The Church: God's Purpose & Wisdom

[Vine Abider]

I enjoyed the thought in a devotional today - the church is on God's heart! He produced the ekklesia in Christ and His manifold wisdom will be displayed to the universe through her! Lord give us a spirit of wisdom and revelation that we could know the Riches of the glory of Your Inheritance in the Saints!!! 

September 14th The church--not an afterthought

"To the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known through the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places."

Ephesians 3:10 In this verse Paul reveals that the manifold wisdom of God is to be made known through the church. Then immediately, so that we will not put the church on a low level or think lightly of it, Paul adds a qualifying phrase, "according to the eternal purpose which He made in Christ Jesus our Lord" (v. 11). "Made" comes from the Greek verb poieo and can also be translated "produced." This shows that the church is not an afterthought of God's, but rather it is the chief priority of His heart.

The church was produced in the sphere of Christ Jesus our Lord according to the eternal purpose. Thus, the church is not an expedience to God, to accommodate some problem in the universe. The church is the good pleasure of His will. It is what He prefers above all else. It is what He has cherished and kept hidden in His heart from ages past. The administration of the mystery is the church meeting on this earth according to what was conceived in eternity past and produced on the cross--nothing more and nothing less. The church cannot be man's innovation or man's creation.

The church is the place where God's manifold wisdom is displayed. Ephesians 3:10 says that God's manifold wisdom to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places is made known through the church. In other words, the church as the ekklesia--the called out ones, the assembled, gathered saints--is God's administrative unit on this earth and in this universe. It is an awesome thing in the universe that the church is on this earth. Because of this, God's administration has a way to be worked out. Not only do we enjoy the riches of Christ, but we are gathered as the church where this administration is displayed and opened up.

[Neighbor]

 

Then, as He was now drawing near the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works they had seen, 38 saying:

“ ‘Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord!’
Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”

 And some of the Pharisees called to Him from the crowd, “Teacher, rebuke Your disciples.”

 But He answered and said to them, “I tell you that if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out.”

 

Evidently the ekklesia could easily be replaced immediately, -by stones even.

[Vine Abider]

53 minutes ago, Neighbor said:

 

Then, as He was now drawing near the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works they had seen, 38 saying:

“ ‘Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord!’
Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”

 And some of the Pharisees called to Him from the crowd, “Teacher, rebuke Your disciples.”

 But He answered and said to them, “I tell you that if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out.”

 

Evidently the ekklesia could easily be replaced immediately, -by stones even.

Perhaps, but that's not His stated purpose in Ephesians, right? He loves us just like He loves his Son...  in fact he sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts crying out "Daddy! Father!" 

[Neighbor]

37 minutes ago, Vine Abider said:

His stated purpose in Ephesians, right?

Seems to me the purpose stated, and otherwise revealed, is that Jews and Gentiles are equal in Christ; that it is God that has chosen (us) as pleases Him, having predestined us to adoption  to Him by Christ Jesus. The fullness of time mentioned is NOT accomplished by the will of man. It is known  and predestined by God the Father alone. Not even His Son knows that time- but He will before we do.

I do think all that are chosen, predestined and foreknown, to God have much to be humble about, as well as appreciative of beyond measure. The body that is the church has no sound reason to be puffed up  in or by it's doings. Fact it seems to me to be  a taking away from our Lord of what is his doing alone when we act as though any of His grace, mercy, has even  a bit of dependency upon us.

Being Christian is a privilege extended to many, without merit of any kind on the part of  those that become Christians. I suggest none obtain it, instead all that are, have been Christian-ized by God's doing.

[Mr. M]

2 hours ago, Vine Abider said:

I enjoyed the thought in a devotional today - the church is on God's heart! He produced the ekklesia in Christ and His manifold wisdom will be displayed to the universe through her! Lord give us a spirit of wisdom and revelation that we could know the Riches of the glory of Your Inheritance in the Saints!!! 

September 14th The church--not an afterthought

"To the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known through the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places."

Ephesians 3:10 In this verse Paul reveals that the manifold wisdom of God is to be made known through the church. Then immediately, so that we will not put the church on a low level or think lightly of it, Paul adds a qualifying phrase, "according to the eternal purpose which He made in Christ Jesus our Lord" (v. 11). "Made" comes from the Greek verb poieo and can also be translated "produced." This shows that the church is not an afterthought of God's, but rather it is the chief priority of His heart.

The church was produced in the sphere of Christ Jesus our Lord according to the eternal purpose. Thus, the church is not an expedience to God, to accommodate some problem in the universe. The church is the good pleasure of His will. It is what He prefers above all else. It is what He has cherished and kept hidden in His heart from ages past. The administration of the mystery is the church meeting on this earth according to what was conceived in eternity past and produced on the cross--nothing more and nothing less. The church cannot be man's innovation or man's creation.

The church is the place where God's manifold wisdom is displayed. Ephesians 3:10 says that God's manifold wisdom to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places is made known through the church. In other words, the church as the ekklesia--the called out ones, the assembled, gathered saints--is God's administrative unit on this earth and in this universe. It is an awesome thing in the universe that the church is on this earth. Because of this, God's administration has a way to be worked out. Not only do we enjoy the riches of Christ, but we are gathered as the church where this administration is displayed and opened up.

2 Timothy 2:10 Therefore I endure all things for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.

[Mr. M]

2 hours ago, Neighbor said:

Evidently the ekklesia could easily be replaced immediately, -by stones even.

For this reason we continue to intercede on behalf of one another.

Let us consider these words of Remembrance that the Lord put on my heart.

Numbers 14:

11 Then the Lord said to Moses: “How long will these people reject Me?

And how long will they not believe Me, with all the signs

which I have performed among them? 

12 I will strike them with the pestilence and disinherit them,

and I will make of you a nation greater and mightier than they.

13 And Moses said to the Lord: “Then the Egyptians will hear it, 

for by Your might You brought these people up from among them, 

14 and they will tell it to the inhabitants of this land. They have heard

that You, Lord, are among these people; that You, Lord, are seen face to face

and Your cloud stands above them, and You go before them in a pillar of cloud

by day and in a pillar of fire by night. 

15 Now if You kill these people as one man, then the nations which have heard

of Your fame will speak, saying, 

16 ‘Because the Lord was not able to bring this people to the land which

He swore to give them, therefore He killed them in the wilderness.’ 

17 And now, I pray, let the power of my Lord be great, just as You have spoken, saying, 

(Here Moses calls upon His Name)

18 ‘The Lord is longsuffering and abundant in mercy,

forgiving iniquity and transgression;

but He by no means clears the guilty, visiting the iniquity

of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generation.’ 

19 Pardon the iniquity of this people, I pray, according to

the greatness of Your mercy, just as You have forgiven this people,

from Egypt even until now.”

20 Then the Lord said: “I have pardoned, according to your word; 

21 but truly, as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord;

22 because all these men who have seen My glory and the signs which I did

in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have put Me to the test now these ten times,

and have not heeded My voice, 

23 they certainly shall not see the land of which I swore to their fathers,

nor shall any of those who rejected Me see it. 

24 But My servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit in him

and has followed Me fully, I will bring into the land where he went,

and his descendants shall inherit it. 

As we are given this admonition.

Hebrews 3:

12 Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart

of unbelief in departing from the living God; 

13 but exhort one another daily, while it is called “Today,” 

lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. 

14 For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning

of our confidence steadfast to the end, 

15 while it is said:

“Today, if you will hear His voice,
Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.”

16 For who, having heard, rebelled? Indeed, was it not all who

came out of Egypt, led by Moses? 

17 Now with whom was He angry forty years? Was it not with those

who sinned, whose corpses fell in the wilderness? 

18 And to whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest,

but to those who did not obey? 

19 So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.

This we must do, even if you believe in OSAS

Edited September 14, 2023 by Mr. M

[Vine Abider]

3 hours ago, Neighbor said:

Seems to me the purpose stated, and otherwise revealed, is that Jews and Gentiles are equal in Christ; that it is God that has chosen (us) as pleases Him, having predestined us to adoption  to Him by Christ Jesus. The fullness of time mentioned is NOT accomplished by the will of man. It is known  and predestined by God the Father alone. Not even His Son knows that time- but He will before we do.

I do think all that are chosen, predestined and foreknown, to God have much to be humble about, as well as appreciative of beyond measure. The body that is the church has no sound reason to be puffed up  in or by it's doings. Fact it seems to me to be  a taking away from our Lord of what is his doing alone when we act as though any of His grace, mercy, has even  a bit of dependency upon us.

Being Christian is a privilege extended to many, without merit of any kind on the part of  those that become Christians. I suggest none obtain it, instead all that are, have been Christian-ized by God's doing.

Yes, and it really is just Christ in us and working through us. He is the one building His church and only the building material that flows out from His life in us will stand the testing fire for inclusion in this building. 

Therefore our boasting is really only in Him alone! 

[Vine Abider]

44 minutes ago, Mr. M said:

19 So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.

This we must do, even if you believe in OSAS

Praise the Lord, if we just believe, we can all enter in regardless of the form of (non-core items of our faith) teachings we hold!

[Neighbor]

2 hours ago, Mr. M said:

This we must do, even if you believe in OSAS

Actually I no longer do. I now believe always foreknown and predestined by God and Jesus loses not a one given him by his father.

[farouk]

15 minutes ago, Neighbor said:

Actually I no longer do. I now believe always foreknown and predestined by God and Jesus loses not a one given him by his father.

@Neighbor John 10 and Ephesians 1 would indeed confirm this.