Exceedingly Great In Grace

Plainer Words Online

                                                       By

Tom L. Ballinger

October 28, 2012

Plainer Words since 1968

PLAINER WORDS ONLINE … FOCUS ON EPHESIANS

Part 4

“That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:7).

The Apostle Paul informs the “saints” that, in part, the reason they were quickened together with Christ, raised together with Christ, and seated together with Him was in order for Him to show “the exceeding riches of His grace and His kindness toward us …throughout the ages to come.” Throughout the ages to come, “world without end;” one of the principal purposes of the Church over which Christ Jesus is the Head is to be a living demonstration of God’s Grace. The Church, which is His Body will be known as the supreme endowment of the exceeding riches of His GRACE!

Being the Called of the Ekklesia of the “Mystery,” we are truly THE ENDOWED—“But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ”  (Eph. 4:7).

The grace which is to be manifested is said to be “exceeding.” Exceeding means: “going beyond; surpassing; excelling; out doing.” Therefore, the grace to be shown goes beyond, or surpasses the powers of human language to describe.

The word, “exceeding,” is used three times by Paul in this epistle:

“The exceeding greatness of his power to usward who believe” (Eph. 1:19).

“He might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus” (Eph. 3:7).

“Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all” (Eph. 3:20).

Paul has set forth truths which lead us to the point of being able to describe the grace involved.  The believer has been told that “in times past,” he lived according to the  course of this world and by his very nature were “the children of wrath, even as others.” “But God” intervened, for He loved the believer with a very great love and quickened him together with Christ. Therefore, by grace, He saved all who believed the latest report from God. This showed the “exceeding riches of His GRACE in His kindness toward us” in the eons to come.  This is a description of all of us who have believed “the revelation” which was given exclusively to Paul who was the appointed to be the Preacher, and the Teacher, and the Apostle to the Gentiles (2 Tim.1:11).

AGES TO COME

The expression, “ages to come,” is very interesting to those who have been membered into the Church over which Christ Jesus is the Head. This expression of “ages” is noted as appearing three times in Ephesians:

“That in the ages to come He might shew” (Eph. 2:7).

“Which in other ages was not made known” (Eph. 3:5).

                                                

“Unto Him be glory in the Church…throughout all ages, world without end” (Eph.3:21).

These are enumerated, only, to point out that “ages” refers to a particular period of time, as distinguished from others, or that it refers to the people who lived in a particular period; hence, a generation. Ephesians 2:7 has reference to particular periods of time in distinction from the present period. Ephesians 3:5 and 3:21refer to generations, not to ages, as such. This was pointed out to validate that the Bible recognizes different times and dispensations. There will be future ages and dispensations, as there were past ages and dispensations. This logically means that future generations will follow this one—the Dispensation of the Grace of God. We can identify four dispensations that follow the Grace Dispensation:

           

●  The Day of Jesus Christ

●  The Day of the Lord

●  The Day of God

●  The “Fulness of Times”

The majority of Christians, as far as their hope is concerned, have taken all of the promises that God has made and have applied them to themselves. As Paul said, “I would not have you to be ignorant brethren;” if you appropriate for yourself promises made to another, that is stealing. “Thou shalt not steal.” This indicates they claim all the blessings for themselves. They fail to consider that each of God’s “Callings” have different “Hopes.” Each Hope has its own promises and blessings. They have failed to heed Peter’s instruction which is, also, applicable to our dispensation—make your Calling and Election sure.

“Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall” (2 Peter 1:10).

If a Christian is serious about “his faith,” he should “give diligence” to make sure he knows what is the Calling to which he belongs. If one is to exercise “due diligence” in acquiring a business or a piece of property, it would seem that “due diligence” would, likewise, be of paramount importance “to make your calling and election sure.”  As a Christian, to make certain you know what is the hope to which God has called you    (Eph. 1:18)—GIVE DUE DILIGENCE! This requires intensive labor in the Word. But, this may seem like some foreign language to some Christians who are simply satisfied to be “saved.” And, all they hope for is to die and go to heaven. This reply has been heard many, many times.

But, some Christians are more advanced; they recognize Pentecost; the Lord’s Supper; Saul of Tarsus’ conversion; they recognize Saul, also called Paul, turned to the Gentiles; they imagine they see the Lord gradually turning from the Jew to the Gentile during the Acts Period; and they see Paul taking the place of Peter as the prominent Apostle. Some even “see” the church beginning at Pentecost; others “see” it beginning at Acts 9 with Saul’s Damascus Road experience. Still, others “see” the church beginning when Paul first turned to the Gentiles in Acts 13, as some seem to strain at a gnat and “see” the church beginning at Acts 18, or even Acts 22. To these people, the church-is-the-church-is-the church; and “we are living in the church age.” They are unable, or unwilling to distinguish between “the Church of God” and “the Church, which is His Body.”

This lack of discernment disenfranchises the Church, which is His Body in the mind of those who are unable to “rightly divide.” This impreciseness robs God of the great demonstration of His matchless grace and kindness to be shown to “US” through Christ Jesus in the “ages to come.” It, also, robs the Church over which Christ Jesus is the Head of all of its glory, and its members of all the exceeding riches of His Grace. It steals away the splendor of His glory which we will be clothed with when He appears, and not only all of these, but also, it robs us of our place and authority in the Administration of our Lord Jesus Christ. These thoughts, by God’s grace, should bring about a reason to “give diligence to make your calling and election sure.”

     

Many of those who embrace “rightly dividing the Word of Truth” like to use the popular phrase that members of the Church, which is His Body will be “trophies of God’s Grace in the ages to come.” There is infinitely more to our Calling than just being on a shelf as a Trophy of His Grace.

Those of us who have made our Calling and Election sure will find that during The Day of Christ, we will be engaged as Ministers in the Government of Jesus Christ. As pointed out in Part 3 of this study, the work we will be called upon to do will be of great consequence. We will be divinely equipped to execute our assignment. It will be during this lengthy Dispensation (estimated to be approximately 700 years) that we will be called upon “to earn our stripes,” or said in another military term, “to get our wings.” The Day of Christ will be the “proving grounds” for our next divinely appointed assignment in the age to come—The Day of the Lord.

As the “Trophies of God’s Grace,” we don’t deny “That in the ages to come He might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus” (Eph. 2:7). But, over and above us being His show-piece of Grace, we must acknowledge that we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works which God prepared in advance for us to do (Eph. 2:7). The “good works” which we are to perform will be when He transforms our bodies (meaning, “our old man”) so that we will be likened to the glorious body of Jesus Christ (Phil. 3:21). Then, every trace and affect of the Adamic curse will be left behind, either in the grave, or with the change from mortal to immortal. Our change, as His new creation, is beyond my ability to fully grasp or explain.

When the Church over which Christ is the Head is manifested with Him, then, will His “kindness toward us through Christ Jesus” be realized in full measure by the heavenly Principalities and Powers. This “shew” of “the riches of His grace” and “His kindness toward us” will be obvious when we are installed in a position of His Government as being seated together with Christ “far above all” of the heavenly aristocracy. “Far above all” (Ephesians 1:21 refers to our station, or our ranking in God’s Organizational Chart, or to be more precise—His Pre-Millennial Organization).  

(To be continued)

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God's Highest Calling For Today

Truth For Today

The Epistle to the Ephesians was written from a Roman prison by the Apostle Paul around 64 A.D. It was written to the saints at Ephesus and to “the faithful in Christ Jesus” anywhere. The truth contained in this epistle is the most profound truth in all the Word of God. It is the loftiest truth in the Scripture where there is no room for anything but PRAISE and PEACE from God the Father, even our Lord Jesus Christ. The “Mystery” is, here, revealed. It had been kept secret since the world began; not made known to the sons of men (Eph. 3:5); it had been hidden in God (Eph. 3:9); never revealed in the Scriptures until it was made known to the Apostle Paul by means of a special revelation (Eph. 3:3).

The great “Secret” of Paul’s epistle to the Ephesians is that God gave Christ to be the Head over all things to the Ecclesia which is His Body, the complement of the One (Jesus) completing the all in all. (Eph. 1:22-23).  The “all in all” I believe to be that time in the far future when God is illuminating and dwelling among men (Rev. 21:3 and 22:5).  This “Secret” concerns the “one new man” (Eph. 2: 15); “a perfect and mature man” (Eph. 4:13). Jesus Christ, as the Head of the Church, has been raised and highly exalted among the heavenly oligarchy (Eph. 1:20-21), and seats us together with Christ among the heavenlies (Eph. 1:20; 2:6).  This was not the hope or calling of previous dispensations but now, after Acts 28, it is made known that God has an election out of the earth that was chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world (Eph. 1:4), to whom God will’s to make know (Eph. 1:27), which Secret was concealed from the eons and generations (Col. 1:26), “yet now was made manifest” (Eph. 1:26). This calling is predestined to have authority to “head up all BOTH that which is in the HEAVENS AND THE EARTH” (Eph. 1:10), over all the heavenly rulers (Eph. 4:10). It is for those who He “in love designating us beforehand for the place of a son for Him through Christ Jesus; in accord with the delight of His will” (Eph. l:5). The ecclesia of His Body will one day, be manifested with Christ in glory (Col 3:4.  The truths of  God’s administration of the Secret  was untraceable until revealed to Paul (Eph. 1:8-9). The epistle to the Ephesians and Colossians are immeasurably higher in dignity, and nobler in character than the glorious positions the Twelve Apostles will enjoy, as rulers, judging the Twelve Tribes of Israel during Christ’s reign throughout the Pre-Millennial Kingdom of God.

This company of believers called in the administration of the “Secret” have already been blessed with “all spiritual blessings among the heavenly rulers [principalities and powers]” (Eph. 1:3). This calling is viewed as having been vivified, raised, and exalted together with Christ. The Church, which is His Body is the only company and calling of God’s redeemed which is said to be ” for the laud of His glory, who are pre-expectant in the Christ.”” (Eph. 1:12).  The “pre-expectant” Paul is referring to here are those who were believing during the Acts period into the new dispensation of God’s grace for you, the nations (Eph. 3:1).

Paul is given a revelation of such a nature that man and all his religion find no place for forms and ceremonies. We learn in the Ephesians Epistle that God is concerned with His own purpose. His Own will, His Own Son, and His Own inheritance, to wit, the Church over which Christ Jesus is the Head.

Ephesians is for those who have enlightened eyes that they may see the revelation of the “Secret.” This epistle is considered as “strong meat” of the Word. It is, certainly, for those who have grown in grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is written for those who are faithful (i.e., full of faith). It is impossible for those who still hold to rituals, rites, forms, and ceremonies to grasp the truth recorded here. It is for those who have passed on from types and shadows and symbols. It concerns the realm of the spirit where full-grown men of God are to live, even while they are tabernacling in the flesh. As the Lord Jesus Christ grants wisdom and revelation in the Word of Truth, full-grown, mature men of God are to grow accustomed to seeing the things that are invisible, as they begin to move in mind, heart, and spirit among the invisible and eternal things.

The Epistle to the Ephesians was written after the landmark of Acts 28:28 was reached. The dispensational boundary line was crossed when Acts ended, and Israel’s hope was left behind, unfilled and set aside. The churches which had been established during the Book of Acts found that the miraculous had ceased. Signs, wonders, and miracles were no longer the order of the day, but rather, SILENCE. Perhaps, the most awesome and far-reaching pronouncement made, since the angels heralded the birth of Christ, was made in a Roman prison by the Apostle Paul when he solemnly pronounced Israel’s blindness in Acts 28. For, with his pronouncement in Acts 28:28, the “at hand” Pre-Millennial Kingdom of God Truth ended abruptly. Ephesians explains God’s purpose and silence during this present era.  God’s present purpose in his administration of grace is to write into the history of His long dealings with mankind, a complete record of the grace and demonstration of His character.  By contrast we can say that He is not, at this time, demonstrating His power, majesty, justice or judgment. He is demonstrating His grace. This is one of His present purposes in “man’s day”.

Shortly after Paul made known to the Christians that the Lord is no longer dealing on the grounds of “Israel’s hope,” but rather, on the basis of the “Secret,” they turned away from him and the new revelation. Before Paul was martyred, he testified that;

“All they that are in Asia be turned away from him (2 Tim. l :15), and all have forsaken him (2 Tim. 4:16).

Most evidently, the majority of Christians in Paul’s own day failed to acknowledge the landmark of Acts 28, as they do today. They took truth made known after Israel was set aside and read it back into the epistles Paul wrote before the “Secret” was revealed to him.

Paul told Timothy that as a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, he must rightly divide the Word of Truth (2 Tim. 2: l 5). That is, he must differentiate between those epistles written during the age of the miraculous and those written afterward. This, we will do as we set forth, below, the two sets of epistles. Recognize that the Apostle Paul had two ministries ─ one, during the Acts period and the other, after the Acts period ended.

Ministry During the Acts Period ─ The Past Dispensation
Galatians-Hebrews
1 & 2 Thessalonians
1 & 2  Corinthians
Romans

Ministry During the Post-Acts Period ─ The Present Dispensation
Ephesians-Colossians
Philippians
Titus-Philemon
1 & 2 Timothy

Present Truth is found in these epistles written after Israel was set aside. When Paul ceased being BOUND FOR ISRAEL’S HOPE and became A PRISONER OF JESUS CHRIST FOR THE GENTILES, he received a new and fresh revelation.

The epistles written by Paul, after the Acts 28 crisis, are seven in number. Five are written from prison, and two are written between the Roman imprisonment, recorded in Acts 28, and the imprisonment that ended in his death.

PAUL’S SALUTATION

“PauI, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the FAITHFUL in Christ Jesus: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ” (Ephesians 1:1-2).

The Apostle Paul is the writer of this epistle, and he says so in the salutation of the letter. Paul is writing this to the believing saints at Ephesus. AIl the saved are Saints; “saints” means set apart ones. You don’t wait until after you are dead for some church to make you a Saint. This epistle is, of necessity, addressed to the saved and not only that, it is addressed to the FAITHFUL. There is a big difference between being a Saint and being a FAITHFUL Saint. Remember that all the saved are “Saints,” but not all the Saints are “FAITHFUL.” The word, FAITHFUL, means “believing all that God has said.”

This letter is addressed to the Saints but, more in particular, to the ones who will believe the latest revelation from our Lord Jesus Christ. You have many people who are Saints but don’t believe the latest revelation that we have from God. The Lord would have us understand and believe the latest TRUTH we have from Him. A FAITHFUL Saint believes the latest report that he has heard from God. Now, “Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing (cometh) BY THE WORD OF GOD” (Rom. 10:17).

The Apostle Paul, as the “prisoner of Jesus Christ for the Gentiles,” has a special revelation that is connected with him as the Lord’s prisoner. This special revelation, given to Paul after Israel is set aside, is called Paul’s “prison ministry.” It is while he is in prison that the RISEN—ASCENDED– GLORIFIED Lord Jesus Christ gives the latest revelation to Paul the Apostle. He reveals to him a most carefully hidden secret.  As stated before, this Secret had been “hid in God.” God had kept a secret, and it had not been made known until He gave it to Paul the prisoner, by special revelation. Paul calls this special revelation to him, “the testimony of the Lord’s prisoner” in 2 Timothy 1:8. He tells Timothy not to be ashamed of this testimony. The testimony for PRESENT TRUTH is to be found in the epistles written BY PAUL, THE PRISONER, not Paul, the free man. However, don’t misunderstand:

“All scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof  for correction, and for instruction in righteousness” (2 Tim. 3:16).

Present Truth for the Ecclesia or Church, which is “His Body, the complement of the One completing the all in all” is found in this peculiar cluster of epistles which we call the Prison Epistles. The FAITHFUL believe what is heard from God, not just what is written for other ages and dispensations, but to those who believe that which was written by the Lord’s prisoner. The PRISONER of the Lord is the chosen vessel to make known God’s secret purpose. It is in the Epistle to the Ephesians (and to the Colossians) that this secret is made known. The high truth concerning the Church of the One Body/His Body, is explained and revealed here. The FAITHFUL recognize Paul’s distinctive ministry as the great revelator of God’s secret purpose; that is, the purpose that God had planned before the world began, before any promises were made to any of the “fathers.” It is only the Faithful who will believe PRESENT TRUTH. That is why Paul addresses this to the Saints at Ephesus and the FAITHFUL IN CHRIST JESUS.

As he always does, Paul bestows the blessings of “Grace and Peace” to the readers of this epistle. Grace is, of course, the main characteristic of Paul’s ministry. In Ephesians 3:2, Paul says that “the dispensation of the GRACE OF GOD is given me to you-ward.”  So, since God’s administration of GRACE was given to Paul to explain, it is natural that Paul opens his epistles with that famous salutation of his– GRACE BE TO YOU AND PEACE from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ. You might notice that Grace and Peace has God the Father as the Originator and Source, and this GRACE and PEACE comes through and flows out from The Lord Jesus Christ. There is no grace or peace apart from being in Christ. The unsaved have no peace with God; they are at enmity with God, but after being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ (Rom. 5:1). Those that have peace with God can, also, have the peace of God(Phi1. 4:7).

If you have not made peace with God, your next move is to make Him your personal Savior.  If your heart stirred, consider this to be the work of God’s Holy Spirit.  Why not purposely decide that you will believe in God.  Confess that you will from this moment forward be a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ?  Let this be your confession of faith in Him, and let your first confession of faith be the most important one.  Your confession here and now is private and should be the one you make to God, and to Him alone. Public declarations can come later, and they should follow, but your private confession of faith in Jesus Christ should be your personal experience with God.  As you read and study God’s Word, ask Him to reaveal His knowledge to you.  As you do, trust the Holy Spirit to guide you into all truth. 

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Before The Great and Terrible Day of The Lord

SEED & BREAD

Number 111

BEFORE THE DAY OF THE LORD
(Originally published 10 Aug. 79)

As background material for this study I would like for all to read once again Issue No. 54, "Four Great Days," and Issue No. 110, "The Lord’s Day in Rev. 1:10."

Those who follow the Darby-Scofield system of prophetic interpretation, also known as the dispensational-premillenial school, put great emphasis on the coming of the day of the Lord in their written and spoken messages, especially so in the popular fast-selling books on prophecy which are so ubiquitous today. They, as a rule, begin the day of the Lord with the second coming of Jesus Christ, although many start it seven years before with what they call "the rapture." They put great emphasis upon the terrors of this seven-year period, seldom failing to quote Isa. 13:9-11:

* "Behold the day of the Lord cometh, cruel both with wrath, and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate: and He shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it. For the stars of the heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their light: the sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine. And I will punish the world for their evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; and I will cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease, and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible."

This is a very popular passage with many self-styled "evangelical" preachers today, who believe it is their duty to scare people into making a decision for Christ. They find such passages to be very useful tools, especially when elaborated with accompanying dramatics, histrionics, and the dogmatic matching of Biblical prophecies with current events. Part of the orchestration of evangelistic services is to time the invitation for people to "come to Christ" at the same moment they have been seized by a paroxysm of fear concerning the terrors of the day of the Lord. This opportunistic exploiting of people’s anxieties merits the severest condemnation.

However, one thing that is apparent concerning these heralds of coming doom, these proclaimers of "Armageddon Now", is that they ignore altogether that the glorious day of Christ (Phil. 1:6,10; 2:16) precedes the day of the Lord, and none of them have anything to say about those marvelous divine activities which God’s Word explicitly says will take place before the great and notable day of the Lord comes. These are ignored, disdained, and passed over as if they were unworthy of any consideration. And it is quite plain that this is done because the recognition of them would throw the proverbial monkey wrench into almost all prophetic schemes and time tables.

No certain event is revealed in Scripture that will mark the beginning of the day of the Lord. It comes "as a thief in the night" (2 Peter 3:10). Its time period will be a reality the moment that God removes the last of the restraints that He placed upon mankind during the time period of His government. Once again all nations are permitted to walk after their own ways, and this will make possible the divine testing of all who have lived under and enjoyed the rich blessings of the kingdom of God. In the day of the Lord we find such events as the emergence of the man of sin (2 Thess. 2:3), the final week of Israel’s seventy weeks (seven years) as prophesied by Daniel (9:27), the desecration of the temple of God (Matt. 24:15), the great tribulation, the short time of God’s vengeance, the second coming of Jesus Christ, His 1000 year parousia (personal presence), the binding of Satan for a thousand years, the "little season," the great white throne judgment, and the purging of the earth by fire to make way for the day of God. However, certain great events must precede all events that are related to the day of the Lord.

The first of these is the appearance and the successful ministry of Elijah the Prophet. This is expressly declared in Mal. 4:5-6:

* "Behold I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord: and He shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse."

The meaning of certain statements in this great promise are admittedly obscure, but its primary message is quite plain. We are told that before "the great and dreadful day of the Lord" comes, Elijah the prophet will be sent to the people of Israel, and he will do a work of vast importance and of such nature that it will remove any need for the Lord smiting the earth with a curse. Our Lord enlarged upon and further explained this great work when He said to His disciples: "Elias (Elijah) truly shall first come and restore all things" (Matt. 17:11).

There is great consolation in the fact that before the first vision in the book of Revelation is fulfilled, Elijah the prophet will have appeared, and he will restore man’s lost understanding of the divine idioms, signs, and figures used throughout this prophecy. The world will know what every word in Revelation means before any man is called upon to face the things revealed in it. We thank God for this.

If the man of faith will take God at His word and think in harmony with the truth declared in Mal. 4:5-6 and Matt. 17:11, no belief will be possible than that there is to be a period of beneficent and benevolent divine activity before the day of the Lord, and this will be achieved by God working through Elijah the prophet. All this will be in the day of Christ and under the kingdom of God. This is enough in itself to demonstrate that there will be a period of divine government before the second coming and the personal presence of Jesus Christ. Having dealt with "The Mission of Elijah" in Issue No. 91, the foregoing comments should be sufficient for this study.

Another positive statement of things that must take place before the great and notable day of the Lord comes is so immense and magnificent that it serves well as a challenge to all who do take God at His word and think accordingly. It is a real test of submission and faith.

* "And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men (presbuteros—elders) shall dream dreams: And on My servants and on My handmaidens I will pour out in those days of My Spirit, and they shall prophesy: And I will show wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke: the sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come." Acts 2:17-20.

In this passage we find two definite time elements that enclose the promises made in it. "It shall come to pass in the last days . . . before the great and notable day of the Lord come." To find out what "the last days" are, we will need to read Isa. 2:2-4 and Micah 4:1-8. In these passages we will find that the conditions described are those that will characterize the earth when God governs. The Acts passage is quoted from Joel and is Hebrew in character which explains why "last" here means "resultant," or as The Cambridge Bible declares its literal meaning to be "in the sequel of the days." There are at least ten specific prophecies, each one a promise of good, listed in Acts 2:17-20, all of which will be fulfilled to the letter in the last days, and before the great and notable (epiphanE—manifest) day of the Lord comes. No more positive words could be used to describe a time of divine activity before the fulfillment of the prophecies in Revelation begin.

One can only be amused at the vain struggles of those who try to stultify this passage, to make it say less than what it does, or to make it mean something different from what the Spirit has said. Since these words were spoken to "Ye men of Judea," we are told that this limits "all flesh" to Israel. Preposterous! One may as well say that since Gen. 6:13 was spoken to Noah, that "all flesh" meant only him.

Then we are told that verses 19 and 20 describe the great tribulation. If this is so, then the great tribulation is something that comes before the scenes of Revelation. And this would create two "great tribulations;" one before the day of the Lord and one in the day of the Lord. They link these two verses with Rev. 6:12, never stopping to think that one of these events precedes the day of the Lord, and the other happens in it. They cannot be the same event.

Such struggles against God’s truth reveal a lack of submission to His Word. May we meet the test of believing what God has said here and recognize in this passage a description of divine activity, benevolent and beneficent in its character that comes before the day of the Lord and precedes all events described in Revelation. This will call for a new concept of the last book of the Bible, and could make obsolete every commentary on this oracle of God. But, may we be equal to this also!

God’s future program for Israel and for the nations is first blessing followed by testing. The first great testing will come only after God has governed long. (See Issue No. 40). When God sees fit to remove all restraints and permits men again to walk after their own way, the true righteousness of the majority will be demonstrated and the hypocrisy of a minority will be revealed. This will result in an uprising against God on the part of some, and this is the revolt that must come before the day of the Lord (not the day of Christ as in KJV). We read of this rebellion in 2 Thess. 2:1-3, which I will literally translate as follows:

* Now we request you, brethren, in view of the personal presence of our Lord Jesus Christ, and our gathering together unto Him, that you be not quickly shaken from your mind nor be alarmed, either by spirit, or by word, or by a letter supposed to have come from us, saying that the day of the Lord is present. Let no one deceive you by any means: for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs, and the man of lawlessness be unveiled, the son of destruction.

The word translated "falling away" (KJV) here, and which I have translated "rebellion" is apostasia, which Septuagint usage demonstrates means a revolt. A record of this revolt is found in Psalms 2 and 83, and is spoken of as the rebellion in this passage.

Thus, the Word of God sets forth positive facts that indicate a period of divine activity that is no part of God’s present administration of grace, but must precede the day of the Lord. All prophetic systems leave no time for this. The question we now face is whether we will preserve our traditions or come to grips with the Word of God.

INDEX

Issue no. 111
 

Oh Lord My God...Has A Plan

Looking ahead

Dennis Glavin

I read this "one" sentance from Otis Sellers site and thought you would enjoy it.......

As the pages of the Old Testament are turned, one reads of a time to come when the entire flow of satanic evil will be overwhelmed by a greater flow of righteousness from one who is the seed of the woman, even Christ (Gen 3:15). He goes on to read of a time when all the ends of the earth will remember and be turned to the Lord (Psa. 22:27); when all the earth will fear the Lord and all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him (Psa. 33:8); when the meek will inherit the earth and delight themselves in the abundance of peace (Psa. 37:11): when the streams of God’s river will make glad the city of God (Psa. 46:4); when wars will cease and God will be exalted among the nations (Psa. 46:8-10); when God’s way will be known upon the earth and His saving health will be the portion of all nations (Psa. 67:2); when God will judge the peoples righteously and govern the nations upon the earth (Psa. 67:3-4); when God will bless Israel and all the ends of the earth will fear Him (Psa. 67:7); when all nations will call Him blessed and the whole earth be filled with His glory (Psa. 72:17, 19); when the world will be established so that it cannot be disrupted (Psa. 96:10); when the nations will fear the name of the Lord (Psa. 102:15); when one generation will praise His works to another and declare His mighty acts (Psa. 145:4); when God will turn His hand upon Israel and purge away her dross (Isa. 1:25); when the mountain of the Lord’s house will be established in the top of the mountains and all nations will flow unto it (Isa. 2:2); when nations will beat their swords into plowshares and turn all instruments of destruction into instruments of peace (Isa. 2:4); when the wolf will dwell with the lamb and the leopard will lie down with the kid and a little child will lead them (Isa. 11:6); when none will hurt or destroy, and the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea (Isa. 11:9); when God’s judgments will be in the earth and the inhabitants of the earth will learn righteousness (Isa. 26:9); when the eyes of the blind will be opened and the ears of ‘the deaf’ be unstopped; when the lame will leap as a hart and the tongue of the dumb sing (Isa. 35:5, 6); when the glory of the Lord will be revealed and all flesh will see it together (Isa. 40:5); when God will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, put His law in their inward parts and write it upon their hearts (Jer. 31:27, 33): when God will fulfill His great promise to Israel to seek them out, bring them out from all peoples and all countries and bring them to their own land, and to set one shepherd over them, even David (Ezek. 34:11-24); when out of Bethlehem will come One to be ruler in Israel, whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting (Micah 5:2); when the Lord will be king over all the earth (Zech. 14:9).

Mark Phillips "I thinkass the 38,000 denominations do not like the God U pictured above my brother......"

http://www.julieferwerda.com/2012/10/07/my-slippery-slide-into-atheism/

www.julieferwerda.com

A Higher Calling and Hope From Paul

Plainer Words Online
By
Tom L. Ballinger

June 16, 2012

Plainer Words since 1968

PLAINER WORDS ON… ENLIGHTENMENT – GOD’S SPECIAL GIFT

Part 1

INTRODUCTION

The “ambassador in bonds,” the Apostle Paul, while in a Roman prison, had heard of the saving faith in the Lord Jesus Christ of the Ephesians. This was probably in the 62nd year of our Lord. The boundary line of Acts 28 was crossed. The Pentecostal Dispensation was left behind and so was the “hope of Israel.” Paul writes Ephesians and unfolds the “great secret” of the Dispensation of the Grace of God. He writes about a sacred Truth in which Jews and Gentiles were being “called-out” to form the “Church, which is His Body.” This Church is to be “to the praise of the glory of His grace” throughout the ages, world-without-end.

The riches of God’s grace are so superlative that it is incomprehensible, even to saints who have been begotten by the Spirit (John 3:6). In order for the saint to “see” the glorious Truth of this Mystery, the Lord must impart a special heavenly gift – SPIRITUAL ENLIGHTENMENT. In order for the saved to comprehend the exclusive revelation given to Paul, the prisoner of the Lord, concerning Christ Who is “the Head of the Church, which His Body, the fullness of God.” Paul is so pleased with what he has heard regarding the saints at Ephesus, he writes:

“Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints, Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers; That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may GIVE UNTO YOU the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him” (Ephesians 1:15-17).

THE EYES OF UDERSTANDING BEING ENLIGHTENED

“For we know not what we should pray for as we ought.” Many use this part of Romans 8:26 as their excuse for not knowing how to pray. However, Romans 8:26 has reference to praying for infirmities. There are, at least, 33 recorded prayers of the Apostle Paul which were written for our learning. We ought to know how to pray. Paul’s epistles are full of typical prayers which should be studied. By doing so, we should learn how to pray as we ought. Our subject will be set before our mind and eyes as we look at a case in point—Ephesians 1:18-19.

“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, And what is the exceeding greatness of His power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of His mighty power.”

Look at this prayer of Paul’s and notice that it is, basically, divided into two parts: (1) that He may GIVE and, (2 ) that you may KNOW. The order is to be observed. The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of Glory, must give before the believer may know. God must grant the believer:

a. The Spirit of wisdom and revelation (Vs. 17)
b. The knowledge of Him (Vs. 17)
c. The “eyes of understanding” enlightened (Vs. 18)

Unless God grants the above, the believer will never get to know what follows. No amount of study, no amount of reading, no amount of prayer, no amount of education will bring an individual to the point where he is able to comprehend, or discern the truths associated with the Calling of the Church over which Christ Jesus is the Head. It must be emphasized that in order for any believer to see [i.e., to perceive] the uniqueness and glory of this Calling, it requires God giving Divine Light upon these truths. The first fourteen verses of this epistle make known a most profound truth regarding the Calling of the Church of The Mystery. These truths are just mere doctrine until such time as God sheds the light of revelation upon them in the heart of the believer. When God gives the “Spirit of wisdom and revelation,” the Truth of the Mystery grips the heart of the believer. Then, he begins to “see” the glory of the Calling. What is more, he, then, begins to “see” the glories of Christ Jesus.

Paul’s concern, in this prayer, is that others may be given the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Christ. Also, that they would have the “eyes” of their understanding enlightened to the truths embodied in the Mystery. When Divine intervention takes place, then, the believer MAY KNOW:

a. What is the Hope of His Calling (Vs. 18)
b. What is the riches of His Inheritance (Vs. 18)
c. What is the greatness of His Power (Vs. 19)

When the “eyes” of our understanding are Divinely illuminated, we are in a position to get to know “what is the Hope of His Calling.”

“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” (Ephesians 1:18).

This tells us that, apart from Spiritual enlightenment, we are UNABLE TO KNOW what is the Hope of God’s Present Calling. The reason is that the “eyes of understanding” must be enlightened. When the enlightenment is given, THEN the believer is enabled to distinguish between the various Callings of God. If one does not have this Spiritual discernment to distinguish between the different Callings, it is impossible for him to KNOW WHAT IS THE HOPE of GOD’S CALLING. Keep in mind that it is His Calling, not ours, or yours, or mine—IT IS HIS CALLING.

CALLING

The New Testament word, “calling,” is used to denote a Divine invitation, or summon to embrace a particular salvation which entails marvelous benefits. Those who respond become members of that Calling which was sent out, usually, by the preaching of the Gospel message for that dispensational time. In plainer words, those who embrace the Gospel become members of a “called out group.” The “called out group” is denominated as being a “church,” for a church means, “a called out company or assembly.” It is Scripturally correct to say that the word, “calling,” is a word used by the Spirit of God to make known Dispensational Truth.

“For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance” (Romans 11:28).

“For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:” (1 Corinthians 1:26).

“Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called” (1 Corinthians 7:20).

“The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling …” (Ephesians 1:18).

“There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;” (Ephesians 4:4).

“I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:14).

“Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling …” (2 Thessalonians 1:11).

“Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began” (2 Timothy 1:9).

“…partakers of the heavenly calling” (Hebrews 3:1).

“Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure:” (2 Peter 1:10).

These ten references can be “rightly divided” into three Callings. We will not so divide them, but we will set forth three headings which they would be classified under:

1. The Calling of Israel (“the church in the wilderness” ─ Acts 7:38).
2. The Calling of the Church of God ─ (Acts 2 through Acts 28).
3. The Calling of the Church of the Mystery (the “high calling of God” for today Phil.3:14).

To believe that Callings No. 2 and No. 3 are the same is an elementary mistake in First Grade arithmetic. We have shown that there are three Callings considered. Not two. Most all of Christendom makes this fundamental mistake, teaching that the Church of God and the Church of the Mystery are the same. The Acts Period Calling is different than today’s Calling of the Church of the Mystery. Of course, this mistake is not the result of a low IQ: but the result of not having been enlightened by the Spirit of God—which is to say, their “eyes of understanding” have not been illuminated.

The Calling of the Church of God began in Acts 2 on the day of Pentecost. It ran its course from Acts 2 to Acts 28. This Calling was, exclusively, Jewish until Acts 10. In Acts 10, the Apostle Peter opened the door to the Church of God Calling to a Gentile; Cornelius and his whole household. From Acts 10 until the end of “The Acts of the Apostles,” believing Gentiles became incorporated into this Calling. However, they did not have all of the privileges that the Jewish member did.

During the Acts Period, Gentiles who believed Pentecostal Truth were “grafted in” to this Calling. The grafting in was the effort “to provoke [unbelieving] Israel to jealousy” (Romans 11:11). The believing Gentiles were considered to be a “wild olive tree” (Romans 11:17) grafted into “a good olive tree”—that being the Israel of God (Romans 11:24). This grafting-in, Paul wrote, was “contrary to nature” (Romans 11:24). This grafting-in was supposed to provoke Israel to emulate the faith of the Gentiles. Instead of emulating the faith of the Gentiles, it caused their hearts to be hardened and “waxed gross, and their ears dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed” (Acts 28:27).

Resultant upon this, the Apostle Paul said in Acts 28:28, “Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and they will hear it” (Acts 28:28). This verse ought to “ring in the ears” of Christians. This is a landmark in all of Christendom. This was a Dispensational Boundary Line, drawn in the Bible, separating the Acts Period Calling from the Calling of The Mystery. With the pronouncement in Acts 28:28, the purposes of the Calling of the Church of God were suspended and set in abeyance.

Paul wrote seven letters to the Church of God. They were: Hebrews, 1 & 2 Thessalonians, 1 & 2 Corinthians, Galatians, and Romans.

With the shocking announcement in Acts 28:28, those with enlightened understanding see the Biblical Road Sign which says in bold capital letters:

LEAVING BEHIND ALL PROPHESIED TERRITORY
NOW ENTERING UNPROPHESIED TERRITORY

Christians who have not experienced having the eyes of their understanding enlightened miss this Signpost and drive into this New Territory, bringing with them baggage from the past Dispensation. When the border is crossed, we find in the New Territory, “a form of sound words” (2 Timothy 1:13) – Paul’s Prison Epistles – which are replete with newer terminology than that which was used, descriptively, in order to make manifest truth relating to the Church of God. One such description, or figure is that the present Calling is likened to ONE NEW MAN (Ephesians 2:15). The new nature of the regenerated member of the Church of the “One New Man” is no longer referred to as a “new creature” (2 Corinthian 5:17) as was the Acts Period believer. But, NOW, our new nature is referred to as our “NEW MAN” (Ephesians 4:24 & Colossians 3:10). In these two verses, we are told “to put on the new man”—like putting on a suit of clothes—to wit, our Spiritual Apparel.

Those who cannot see the Dispensational Boundary Line of Acts 28 are unable to appreciate the importance of God’s Present Purpose. This truth is of paramount importance. Upon this, hinges all Present Truth. It is here, at Acts 28, that the Pentecostal Dispensation ended, and the Dispensation of the Grace of God begins.

On this side of the Border, the post-Acts Period, a new Calling is being formed—the Calling of the Church over which Christ Jesus is the Head (Ephesians 1:22-23). As members of the Church over which Christ is the Head, we are told:

“Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 1:13).

These “sound words” are found in Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, Titus, 1 & 2 Timothy, and Philemon.

When these two Callings are recognized as being different, confusion disappears and, then we can advance to become “a perfect man:”

“Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect [mature] man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ” (Ephesians 4:13).

Only when we rightly divide the Calling of the “Church of God” and the “Church, which is His Body” (Ephesians 1:22-23), can progress be made in understanding the Hope of His Calling.

(To be continued)



Plainer Words Online
By
Tom L. Ballinger

June 27, 2012

Plainer Words since 1968

PLAINER WORDS ON… ENLIGHTENMENT – THE SPECIAL GIFT OF GOD

Part 2

“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” (Ephesians 1:18).

Before we look at the “hope,” let’s recognize that in Paul’s prayer in Ephesians 1:17-19, he refers to the Calling as God’s. It is “His Calling.” The reason being, that it is the God and Father of the Lord Jesus Christ Who “hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings among heaven’s elite in Christ” (Eph. 1:3). It was God Who chose us “in Him before the foundation of the world” (Eph. 1:4). It was Him Who “predestinated us unto the adoption” (Eph. 1:5). It was He Who “hath made us accepted in the Beloved [Christ]” (Eph. 1:6). This Calling originated in the Heart of the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ Who is the Source of all blessings “according to His good pleasure which He hath purposed in Himself” (Eph. 1:9). Therefore, it is “His Calling.” We, as members of His Calling, can only refer to it as “ours,” only in the sense that it refers to our walk. Doctrinally, it is “His Calling;” practically, it is “our calling.”

Notice that the section of Ephesians which deals with the practical out-working of Truth is in Chapters 4, 5, and 6.

“I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation [calling] wherewith ye are called … even as ye are called in ONE HOPE of your calling” (Eph. 4:1, 4).

It is “your” calling, or “our” calling as it relates to our response to this Truth. Only as we are “enlightened” to see that it is the Father’s Calling, can we endeavor to walk worthy of “our” calling.

THE HOPE

It has been emphasized that in order to see “what is the Hope of His Calling,” enlightened understanding is a prerequisite. As many Christians make an elementary mistake in confusing the “callings,” they, also, compound the problem by making an additional error by insisting that the “three” hopes are really just “two.”Believers who have not had the “eyes of their understanding enlightened” are in a hopeless tangle because they are unable to distinguish “what is the Hope of [God’s] Calling.” They, erroneously, believe that the Hope, set-forth in the Epistles written during the Acts Period, is the same as the Hope of the Prison Epistles.

Many folks who have seen some additional Truth shed on Acts 2 have moved on to a belief in what, today, is referred to as “the Mid-Acts Position.” This popular Grace
Position still falls short of the mark of “the high Calling of God in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 3:14). They find trouble getting out of the Acts Period Dispensation with its epistles looking for “the Hope of Israel.” The “Hope of Israel” was set aside at Acts 28:28.

The word, “hope,” means as it relates to Biblical ideas; “ ( 2 ) Confidence in a future event; the highest degree of well founded expectation of good; as a hope founded on God’s gracious promises, a Scriptural sense” (Webster’s 1828).

The sure ground for the Biblical expectation is God’s Promise. However, the hypocrite’s expectation is based upon supposition, or the wrongly divided Word.

“…and the hypocrite’s hope shall perish: Whose hope shall be cut off, and whose trust shall be a spider’s web” (Job 8:13-14).

Here, the hypocrite places trust in a hope founded upon the thin threads of a spider’s web. He does have an expectation, but its foundation is flimsy, having no sure substance.

Noah Webster’s definition of “Hope” is further said to be; ”( 3 ) That which gives: or that which furnishes ground for expectation. The hope of Israel’s Messiah. …the LORD will be the hope of His people … (Joel 3:16); ( 4 ) An opinion or belief not amounting to certainty, but grounded on substantial evidence.”

So, we can see that “hope” carries with it the idea of expectation and gives joy and pleasure. Of course, a misplaced hope, while it may give pleasure, will not be realized, and it can be said that it will “perish.”

“When a wicked man dieth, his expectation [hope] shall perish: and the hope of the unjust men perisheth” (Prov. 11:7).

But, if the Hope is based upon the Word of God and is rightly applied, it stands upon a firm foundation. However, all hopes in the Word are not the same. The “Hope of Israel” (Jer.14:18, Acts 28:20) was based upon promises God made to the fathers of Israel. You will note in the following verses that Paul declares to Agrippa:

“And now I stand and am judged for the HOPE of the promise made of God unto our fathers: Unto which promise our twelve tribes, instantly serving God day and night, HOPE to come. For which Hope's sake, king Agrippa, I am accused of the Jews” (Acts 26:6-7).

Here, it is noted that the Hope, in view, is that which was based upon a promise. It was a specific promise made by God unto the Fathers of Israel. This Hope cannot possibly be confused with the ONE HOPE of the Church of the ONE BODY (Eph. 4:4)! The promise was clearly to the “twelve tribes” of Israel.

We will not make any attempt to fully cover the doctrines which surround the Scriptural word, “hope.” Other than saying; a Biblical “hope is based upon a specific promise God made to a particular Calling. Each Calling is different.

There are at least three distinct Callings revealed in the Scriptures—the Calling of the Wilderness Church, the Calling of the New Testament Church, and the Calling of the Church, which is His Body*.

• The Calling of the Church, which is His Body (Eph.1:23) is not a New Testament Calling. Its Truth is revealed after the New Covenant Church of God [Acts 2 to Acts 28] was set aside. Or, said another way in plainer words, today’s Present Truth is Gentile-ward (Eph. 3:1-2) and is not Covenant Truth. See Romans 9:4-5 which points out, forthrightly, that the “covenants” and the “promises” belonged to Israel—not to the Gentiles. Saved Gentiles who were incorporated into the New Testament Church of God had a standing as foreign-born residents and were forbidden from holding any office in God’s Governing Body that existed during the Acts Period. Gentile Christians only had the rights of an alien in the “Israel of God.”

Now, the question arises; “What is the Hope of the special Calling of the Church over which Christ Jesus is the Head?” It should be understood that each of God’s callings has had its own specific promise relating to its Hope.

There are two Callings mentioned in New Testament Truths. Those being, the Calling of Israel, referred to as “the Church in the Wilderness” (Acts 7:38). God called-out Israel in Exodus 19:3, 17. The Hope of its Calling was to be given the Land of Promise to possess and to become a Kingdom of Priests.

The other was the Calling of the Church of God. Its beginning was in Matthew 16:18, and it was on the world-scene until the end of “The Acts of the Apostles.” Many refer to this church as “the New Testament Church.” It was the church which was called-out during New Testament times. But, this is not a term used by the Holy Spirit as He inspired the New Testament writers. This Calling looked for the “Restitution of all things” (cf. Acts 3:19-21) as its Hope. This Hope was, also, referred to as “the Times of Refreshing” (Acts 3:19). This Hope will usher-in the Pre-Millennial Kingdom of God. This Hope will probably last at least 700 years—then, the Lord allows apostasy and rebellion to take place. A rebellion against the Government of Jesus Christ occurs. The Antichrist will make war against Israel. This war ends with THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST. The “Parousia” of Christ brings, to a close, His Pre-Millennial Kingdom.

The Hope of the Church over which Christ Jesus is the Head has a prior Hope to that of the Church of God. The Hope of the Church of God is not difficult to “see.” All Acts Period believers were endowed with “Spiritual gifts” (1 Cor. 12:1). These super-natural gifts of the Holy Spirit empowered all believers to understand the Hope of their Calling.

With these Biblical facts presented, it is apparent that there is a difference between the two Callings, which is to say, the Calling of the Church of God and the Calling over which Christ Jesus is the Head (Eph. 1:22-23). Many Christians do not see the difference between the Hopes of the two Callings. In order to “see” the Hope of the latter Calling, it takes spiritual discernment which is granted only by the “Father of glory.”

“That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him” (Eph. 1:17).

Today, those who fail to “see” have not had “the eyes of their understanding enlightened.” In plainer words, they are “blind”—spiritually, that is! I recall at the 1977 Gulf Coast Bible Conference in Mobile, Alabama, we had Oscar Baker who I referred to, in those days, as the “Dean of Dispensational Truth,” as one of the speakers. During a break between speakers, a man started to engage Brother Baker in a conversation by saying, “You know, Mr. Baker, I just don’t see the Hope of the Mystery.”

Brother Baker, in his inimitable way, smiled warmly at the man and said, “Maybe it’s because you are blind.” Only Brother Baker could reply as he did without causing an uproar. Mr. Baker’s study explained the difference between the two Hopes. And, the brother just couldn’t “get it.”

All of the explanations in the world will not enlighten, nor will the most eloquent teacher enlighten. All of man’s illustrations and skilled oratory WILL NEVER make Christians see “what is the Hope of His Calling.” Only as the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of Glory” grants the “Spirit of wisdom and revelation” to individuals, will they be able to “know what is “the Hope of His Calling.” This illumination is “of the Lord.” It is not in our hands! We cannot make others “see.” If we are faithful in presenting Truth for Today, the Lord may choose to use the witness and testimony of an earthen vessel to remove the veil of this Calling, so others may SEE the Glorious Hope of the Calling over which Christ Jesus is the Head.
(To be continued)


Plainer Words Online
By
Tom L. Ballinger

July 11, 2012

Plainer Words since 1968

PLAINER WORDS … ENLIGHTENMENT – THE SPECIAL GIFT OF GOD

Part 3

Our salvation is a most precious Gift of God—“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the Gift of God” (Eph. 2:8).

Being saved by Grace is, indeed, the Gift of God. We are not saved by good works. But, it ought to be understood that, for want of a better terminology, there is a “General Calling.” It encompasses all persons who have ever exercised a measure of “saving faith,” whatever it might be—perhaps, only God knows.

It would include those who have, through patient persistence in well-doing, seeked glory, honor, and immortality. God will give eternal life (Romans 2:7). Old Testament saints will be regenerated and, in addition, it would certainly include those who believed in John 3:16 through the end of the Present Dispensation. A full development of this can be found in “Plainer Words … He Who Does Good.” It’s posted on www.Plainerwords.com. Those who will comprise this “General Calling” will live again. Their resurrection, or change will be associated with those who see age-abiding life in the Pre-Millennial Kingdom of God according to 1 Corinthians 15:22-23a; “For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order.”

But, “the High Calling of God in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 3:14) has special accoutrements which are over and above those of the “General Calling.” The Calling of the Church over which Christ Jesus is the Head will be the most prominent, the most prestigious, and the most noble of all of His Callings.

The Church of God (Acts 20:28), also known as “the Body of Christ,” will be made up of Pentecostal and Mid-Acts believers. They will find the realization of their Hope hundreds of years before the Coming (Parousia) of Christ. They will be in that number who will be “Christ’s firstfruits” (1 Cor. 15:23b). (A full development of this is found in “Plainer Words … Every Man in His Own Order” www.Plainerwords.com). They will populate the earth during the Pre-Millennial Kingdom of God.

The “Hope” of the present Dispensation is still before us as we study Paul’s prayer in Ephesians 1:17-19. The Hope of the present Calling is not discernable apart from God’s Special Gift being granted to Christians—SPIRITUAL ENLIGHTENMENT.

Many who are reading this find that their spiritual eyes are becoming foggy. It seemed so simple when every believer was just looking for the rapture and the 2nd Coming of Christ. Over the years, I’ve had the opportunity to explain the Believer’s different Hopes, and I’ve watched as their eyes began to glaze over. Their unspoken words were, “I don’t see it.” I knew they didn’t see it. It wasn’t because my explanation was inadequate. It was because the Lord had not seen fit, at THAT time, to grant unto them the “spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him: the eyes of their understanding hadn’t been enlightened so that they could SEE WHAT IS THE HOPE OF HIS CALLING.”

Dear friends, the joy is unspeakable when the scales fall from their spiritual eyes, and they exclaim—I SEE IT! I SEE IT! When the saint sees it, you can be sure that THE GIFT OF GOD—ENLIGHTENMENT just kicked in.

I have had folks ask, “Tom, why hadn’t I seen it before? It is so clear!” I didn’t have to answer. They knew it was because the time was NOW for the Lord to open their understanding so that they could say—I see it!

If you can say, “I see it,” then, this will not perplex you. The “Hope of His Calling” will be realized at the “day of redemption” (Eph. 4:30). The Day of Redemption will be our DAY of EXANASTASIS (Phil. 3:11), which is to say, our prior resurrection. In plainer words, our resurrection is the first Calling to be raised out-from-among the dead, or to be changed (Phil. 3:21) from mortal to immortal. We’ll be resurrected, or changed before the Twelve Apostles will be. Yes, even before Abel, Enoch, Noah, and Methuselah. Before Elijah, and Elisha. Before Joseph, Gideon, Rahab (the harlot), Samson, Abraham, Isaac, or Jacob; yes, even before Moses, David, Samuel and the Prophets.

Another Gift of God’s enlightenment for us will be found in Colossians;

“Even the Mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but NOW is made manifest to his saints: 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” (Col. 1:26-27).

Lest we repeat ourselves, you need to notice Colossians 3:1-4, for this, also, shows that it is HOPE which produces Godly living.

“If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with Him in Glory” (Col. 3:1-4).

Enlightened “eyes of understanding” are essential to know what is the Hope of His Calling. The member of the Church of the One Body can only walk worthy of the Calling if he knows what it is. That is why so much stress is placed upon knowing what is the “Hope of our Calling.” If one fails to “see” what it is, it is, absolutely, impossible for him to walk worthy of the Calling. Failure to walk worthy results in the loss of a reward!

Our worthy walk must be in harmony with our Calling. If we merge the Hope of the Church of God with the Church of the One Body; thus, making it a jumble, we neither win the prize of either Calling. Many Christians endeavor to follow all of the Apostle Paul’s doctrines. They see a difference in his Acts-Period-Mission with his After-Acts-Mission. But, they foolishly attempt to make the After-Acts-Mission as just an advancement of the Acts-Period-Mission. They do not have the enlightened eyes of understanding. If they did, it would be clear that the Apostle Paul had two Ministries.

One of these was during the time covered by “The Acts of the Apostles,” and the second one was after he ceased being bound for Israel’s Hope (Acts 28:20) and became a Prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles (Eph.3:1), which is to say, in order to receive the revelation of the Mystery. It was during this second ministry that Paul conducted his Ambassadorship in bonds, and the Embassy in which he worked was a Prison. He was an Ambassador in bonds (Eph.6;20) in a Roman Prison. In their Prison, the Roman Government did not realize that Paul was conducting the Governmental Business of Jesus Christ. Nor, did they realize they were protecting Paul from his enemies. Neither were they cognizant of the fact that as the Apostle [Messenger] to the Nations [Ethnos], he was sending forth Divine Government Communiqués—while he was bound. These Godly Communiqués, as written, were —the Word of God, his Prison Epistles—Paul was bound, but his Communiqués were not (2 Tim. 2:9).

CONCLUSION

Enlightened Understanding sees that when the Acts Period ended, so did Israel’s Hope. Her Hope was set in abeyance, and Paul, as the Prisoner of the Lord Jesus Christ, received a new and fresh revelation—the Revelation of the Mystery. The revelation of this Grand Secret brings to light a New Calling—the Church over which Christ Jesus is the Head. Christ, in Spirit, is NOW among the Gentiles and is their Hope of Glory (Col. 1:27). In the sense of Colossians 1:27 during the Acts Period, He was NEVER AMONG THE GENTILES.

Ever since Acts 28:31, the Ascended Jesus Christ has been calling-out individuals, a select group of believers, to make up the Body (The Eccelesia) over which He is the Head. He, as the Head, is the Source Who supplies His fullness to fill all things everywhere (Eph. 1:22-23). Many are called but straddle the fence between Mid-Acts and Acts 28. As long as they halt between the two, they ARE NOT CHOSEN!

In our eager effort to make our calling and election sure, we rightly divide and try the things that differ.

~~THE END~~

Plainer Words Online Bible Studies By Tom Ballinger | Understand Acts 28:28 and More

www.plainerwords.com

Plainer words online Bible studies are presented here for the Bible student looking to have a better 

understanding of God’s plan for the ages.

 

appearinglorytimeline.blogspot.com

Eternal Suffering and Death Preachers Please Explain God's Word Now or At Your Judgment

Those who teach the "ETERNAL INN OF SUFFERING OR DEATH" need to explain how
Scripture can say the exact opposite of your teachings so many many many places.
Ok, explain each one of the following verses, how they do not clearly mean what they say...
one by one.  Then I will present many many many more Scriptures that clearly have God explaining
ALL NOT THE FEW WILL BE SAVED BECAUSE IT IS HIS WILL TO DO SO AND
HE HAS THE POWER TO DO WHAT HE SAID HE WOULD DO.

You might want to do a little homework also, and explain how the words eternal and forever
really mean a long age with a beginning and an end. The Greek word for eternal and forever is
"AIONIAN" and means very specifically "AGE LASTING"

Are there any verses that can help support ALL being saved?

You say most will burn in hell forever or be forever dead in the Lake of Fire.
But please first show me how these verses are saying the opposite of what they are saying......then I will show you many, many more that you will need to cut out from Scripture or show that they do not mean what they say!

Psalmist: “ALL the ends of the world shall remember and turn to the Lord, and ALL the families of the nations shall worship before You. For the kingdom is the LORD’S And He rules over the nations. All the prosperous of the earth will eat and worship, All those who go down to the dust will bow before Him, Even he who cannot keep his soul alive” (Psalm 22:27-29).

Peter: “For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, in order that He might bring us to God” (1 Peter 3:18).

First there are the parallel verses. I think these are thrown into the mix in order to combat the naysayers who will try to prove that “all doesn’t really mean ALL!” Oh yeah? Well if all doesn’t mean ALL, then not everybody is condemned by Adam’s sin, not everyone is disobedient, and not everyone dies:
“So then as through one transgression [Adam's] there resulted condemnation to all men even so through one act of righteousness [Christ's] there resulted justification of life to all men” (Romans 5:18).

“For God has shut up all in disobedience so that He may show mercy to all” (Romans 11:32).

“For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order” (1 Cor. 15:22-23).

Well, some people say, maybe those are just flukes. It’s only 3 verses out of thousands, right? Besides, these are just the writings of Paul. Maybe Paul got a little overly excited about grace after his experience of being coerced into belief when he wasn’t even looking for Jesus. Maybe Paul did say he was a “pattern of those who would be believing” in Christ (1 Tim. 1:16, KJV), but maybe he was a little crazy after being blinded, shipwrecked and whatnot. So do any other writers in the Bible write about “all” being saved?
Torah Writer: “And in you [Abraham] all the families of the earth will be blessed” (Gen. 12:3).
Psalmist: “ALL the ends of the world shall remember and turn to the Lord, and ALL the families of the nations shall worship before You. For the kingdom is the LORD’S And He rules over the nations. All the prosperous of the earth will eat and worship, All those who go down to the dust will bow before Him, Even he who cannot keep his soul alive” (Psalm 22:27-29).
Isaiah: “And the Lord of hosts will prepare a lavish banquet for all peoples on this mountain” (Is. 25:6).
Daniel: “All the dominions will serve and obey Him” (Daniel 7:27).
Zephaniah: “For then I will give to the peoples purified lips, that all of them may call on the name of the Lord, to serve Him shoulder to shoulder (Zeph. 3:9).
Luke: And the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which shall be for all the people” (Luke 2:10).
John: “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself” (John 12:32).
Peter: “For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, in order that He might bring us to God” (1 Peter 3:18).
So now you see why I say, either He saves all as promised, or He saves none because His promises are not valid. In the mean time, what do we do with all the verses that seem to say otherwise? Do people only get “one chance” to be saved in this lifetime?

http://www.julieferwerda.com/2011/07/07/jesus-saves-all-or-he-saves-none/