ONE NEW MAN...
In this article when using the term "One New Man" I will be referring to the Church or Body over which Christ is the Head as described in Paul's prison epistles. According to Eph. 2:15 God made or created the One New Man when He broke down the middle wall of partition and abolished the Law after the close of the Acts period. I am firmly convinced by the Scriptures that the One New Man is not the same Church or Body that Paul describes in his Acts epistles. If they were the same, their description would be identical. But by comparing them with one another, I see that they are totally different and things that are different are not the same.
The mistake that many people make today is assuming that whenever Paul mentions "The Body" in his Acts epistles and prison epistles, he is writing about the same Body. This is like the same mistake people make when they read the word "Church" in the Bible. They read about a church in Matthew and a church in Ephesians and they assume that they are the same church just because the word "Church" is used in both places. But even though the word "Church" is used in both places they are not the same church because their descriptions are totally different. In the same way, just because the word "Body" is used in Paul's Acts epistles and his prison epistles that doesn't mean that they are the same Body. It's my firm conviction that THEY ARE NOT THE SAME BODY, for what is said about one is not true of the other. And as far as I am concerned it is spiritual dishonesty to say they are the same, when it is so apparent that they are different.
The main purpose of this article is not only to show the difference between the One New Man and the Acts Body, but also to show how far greater and glorious this Body is to any previous Body or church in the Bible. God has given the One New Man blessings, an inheritance, a Hope, a position, and many other things that are FAR BETTER than what He gave to the Acts Body, or to any other Body of believers in the Bible. It is my prayer that you the reader will see the differences and rejoice in the many advantages given to a member of the Body that God calls "One New Man".
As you read this article please do the following 3 things.
(l.) Forget what "the preachers" say about the subject of this article, no matter how fundamental or dispensational they claim to be.
(2.) Compare every verse with your Bible and be willing to believe the verses mean what they say and say what they mean.
(3.) Don't try to "explain away" things that are obviously different. The following is a scriptural description of the One New Man.
(I.) THIS BODY IS CALLED A MAN, NOT A WOMAN
In Eph.2:15 Paul said "having abolished in His flesh the enmity, even the Law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in Himself of twain ONE NEW MAN, so making peace."
The Body of the prison epistles is called ONE NEW MAN whereas, the Acts Body is called a "CHASTE VIRGIN ESPOUSED TO A HUSBAND"(IICor.11:2) The fact that one is called a MAN and the other a WOMAN should be enough in itself to convince a real Bible believer that they are not the same Body.
(II.) THIS BODY IS UNRELATED TO ABRAHAM AND ISRAEL
In Eph. 2:12 Paul said that the Body in the prison epistles were "Aliens from the commonwealth of Israel". An alien of Israel is unrelated to Israel and Abraham, whereas the Acts Body is made up of the children and seed of Abraham (see Gal. 3:29 and Rom. 4:9-16). This is why Paul said in Eph. 4:6 that the Body in the prison epistles has only ONE, God and FATHER. The Acts Body had TWO fathers, God and Abraham. I think it is also significant to note that Abraham's name appears 19 times in the Acts epistles, but not even ONCE in the prison epistles.
(III.) IT'S MOTHER IS NOT THE HEAVENLY CITY NEW JERUSALEM
In Gal. 4:26 the Acts Body called New Jerusalem it's mother because they were partakers of the New Covenant being the seed of Abraham (Heb.11:8-10). The Body over which Christ is the Head is unrelated to Abraham, strangers from the covenants of promise (Eph.2:12). Consequently, it has no hope in the Heavenly City New Jerusalem. It's hope is far better, for it is in Glory far above all Heavens and far above New Jerusalem (Col.3:4, ITim.3:6, Eph.2:6; Phil. 3:20).
(IV.) THIS BODY IS NOT GRAFTED INTO ISRAEL
In the Acts period, members of the Acts Body were grafted into Israel, the Good Olive Tree (Rom.11:17). But at the close of the Acts period Israel, the Good Olive Tree, was completely cut down, cast away, and became Lo-Ammi (see Hosea 1:9). Consequently when God created the One New Man after the close of the Acts period there was no Good Olive Tree left to be grafted into. Instead the One New Man was grafted into or made members of Christ's Body, Flesh and Bones-Eph.5:30.
(V.) THIS BODY DOES NOT PARTAKE OF ISRAEL'S SPIRITUAL THINGS
The Acts Body was blessed with the "Blessings of Abraham" and Israel's "spiritual things" (Rom.15:27, Gal. 3:14). But the Body in the prison epistles is said to be BLESSED WITH ALL SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS IN HEAVENLY PLACES IN CHRIST (Eph.1:3). These blessings are found exclusively in the prison epistles of Paul, especially the Book of Ephesians.
(VI.) THIS BODY DOES NOT PARTAKE OF THE NEW COVENANT, BUT OF THE DISPENSATION OF GRACE
The New Covenant was made with the House of Israel according to Heb. 8:8. Only those related and allied with Israel partook of the New Covenant and it's blessings and hope, such as the Acts Body in IICor. 3:6. But the 'Body' of the prison epistles is unrelated to Israel being "Aliens from the commonwealth" (Eph. 2:12) and does not partake of the New Covenant being "STRANGERS from the covenants of promise"(Eph. 2:12). Instead, God has given this Body something much better than the New Covenant. He gave the "One New Man "the Dispensation of Grace (Eph.3:l-2). Just as the New Covenant is far better than the Old Covenant (Heb. 8:6-10), the Dispensation of Grace is far better than both the New and Old Covenants.
(VII.) THIS BODY HAS AN INHERITANCE IN A HEAVENLY KINGDOM, NOT AN EARTHLY ONE
The "Acts Body" had an inheritance in the Kingdom of God (IIThess.1:4-5, ICor.15:50, Acts 14:21-22) which was an earthly kingdom promised and offered to Israel and those allied with Israel (Dan.2:44, Lk.8:1, Acts 1:3-6). But the "One New Man" of the prison epistles is given a better inheritance in a better kingdom. His inheritance is in the "KINGDOM OF HIS DEAR SON" according to Col.1:12-13. This Kingdom is located in Heavenly places where Christ sits at the right hand of God (CoI. 3:1-3, IITim.4:18, Phil.3:20). The One New Man has already been translated into this Kingdom according to Col.1:13, and now sits together with Christ as citizens of this kingdom according to Eph. 2:6.
(VIII.) ITS HOPE IS NOT ISRAEL'S HOPE, BUT THE BLESSED HOPE
Throughout the Acts period members of the Acts Body were grafted into Israel the Good Olive Tree and became partakers of her spiritual things including her Hope of resurrection (Acts28:20). Her Hope was the Second Coming of Christ at the Last Trump immediately after the Great Tribulation (Matt. 24:29-31, I Thess. 4:14-18, I Cor. 15: 50-54). Paul preached this Hope, wrote about it, and was imprisoned for it according to Acts 28:20. But after the close of the Acts period a radical change took place. Israel the Good Olive Tree was cut down and became Lo-Ammi.
The Law was abolished and the Dispensation of Grace began. At the same time the creation of the One New Man took place and a BETTER HOPE dispensed to its members. it's Hope is Christ's APPEARING IN GLORY far above all Heavens, not His COMING IN THE AIR to the Earth (Col.3:1-4, Phil. 3:20, ITim. 3:16). This Hope is far better than any hope previously offered to'' anyone in times past, that's why it's called the "Blessed Hope" in Titus 2:13. (I think it's significant to note that the word "COMING" referring to, Christ's Second Coming, DOES NOT appear one time in the prison epistles, whereas, the word "APPEARING" referring to Christ's Appearing in Glory DOES NOT appear one time in the Acts epistles.)
(IX.) IT'S SALVATION DOES NOT PROVOKE ISRAEL TO JEALOUSY
Throughout the Acts period the salvation of the Gentiles in the "Acts Body" provoked Israel to jealousy according to Rom.11:11. Paul also used his office as the Apostle of the Gentiles to provoke Israel to jealousy and salvation according to Rom.11:13-14. This of course was consistent with his heart's desire in Rom.10:1 - that Israel might be saved.
But the salvation of the One New Man has no effect or bearing whatsoever upon Israel in anyway. God saved the One New Man by His Grace, not to provoke Israel to jealousy, "But that in the Ages to Come He might shew the exceeding riches of His Grace in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. - Eph.2:5,-7.
(X.) IN THIS BODY NO MEMBER HAS ANY ADVANTAGE OVER THE OTHER
In the Acts Body Jews and Abraham's seed clearly had the advantage over the Gentiles (Rom.1). But in the "One New Man" all advantages are erased and all members are placed on an equal footing and standing before God. Paul said in Eph. 2:14 "For He is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us." With the breaking down of the "middle wall of partition" Israel lost all of her advantages and the preeminence she once had over the Gentiles in times past including the Acts period. The One New Man is FITLY FRAMED TOGETHER and SITS TOGETHER in heavenly aces in Christ Jesus (Eph. 2:6, 22).
(XI.) GENTILES IN THE ONE NEW MAN ARE NOT ACCOUNTED AS JEWS OR ABRAHAM'S SEED
Throughout the Acts period Gentiles in the Acts Body were accounted as Jews and Abraham's seed (Rom.2:26-29, Rom.4:11,Gal.3:29). The previous verses clearly show the advantage that Abraham's seed had in the Acts Body. But in the One New Man both Jews and Gentiles alike lose their identity and take Christ's identity in its place. In Col. 3:11 Paul said that in the New Man there is neither Greek, nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, barbarian, Sythian, bond nor free: BUT CHRIST IS ALL, AND IN ALL. In the One New Man CHRIST IS ALL, in other words, Christ's identity is the ONE AND ONLY identity that believers have whereas the Acts Body had both Christ's and Abraham's (Gal. 3:28-29).
(XII.) THE ONE NEW MAN IS NOT OBLIGATED TO AID OR ASSIST ISRAEL
The Acts Body had an obligation and a duty to minister unto Israel in "carnal things" according to Rom.15:27. Paul commanded the Acts Body to take up offerings for Israel in ICor.16:1-3.
But the One New Man does not partake of Israel's "Spiritual things" and has no duty or obligation to minister unto her in "carnal things" or to take up collections for her on the first day of the week. Instead the One New Man "works and labors with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth" (Eph.4:28) and supports those who follow the ministry of Paul as the prisoner of Jesus Christ for us Gentiles (IITim.1:8, Phil.3:1,3).
(XIII.) THE ONE NEW MAN'S DESIRE IS NOT THE SALVATION OF ISRAEL
Throughout the Acts period Paul's heart's desire was the salvation of Israel (Rom.10:1) and the Acts Body was commanded to have this same desire in ICor.11:1. But the One New Man's desire is totally different. His desire is "To preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; 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 (Eph.3:8-9).
In this article when using the term "One New Man" I will be referring to the Church or Body over which Christ is the Head as described in Paul's prison epistles. According to Eph. 2:15 God made or created the One New Man when He broke down the middle wall of partition and abolished the Law after the close of the Acts period. I am firmly convinced by the Scriptures that the One New Man is not the same Church or Body that Paul describes in his Acts epistles. If they were the same, their description would be identical. But by comparing them with one another, I see that they are totally different and things that are different are not the same.
The mistake that many people make today is assuming that whenever Paul mentions "The Body" in his Acts epistles and prison epistles, he is writing about the same Body. This is like the same mistake people make when they read the word "Church" in the Bible. They read about a church in Matthew and a church in Ephesians and they assume that they are the same church just because the word "Church" is used in both places. But even though the word "Church" is used in both places they are not the same church because their descriptions are totally different. In the same way, just because the word "Body" is used in Paul's Acts epistles and his prison epistles that doesn't mean that they are the same Body. It's my firm conviction that THEY ARE NOT THE SAME BODY, for what is said about one is not true of the other. And as far as I am concerned it is spiritual dishonesty to say they are the same, when it is so apparent that they are different.
The main purpose of this article is not only to show the difference between the One New Man and the Acts Body, but also to show how far greater and glorious this Body is to any previous Body or church in the Bible. God has given the One New Man blessings, an inheritance, a Hope, a position, and many other things that are FAR BETTER than what He gave to the Acts Body, or to any other Body of believers in the Bible. It is my prayer that you the reader will see the differences and rejoice in the many advantages given to a member of the Body that God calls "One New Man".
As you read this article please do the following 3 things.
(l.) Forget what "the preachers" say about the subject of this article, no matter how fundamental or dispensational they claim to be.
(2.) Compare every verse with your Bible and be willing to believe the verses mean what they say and say what they mean.
(3.) Don't try to "explain away" things that are obviously different. The following is a scriptural description of the One New Man.
(I.) THIS BODY IS CALLED A MAN, NOT A WOMAN
In Eph.2:15 Paul said "having abolished in His flesh the enmity, even the Law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in Himself of twain ONE NEW MAN, so making peace."
The Body of the prison epistles is called ONE NEW MAN whereas, the Acts Body is called a "CHASTE VIRGIN ESPOUSED TO A HUSBAND"(IICor.11:2) The fact that one is called a MAN and the other a WOMAN should be enough in itself to convince a real Bible believer that they are not the same Body.
(II.) THIS BODY IS UNRELATED TO ABRAHAM AND ISRAEL
In Eph. 2:12 Paul said that the Body in the prison epistles were "Aliens from the commonwealth of Israel". An alien of Israel is unrelated to Israel and Abraham, whereas the Acts Body is made up of the children and seed of Abraham (see Gal. 3:29 and Rom. 4:9-16). This is why Paul said in Eph. 4:6 that the Body in the prison epistles has only ONE, God and FATHER. The Acts Body had TWO fathers, God and Abraham. I think it is also significant to note that Abraham's name appears 19 times in the Acts epistles, but not even ONCE in the prison epistles.
(III.) IT'S MOTHER IS NOT THE HEAVENLY CITY NEW JERUSALEM
In Gal. 4:26 the Acts Body called New Jerusalem it's mother because they were partakers of the New Covenant being the seed of Abraham (Heb.11:8-10). The Body over which Christ is the Head is unrelated to Abraham, strangers from the covenants of promise (Eph.2:12). Consequently, it has no hope in the Heavenly City New Jerusalem. It's hope is far better, for it is in Glory far above all Heavens and far above New Jerusalem (Col.3:4, ITim.3:6, Eph.2:6; Phil. 3:20).
(IV.) THIS BODY IS NOT GRAFTED INTO ISRAEL
In the Acts period, members of the Acts Body were grafted into Israel, the Good Olive Tree (Rom.11:17). But at the close of the Acts period Israel, the Good Olive Tree, was completely cut down, cast away, and became Lo-Ammi (see Hosea 1:9). Consequently when God created the One New Man after the close of the Acts period there was no Good Olive Tree left to be grafted into. Instead the One New Man was grafted into or made members of Christ's Body, Flesh and Bones-Eph.5:30.
(V.) THIS BODY DOES NOT PARTAKE OF ISRAEL'S SPIRITUAL THINGS
The Acts Body was blessed with the "Blessings of Abraham" and Israel's "spiritual things" (Rom.15:27, Gal. 3:14). But the Body in the prison epistles is said to be BLESSED WITH ALL SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS IN HEAVENLY PLACES IN CHRIST (Eph.1:3). These blessings are found exclusively in the prison epistles of Paul, especially the Book of Ephesians.
(VI.) THIS BODY DOES NOT PARTAKE OF THE NEW COVENANT, BUT OF THE DISPENSATION OF GRACE
The New Covenant was made with the House of Israel according to Heb. 8:8. Only those related and allied with Israel partook of the New Covenant and it's blessings and hope, such as the Acts Body in IICor. 3:6. But the 'Body' of the prison epistles is unrelated to Israel being "Aliens from the commonwealth" (Eph. 2:12) and does not partake of the New Covenant being "STRANGERS from the covenants of promise"(Eph. 2:12). Instead, God has given this Body something much better than the New Covenant. He gave the "One New Man "the Dispensation of Grace (Eph.3:l-2). Just as the New Covenant is far better than the Old Covenant (Heb. 8:6-10), the Dispensation of Grace is far better than both the New and Old Covenants.
(VII.) THIS BODY HAS AN INHERITANCE IN A HEAVENLY KINGDOM, NOT AN EARTHLY ONE
The "Acts Body" had an inheritance in the Kingdom of God (IIThess.1:4-5, ICor.15:50, Acts 14:21-22) which was an earthly kingdom promised and offered to Israel and those allied with Israel (Dan.2:44, Lk.8:1, Acts 1:3-6). But the "One New Man" of the prison epistles is given a better inheritance in a better kingdom. His inheritance is in the "KINGDOM OF HIS DEAR SON" according to Col.1:12-13. This Kingdom is located in Heavenly places where Christ sits at the right hand of God (CoI. 3:1-3, IITim.4:18, Phil.3:20). The One New Man has already been translated into this Kingdom according to Col.1:13, and now sits together with Christ as citizens of this kingdom according to Eph. 2:6.
(VIII.) ITS HOPE IS NOT ISRAEL'S HOPE, BUT THE BLESSED HOPE
Throughout the Acts period members of the Acts Body were grafted into Israel the Good Olive Tree and became partakers of her spiritual things including her Hope of resurrection (Acts28:20). Her Hope was the Second Coming of Christ at the Last Trump immediately after the Great Tribulation (Matt. 24:29-31, I Thess. 4:14-18, I Cor. 15: 50-54). Paul preached this Hope, wrote about it, and was imprisoned for it according to Acts 28:20. But after the close of the Acts period a radical change took place. Israel the Good Olive Tree was cut down and became Lo-Ammi.
The Law was abolished and the Dispensation of Grace began. At the same time the creation of the One New Man took place and a BETTER HOPE dispensed to its members. it's Hope is Christ's APPEARING IN GLORY far above all Heavens, not His COMING IN THE AIR to the Earth (Col.3:1-4, Phil. 3:20, ITim. 3:16). This Hope is far better than any hope previously offered to'' anyone in times past, that's why it's called the "Blessed Hope" in Titus 2:13. (I think it's significant to note that the word "COMING" referring to, Christ's Second Coming, DOES NOT appear one time in the prison epistles, whereas, the word "APPEARING" referring to Christ's Appearing in Glory DOES NOT appear one time in the Acts epistles.)
(IX.) IT'S SALVATION DOES NOT PROVOKE ISRAEL TO JEALOUSY
Throughout the Acts period the salvation of the Gentiles in the "Acts Body" provoked Israel to jealousy according to Rom.11:11. Paul also used his office as the Apostle of the Gentiles to provoke Israel to jealousy and salvation according to Rom.11:13-14. This of course was consistent with his heart's desire in Rom.10:1 - that Israel might be saved.
But the salvation of the One New Man has no effect or bearing whatsoever upon Israel in anyway. God saved the One New Man by His Grace, not to provoke Israel to jealousy, "But that in the Ages to Come He might shew the exceeding riches of His Grace in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. - Eph.2:5,-7.
(X.) IN THIS BODY NO MEMBER HAS ANY ADVANTAGE OVER THE OTHER
In the Acts Body Jews and Abraham's seed clearly had the advantage over the Gentiles (Rom.1). But in the "One New Man" all advantages are erased and all members are placed on an equal footing and standing before God. Paul said in Eph. 2:14 "For He is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us." With the breaking down of the "middle wall of partition" Israel lost all of her advantages and the preeminence she once had over the Gentiles in times past including the Acts period. The One New Man is FITLY FRAMED TOGETHER and SITS TOGETHER in heavenly aces in Christ Jesus (Eph. 2:6, 22).
(XI.) GENTILES IN THE ONE NEW MAN ARE NOT ACCOUNTED AS JEWS OR ABRAHAM'S SEED
Throughout the Acts period Gentiles in the Acts Body were accounted as Jews and Abraham's seed (Rom.2:26-29, Rom.4:11,Gal.3:29). The previous verses clearly show the advantage that Abraham's seed had in the Acts Body. But in the One New Man both Jews and Gentiles alike lose their identity and take Christ's identity in its place. In Col. 3:11 Paul said that in the New Man there is neither Greek, nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, barbarian, Sythian, bond nor free: BUT CHRIST IS ALL, AND IN ALL. In the One New Man CHRIST IS ALL, in other words, Christ's identity is the ONE AND ONLY identity that believers have whereas the Acts Body had both Christ's and Abraham's (Gal. 3:28-29).
(XII.) THE ONE NEW MAN IS NOT OBLIGATED TO AID OR ASSIST ISRAEL
The Acts Body had an obligation and a duty to minister unto Israel in "carnal things" according to Rom.15:27. Paul commanded the Acts Body to take up offerings for Israel in ICor.16:1-3.
But the One New Man does not partake of Israel's "Spiritual things" and has no duty or obligation to minister unto her in "carnal things" or to take up collections for her on the first day of the week. Instead the One New Man "works and labors with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth" (Eph.4:28) and supports those who follow the ministry of Paul as the prisoner of Jesus Christ for us Gentiles (IITim.1:8, Phil.3:1,3).
(XIII.) THE ONE NEW MAN'S DESIRE IS NOT THE SALVATION OF ISRAEL
Throughout the Acts period Paul's heart's desire was the salvation of Israel (Rom.10:1) and the Acts Body was commanded to have this same desire in ICor.11:1. But the One New Man's desire is totally different. His desire is "To preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; 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 (Eph.3:8-9).
Hi, Brother Mark, and thanks for this article. I'm a little uncomfortable with saying that the One New Man is is an alien from the commonwealth of Israel and a stranger for them covenants of promise because Ephesians 2:11-12 is speaking of "time past" and "were." But, I guess, in truth, the One New man is a stranger from the covenants of promise and and alien from the commonwealth of Israel, even now; but of course, we are not "without Christ," or "having no hope, and without God in the world," so only parts of Eph. 2:11-12 fit the current scenario.
ReplyDeleteDo you think any former members of the body in Acts crossed over and became members of the church which is his body or did the present church of this dispensation contain only those who formerly were not in Christ? I ponder that frequently!
Thanks for your service in his name!