 28:28, but since Acts 28:28, there is not a single record in Scripture of a believer manifesting a sign gift. What changed? The Lord, Who cannot lie or make mistakes, said, "they shall cast out devils, they shall speak in tongues, they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover." By the 'sign-gifts' they received, they were known to all Christians as true believers and not "false brethren." Through these 'sign-gifts,' the unbelieving Israelites became jealous of the Christians, for OT prophecy had promised spiritual gifts to Israel, and so many believed. These 'sign-gifts' were in operation in every Christian life prior to the end of the Book of Acts. The Lord also said:
Matt. 24:34 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.
Mark 13:30 Verily I say unto you, that this generation shall not pass, till all these things be done.
Luke 21:32 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled.
But THAT GENERATION did pass away; can the Lord be wrong? Can He make a mistake? The Greek words used for "this generation" mean that VERY generation, not some spiritualized generation of all believers or unbelievers, as many have surmised, so what is the answer that solves this problem? The answer is that the conditions God laid out of repentance and belief were NOT met; Israel as a nation refused to BELIEVE:
Act 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
So after God gave them every chance, he took Salvation from them for the two days (2 thousand years) of Hosea at the time of Acts 28:28. After that, the sign gifts stopped:
1 Cor. 1:22 For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:
They were given many signs until Acts 28:25-28, and then we find no more in Scripture to prove men's ministries. God is, of course, still able, but the evidence of The Spirit or the manifestation by men has ceased, for the sign-gifts were used by God to proven The Truth was spoken by His Apostles and Prophets.
But wait, something even greater has been given, for Israel truly had many earthly blessings poured out upon them to help them to nationally repent and believe, but alas, they refused, and because of that, The Mystery was revealed. Those who choose to believe The Truth don't manifest the spiritual gifts as they did during the time of The Book of Acts, the sign-gifts listed in 1 Corinthians 12:7-11. Those gifts have ceased, but the faithful today are given "all spiritual blessings," not here on earth but in the "Heavenly Places in Christ."
Eph 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
This is far beyond what Israel had any hope of receiving and was not known nor available until after Acts 28.
God does still heal but not as a sign gift. The difference is that during the time of the Book of Acts, God was calling Israel to repentance by these signs done by the hands of men to confirm The Truth they spoke. After Acts 28 these sign gifts ceased, although the Father cares for the needs of his people on an individual basis but NEVER to confirm a given ministry. Ministries that produce "signs and wonders" do so without the help of God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ, or the testimony of Scripture is false.
Confirmation
CONFIRMATION. Found in the New Testament, namely, the confirming character and purpose of miraculous gifts. The Greek word so translated is bebaio. Confirmation in the New Testament may be the sense of support received episterizo (Acts 14:22; Acts 15:32; Acts 15:41 'strengthening' Acts 18:23). It may be the confirmation that is received when validity or authority is established karoo (Gal. 3:15). It may be the confirmation that results from the interposition of some unquestionable assurance, mesiteuo as in Hebrews 6:17. None of these aspects is in mind at the moment. Bebaio indicates that confirmation is established by proof.
Confirm - Bebaio
Mark 16:20 Confirming the word with signs following.
Rom. 15:8 To confirm the promises made unto the fathers.
1 Cor. 1:6 The testimony of Christ was confirmed in you.
1 Cor. 1:8 Who shall also confirm you unto the end.
2 Cor. 1:21 He which stablisheth us with you.
Col. 2:7 Stablished in the faith.
Heb. 2:3 Was confirmed unto us by them.
Heb. 13:9 The heart be established with grace.
The passages which concern us in the present inquiry are Mark 16:20, 1 Corinthians 1:6, and Hebrews 2:3.
Mark 16.
The "signs following" of Mark 16:20 are most evidently the "signs that shall follow them that believe" of Mark 16:17. They are:
In My name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands upon the sick, and they shall recover (Mark 16:17-18).
After these promises had been made, the Lord ascended and sat on the right hand of God, the apostles went forth and preached everywhere:
The Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. 1 Corinthians 1:6.
The church at Corinth had a superabundance of spiritual and miraculous gifts, so much so that some regulation was necessary to avoid confusion (1 Cor. 14:26-33). In the opening address to this church, Paul refers to the confirming character of these gifts:
In every thing ye are enriched by Him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge; even as the testimony of Christ was CONFIRMED in you: so that ye come behind in no gift (1 Cor. 1:5-7).
Here again, we perceive that the Lord was confirming the Word with signs following.
Hebrews 2:3-4: How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard Him; God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to His own will.
These confirmatory gifts are spoken of in Hebrews 6:5 as "the powers of the age to come" the ignoring of which made it impossible to renew such unto repentance. These gifts promised in Mark 16:17-18 extend to the last chapter of the Book of Acts, where Paul is bitten by a viper, unharmed, and miraculously cures a case of dysentery (Acts 28:3-8). These miracles of Mark 16 keep pace with the "hope of Israel" (Acts 28:20), but when the condition foretold in Isaiah 6:9-10 is entered, Israel 'dismissed' and the salvation of God sent unto the Gentiles, miraculous signs cease. Instead, we read such passages as Philippians 2:25-28, 2 Timothy 4:20, and 1 Timothy 5:23 with understanding.
The people of sign and wonder are no longer on the scene, and it had been established on two occasions that miracles wrought before Gentiles as such, without the explanatory presence of Israel only made them more idolatrous saying "the gods are come down to us in the likeness of men" (Acts 14:11), or they "said he was a god" (Acts 28:6). 'These signs' DID follow, but 'these signs' DO NOT follow them that believe today. The answer is that the dispensation has changed, and with it, the characteristic evidence of a past calling. As the present dispensation nears its end, and as the earlier Church's position temporarily set aside is resumed, we may expect to see a return of genuine miraculous gifts, but this will make the anti-Christian travesty of 2 Thessalonians 2:9 the more dangerous, for the signs that will be wrought in support of the Man of Sin, would deceive "if it were possible, the very elect" (Matt. 24:24). The only 'confirmation' mentioned in the Prison Epistles is that of Colossians 2:7, "rooted and built up in Him, and STABLISHED (bebaio) in the faith, as ye have been taught." All else, so far as we are concerned, is beside the mark and leads into by-paths fraught with danger.
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