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 Subject: RE: where the body of Christ began
 
Author: Chris
Date:   6/21/2009 6:56 am CDT
Hi there Jimmy,

I am seeking to answer some of the points you have raised, but will have to begin in this way, by reiterating to an extent what I have said in previous posts in this thread:-

Paul was given a 'dispensation' - 'The dispensation of the grace of God' (Eph. 3:2) - made known to him by revelation, with the intention that he would make it known to those to whom he was called upon to minister.

At the time it was given he was a 'prisoner of the Lord' - which enables us to fix the time of it's revelation easily, for it was during his imprisonment.

In Acts 20:16- we read of his meeting with Ephesian elders and it is obvious by his words to them what his ministry to them until that point had consisted of.

In verse 21 for example, Paul says that he taught them, 'testifying both to the Jews (first), and also to the Greeks (secondly), repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.'

Knowing that 'bonds and afflictions' lay ahead of him, he was 'bound in spirit' to go to Jerusalem - yet not knowing what was to befall him there.

He wanted to 'finish his couse' and 'the ministry' which he had received of the Lord Jesus, 'to testify the gospel of the grace of God'.

He reminds the Ephesian elders of what he had preached among them, under the encompassing title of 'the kingdom of God'

He also declared that he had given them ALL the council of God that he had received to that date.

Yet that ' council' did not include the revelation of the mystery which was yet to be revealed to him, for there had been,

no mention of the unique blessings promised (Eph. 1:3) - 'Every blessing that is spiritual'.

no mention of the unique sphere within which these promises would be enjoyed (Eph. 1:3) - 'In heavenly places.'

no mention of the unique period of choice (Eph. 1:4) - 'before the overthrow of the world'.

no mention of the position held by those who would be the subjects of this further revelation (Eph. 2:6) - 'Made to sit together in heavenly places.'

No mention of the uniqueness of the unity revealed (Eph. 2:15) - 'The twain created one new man'.

So this reveals to me at least that the ministry concerning the 'Body of Christ' had not begun at Acts 20. That it was still the hope of Israel that was in view and the nation of Israel was still being offered the hope of repentance towards God, with it's accompanying signs continueing right up until the end of the book of the Acts of the apostles.

Till another time - by His grace.
Chris
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 Topics Author  Date      
  where the body of Christ began   new  
dan p 5/27/2009 5:35 pm CDT
 RE: where the body of Christ began   new  
Chris 6/11/2009 4:27 am CDT
 RE: where the body of Christ began   new  
Darryl L. 6/13/2009 10:00 pm CDT
 RE: where the body of Christ began   new  
Jimmy 6/14/2009 2:17 pm CDT
 RE: where the body of Christ began   new  
Chris 6/14/2009 7:17 pm CDT
 RE: where the body of Christ began   new  
Chris 6/14/2009 7:36 pm CDT
 RE: where the body of Christ began   new  
Chris 6/14/2009 8:11 pm CDT
 RE: where the body of Christ began   new  
Chris 6/15/2009 3:09 am CDT
 RE: where the body of Christ began   new  
Chris 6/15/2009 2:55 am CDT
 RE: where the body of Christ began   new  
Jimmy 6/15/2009 10:23 am CDT
 RE: where the body of Christ began   new  
Chris 6/15/2009 1:06 pm CDT
 RE: where the body of Christ began   new  
Jimmy 6/17/2009 6:51 am CDT
 RE: where the body of Christ began   new  
Chris 6/17/2009 8:05 pm CDT
 RE: where the body of Christ began   new  
Jimmy 6/19/2009 4:16 pm CDT
 RE: where the body of Christ began   new  
Chris 6/20/2009 5:42 pm CDT
 RE: where the body of Christ began    
Chris 6/21/2009 6:56 am CDT
 RE: where the body of Christ began   new  
Jimmy 6/21/2009 12:52 am CDT
 RE: where the body of Christ began   new  
Darryl 6/28/2009 4:14 pm CDT
 RE: where the body of Christ began   new  
dan p 7/9/2009 2:45 pm CDT
 RE: where the body of Christ began   new  
Darryl 6/28/2009 3:51 pm CDT
 RE: where the body of Christ began   new  
Darryl 6/28/2009 12:45 am CDT
 RE: where the body of Christ began   new  
Darryl 6/28/2009 12:42 am CDT
 RE: where the body of Christ began   new  
Jimmy 6/29/2009 12:58 am CDT
 RE: where the body of Christ began   new  
Darryl 7/3/2009 9:58 pm CDT
 RE: where the body of Christ began   new  
dan p 7/9/2009 2:32 pm CDT
 RE: where the body of Christ began   new  
dan p 7/8/2009 1:24 pm CDT
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