Mystery of Christ
================== Greetings to All, Col.1 [24] Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church:
Eph.3 [2] If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to youward:
The Old Testament prophets knew nothing of all this. Between the first Advent (the sufferings of Christ) -- and the Second Advent (when Christ comes in His glory)... no one saw or knew of the time we are in now (this present dispensation). A secret hidden in God and not revealed until revealed to Paul. The Spirit, by Peter, refers to this when he says: 1Pet.1 [10] Of which salvation the prophets have inquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you:
But when Christ had been rejected, when atonement had been made, then the message of reconciliation could be sent forth. Then, and not until then, was that which had been hid in God and kept secret from the beginning of the world made known. Then the eternal purpose of God was revealed, and the riches of this time (this dispensation), laid bare for those searching... would find. They were those who were dead in trespasses and sins (Eph. 2:1), but who have been "quickened together with Christ" (2:5), saved by grace (2:8), and made fellow-heirs with Christ (3:6), "members of His body, of His flesh, and of His bones" (5:30-32). This is the great mystery concerning Christ and His church. We who are the "body of Christ" are part of a great mystery, not part of any prophecy. The telling of us will not be found in any Old Testament Book. If the god (Satan) of this world would have known and the princes of this world would have known of this great mystery, Christ would have never been crucified. (1 Cor. 2:6-8). Daily Satan loses as the glorious gospel message goes out to all ends of the earth for all to hear, who were once lost and belonged to Satan are now saved,... those who now believe God's Word revealed to the apostle Paul. "In Whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins." (Eph. 1:7), saved by God's grace (Eph. 2:8). Paul says speaking of others who are ministers in Christ that he is more! ... in labours, more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in death oft. (2 Cor. 11:23-28). These things coming to him daily as he went out and gathered the members of the "body of Christ"... and snatched them from Satan's hell fire. The earth laid in total darkness (sin and death)... barren without fruit (no one having the Spirit of God)... the darkness similar to Gen. 1:2 . All this until Christ came, died, raised and ascended to the Father. His resurrection will raise us who have died in Him... His life will transform us into glorious bodies those who are alive when He returns. Since He has returned to the Father, the Spirit of Truth has come (John 14:17) to gather the members of the "body of Christ". The light (members of the "body of Christ") is now coming forth out of darkness just the same as spoken of in Gen. 1:4 . God Bless,
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