SESSION
11
GETTING
A STRATEGIC GRASP OF THE PAULINE EPISTLES
When
we come to Paul’s thirteen epistles (Romans to Philemon) for “the
body of Christ” we’ve arrived at what might be called “our
mail” for today. The entire Bible is for
us – “For
whatsoever things were written
aforetime were written for our learning”
(Rom 15:4a), but not
all Scripture is about us, as members of “the
body of Christ” specifically. Yet, since we are not
the only people God has in His plans and purpose, we must never be
so selfish as to think “every promise in the book is mine.”
We
must always read and note “to
whom” any particular Scripture is addressed, and “of whom”
it is speaking. We need to know where we fit into God’s eternal plan
and that Paul is our “Apostle.”
We must “rightly
divide the word of truth” so we can have a genuine
appreciation for God’s word that is specifically addressed to
us as the members of “the
body of Christ.” There is nothing more exciting than to have
God’s word working effectually
“in you that believe” (1Thes
2:13). It is our faith, resting in an
intelligent understanding of God’s Word that liberates its
power into the detail of our lives, yielding rest and peace as we press on
toward His eternal purpose.
A.
Paul is our Apostle and as such he
is God’s spokesmen for today.
Romans
11:13 For
I (Paul) speak to you Gentiles,
inasmuch as I AM THE APOSTLE OF THE GENTILES…
Romans
15:15-16 Nevertheless,
brethren, I have written the more boldly unto you in some sort, as putting
you in mind, because of the grace
that is given to me (Paul) of
God, 16 That I should be
the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the
gospel of God, that the offering up
of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy
Ghost.
1 Corinthians 11:1 Be ye
followers of me (Paul), even as
I also am of Christ.
Galatians
1:11-12 But
I certify you, brethren, that THE
GOSPEL WHICH WAS PREACHED OF ME is not after man. 12
For I neither RECEIVED IT of man, neither was I taught
it, but BY THE
REVELATION OF (FROM) JESUS
CHRIST.
Ephesians 3:1-9 For
this cause I Paul, the
prisoner of Jesus Christ for you
Gentiles, 2 If ye have
heard of the dispensation (oikonomia,
administration) of the grace of
God which is given me to you-ward: 3 How
that by revelation he (Jesus)
made known unto me THE MYSTERY; (as I wrote afore in few words, 4
Whereby, when ye read, ye
may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) 5
Which in other
ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed
unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; 6
That the Gentiles should be fellow-heirs, and of the same
body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel: 7
Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the
grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power. 8
Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this
grace given, that I should preach
among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; 9
And to make all men
see what is the
fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been
hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:
Titus 1:1-3 Paul, a servant
of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of
God's elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness; 2
In hope of eternal life, which God,
that cannot lie, promised before the world began; 3
But hath in due
times manifested his word through preaching,
which is committed unto me (Paul) according
to the commandment of God our Saviour;
Colossians 1:25-28 Whereof I
(Paul) am made a minister,
according to the dispensation
of God which is given to
me for you, to fulfil (Gk., pleroo, “to complete”)
the word of God; 26 Even
the mystery 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 among the Gentiles; which is CHRIST IN YOU, THE HOPE OF GLORY: 28
Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every
man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:
1 Thessalonians 4:1-2 Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren,
and exhort you by the
Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how
ye ought to walk and to please God, so
ye would abound more and more. 2 For
ye know what commandments (instructions) we gave you by (from) the
Lord Jesus.
Compare
PAUL’S CLAIMS and STATUS TODAY with… MOSES CLAINS toward
ISRAEL
MOSES
said:
Deut 4:1-6 hearken,
O
Israel
, unto the statutes and unto THE JUDGMENTS, WHICH I (Moses)
TEACH YOU… that ye may live, and go in and possess the land which
the LORD God of your fathers giveth you. 2
Ye shall not add unto
the word which I command you,
neither shall ye diminish ought
from it, that ye may KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS OF THE LORD YOUR GOD WHICH I
COMMAND YOU 5 Behold,
I HAVE TAUGHT YOU STATUTES AND
JUDGMENTS, EVEN AS THE LORD MY GOD COMMANDED ME…
By
Contrast Paul writes: 1
Cor 14:37 If
any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge
that THE THINGS THAT I (PAUL)
WRITE UNTO YOU ARE THE COMMANDMENTS OF THE LORD.
Things
That We Would LOSE
Without Paul’s Ministry
There
would be no information for us regarding;
Ø
The meaning of Christ’s
Cross, death and shed blood; redemption, reconciliation, justification,
etc.
Ø
“The
Mystery,” which includes “Christ
in you (Gentiles)”(
Col
1:26-27)
Ø
“Body
of Christ” – Eph 3:3-6
Ø
“Dispensation
of the grace of God” - Eph
3:2
Ø
“Gospel
of the grace of God” –
Acts 20:24, 1Cor 15:3-4
Ø
The temporary setting aside of
Israel
– Rom 11:11, 25
Ø
The “no
difference between Jew and Gentile” status under grace today - Rom
10:11, Eph 2:13-18, Gal 3:28
Ø
The “One
Baptism” (Eph 4:5) into the “body
of Christ” (1Cor 12:13)
Ø
A commission
that believers can fulfill today – 2 Cor 5:14-20, Eph 3:1-9 - 2
Corinthians 5:18, 20 And
all things are of God,
who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath
given to us the ministry of reconciliation… 20Now
then we are ambassadors for Christ…
Paul’s
ministry is the means whereby our
ascended Lord from heaven’s glory has made known to us “the
faith.”
Titus
1:1-3 Paul,
a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to THE
FAITH OF GOD'S ELECT, and the acknowledging of the truth which is
after godliness; 2 In hope of
eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;
3 But hath in due times manifested
his word through preaching,
which is committed unto me (Paul)
according to the commandment of God our Saviour;
Members
of the “Body of Christ”
needs to know and be Established in “the
faith” that Paul brought to light.
Romans
1:11-12 that
I (Paul) may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to
the end ye may be ESTABLISHED; 12
That is, that I may be comforted together with you by
THE MUTUAL FAITH BOTH OF YOU AND ME.
Romans 16:25 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, which was kept secret since
the world began,
B.
THE REASON “THE MYSTERY”
WAS KEPT AS A MYSTERY (A SECRET)
Eze
28:3
thou (the Devil) art
wiser than Daniel; there is no
secret that they can hide from thee:
YET,
THE DEVIL IS NOT OMNISCIENT. The Devil, was taken in his craftiness by
“the Mystery.” “The
Mystery” of the cross of Christ
was kept secret from
the Devil, and his evil principalities and powers.
1
Corinthians 2:6-8 …we
speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the
wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come
to nought: 7 But we speak
the wisdom of God in a MYSTERY,
even the hidden wisdom,
which God ordained before the world unto our glory: 8
Which NONE OF THE
PRINCES OF THIS WORLD KNEW: for had
they known it, they WOULD
NOT have crucified the Lord of glory.
WHY
THE MYSTERY? The Mystery is… “To
the (God’s) intent
that NOW unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places
might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, 11
According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in
Christ Jesus our Lord.”
(Eph 3:10).
In
ignorance, the Devil crucified
Jesus, which actually made “the
works of the Devil.” of no effect!
Hebrews
2:14 …
he (Jesus) also himself likewise
took part of the same (flesh body as us);
that through death he might destroy (Gk., kartargeo, “make
of no effect”) him that
had the power of death, that is, the devil;
Neutering
the Devil is in accord with God’s eternal Plan for the fulness
of times as
entailed in “the Mystery”
Ephesians
1:9-11 Having
made known unto us the mystery
of his will, according to his
good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: 10
(So) that in the
dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all
things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even
in him: 11 In whom
also we have obtained an inheritance, being
predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all
things after the counsel of his own will:
Eph
3:7-11 I
(Paul)
was made a minister, according
to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his
(God’s) power. 8 Unto
me (Paul), who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace
given, that I should preach among
the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; 9
And to make all men
see what is the
fellowship of the mystery, which
from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who
created all things by Jesus Christ: 10
C.
THE “THE BODY OF CHRIST” IS
NECESSARY TO GOD’S ETERNAL PLAN
The
“body of Christ” will one day occupy the heavens in authority, as
God’s co-agent, in accord with God’s eternal purpose in Christ.
We will replace the Devil and his angels in heaven.
After
being cast out of the Third heaven, the Devil, the usurper, has had
control of both the lower heaven
and the earth. Then in Genesis 1:2, we see judgment came upon “the
world that then was” (2Peter 3:5-7). This was since a time The 6-day
recreation
account begins in Genesis 1:3.
The
Devil poisoned humanity through Adam’s fall and he crucified the Lord
Jesus. As we’ve seen, in the act of the crucifixion, the Devil
unknowingly brought about the seeds of his own destruction, which will
culminate in “the Lake of
fire,” which Jesus said was “prepared
for the Devil and his fallen angels” (Matthew
25:41) .
After
the Devils final overthrow, the believing remnant of
Israel
will co-rule with Christ as His agency in the earth; to be a blessing to
all nations during the
Millennial
Kingdom
and in the
Eternal
Kingdom
on earth.
Before
that, after the rapture, the members of “the
body of Christ,” will have assumed its elevated position in their
home in heaven (Philippians 3:20), where they will co-rule over the
angelic host as God’s agency in heaven.
Thus,
Christ will rule through the agency of these two people groups; “the
body of Christ” in the heaven
and, believing
Israel
in earth.
|
The
PLAN OF THE USURPER – The Devil
Isaiah
14:12-15 (KJV) How art
thou fallen from heaven, O
Lucifer, son of the morning! How art thou cut down
to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! 13
For thou hast
said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my
throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of
the congregation, in the sides of the north: 14
I will ascend
above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.
15 Yet
thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.
Note
below that the Devil, referred to as King of Tyrus. was in “
Eden
” and “holy mount” of Heaven.
|
THE
FATE OF THE USURPER: The Devil
The
Devil’s Loss of Power is Prophesied:
Genesis
14:19 And he blessed him,
and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor
of HEAVEN AND EARTH:
Genesis
14:22 And Abram said to
the king of Sodom, I have lift up mine hand unto the LORD, the most
high God, the possessor of HEAVEN AND EARTH,
|
|
Ezekiel
28:12-19 Son of man
(Ezekiel), take up a lamentation upon the king
of Tyrus (The Devil), and say unto him, Thus saith the
Lord GOD; Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in
beauty. 13
Thou hast
been in
Eden
the
garden
of
God
;… the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was
prepared in thee in the day that thou
wast created (NOT BORN). 14
Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth;
and I have set thee so: thou
wast upon the holy
mountain
of
God
; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones
of fire. 15
Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the
day that thou wast created, till iniquity
was found in thee.
16 By the
multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee
with violence, and thou hast sinned: therefore I will cast
thee as profane out of the
mountain
of
God
: and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the
midst of the stones of fire. 17 Thine
heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy
wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast
thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that
they may behold thee. 18 Thou
hast defiled thy sanctuaries by the multitude of thine iniquities,
by the iniquity of thy traffick; therefore will I
bring forth a fire from the midst of thee, it shall devour thee,
and I will bring thee to ashes upon the earth in the sight of all
them that behold thee. 19 All
they that know thee among the people shall be astonished at thee:
thou shalt be a terror, and never
shalt thou be any more.
|
Matthew
25:41 Then shall he
(Christ) unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed,
into EVERLASTING FIRE, PREPARED FOR THE DEVIL AND HIS ANGELS:
|
God’s
Eternal Purpose & Plan for the Powers & Heaven & Earth:
Colossians
1:16-20 For
by him (Christ) were all things created, that are in HEAVEN,
AND THAT ARE IN EARTH, visible and invisible, whether they
be thrones, or
dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by
him, and for him:
17
And he
is before all things, and by him all things consist. 18
And he
(Christ) is the head of the
body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the
dead; that in all things
he might have the preeminence.
19
For it pleased the
Father that in him
should all fulness dwell;
20
And, having made
peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile
all things unto himself; by him, I
say, whether they be
things IN EARTH, or THINGS IN
HEAVEN.
Ephesians
1:9-10 Having
made known unto us the mystery of
his (God’s) will, according to his good pleasure which he
hath purposed in himself:
10
That IN
THE DISPENSATION OF THE FULNESS OF TIMES he might gather together IN
ONE ALL THINGS IN CHRIST, both which are IN HEAVEN, and which
are ON EARTH; even
in him:
In
the “BUT NOW,” this day in
which we live…
1. We see the “Body
of Christ” destined to become God’s agency, co-reign with
Christ, in the “heavenly
places.” Ephesians 2:5-7 (KJV) 5
Even when we were dead in sins, hath
quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6
And hath raised us
up together, and made us
sit together in heavenly places
in Christ Jesus: 7 That in
the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his
kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
(For detail see the
writers book “The Dynaspheres,” by Arthur J, Licursi)
2. The Operating
System today is “Grace.”
Rom 6:14 For
sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but
under grace.
3.
Salvation and blessing are provided to ALL people on an equal
basis in Christ Galatians
3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor
free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ
Jesus.
4. God’s purpose
is to exalt Jesus Christ as the Head of the government in the “heavenly
places” through the instrumentality of the “body
of Christ.” Eph 1:10 That
IN THE DISPENSATION OF THE
FULNESS OF TIMES he might gather together IN ONE ALL THINGS IN
CHRIST, both which are IN HEAVEN, and which are ON EARTH;
even in him:
THE
ESSENCE OF BIBLE BELEIVING CHRISTIANITY:
“God
has one grand purpose – to glorify Himself in Christ.
This
plan involves TWO spheres – the EARTHLY and the HEAVENLY.”
– Miles Stanford
Thus,
Jesus had two ministries – one earthly
and one heavenly.
1) Jesus had His EARTHLY
ministry to his EARTHLY
people - “the lost sheep of
the house of
Israel
.” (Matt 15:24, Rom 15:8). They will co-rein with Christ in His
literal, physical, kingdom IN
EARTH and be a blessing to all nations as God promised Abraham
concerning his “seed” (Gen
12:1).
2) After His death, burial and resurrection, Jesus Christ had His
Celestial
ministry from HEAVEN,
from which He saved Saul of Tarsus (Paul). Through Paul, Jesus brought
the “gospel
of the grace of God” to form the “body
of Christ,” which He has “blessed
with all spiritual blessings IN HEAVENLY
PLACES in Christ Jesus.” (Eph 1:3).
God’s
ultimate intent and purpose is …“that
IN THE DISPENSATION of the
FULNESS OF TIMES he might gather together in one all things in
Christ, both which are IN HEAVEN, and which are ON EARTH;
even IN HIM” (Eph
1:10).
