The Adulthood of the Church
Ephesians 2: 13-17
In this article when using the term “One New Man” I will be referring to the Church or Body over which Christ is the Head as described in Pauline epistles. According to Ephesians 2:15; God made or created the One New Man when He broke down the middle wall of partition and abolished the Law by the cross. I am firmly convinced by the Scriptures that the One New Man is the same Church or Body that Paul describes in his Acts epistles. The only difference is that the Church Paul described in his Prison epistles are given the fullness of revelation of the mysteries of Christ or in its Adulthood, while the Church he described in his Acts epistles were given partial revelation and has a Jewish flavour in its teaching (Eph. 3:1-3), or in its Childhood, but in no way a different body. As we study the growth of the Church, we should also acknowledge progressive revelation given by God to Apostle Paul during his ministry. The main purpose of this article is not only to show the difference between the Church and Israel, but also to show how far greater and glorious this Body is compared to the Nation of Israel. God has given the One New Man blessings, an inheritance, a Hope, a position, and many other things that are FAR BETTER than what He gave to the Israel. It is my prayer that you the reader will see the differences and rejoices in the many advantages given to a member of the Body that God calls “One New Man”. As you read this article please do the following 3 things. (l.) Forget what “the preachers” say about the subject of this article, no matter how fundamental or dispensational they claim to be. (2.) Compare every verse with your Bible and be willing to believe the verses mean what they say and say what they mean. (3.) Don’t try to “explain away” things that are obviously different.
The following is a scriptural description of the Adulthood of the Church – The One New Man. 1. THIS BODY IS ONE NEW ENTITY, NOT OLD In Eph.2:15 Paul said “having abolished in His flesh the enmity, even the Law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in Himself of twain ONE NEW MAN, so making peace.” (See 2 Cor. 5:17, Eph. 4:24, Col. 3:10). This is not the old Israel revived or what they commonly called as Spiritual Jews. 2. THIS BODY IS NOT GRAFTED INTO ISRAEL Instead the One New Man was grafted into or made members of Christ’s Body, Flesh and Bones – Eph. 5:30. Romans 11:16-24 is not talking about salvation program but God’s instrumentality for His purpose of the ages.
3. THIS BODY HAS AN INHERITANCE IN A HEAVENLY KINGDOM, NOT AN EARTHLY ONE The earthly kingdom was promised and offered to Israel and those allied with Israel (Dan.2:44, Lk.8:1, Acts 1:3-6). But the “One New Man” is given a better inheritance in a better kingdom. His inheritance is in the “KINGDOM OF HIS DEAR SON” according to Col. 1:12-13. This Kingdom is located in Heavenly places where Christ sits at the right hand of God (CoI. 3:1-3, IITim.4:18, Phil.3:20). The One New Man has already been translated into this Kingdom according to Colossians 1:13, and now sits together with Christ as citizens of this kingdom according to Eph. 2:6.
4. ITS SALVATION DOES NOT PROVOKE ISRAEL TO JEALOUSY Throughout the Acts period the salvation and instrumentality of the Gentiles during the Acts period is to provoked Israel to jealousy according to Rom. 11:11. Paul also used his office as the Apostle of the Gentiles to provoke Israel to jealousy and salvation according to Rom.11:13-14. This of course was consistent with his heart’s desire in Rom. 10:1 – that Israel might be saved. But with the One New Man has no effect or bearing whatsoever upon Israel in anyway. God made or created the One New Man by His Grace in Christ, not to provoke Israel to jealousy, “But that in the Ages to Come He might shew the exceeding riches of His Grace in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. – Eph.2:5-7.
5. THE ONE NEW MAN’S DOCTRINE IS A MYSTERY, NOT PROPHECY Israel’s doctrine is based upon the Old Testament Scriptures, they were spoken by the mouths of the prophets since the world begun (Luke 1:70; Acts 3:18,21), basically PROPHETICAL. But when it comes to the Church, the body of Christ it is established upon the Pauline revelations, which had been hid or kept secret since the world begun (Eph. 3:1-5,9; Col. 1:25-27; Romans 16:25), basically Mystery in nature.
6. THE ONE NEW MAN IS NOT OBLIGATED TO AID OR ASSIST ISRAEL From the Old Testament all through the Acts period, Gentiles had an obligation and a duty to minister unto Israel in “carnal things” according to Rom.15:27. Paul commanded the Corinthians to take up offerings for the Jewish saints in I Cor.16:1-3. But when the fullness of the revelation been given to Paul does not partake of Israel’s “Spiritual things” and has no duty or obligation to minister unto her in “carnal things” or to take up collections for her on the first day of the week. For the Abrahamic Covenant is temporarily hangs in abeyance. Instead the One New Man “works and labors with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth” (Eph.4:28) and supports those who follow the ministry of Paul as the prisoner of Jesus Christ for us Gentiles (IITim.1:8, Phil.3:1,3).
7. IN THIS BODY NO MEMBER HAS ANY ADVANTAGE OVER THE OTHER During the Childhood of the Church or before the diminishing of the Jews (Rom. 11 ) the prominence in God’s program belongs to the Jew first. But in the “One New Man” all advantages are erased and all members are placed on an equal footing and standing before God. Paul said in Eph. 2:14 “For He is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us.” With the breaking down of the “middle wall of partition” Israel lost all of her advantages and the pre-eminence she once had over the Gentiles in times past including the Acts period. The One New Man is FITLY FRAMED TOGETHER and SITS TOGETHER in heavenly aces in Christ Jesus (Eph. 2:6, 22).
8. THIS BODY IS UNRELATED TO ABRAHAM AND ISRAEL This is why Paul said in Eph. 4:6 that the Body of Christ has only ONE, God and FATHER. No touched of any Abrahamic claims, but solely of Christ, by Christ, and for Christ (Eph. 1:19-23; Col. 1:18). In Pauline revelation both Jews and Gentiles alike lose their identity and take Christ’s identity (The New Creature) in its place (1 Cor. 12:13; Gal. 3:27-28; 6:15; 2 Cor. 5:17) . In Col. 3:11, Paul said that in the New Man there is neither Greek, nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, barbarian, Sythian, bond nor free: BUT CHRIST IS ALL, AND IN ALL. In the One New Man CHRIST IS ALL, in other words, Christ’s identity is the ONE AND ONLY identity that believers have.
9. THIS BODY DOES NOT PARTAKE OF ISRAEL’S EARTHLY BLESSING The Body of Christ is said to be BLESSED WITH ALL SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS IN HEAVENLY PLACES IN CHRIST (Eph.1:3). Its position and possession are only in Christ (Eph. 3:6). The Church is solely partaker of the Head (Christ) – Eph. 4:15-16; Col. 2:19, and not with Israel. 10. THIS BODY DOES NOT PARTAKE OF THE NEW COVENANT, BUT OF THE DISPENSATION OF GRACE The New Covenant was made with the House of Israel according to Heb. 8:8. Only those related and allied with Israel partook of the New Covenant and its blessings and hope. But the ‘One Body’ is unrelated to Israel and does not partake of the New Covenant. Instead, God has given this Body something much better than the New Covenant. He gave the “One New Man “the Dispensation of Grace (Eph. 3:l-2). Just as the New Covenant is far better than the Old Covenant (Heb. 8:6-10), the Dispensation of Grace is far better than both the New and Old Covenants. 11. ITS HOPE IS NOT ISRAEL’S HOPE, BUT THE BLESSED HOPE Israel’s Hope was the Second Coming of Christ, the coming of the King, and the establishment of His earthly Kingdom (Acts 28:20, Matt. 24:29-31, Rev. 1:7, 11:15, 19:11-16). God progressively revealed to Paul hidden truths as the Acts period history transpired. This Hope is Christ’s APPEARING IN GLORY far above all Heavens, the meeting IN THE AIR with believer, and not to the Earth or ground (Col.3:1-4, Phil. 3:20, 1 Thess. 4:13-18; Titus 2:13).
12. THE ONE NEW MAN’S DESIRE IS NOT THE SALVATION OF ISRAEL
Throughout the Acts period Paul’s heart’s desire was the salvation of Israel (Rom.10:1). But the One New Man’s desire is totally different. His desire is “To preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; and to make all men see what is the fellowship of the Mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God (Eph.3:8-9).
13. THE ONE NEW MAN HAS THE UNSEARCHABLE RICHES OF CHRIST FOR THE GENTILES, NOT THE SIGN GIFTS.
Throughout the Acts period, believers received the sign gifts (Mark 16:16-18).They were such things as healing, working miracles, speaking in tongues, prophecy and many others. The Infant and Childhood Body was a tongue speaking, healing, miracle working church for the necessary purpose of reaching out the nation of Israel. You might say the Childhood Body was a “Charismatic Church” for it possessed all of the gifts of the Spirit.
But the Adult Church does not possess these sign gifts anymore because Israel has been cut off. Does that mean that the Infancy and Childhood was more blessed and rich than the One New Man? Quite the contrary, God gave the Full grown One New Man something FAR BETTER than the gifts. He gave them the UNSEARCHABLE RICHES OF CHRIST according to Eph. 3:8. The unsearchable riches of Christ overshadow the sign gifts of the childhood church for Israel, and are far more glorious. And anyone who seeks after the gifts today when they could enjoy the unsearchable riches of Christ is taking a step backward, not forward spiritually.
14. THE ONE NEW MAN’S CONVERSATION IS IN HEAVEN
In Phil. 3:20 Paul said “For our conversation is in HEAVEN; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ.” The word “Conversation” has more than one meaning in the Bible. It can refer to a person’s “SPEECH” as in II Pet.2:7; their “CONDUCT” as in Eph.2:3 or their “RESIDENCE OR DWELLING PLACE” as in Eph.2:6 (The One New Man has a residence in Heavenly Places, for His seat is there.) The point that I want to emphasize here is that everything the One New Man has now and in the future is in Heavenly Places. Everything about the One New Man is Heavenly. (Please read these verses).
His BLESSINGS are in Heavenly Places -Eph.1:3
His SEAT is in Heavenly Places – Eph.2:6
His HEAD is in Heavenly Places -Eph.1:20-23
His DESTINATION is in Heavenly Places – Eph.2:7
His MINISTRY is in Heavenly Places – Eph.3:10
His WARFARE is in Heavenly Places -Eph.6:12
His HOPE is in Heavenly Places – Col-1:5
His AFFECTION is in Heavenly Places- Col-3:2
His LIFE is in Heavenly Places – Col-3:3
His APPEARING is in Heavenly Places -Col-3:4
His INHERITANCE is in Heavenly Places – Col.l:12-13
His CROWN is in Heavenly Places – IITim.4:8
His KINGDOM is in Heavenly Places -IITim.4:18
The One New Man is a Heavenly Body with no relationship to Israel, the world, or New Jerusalem. His conversation is TOTALLY in Heavenly Places. This is not true of the nation of Israel. Their conversation was not in Heaven, for they were “HEIRS OF THE WORLD” being Abraham’s seed according to Rom. 4:13-16. Their inheritance was in the FUTURE EARTHLY KINGDOM. Their Hope was in NEW JERUSALEM their mother, which will eventually be located on the NEW EARTH according to Gal. 4:26, Rev. 21:1-2. God never gave Israel the Heavenly things that He gave to the One New Man, therefore, their conversation was not in Heaven.
Evangelist Rodgie Quirante
The Workman’s Treasure Study Series