It may be better said, understanding the time in which we are living. We are not living in the Old Testament. Nor are we living under the Old Testament Economy. God is not dealing with us as He did with the Nation of Israel, or as He will again and we are not living in the Kingdom Age. We are living in a time never before seen, Rom 16:25 Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, Now is the time of the Body of Christ, the Church Age. You will not find the term Body of Christ outside of these epistles of Paul.
This Dispensation Of Grace Was Hidden By God, Ephesians 3:2
Israel was looking for their King, Luke 18:31 Then he took unto him the twelve, and said unto them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished. Luk 18:32 For he shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spitted on: Luk 18:33 And they shall scourge him, and put him to death: and the third day he shall rise again. Luk 18:34 And they understood none of these things: and this saying was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken. Who hid this truth? God did. Go to Act 1:6 and this is after His resurrection and they still did not understand or see the Church Age: When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? They still did not see this age, the age of the Body of Christ. This age was hidden by God until He revealed it to Paul, Ephes. 3:2-9.
Paul wrote this letter from a prison cell, he had never been to Colosse as far as I know. The Church had never seen his face (2:1). He was writing to combat heresy. Evidently, a convert through Paul's preaching started this church. Epaphras was the Pastor of this Church and they met in Philemon's house. Remember Philemon over in the book of Philemon. He was a member of this church and Paul wrote him a letter. You should study the book of Philemon along with Colossians.
Go to Philemon 1:1,2 Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy our brother, unto Philemon our dearly beloved, and fellowlabourer, Phm 1:2 And to our beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellowsoldier, and to the church in thy house: that is the church in Colossians.
In 1:7-21 you see how Christians should act in this age of grace. Paul had led Philemon to faith in Christ and Paul did the same for Onesimus. Phm 1:10 I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds: Phm 1:19 Paul have written it with mine own hand, I will repay it: albeit I do not say to thee how thou owest unto me even thine own self besides.
Philemon was to receive him back not as a servant but as a brother in Christ, 1:15-16 For perhaps he therefore departed for a season, that thou shouldest receive him for ever; Not now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved, specially to me, but how much more unto thee, both in the flesh, and in the Lord?
Paul interceded for Onesimus, 1:17-19. If thou count me therefore a partner, receive him as myself. If he hath wronged thee, or oweth thee ought, put that on mine account;
Is that not exactly what Christ has done for us. Our debt was charged to Him, 2 Cor. 5:19.
Why is it important to understand this time, The Age of Grace
1. So you can understand God's plan of Salvation, 1 Cor. 15:3-4, Romans 5: 1Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: Rom 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
2. So you can access the grace wherein you are standing. Romans 5:2By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
3. So you can experience the Power of Christ in your life, The Gift is His Power, Being filled with His Spirit is being filled with His Power. Eph. 3:20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
4. So you can fulfill God Purpose in your life. satan great lie to you is that of hopeless.
5. So you can rightly divide the Word of God Paul was saved in about 40 a.d. and he wrote his first letter in between 50 and 55 a.d. Therefore for ten plus years what did they have? Only the verbal speaking forth of the Gospel. For example Paul never went to Colosse; they never saw his face, Col 2:1 For I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you, and for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh; So how did they hear? By those who spoke forth the Word of God.
Go to 1 Cor.13: 8, Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. Why would prophecies fail? Why would tongues cease? (Speaking Languages) Why would knowledge vanish away,? Now Go to 14:1, Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy. Of all the gift this was the one of most importance! So why would it disappear? The word prophesy means to speak forth the Word of God: " by which he means, not so much the gift of foretelling future events, though there was such a gift bestowed on some persons in those times, and, in certain cases, was very profitable to the churches; but a gift of preaching the word, or explaining the prophecies of the Old Testament," from Gill's Commentary 1 Cor. 14:1 e-sword
Prophesying was needed in speaking forth the Gospel because the written word was not complete and the same is true of tongues and knowledge, 1Co 13:8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. In those days the most important thing was to speak forth the Word of God because there was no written letters but after Paul Epistles they had the Word of God. Colossians 1:25 Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God; The dispensation of God is the same as In Eph. 3:2 where it is called the dispensation of the grace of God. The Word of God is complete: These gifts are no longer needed. You have the complete Word of God in written form.
Two things I want you to know:
1. Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing. You must believe the gospel to get in Christ. In Christ, you have access to the riches of His grace wherein you are standing because of faith in Christ Romans 5:1-2. Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.,
What is the gospel that came to us through Paul, 1 Cor. 15:3-4 = The death burial and resurrection of Christ. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
2. It is through the power of the Holy Ghost. When you believe, you are sealed by the Holy Spirit, Eph. 1:12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. Eph 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Ephesians 3:20. Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
His power is His gift to us. Be filled with the Spirit is to be filled with His power. You have all of Him when He sealed you. Luk_24:49 And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.
You must believe on Christ for eternal life (Romans 4:24-25) and you need to tarry with Christ until you are filled with His power, Eph. 3:20. Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Col_2:6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:
1. We are living in the age of the Finished Work of Christ. 1 Cor. 15:1-4 e.g. 1Co 15:4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
2. We are living in the age of the Body of Christ. Col 1:18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. Eph 1:22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, Eph 1:23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.
3. We are living in the age of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Eph 4:30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
4. We are living in the age of empowerment of the Holy Spirit. Eph 3:20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Eph 3:20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Luk_24:49 And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.
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