August 30, 2014

Part 2 The Gathering and the fullness of time

Posted on August 30, 2014 by ADMIN

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We have discussed in previous articles how Paul teaches in Ephesians that we having been made alive together with Christ, having raised us up together In Christ, and made us sit together with Christ in the heavens with Christ is the very “gathering together of the fullness of times”. The mystery of the gospel that was entrusted to Paul for him to make all men see.

 
Pauls stewardship and purpose was just this. To make all see the purpose that He accomplished in Christ at the cross so that we would have “boldness and access with confidence and faith “In Him”. Paul had finally come to grips with his purpose of making clear what our inheritance is now, not at a 2nd coming.
But by the work of Christ on earth, not a future one. For us to accept this gift by faith and grow in understanding it through the gospel.
Any gospel message that stops short of this current reality of life with the Father, stops short of bringing you into the Kingdom of God “In Christ”.
 
You could say that Paul became a gate keeper for the kingdom of God. Unlike all the St. Peter jokes at the pearly gate after death or at a 2nd coming. Paul’s gospel message here is at the dispensation of the fullness of time whereby we are gathered together with Christ “In Christ”, seated with Him now by the working of faith. Didn’t Jesus say many times that “the Kingdom of God is at hand”? Well this is what that is. And it is as true now as it was then.
 
Now Paul was not always clear in his mind of his calling and objectives like he is here. He understood that he had not yet attained, that he was not yet perfected, but he knew it was attainable and worthy to reach for in this current age. This is true godliness, god-like-ness. 
 
Paul further describes this in Ephesians 4 as “the work of the ministry, the building up of the body of Christ on earth, till we all come to the unity of faith, to a complete knowledge, to a perfect man and full stature of Christs likeness. To grow up into Him who is the head of the body. Seated in the heavens. 
 
I know how hard it is for us to divorce this concept from the leavened loaf of the end timers teaching. For they think the gathering together is at a 2nd coming event on earth as with most of the scriptures. Paul spoke of this in Ephesians too. To “no longer be tossed to and fro by every wind and doctrine of men (of carnal thinking) by which they lie in wait to deceive”. 
 
However well intended these people may seem to be. Anyone who has you occupy your thinking of a 2nd coming for the fulfillment  of Gods word in your life is keeping you out of the Kingdom now” They cannot be quickened, resurrected, raised and seated together with Him now in their mind if it is later. They reject the gift of God “in Christ”.
 
The whole book of Ephesians is to make clear this point and our purpose here on earth. To gather together in one. To awaken to this reality of being seated with Him now. To grow in understanding this now. In one all things in Christ Jesus.
Now this may seem like too big of a stretch for you to believe this reality, this mystery that Paul is trying to convey to us. To help us be renewed in our mind to accept being seated now in the heavens “In Christ” Jesus. But this is not a new concept. It was just new for Paul. It is a mystery hidden in Christ for the fullness of times. And your fullness of times can be now if you allow Him to be glorified now and not at some 2nd coming where He has to do another work. Even as the disciples said that they remembered these things were written of Him after He was glorified”. You too will think anew, or remember when He is glorified in your mind. This is your fullness of time to glorify Him now as King, victor, and salvation being the full work of God  displayed by Jesus the man not left for a second coming. “Be ye reconciled to this”Be ye seated” 
 
So lets look where else this is at in scripture. In John 17 Jesus speaks with our Father. He finished His work on earth. He has authority over all. He was restored with the Glory He had with the Father from before the beginning. Then He speaks of those who He has kept, who have “received His word”. Who are “not of this world but in the world” that the world may know. And this was not just to those alive in that day but also to those “Who would believe in Me through their word”.
 
Jesus goes on to say to the Father in John 17.

20 “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will[e] believe in Me through their word;21 that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. 22 And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: 23 I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.

24 “Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world. 25 O righteous Father! The world has not known You, but I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me. 26 And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it,that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them.”

 

Isn’t being one with Him being raised together, ascended together and seated together with Him like Paul said? And this is our stewardship to proclaim this same truth now! Why? “That the world may know” and “that they (us who believe) made be made perfect in one” That is us now, perfect in understanding, being joined to Him who is the head of the body seated in the heavens now. 

 

So do not say in your mind, well who is going to go to heaven to bring this down for us? (like a 2nd coming) Or who will ascend from the deep to bring Him up? Or, how can I climb up to sit down myself? 

 

Romans 8.8 But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart”[a] (that is, the word of faith which we preach): 9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.   Unto completion, the full package, seated with Him in Glory, a perfect man, a full measure of Christ.

 

This is the gospel of the true Kingdom of God and the place of our calling. To Him through the working of faith.

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