By Rick Combs
The Body of Christ in this dispensation of Grace is the most unique of all others in human history. We saw from our last post on September 11 that Jesus Christ revealed this “new man” to the Apostle Paul through a series of revelations for ALL mankind (2 Cor. 12:1-7).
Let’s do a quick review:
1. Ephesians 3:1-4 Paul says here that the dispensation of the Grace of God and the knowledge in the mystery of Christ was given unto him for the Gentiles.
2. Romans 16:25-26 The Gospel Paul preaches is his gospel given by revelation by the commandment of Jesus Christ, and on the same level of the prophets.
3. Colossians 1:25-27 This Gospel given to Paul, this mystery (information) was hidden in God as a secret.
4. 1 Corinthians 2:7-8 It was the cross that unleashed the Grace of God upon the whole world! This includes the Jewish people. This revelation was given uniquely to Paul as the Apostle to this dispensation; this period in world history.
5. Ephesians 3:8-9 This Grace among all gentile nations, the revelation of the mystery (hidden information made known) was hid from past ages and generations; time past. You will not find the Body of Christ, nor this current dispensation anywhere else in the Bible except for Paul’s thirteen epistles.
Ephesians 2:15 calls him the “new man”. This is a new creature, a new creation (2 Cor. 5:17). The word NEW is very important. He is a new man on the earth. Someone who has never before existed! Collectively, he is called the Body of Christ. This is unique to this current dispensation; this time period in history which began with the Apostle Paul, and will end at the gathering together of the family of God in heaven and earth (Eph. 3:14-15).
For the next couple of posts, we will look at some aspects of this new man.
The Mystery Aspects
1. Dispensation of Grace – Ephesians 3:1-4. The Bible records several dispensations throughout history. The Gospels record the dispensation of the Kingdom of God and arrival of the King. When this was rejected by Israel, that dispensation was temporarily suspended. This brought in the dispensation of Grace due to God’s mercy. He has provided grace and peace for the whole world.
2. How you get into the Body of Christ – 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 and Ephesians 2:8-9. By believing/trusting in the death, burial, resurrection of Jesus’ work on the cross for the forgiveness of sins. We are then immediately baptized (immersed) into the Body of Christ.
3. The one new man – Ephesians 2:15. As we mentioned, this is a new creature/creation of God. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come”. This new unique creature has never before existed.
4. Present possession of Salvation – Today, we are under Grace. Salvation is given immediately upon believing/trusting in the death, burial, resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ. The Body of Christ has no covenant/contract/terms apart from faith. 1 Corinthians 1:18 says, “For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us who are saved it is the power of God”. Chapter 15 and verse 1-2 also says, “Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also you have received, and in which you stand; by which also you are saved…”. And then one more. Ephesians 2:5 “Even when we were dead in sins, has made us alive together with Christ, by grace you are saved”.
Here are some additional scriptures for you to look up; 2 Corinthians 2:15; 1 Corinthians 6:11; Romans 5:11, 6:2, 6:4; Colossians 2:10, 2:13, 1:21; Ephesians 1:11, 1:13, 2:1, 2:5.
Notice – all of these verses are in the PRESENT tense. We must decide right now that these scriptures are true!
In the Bible, salvation is either finished, complete, and possessed OR it is promised to come in the future.
Salvation for Israel in terms of the Kingdom gospel was future. Believers had to endure until the end to receive it. Life was given as one entered into the Kingdom of God; physical/literal. They were under the law. Matthew 24:13 “But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved”. Acts 3:19-20 “Repent therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; And he shall send Jesus Christ, who before was preached unto you”. Notice when their sins are blotted out. When the times of refreshing come (Kingdom of God). One more verse; Luke 13:23-24 “Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them, strive to enter in at the narrow gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able”. Do you see the conditions placed on salvation? The striving? Today, salvation is free with no conditions except to believe/trust. Here are some additional scriptures; Luke 18:18-30; Mark 16:16; Matthew 5:44-45; 7:21-23.
As we are observing, this current dispensation as well as the new man in Christ is different and unique. We will look at more aspects in the next post. Until then…
May the Grace and Peace of Jesus Christ be with you all.
This New Man Part 2
As we are observing, this current dispensation as well as the subject of the new man in Christ is different and unique. I began to realize this a few years ago. As I read the Gospels and then compared them with Paul’s epistles, I began observing differences. So much was different! This new man – new creation – body of Christ is a new species of humanity that never before existed.
We concluded in our last post that there is a difference as to the possession of salvation in regard to Israel, and then the Body of Christ. The difference in salvation plans has to do with the fact that the body of Christ receives the atonement when they believe (Romans 5:11), but Israel does not receive the atonement until the second coming (Acts 3:19-21). That is because God treats Israel as servants by putting them under the Mosaic law (Leviticus 25: 55), while He treats the body of Christ as full-grown sons (Galatians 4: 5-7).
We continue with some mystery (new information) aspects of this new unique man.
5. Fall of Israel and Salvation to the Gentiles – No one expected this! It came out of the blue. (Romans 11:11,15,25) tells us that Israel fell from its high earthly position as God’s kings and priests in the earth. Their rejection of God’s Kingdom and their King brought about their fall. As a result, their prophecy program was suspended; put on hold. As we have seen in previous posts, the Lord Jesus Christ then poured out mercy and grace upon the whole world; gentile and Jew. Now, salvation is free with no works involved to receive it. The only requirement is faith. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ; His death, burial, resurrection and you shall be saved. But don’t worry! Israel will return in a big way when King Jesus conquers her enemies at the second advent and makes them kings and priests over the entire earth (Romans 11:25-32).
6. Mystery of godliness – how God manifests Himself in this dispensation. 1 Timothy 3:16says, “And without doubt great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory”.What type of fleshly manifestation of God is Paul mentioning here? The context of this epistle is the Body of Christ. The theme is “God manifest in human flesh”. This is a description of us, the Church the Body of Christ! We, corporately, are “godliness” (“God-likeness”). After all, it is God’s life in us! This is the “mystery of godliness.”
Second Corinthians chapter 4: “[7] But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us… [10] that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. [11] For we which live are always delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.” In the lives of Christians, the “life of Jesus” is manifested for all to see! By the working of the Holy Spirit who indwells us, the life of Jesus Christ (who is God manifested in human flesh) is revealed, or made known, in our lives. The Holy Spirit produces the life of Jesus Christ in the lives of the members of the Church the Body of Christ. PRAISE GOD!
Galatians 2:20 tells us: “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” And, Philippians 1:21: “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” Finally, Colossians 3:4: “When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.”
I want to consider two more aspects of the new man – the Body of Christ. In the interest of this post not becoming too long, and due to its importance, I will discuss the last two in the next post. For now… may the Grace and Peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen!
This New Man Part 3
We continue with the final two aspects of the New Man – the Body of Christ. This study has not been an exhaustive list, but are the ones that I thought were the most important for us to understand. The two aspects in this post go together.
7. The Gathering Together – The Body of Christ is a heavenly people. Our home – dwelling place – realm of authority is in the heavenly places (Philippians 3:20). This is the second heaven beyond our earth’s atmosphere. Ephesians 1:3 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ”. Chapter 2, verses 5-6 also tells us, “Even when we were dead in sins, has made us alive together with Christ, (by grace you are saved;) And has raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus”. Also, Colossians 3:1-4 explains that we are “risen with Christ”, we are to “seek those things which are above where Christ sits…”, setting our “affection on things above, not on things on the earth”, our “life is hid with Christ in God”, we shall “appear with him in glory” when Christ appears in the air for His Body.
Please see this point. The new man – this new species of humanity is a heavenly people. Not an earthly people. Read the above paragraph again. Re-read it until you get the point. With this in view, Paul’s teaching of the event when the Lord gathers His body together makes a lot of sense.
The church today is incessantly preoccupied with earthly things. The flesh guides our relationship with the Lord and doctrine more than the Spirit.
This event is described in one of my favorite scriptures. 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words”. Paul’s epistles is the only place where you will find this. It is unique to the new man – the body of Christ. What does this scripture mean, you ask? Just read the words and believe what it says.
8. Destiny of the Body of Christ in heavenly places – In Genesis 1:1, “God created the heaven and the earth”. The next verse starts with, “and the earth”. From Genesis 1:2 through Acts 7:60, God’s focus has been on the earth. Beginning with Acts 9, God shifts His focus to the heavens. “The heavens are not clean in His sight” (Job 15:15), because Satan (Ezekiel 28:15-16) and 1/3 of the angels rebelled against God (Revelation 12:4). Therefore, the heavens need to be reconciled back to God, just like the earth. However, if God had talked about His plan to reconcile the heavens back to Himself before, Satan “would not have crucified the Lord of glory” (1 Corinthians 2:8). Satan does not want to lose his heavenly dominion! He will deceive you in any way possible to keep you from understanding this great truth.
We see this truth very clearly in the following scriptures; Ephesians 2:2 “Wherein in time past you walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now works in the children of disobedience”. There is a course of this world operated by the prince of the power of the air. Ephesians 6:12 “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places”. There are principalities, powers, rulers of darkness, and spiritual wickedness in high (heavenly) places. The Body of Christ will take over these positions under the Lord Jesus Christ. Now, back to Ephesians 2:6 “And has raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus”. Even now positionally, we are sitting together in these heavenly places in Christ Jesus. WOW!! Our inheritance is sure.
And finally, Colossians 1:16 says, “For by him 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”. Notice that there are various things of governmental authority in heaven (invisible) which correspond to earth (visible); thrones – dominions – principalities – powers. Jesus Christ is building His Body to one day inhabit these heavenly things. And then we have verse 20 “And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things to himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven”. All things in heaven and earth will be reconciled to Christ. But how does Jesus get His body to the place where they can operate in the heavens; governmental authority over the earth from above? He simply calls them to Himself; those who have died and those still on the earth. In order to move about and function in the heavens, the Lord Jesus Christ will “…change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like to his glorious body” (Philippians 3:21). We have to be given immortal, incorruptible bodies, just like the resurrection body Jesus has. Remember, we the ‘new man’ are bone of His bone and flesh of His flesh (Ephesians 5:30). “Until the fullness of the Gentiles comes in”, those who are going to be saved, Jesus will then bring us all together (Romans 11:25).