The Church - the Mystery of Christ!

[Vine Abider]

In reading the below (in blue) it came to me that the language of the New Testament is remarkable in that it is revealed that the mystery of Christ is the ekklesia.  That is, the body of Christ is His expansion on the earth and He dwells in us.  Just look at this first verse quoted below - this is too high and lofty!  We, along with the Psalmist must cry out in wonderment as in Psalm 8:4, "What is man that You are mindful of him!?"  

A life --> part of Himself

"And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence. For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell." Colossians 1:18-19

The Body is central in the heart of God because it is the Body of Christ! As the Head, Christ is filling all the members of His Body, the church. Consider Paul's utterances: "And gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all" and "He is the head of the body, the church . . . For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell" (Eph. 1:22-23; Col. 1:18-19). In other words, the way the fullness dwells in Christ is directly related to His being the Head of His Body. He has dispensed Himself into our spirit, making us an organic, life-part of Himself.

Now the mystery of Christ is revealed, explained, and displayed through all His members. The life flowing from you and the life flowing from me is the life flowing from the Head. He is filling each one of us so that there will be a full, complete expression of how rich our God is. In this universe there was something hidden in God, and that was His desire to have a Body for His Son. This corporate entity is also described as the Father's house. We are the many abodes in that house, and we are His dwelling place (John 14:2; Eph. 2:22). He desires to live in us, walk in us, and move through us (2 Cor. 6:16). This is God's home. This is what He wanted in this universe--to have all His chosen and redeemed people indwelt with His very life. This was what God had in His heart when He thought about creating an earth. So we can say, "Earth, this is your meaning. Trees, grass, atmosphere, stars, moon, your meaning is for our God to have a dwelling place in man." This is the meaning of the universe--Christ with His Body, the church.

(blue text from The Supplied Life by B. Freeman)

[Your closest friendnt]

I cannot say that I like what you put down in the way you have constructed the post. I am pleased that at the end you have posted a reference to a brother but is everything in this post the words of the brother? Are also some words from your self? And what is your words and what is the brother's words and what is scripture. And how can we tell? And there are some errors as I think but how can I tell if it is from you or the brother? 

Edited May 24, 2024 by Your closest friendnt

[Vine Abider]

9 minutes ago, Your closest friendnt said:

I cannot say that I like what you put down in the way you have constructed the post. I am pleased that at the end you have posted a reference to a brother but is everything in this post the words of the brother? Are also some words from your self? And what is your words and what is the brother's words and what is scripture. And how can we tell? And there are some errors as I think but how can I tell if it is from you or the brother? 

Sorry, I added clearer reference in it now.  Blue text is from a brother I'm quoting, Bill Freeman.

[Marilyn C]

2 hours ago, Vine Abider said:

In reading the below (in blue) it came to me that the language of the New Testament is remarkable in that it is revealed that the mystery of Christ is the ekklesia.  That is, the body of Christ is His expansion on the earth and He dwells in us.  Just look at this first verse quoted below - this is too high and lofty!  We, along with the Psalmist must cry out in wonderment as in Psalm 8:4, "What is man that You are mindful of him!?"  

A life --> part of Himself

"And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence. For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell." Colossians 1:18-19

The Body is central in the heart of God because it is the Body of Christ! As the Head, Christ is filling all the members of His Body, the church. Consider Paul's utterances: "And gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all" and "He is the head of the body, the church . . . For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell" (Eph. 1:22-23; Col. 1:18-19). In other words, the way the fullness dwells in Christ is directly related to His being the Head of His Body. He has dispensed Himself into our spirit, making us an organic, life-part of Himself.

Now the mystery of Christ is revealed, explained, and displayed through all His members. The life flowing from you and the life flowing from me is the life flowing from the Head. He is filling each one of us so that there will be a full, complete expression of how rich our God is. In this universe there was something hidden in God, and that was His desire to have a Body for His Son. This corporate entity is also described as the Father's house. We are the many abodes in that house, and we are His dwelling place (John 14:2; Eph. 2:22). He desires to live in us, walk in us, and move through us (2 Cor. 6:16). This is God's home. This is what He wanted in this universe--to have all His chosen and redeemed people indwelt with His very life. This was what God had in His heart when He thought about creating an earth. So we can say, "Earth, this is your meaning. Trees, grass, atmosphere, stars, moon, your meaning is for our God to have a dwelling place in man." This is the meaning of the universe--Christ with His Body, the church.

(blue text from The Supplied Life by B. Freeman)

Hi VA,

I like and agree with much of what is posted except this -

So we can say, "Earth, this is your meaning. Trees, grass, atmosphere, stars, moon, your meaning is for our God to have a dwelling place in man." This is the meaning of the universe--Christ with His Body, the church.

You see God`s word says - `All things were created through Him and for Him.` (Col. 1: 16)  And they will all be burnt up, so no dwelling in those things there. `...all these things will be dissolved,...` (2 Peter 3: 11)

However, it has been purposed by the Father that all things (new) will be gathered together and all under Christ`s rulership. 

`...that in all things He may have the preeminence.` (Col. 1: 18)

God has a greater purpose than just the Body of Christ! Christ ruling over all areas of God`s great kingdom is His purpose. 

[Dennis1209]

The more I study God's inspired word, the more I am in awe. In our Sunday School lessons, I frequently spout, "The Old Testament is the New Testament concealed (a mystery); the New Testament is the Old Testament revealed." The first time I mentioned this, I noticed blank faces and puzzlement.

Hundreds of times, the New Testament writers quote, allude to, or reference OT scripture; even Jesus Himself quotes Isaiah more than any other prophet. I now sometimes incorporate the source of New Testament scripture from the OT. Many do not know what those little letters and margins for cross reference are in their Bible or how to use them.

Every word, name, jot, punctuation, and tittle in the Bible has meaning. Short example:

In Luke 4:17-20, Jesus quotes Isaiah 61:1-2, but Jesus stops short in verse #2 at a comma. That verse comma represents 2,000 years thus far. The apostle Paul was privileged to reveal a few OT concealments, the Ekklesia, the Rapture, and the Resurrection, to name three.  

Good Bible commentaries are excellent, and I use them all the time. We also can come to our exegesis by letting the Bible explain the Bible (being a Berean), as your quoted commentary reveals with scripture.

We have such a wealth of biblical information and search at our fingertips today that we can do in minutes what it took scholars and theologians weeks, months, years, and possibly decades to obtain.

Today, we have good commentaries on the New Testament's use of the Old Testament, the Thompson Chain Bible, exegetical guides, the New Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge, etc.

I often ponder the privilege and blessing of when and where I was born and placed on earth. We now have our complete Canon with a better understanding of God's plan and purpose with hindsight—the questions of who, what, where, when, and why have mostly been answered.

Throughout all of history, probably the three central philosophical questions people have thought about and debated:

• Why am I here?
• What is my purpose?
• Is this all there is? Is there anything more?

[Marilyn C]

43 minutes ago, Dennis1209 said:

The more I study God's inspired word, the more I am in awe. In our Sunday School lessons, I frequently spout, "The Old Testament is the New Testament concealed (a mystery); the New Testament is the Old Testament revealed." The first time I mentioned this, I noticed blank faces and puzzlement.

Hundreds of times, the New Testament writers quote, allude to, or reference OT scripture; even Jesus Himself quotes Isaiah more than any other prophet. I now sometimes incorporate the source of New Testament scripture from the OT. Many do not know what those little letters and margins for cross reference are in their Bible or how to use them.

Every word, name, jot, punctuation, and tittle in the Bible has meaning. Short example:

In Luke 4:17-20, Jesus quotes Isaiah 61:1-2, but Jesus stops short in verse #2 at a comma. That verse comma represents 2,000 years thus far. The apostle Paul was privileged to reveal a few OT concealments, the Ekklesia, the Rapture, and the Resurrection, to name three.  

Good Bible commentaries are excellent, and I use them all the time. We also can come to our exegesis by letting the Bible explain the Bible (being a Berean), as your quoted commentary reveals with scripture.

We have such a wealth of biblical information and search at our fingertips today that we can do in minutes what it took scholars and theologians weeks, months, years, and possibly decades to obtain.

Today, we have good commentaries on the New Testament's use of the Old Testament, the Thompson Chain Bible, exegetical guides, the New Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge, etc.

I often ponder the privilege and blessing of when and where I was born and placed on earth. We now have our complete Canon with a better understanding of God's plan and purpose with hindsight—the questions of who, what, where, when, and why have mostly been answered.

Throughout all of history, probably the three central philosophical questions people have thought about and debated:

• Why am I here?
• What is my purpose?
• Is this all there is? Is there anything more?

Hi Dennis,

And what you said just reveals that Jesus, the Head of His Body has been guiding the Body into all truth by His Holy Spirit over these past 2000 years. (John 16: 12 & 13)

[Vine Abider]

13 hours ago, Dennis1209 said:

We have such a wealth of biblical information and search at our fingertips today that we can do in minutes what it took scholars and theologians weeks, months, years, and possibly decades to obtain.

Today, we have good commentaries on the New Testament's use of the Old Testament, the Thompson Chain Bible, exegetical guides, the New Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge, etc.

I often ponder the privilege and blessing of when and where I was born and placed on earth. We now have our complete Canon with a better understanding of God's plan and purpose with hindsight—the questions of who, what, where, when, and why have mostly been answered.

Throughout all of history, probably the three central philosophical questions people have thought about and debated:

• Why am I here?
• What is my purpose?
• Is this all there is? Is there anything more?

This is surely the case about us, in the current age, having such vast and thorough resources at our command! I'm continually amazed how quickly I can find something, or link scriptural ideas together, by using electronics/internet.  Of course, some dear saint had to make these things available online, which was just God working through them to do so.  (Which also shows His purpose living in and operating through us!)

Of course, even with all those resources at our disposal, we still need the Lord to shine specific light to make His word come alive and be real to us!

(and I know I owe you a reply over on the partial rapture thread, which I hope to get to later today)

[steve morrow]

EVER  LEARNING  AND  NEVER  ABLE  TO  COME  TO  THE  KNOWLEDGE  OF  THE  TRUTH

 

EPHESIANS 4:19  who being past feeling have given themselves over unto laciviousness ---to work all uncleanness with greediness---

--4:20--  BUT  YOU  HAVE  NOT  SO  LEARNED  CHRIST

--4:21--  if so be that you have heard  HIM  ---and have been taught by  HIM  --  AS  THE  TRUTH  IS  IN  JESUS---

 

LUKE 19:45  and  HE  went into the temple and began to cast out them that sold therein and them that bought 

--19:46--  saying unto them  ---IT  IS  WRITTEN  MY  HOUSE  IS  THE  HOUSE  OF  PRAYER  --  but you have made it a  --  DEN  OF  THEIVES---

 

JOHN 2:15  and when  HE  had made a scourge of small cords  HE  drove them all out of the temple and the sheep and the oxen and poured out the changers money and overthrew the tables 

--2:16--  and said unto them that sold doves take these things hence ---MAKE  NOT  MY  FATHERS  HOUSE  AN  HOUSE  OF  MERCHANDISE---

 

ACTS 19:19  many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together and burned them before all men and they counted the price of them and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver

ACTS 19:20  SO  MIGHTILY  GREW  THE  WORD  OF  GOD  AND  PREVAILED

 

1 THESSALONIANS 2:13  for this cause also we thank  GOD  without ceasing because when ---YOU RECEIVED  THE  WORD  OF  GOD---  which you heard of us you received not as the word of men but as it is in truth  ---THE  WORD  OF  GOD  --  WHICH  EFFECTUALLY  WORKETH  ALSO  --  IN  YOU  THAT  BELIEVE---

 

1 THESSALONIANS 5:21  PROVE  ALL  THINGS  HOLD  FAST  THAT  WHICH  IS  GOOD 

 

JOHN 5:28  marvel not at this for the hour is coming in the which all that are in the graves shall hear  HIS  voice 

--5:29--  and shall come forth they that have done good  ---unto the resurrection of life  ---  and they that have done evil unto the resurrection of damnation---

 

MARK 10:18  and  JESUS  said unto him  ---WHY  CALLEST  THOU  ME  GOOD  THERE  IS  NONE  GOOD  BUT  ONE  THAT  IS  GOD---

 

LOVING  THE  LORD  JESUS  CHRIST