Ephesians chapter 1

Vs. 1… According to the Scriptures, the moment a sinner places his faith in the finished work of Christ, he is a saint. The Greek word hagios has the idea to be “separated from sin and therefore consecrated [set apart] to God” for some area of service. In short, we have been taken out of Adam and placed into Christ and given the ministry of reconciliation (II Cor. 5: 18-20).

Interestingly, Paul addresses both the saints at Ephesus and the faithful in Christ Jesus. While all the “faithful” are saints, it cannot be said that all the “saints” are necessarily faithful. The apostle, for example, commended Timothy for his faithfulness to the cause of Christ. But this could not be said of all his coworkers. It was with a heavy heart that Paul had to inform the brethren that Demas had forsaken the things of the Lord, having loved this present world (II Tim. 4:10).

We should note that Paul was the first to call our Lord, Christ Jesus rather than Jesus Christ. While the name “Jesus Christ” is closely associated with the Lord’s humiliation in His earthly ministry to Israel, the name “Christ Jesus” has to do with His exaltation as the glorified Lord of heaven in His ministry to “the church”. Therefore, those who are “in Christ” dispensationally share in His exaltation.

Vs. 2… Notice that this is not a salutation from the pen of Paul, but a declaration from God the Father and God the Son. A declaration that is dispensationally significant. Today God is declaring “grace” and “peace” to an undeserving world. The opposite of grace is “works” while the opposite of peace is “war.” “Works” and “war” characterized the Prophetic Program. Under that program, faith expressed itself by works. If an Israelite lived under the law, if he believed Christ was his Messiah, he expressed his faith by being water baptized. Failure to do so was an indication of unbelief (Mk. 16:16 cf. Luke 7:28-30). In addition, the chosen nation always looked forward with anticipation to the day when Jehovah would declare war on her enemies and deliver her from the hand of the oppressor. That day will come—it’s called the day of the Lord! (Psa. 2:1-12 cf. Zeph. 1:14-18). But now, God is extending to the world the riches of His grace. Thus, we are saved by grace through faith alone apart from works. Paul plainly says: “But to him that worketh not, but believeth on Him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness”(Rom. 4:5). Those who are the recipients of His grace will be delivered from the wrath to come. We should humbly thank God that we are living under God’s declaration of peace (Eph. 1:2 cf. I Thes. 5:9-11).

Vs. 3…Although Paul was a prisoner of Rome at the time of this writing, he never allowed the experience to rob him of his joy. But trials will do just that if we fail to keep our eyes upon the Lord. The apostle had learned the importance of setting his affections on things above. Consequently, as the wonders of God’s matchless grace filled Paul’s mind, he delivered this doxology.

The believer’s position “in Christ”: God chose to reveal His eternal purpose for the Church, the Body of Christ to Paul. Namely, that we are blessed with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places. I would venture to say that most believers would probably be hard-pressed to name five spiritual blessings we enjoy in Christ. There are at least seven blessings presented to us here in verses 3 through 14. Before commenting on these riches, we need to understand that there has been a shift in emphasis from that which was revealed in time past. Those who lived prior to the dispensation of Grace were given an earthly hope and calling. In accordance with their program, God primarily blessed them with physical blessings. This is another important dispensational distinction which must not be overlooked. It clearly shows that God is doing something entirely new and different today among the Gentiles. Let’s contrast Israel’s blessings under the law with those that we possess under grace.

Israel had many conditional blessings in the land (Deut. 28:1,2). These blessings and many, many more would be generously bestowed upon Israel if she met God’s demands. Once again, the key word here is “if”. Failure to do so brought her under the curse of God, as promised in Deuteronomy 27:26: “Cursed be he that confirmeth not all the words of this law to do them. And all the people shall say, Amen.”

When we come to the dispensation of grace, notice the absence of the conditional word “if” (vs. 3). There are no conditions to be met under grace. We have received the full benefit of our blessings in Christ—they are a present possession! We simply need to lay hold of them by faith. In addition to the spiritual blessings we enjoy, God has promised to meet our needs according to His good pleasure (Eph. 1:5). Therefore, any physical blessings God may bestow upon us today are merely icing on the cake.

Here are seven spiritual blessings we enjoy in Christ that are found in Ephesians 1:4-14:

Vs. 4… We have been chosen in Him before the world began. We learn that the Body of Christ wasn’t an afterthought of God, but a forethought. With the world ripe for judgment following the stoning of Stephen, God interrupted the Prophetic Program to make known the Mystery, which He had hidden from ages and generations past. In eternity past, God had planned and purposed that there would be the corporate entity known as the Church, the Body of Christ, and that it would be composed of Jews and Gentiles without distinction. We were chosen for the praise of His glory, that in the ages to come He might present us to Himself “a glorious Church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing.”
John Calvin taught that before the world began God had already declared eternal judgment on some for reasons man cannot understand:

“Who then shall be saved? That is what His sovereign will decides and nothing else. It is purely a matter of the divine sovereign will which, doubtless for good reasons known to God Himself, but none of them relative to anything distinguishing one man morally from another, chooses some and rejects the rest" (Calvin’s Institutes III, chapter xxiii, page 10).

According to John Calvin, "The reprobate like the elect are appointed to be so by the secret council of God’s will" (Calvin’s Institutes II, chapter xxii, page 11) and "…their doom was fixed from all eternity and nothing in them could transfer them to a contrary class…" (Calvin’s Institutes III, chapter iii, page 4).

Also, according to Calvin, "…Not all men are created with similar destiny but eternal life is foreordained for some, and eternal damnation for others. Every man, therefore, being created for one or the other of these ends, we say, he is either predestined either to life or death" (Calvin’s Institutes III, chapter xxiii).

Question: If Paul believed in “unconditional election”, why did he tell the Corinthians that he wanted to “gain the more” and “save some”? “For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more” (1 Cor. 9:19). “To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some: (1 Cor. 9:22).

Isn’t the election of the saved already assured without Paul’s help? How could anything he do in his life or ministry have any affect upon the elect? The truth is Paul sacrificed so that men would be saved. “Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved” (1 Cor. 10:33). If election is sovereignly predetermined and irresistible, these verses make no sense.

Question: If the Bible teaches “unconditional election”, wouldn’t Paul know that the elect don’t need persuading and the non-elect can’t be persuaded!

• “Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences” (2 Cor. 5:11).
Question: Does it make any sense that Paul could preach “unconditional election” and at the same time wish himself accursed from Christ for his unsaved brethren according to the flesh?

• “For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh” (Rom. 9:3). Does Paul have more compassion than God? If God elects people to hell, Paul should be thrilled that God’s will is being carried out in Israel. Does Paul care more about the destiny of the unsaved than God? We are convinced that the cry of Paul’s heart here is merely a mirror of the cry of God’s own heart for all lost sinners.

Question: If God unconditionally elects some to destruction according to the good pleasure of His will, why would Jesus weep over Jerusalem’s rejection of God’s prophets in Matthew 23:37… “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!”
• First of all, a Calvinist must assume that the reprobation of Jerusalem was “the good pleasure” of the Father. If that is so, why was it so displeasing and heart-breaking to Jesus, who was always in agreement with the Father’s will? Shouldn't Jesus have also been "pleased" with the Father's reprobation of these people?
Secondly, Jesus is attributing the lost condition of Jerusalem to her own unwillingness, not the absence of election. Jesus was willing to receive them but they were unwilling.
Question: If men are not elected or predestinated to salvation as John Calvin taught, then how are men to be saved?
• Galatians 3:8 says that, "…God would justify the heathen through faith….” Faith is the means for salvation and Jesus Christ has provided the way of salvation. Faith always has an object and for the sinner this will be Jesus Christ and His work on the cross for them. Men put their faith on the perfect finished sacrifice of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ whose blood was shed for them and who rose again bodily from the grave. This salvation is given to anyone who will believe/receive the first component of the gospel of Christ---Christ died for our sins. Christ's death accomplished two benefits: 1. His death satisfied the justice of God. Since God is a perfectly righteous judge, it took the death of a perfectly righteous life to meet His demands. Jesus died that substitutionary death that was acceptable to God. 2. Jesus' death accomplished reconciliation between God and the world of lost sinners in that God put the punishment and penalty of mankind's sins on Jesus and all men everywhere has been declared FORGIVEN.Being reconciled does not mean you are justified (saved). The moment you believe what Christ did about your sins on the Cross, God declares you justified. (II Cor. 5:17-21) Jesus' death took the issue of sin off the table. (See my study titled "Are You Saved" for a fuller explanation).

• A Calvinist will teach that if man expresses his faith toward God and His Word (regarding salvation) it would be a work of man. But faith defined in Scripture is not a work. Romans 4:5 clearly teaches, "But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for ighteousness.” The teaching of Ephesians 2:8,9 is also clear, "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” The act of accepting salvation is surely man’s act, and that act is faith. The free act of God in bestowing salvation is grace; the free act of man in accepting it is faith.
• Jesus gave a clear illustration of what faith in Him means. He said to Nicodemus: "As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:14-15). The Israelite in the wilderness showed his faith by looking on the serpent of brass that hung on the pole (see Num. 21:5-9). In this one act of faith was expressed an utter helplessness and an acknowledgment that God’s provision was his only hope. He did not understand the significance of the serpent, nor why it was made of brass. He did not analyze his faith to see if it was sufficient. He did not question the intensity of his look. He surely claimed no merit for looking. There were just two things in his mind: his own absolute hopelessness and the sufficiency of God’s provision. And this is all that there is to that faith through which the lost are saved. There is no power in faith that contributes to salvation…."The Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all” (Isa. 53:6).
Through faith (that is the acknowledgment of one’s own utter helplessness and hopelessness and the casting of one’s self upon God’s provision) God is able to act in grace. That is the meaning of: "It is of faith that it might be by grace.” That is also the meaning of: "As many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God” (John 1:12). The meaning of faith then, as well as the meaning of grace, excludes all human merit. Romans 10:17 is clear about the origin of faith when it says, "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” It is clear from the Scripture that man is the one who must hear and believe. John 5:24 says, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth My Word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.” If the Word of God is distorted and the gospel is skewed by saying only certain ones can believe and Jesus Christ may not have died for them, then man will not hear and faith will not come.
• Election and the related words---to choose, chosen or elect--- are used of God’s selection of men or agencies for special missions or purposes; but there is no basis for the doctrine that God has predestined a definite number of mankind to eternal life, and the rest to destruction. Election is the act of God’s holy will in selecting His own methods, instruments, and times for carrying out His purposes.

1. Israel was elected by God to be His people. This election is as a nation. Some individuals in the elect had faith in God and others did not. This election is the Old Testament covenant between Israel and God and is the basis for naming the scriptures the Old Testament, meaning Old Covenant.

Isaiah 45:3 And I will give thee the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, that thou mayest know that I, the LORD, which call thee by thy name, am the God of Israel. 4: For Jacob my servant's sake, and Israel mine elect, I have even called the by thy name: I have surnamed thee, though thou hast not known me.

Israel failed to keep her part of the covenant with God because a large majority of the people did not worship God. Israel resisted the call and the grace of God by their free will. Although Israel was the elect of God as shown above, individuals within Israel rejected God; and therefore, the entire nation was considered by God to have rejected Him because of the rejection by the majority. Still, Israel remained the elect until being temporarily set aside because of their rejection of Jesus Christ as their Messiah. Paul announces God’s decision to set Israel aside as His elect nation in Romans 9-11.

Jeremiah 3:6-8…The LORD said also unto me in the days of Josiah the king, Hast thou seen that which backsliding Israel hath done? she is gone up upon every high mountain and under every green tree, and there hath played the harlot. 7: And I said after she had done all these things, Turn thou unto me. But she returned not. And her treacherous sister Judah saw it. 8: And I saw, when for all the causes whereby backsliding Israel committed adultery I had put her away, and given her a bill of divorce; yet her treacherous sister Judah feared not, but went and played the harlot also.

2. The church (the body of Christ) is elect. This election is not a guarantee of salvation but rather a guarantee of salvation by grace based on the individual's faith in Jesus Christ's death for the forgiveness of sin, and faith in His resurrection for the giving of life through the receiving of the Holy Spirit. Colossians 3:9-13…”Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; 10: And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: 11: Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all. 12: Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; 13: Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.”

The Body of Christ, the Church, was foreknown by God, called and formed according to His will, predestined to be conformed to the image of Christ (Romans 8:28), justified by Christ's death and will be glorified upon the Rapture of the Church to meet Christ in the air. All of these blessings were hidden in God from the foundation of the earth in what Paul calls "the mystery” (Eph. 3:1-3) A person becomes a part of the Body of Christ by belief in the truth of the gospel (I Cor. 15:1-4).

The following verse indicates that the Gentiles are the elect but not as yet have obtained salvation. Paul is hopeful that they may obtain salvation but the wording shows the possibility they may not. This verse clearly contradicts the teaching that election is equal to salvation. 2 Timothy 2:8-10… Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel: 9: Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound. 10: Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.

Romans 8:31-33… What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? 32: He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? 33: Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth.

3. Individual Persons are elect. Election does not determine individual salvation and it is not a guarantee of salvation. God does elect some individuals to carry out His purposes on earth. Some people are not willing to do the righteous will of God so He uses their evil deeds to carry out His purposes. God uses the faithful and obedient man to do His righteous works. The following verses show that Pharaoh rejected God and hardened his heart against the will of God. God responded by sending ten plagues against Pharaoh to show His power and to declare His name in all the earth. God continued in Exodus 9 to harden Pharaoh's heart to bring to the surface that which was already there. Exodus 7:14 And the LORD said unto Moses, Pharaoh's heart is hardened, he refuseth to let the people go. Exodus 8:15 But when Pharaoh saw that there was respite, he hardened his heart, and hearkened not unto them; as the LORD had said.

Romans chapters 9, 10, and 11 are favorite verses of Calvinists to substantiate unconditional election. However, Paul is not speaking of individual men’s eternal destiny as Calvinists would have us believe; he is discussing the historic missions of men and nations i.e. Egypt, Israel, Pharaoh, Jacob and Esau. The Apostle Paul uses the story of Pharaoh as an example for Israel. Israel hardened their hearts in their rejection of Jesus Christ the Messiah just like Pharaoh hardened his heart toward Jehovah God. Therefore, God has the right to turn to the Gentiles with the gospel of salvation by grace. The Gentiles were not God's people but now they shall be called the "sons of the living God."
Paul’s whole doctrine of sin in the book of Romans assumes that Adam fell freely and voluntarily. His sin was contrary to the will of God. It equally assumes that all men who perish do so by their own fault. The salvation of all mankind is the aim of the gospel. God… “who will have all men to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth.” (1 Tim. 2:4). Christ came to be the “Saviour of all men" (1 Tim. 4:10). The conclusion which emerges from Paul’s discussion of the mysteries of God’s providence and purpose with individuals is not to demonstrate unconditional election. Paul concludes that God may choose some and reject others; He may appoint some to one career, others to another; His ways are past finding out; He may do what He will; but whatever He does, Paul says it is to the end … “that he might have mercy upon all.” (Rom. 11:32) (not just on some elect group of favorites)
God elected Saul to be King over Israel and to save His people from the Philistines, but King Saul turned against God in disobedience.

God elected Esau to serve his brother Jacob. God did not say, “Jacob have I saved and Esau have I elected to hell”. The announcement of God at the birth of the twins was that Jacob and Esau were representative of two nations. Esau despised God’s will and several generations later his family’s spiritual condition led God to declare, “Jacob have I loved and Esau have I hated.” Esau’s descendants turned out to be sodomites. (Gen. 36:9; Mal. 1:4)God did not announce His love for Jacob and His hatred for Esau at their births; He said this centuries after their deaths. (Mal. 1:2) Similarly, Paul is telling the nation of Israel in Romans 9, 10, 11 that God can set aside a nation if He so desires without having to give that nation an explanation. God was setting Israel aside as a most favored nation and turning His attention to “the church, the body of Christ”---made up of Jews and Gentiles.

God elected Paul to be the Apostle to the Gentiles. God, in a special confrontation on the Damascus road, urged Paul to accept divine election. First, He blinded Paul with a bright light; then Christ personally spoke to Paul. The scripture clearly says that Paul was resisting the call of God (kicking against the pricks), and a powerful action by God was required to win Paul's submission. Paul's response was immediate and complete submission to Jesus.

4. Jesus Christ was elected by God to take away the sin of the world. John 1:29 “The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” Isaiah 42:1 "Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth;”

Summary

When reduced to its simplest elements election is twofold: First, God elected a plan of salvation which He accomplished in Christ. Man may either reject this plan or accept it…. Secondly, God elected a people to make known His plan of salvation…. Thus election is to both salvation and evangelism. In both, the free-will of man determines the final result.

To be the elect of God is not to be His pampered favorite. It is to be challenged to a loyalty, a service and a sacrifice that knows no limits…. Just as the prophets in the moment of their consciousness of their election to their office felt a trembling humility and a burning sense of the task to which they were called, so should all the elect who make up the Church of Jesus Christ feel an ever renewed humility of spirit and wonder at the greatness of their privilege, together with a burning of heart at the greatness and urgency of the task to which they are elect.
In Ephesians 1:4 the Bible teaches that the saints are chosen in Him to be holy and without blame before him in love---not predestinated to salvation. We are not chosen to be put into Christ, ‘but chosen in Him’…. God places every believer ‘in Christ’ to share His election. Jesus was elected to fulfill a mission and to perform a task…. Keep in mind then that election is ‘in Christ.’ We are not among the elect until we come into Christ by faith.
Vs. 5… The doctrine of predestination has been the source of much division and confusion in the body of Christ. Predestination or fore-ordination is what God did before the world began (Titus 1:2) as He determined to save man through His own Son. Those who believe and trust the gospel alone are now in Christ Jesus our Lord. Paul’s use of the term “predestinate” is always in direct connection with the church. “Having predestinated us,” that is, the members of the Body of Christ. A scriptural way to think about predestination is God foreknew what man would do and what He (God) would do for man. God has predestinated us “unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will.”

Did God predestinate some to eternal destruction? John Calvin said yes…"The reprobate like the elect are appointed to be so…" (Calvin’s Institutes II, chapter xxii, page 11), and "Their fate was the direct immediate appointment of God" (Calvin’s Institutes III, chapter iii, page 4). Did it please God to determine eternal death to some before they were born? In Ezekiel 33:11, the Lord makes a very interesting statement about Himself. He says, "Say unto them, as I live, sayeth the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked.” Notice that God prefaces His statement with, "As I live." How long has God lived? The Scriptures teach that God is eternal and immutable. . .that is, He changes not. Therefore, from eternity past God has never had any pleasure in the death of the wicked. To say that God applied spiritual death to certain men prior to the fall of man not only makes God a liar regarding His statements about His creation work, but also displays a significant lack of trust in God’s revealed Word. Romans 8:29 says we are predestinated “to be conformed to the image of His Son.’” Predestination is not God from eternity saying, “This man goes to Heaven and this man goes to hell.” Predestination teaches me that when I believe on Christ, when I have trusted Him as my Saviour, I may know on the authority of God that it is settled forever that some day I am to become like my Saviour. Predestination has nothing whatsoever to do with sending certain people to heaven and others to damnation as John Calvin taught. Predestination’s purpose (according to Scripture) is to conform the believer to the image of God’s Son and to adopt us in His family by Jesus Christ.
Men are not predestinated by God to go to heaven or hell. The Bible gives several clear instances of men resisting the Grace of God. Jesus stood over Jerusalem and said that He wanted to gather them unto Himself, but they would not (Matt. 23:37). When Stephen preached the Word of God to the Jews he said that they were stiff-necked and that they were resisting the Holy Spirit … “Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye.” (Acts 7:51). The writer of Hebrews, when describing those who draw back unto perdition (Heb. 10:39), said that though they were sanctified by the blood of Christ, yet they had done despite unto the Spirit of Grace (Heb. 10:28,29). Here it is plain that the blood of Christ was available to them for salvation, but was refused. The Spirit of God strives with sinners to bring them to repentance and faith according to Gen. 6:3… “And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years.” This verse also states that God will one day give man up when His grace is continually resisted.
Calvinists quote, "who hath resisted his will?" as a proof text that no one can resist his will. But in fact, Paul will correct this erroneous thought in the very next verse! Romans 9:20…Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus? In other words, "Who hath resisted his will?" Those who reply against God have resisted His will. Paul is actually showing in this passage that it is very possible to resist God's will and the Spirit!
A Calvinist would believe that those who are described as "cast into the lake of fire" are those who, before the foundation of the world, were decreed by God to be there. According to the Bible, men will be judged to the lake of fire because their name was not found written in the Book of Life. . . "And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire" (Rev. 20:15). The Scripture also teaches that men are judged according to their works (Rev. 20:13). An unbeliever’s judgment is qualified by God in two ways: first, his works; and second, his name being found in the Book of Life. Nowhere in Scripture can we find the false teaching that God in eternity past decreed some to the lake of fire. According to Jesus, the lake of fire was prepared for the devil and his angels (Matt. 25:41) who rebelled against God and lost their right standing with God; He did not make hell for the devil and his angels according to the good pleasure of His will. He made it in response to their rebellion. So it is with man.
If God has already predestinated those who will be going to hell, no amount of evangelism from Christians will change that. Is evangelism the means by which God saves those who are predestinated to heaven? Will our conscious decision to not evangelize affect the elect? Calvinists love to remind us that salvation is totally of God! "Salvation is of the LORD” (Jonah 2:9) If that is so, then why is it so important that I proclaim the Gospel? Does that not make me a partner with God in the salvation of souls? Why not just let God get the souls He wants to heaven? Why does man have a responsibility in this important work of God in saving the elect? Will there be any less souls in heaven if I choose not to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ?
In Matthew 20:28 and Mark 10:45 Jesus states that He would "give His life a ransom for many." The Calvinist would point out that it only says "many," not "all." Yet Paul writes in 1 Timothy 2:6 that Christ "gave Himself a ransom for all.” Under the prophetic program for Israel, the chosen nation was primarily in view as recipients of Christ's sacrifice; therefore, Christ's use of the word "many." But with the Revelation of the Mystery to Paul, the further truth of Christ's death for Gentiles is also in view, therefore the word "all."
What terrible loss awaits the Calvinist who makes God to be something that He is not. God is a saving God. “And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely" (Rev. 22:17). How wonderful that God would conclude the Bible with a Gospel invitation to "whosoever will” as a final reproof to Calvinists.
Looked at objectively, Calvinism is nothing more than a system of baffling, almost mystical theological complexities and contradictions piled one on top of the other. It is a tradition so revered and so exalted that most Christians are assumed to not be intelligent enough to understand it fully. Therefore, we require an intellectual elite - a Reformed priesthood - to explain it to us as if we were medieval Catholic peasants.

I am convinced that Calvinism is one of the most subtly malignant forms of theological blasphemy infecting the Church today; it ranks right up there with the Charismatic Movement. It isn't a matter of merely erroneous doctrine. For if Calvinism is true, then the Bible and God Himself are less than totally reliable. That's what is at stake here.
The Calvinists I've met will insist on asking me why I reject the possibility of a sovereign God electing certain ones to save and damning the rest, if that's what He wants to do? I don't reject that possibility at all. God could do exactly that if He chose to do so. You see, the point is not, “Can't God do whatever He wants with His creation?" Of course He could, He's God. The real issue is, "What has the God, who cannot lie, promised to do, according to the Bible? In order for Calvin's view of election to be true, God MUST BE a cheat, a liar and a hypocrite. It is unavoidable!

God would have to be a CHEAT because He appears to extend saving grace to ALL when He really hasn't. “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,” (Titus 2:11)

God would have to be a LIAR because His clearly and repeatedly offers salvation to ALL, even though He has no intention of saving all who hear His offer. “For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. 12: For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. 13: For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Romans 10:11-13) It is very clear from the Scripture that God is a saving God. From Genesis to Revelation, God voices His desire for the lost to be saved. The Scripture teaches, "For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth" (1 Tim. 2:3, 4). Divine language cannot be made any clearer!

God would have to be a HYPOCRITE because He has sworn to damn corrupt human judges for doing essentially the same thing He does with those He has not enabled to do what He commands them to do (i.e., believe). “Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth. 11: Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. 12: Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.” (Psalms 2:10-12)

The God of the Bible does not cheat or lie. He truly is "righteous in ALL His ways, gracious in ALL His works” (Ps 145:17). He acts in accordance with that in all His dealings with man, even when He pours out wrath.
If men are not elected or predestinated to salvation as John Calvin taught, then how are men to be saved?
• Galatians 3:8 says that, "…God would justify the heathen through faith.” Faith is the means for salvation and Jesus Christ has provided the way of salvation. Faith always has an object and for the sinner this will be Jesus Christ and His work on the cross for them. Men put their faith on the perfect finished sacrifice of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ whose blood was shed for them and who rose again bodily from the grave. This salvation is given to anyone who will admit his lost condition as a sinner. Then when he, by faith, receives the Lord Jesus as the one who died for him and rose again, he shall be saved from the guilt and penalty of sin.
• A Calvinist will teach that if man expresses his faith toward God and His Word (regarding salvation) it would be a work of man. But faith defined in Scripture is not a work. Romans 4:5 clearly teaches, "But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.” The act of accepting salvation is man’s act and that act is faith. The free act of God in bestowing salvation is grace.
• Jesus gave a clear illustration of what faith in Him means. He said to Nicodemus: "As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:14-15). The Israelite in the wilderness showed his faith by looking on the serpent of brass that hung on the pole (see Num. 21:5-9). In this one act of faith was expressed an utter helplessness and an acknowledgment that God’s provision was his only hope. He did not understand the significance of the serpent, nor why it was made of brass. He did not analyze his faith to see if it was sufficient. He did not question the intensity of his look. He surely claimed no merit for looking. There were just two things in his mind: his own absolute hopelessness and the sufficiency of God’s provision. And this is all that there is to that faith through which the lost are saved. There is no power in faith that contributes to salvation…."The Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all” (Isa. 53:6).

Adoption refers to God placing a believer as an adult son (heir) into His family and giving him access to all the privileges that go with it.
A. The Biblical use of the Word.
1. The modern meaning of adoption is to take a child born of one family and place him into another; however that does not consider the fact that a Christian becomes a member of God's family by regeneration. A Christian is literally recreated as a member of God's family, not just placed into it still having only the nature of another.
2. In the Scriptures, adoption is not so much a word of relationship but of position. It doesn’t address how the believer became a member of the family but of the fact he already is a member because of regeneration. God has placed him in the position of an adult son and he has all the rights and privileges that go with it.
B. How Adoption Became Available
1. God's justice required Jesus Christ's death on the cross to deal with sin before He could place any person in His family. His death and shed blood fully redeemed the believing sinner and made regeneration and adoption available (Rom. 8:15-16; Gal. 4:4-6).
C. The Privileges of Adoption
1. The believer has a father that loves him, cares for him, protects him, corrects him, and promises to never leave him (Rom. 8:31).
2. He is a fellow citizen with the “...Saints and the household of God” (Eph. 2:19). Also, he is an heir of God and joint-heir with Christ (Rom. 8:17).
3. He has within him the "Spirit of adoption” (the Holy Spirit, Rom. 8:17) who bears witness in his heart that he is God's son and leads him to cry out to God as his father. The Spirit will also raise up the saint's body at the Rapture (Rom. 8:11-17; 1Cor. 15:51-52; Gal. 4:4-6; Phil. 3:21; 1Thes. 4:13-18).
4. God has predestinated the believer to be conformed into the image of Jesus Christ and has promised to openly reveal him as His son (Rom. 8:29; Eph. 1:5).
D. The Final Adoption
1. Even though a believer is now fully God's child, God has not yet fully revealed him as such. However, the "firstfruits of the Spirit” is a guarantee that He will. This is the main emphasis of adoption, the day when Christ returns and redeems the saint's body making it "...Like unto his glorious body” (Phil. 3:21). In that day, God will openly show all creation those who are His regenerated and adopted children (Rom. 8:23; 1Cor. 15:51-58; 2Cor. 5:1-4).


Vs. 6…. “To the praise of the glory of His grace, wherein He hath made us accepted in the Beloved”

The world places a great deal of importance upon acceptance. Everyone wants to fit in somewhere with someone. Whatever it takes to be a part of the crowd; drinking, smoking, drugs, swearing, dress, hairstyle, they are more than willing to make the accommodation. But, the very One whose approval they do need, they have forsaken. Why? because they must come to Him on His terms, by way of the Cross.

In Adam, we are unacceptable to a holy and righteous God. The natural man is a sinner in word, thought, and deed.. Thus, it is God’s holiness that must be satisfied. It is His standard of righteousness which must be met. In short, we must be perfect to enter into His presence. In the Old Testament, the sinner was required to bring a sacrifice to the door of the tabernacle. God made the determination whether or not it was acceptable in His sight (Lev. 4:1-8). As the plan of redemption unfolded, the day Christ shed His perfect blood, God declared it to be the acceptable sacrifice for sin. This, of course, was verified in due time through Paul’s gospel (I Tim. 2:3-7). Today, the sinner must place his faith in the finished work of Christ. He is the once-for-all sacrifice (Heb. 10:10-12). God has made those who have received the riches of His grace accepted in the Beloved. We are the objects of His favor.

Vs. 7-8…“In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace; wherein He hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence”

In 1913 George Bennard penned the famous hymn The Old Rugged Cross:
“So I’ll cherish the old rugged Cross,
Till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged Cross,
And exchange it some day for a crown.”
We will never exchange the Cross or what was accomplished there for a crown. Throughout eternity those nail prints in our Savior’s hands and feet will serve as a constant reminder that Christ is our Redeemer, to the glory of God (John 20:24-29; Rev. 5:6).

Most of us are familiar with the term redemption. In biblical times the term redemption was closely associated with slavery. Back in Paul’s day there were approximately 6 million slaves in the Roman Empire who were bought and sold. Slave owners frequently came to the slave-market where they paid large sums of money to make a purchase.

When Adam disobeyed God by eating of the forbidden fruit, the entire human race was plunged into the slave-market of sin. Sin became a cruel taskmaster that subjects its captives hopelessly to a lifetime of bondage and fear of death. Thankfully, God sent forth His Son who stepped into the slave market of sin that He might purchase us unto Himself. Since God’s holiness was violated at the Fall, only the Holy One of heaven, to whom the payment must be made, could determine the required ransom price for such a transaction. Thus, we are not redeemed with corruptible things such as silver and gold, but by the “precious Blood of Christ” (Rom. 3:25; Heb. 9:11-14). Our freedom from bondage has come to us at a great cost. Therefore, may we never be guilty of using our liberty for an occasion to the flesh.

Vs. 9-12… “Having made known unto us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He hath purposed in Himself: that in the dispensation of the fullness of times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in Him: in whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of Him who worketh all things after the counsel of His own will: that we should be to the praise of His glory, who first trusted in Christ”

The Mystery of His will has to do with God’s eternal purpose for the heavens and the earth. We should add that God hid a principal part of this purpose from past generations; not even the elect angels had any knowledge of it. With both the Jews and Gentiles set aside in unbelief, God was free to make known the counsel of His will, which He foreordained before the foundation of the world. God changed the course of history by unfolding a new program known as the Mystery (Rom. 16:25; Eph. 3:1-3; Col. 1:25,26). The Mystery is God’s secret purpose for the Church, the Body of Christ. And it was foreordained that this truth would exclusively be revealed through Paul’s apostleship. Paul was given the revelation regarding the heavenly ministry of Christ, which introduces us to a new creature. The Body of Christ, with its heavenly position, is the focal point of God’s plan and purposes for the dispensation of Grace. Therefore, it is our responsibility to make known the exceeding riches of His grace.

“Wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a name which is above every name: that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Phil. 2:9-11).

The “things in heaven” is obviously the Body of Christ that will be seated with Christ in glory. And the “things in earth” is a reference to the redeemed prophetic saints who will rule and reign with Christ upon the new earth. Those “things under the earth,” the unsaved of all ages, aren’t included in God’s plans and purposes for eternity. When the unbelieving world is cast into the lake of fire, they are forever removed from God’s presence and the glory of His power (II Thes. 1:9). May God help us to have a greater burden for lost souls.

Vs. 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”

This passage is confirmation that the Holy Spirit plays an essential role in the eternal security of every believer. The moment we have taken Christ as our personal Savior, the Holy Spirit baptizes us into the Body of Christ, sealing us there for eternity. We are not sealed with a mere circular impression as on a legal document. Rather the Scriptures clearly teach that the Holy Spirit Himself is the seal that secures us in the Body of Christ

Vs. 14… “Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of His glory”.

To place earnest money down in Paul’s day, as well as in our day, meant three things:
1. It was a down payment which made a contract binding.
2. It represented an obligation to purchase.
3. It was a foretaste of what was to come.
When purchasing property it is a common practice to place a certain amount of earnest money down. This makes the deal binding and obligates the buyer to purchase the piece of land according to the terms of the contract. So it is with God. He has given us the earnest of the Spirit (the indwelling Spirit) as a down
payment, which means He now has the obligation to honor His Word to complete the transaction. Thus, when the trump sounds God will claim His purchased possession, ushering us home to be forever with Him (I Thes. 4:17).

The Unpardonable Sin
The Lord Jesus Christ is the only One in all Scripture to make clear reference to this awful sin and to pronounce the guilty verdict upon those that committed it. This sin was committed twice: (Matt. 12:22-32; Mark 3:22-30).
The word blaspheme in its technical sense means: speaking evil of the Almighty or His name. In the Old Testament, blasphemy was punishable by stoning. There is one Old Testament example of this sin in Leviticus 24:10-16.
In the New Testament, it was this Old Testament law against blasphemy that the Scribes, Pharisees, Chief Priests and rulers of the people used in order to condemn anyone who spoke out against the corruption of their leadership:
In their evil and conniving effort to catch the Lord Jesus in His words, in order to accuse and condemn Him on the charges of blasphemy, the Scribes and Pharisees eventually became guilty of this sin themselves. We must be very careful, scriptural and dispensational in defining the unpardonable sin. Although we have all heard many explanations of this sin by preachers, let’s let the Bible tell us what it is.
The blasphemy against the Holy Ghost has been wrongly defined as an individual's mockery of spiritual manifestations and/or refusal to accept Christ as their personal Savior. Although these are clearly aspects of the unpardonable sin, many of these 'blasphemers' in the Bible are later in life gloriously saved and become faithful servants of God. Therefore, what Jesus was specifically referring to as the unpardonable sin must have a deeper meaning.
According to Mark 3:30 and Matthew 12:28 blasphemy against the Holy Spirit consisted of:
1. Audibly accusing Jesus Christ of having an unclean spirit.
2. Saying it personally to Jesus.
Maintaining a stubborn refusal to accept and believe in the divinity of Jesus Christ. A state of willful opposition to God and the work of the Holy Ghost that no effort will succeed which will lead to your repentance and forgiveness.
This unpardonable sin was a racial or national sin applying to the Jewish people and was not a personal sin committed by an individual.
The Philistines worshipped an idol called Beelzebub, god of Flies (II Kings 1:16). The Jews had changed it to the dung god, or lord of the dunghill. He was the prince of demons.
Be careful not to conclude that a hardened sinner has committed the unpardonable sin and thus incapable of being saved. Jesus taught us that even a man who is demon possessed in the worst way is still able to be saved. (Mark 5:1-19)
Can Christians commit blasphemy today? According to the following scriptures, we can commit blasphemy but not in the same sense as Israel committed against Jesus 2,000 years ago.
Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: [6] For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: [7] In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them. [8] But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. (Col. 3:5-8)
And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry; [13] Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. [14] And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. (I Tim. 1:12-15)
The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things;[4] That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, [5] To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed. (Tit. 2:3-5)

Vs. 15-16... If we desire to have an effective prayer life, we must follow Paul’s example. Paul never underestimated the importance of prayer.

The Apostle Paul was a model of thankfulness in his prayers. As Paul wrote to the saints at Ephesus, he was genuinely grateful that they were saved by grace and living for the Lord. The apostle did not selfishly feel he was the only one who could effectively serve Christ. He thanked God that others were standing for the truth as well. Perhaps we should pause here for a moment to ask, when was the last time we thanked the Lord for someone else’s faithfulness? “Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving” (Col. 4:2). Paul’s primary intercession for the saints usually centered around spiritual things. However, he did also pray for the following: political rulers (I Tim. 2:1-2); gratitude for daily meals (I Tim. 4:3-5); healing of physical infirmities (Phil. 2:24-30); deliverance from prison (Phil. 1:19,20); prosperous travels (not safe trips) (Rom. 1:7-10);

Vs. 17… What is the apostle speaking of when he says: “The God of our Lord Jesus Christ?” We must remember that Jesus was perfect God and perfect man. Our Lord emptied Himself of the outward manifestation of His attributes and glory. He laid them aside for the great work of redemption that was set before Him. Therefore, as a man, who took on the form of a servant, it is correct to say “the God of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Phil. 2:5-8). As the eternal Son, the apostle emphasizes His relationship with the Father: “Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ” (II Cor. 1:3; Isa. 9:6). Paul prays for the Ephesians that the Father would give them “the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him.” Notice that the apostle doesn’t pray that they would receive a direct revelation from the Lord; this was reserved for the inspired apostle of Grace (Eph. 3:2,3). Rather, he prays that the Holy Spirit
would give them wisdom and illuminate them to the revelation already given in his epistles.

If you comprehend the preaching of Jesus Christ according to the revelation of the Mystery, it confirms two things. First, you were searching for the truth. Second, the Spirit of God enlightened you to this blessed message through your study of the Scriptures. He delights in teaching us the things of God.

Vs. 18… Once we are introduced to the revelation of the Mystery, the Lord would have us understand “what is the hope of His calling.” There are various callings in the Scriptures, but this particular calling has to do with our future state. The Rapture is the hope of His calling. We can survive almost anything as long as we have hope. Our hope is to be caught up together to meet the Lord in the air!

Paul carefully distinguishes here between “our inheritance” in verse 11, and “His inheritance” in verse 18. An inheritance is when property or possessions pass from one party to another. Normally, it is never fully realized until death. According to Ephesians 5:27, the Body of Christ is His inheritance. “That He might present it [the Body of Christ] to Himself a glorious Church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.” Think of it, unworthy sinners like us occupying a place in the heart of God! That’s grace!!

When we open the treasure chest of God’s Word there is one spiritual gem that outshines all others---the preeminence of Christ.

The most convincing verses establishing the Deity of Christ is found in Paul’s letter to the Colossians. “Who is the image of the invisible God” (Col. 1:15). In Colossians 1:9 Paul encourages the saints at Colosse by revealing that he had been praying for them and desired that they “might be filled with the knowledge [full knowledge] of His [God’s] will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding.” His words change quickly to words of warning in Colossians 2:18, where he says, “Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels.” The cause for concern in this particular case was the dangerous teaching of Gnosticism (knowledge), which denied the Deity of Christ, teaching that Christ was merely a created being of the highest order of the angels. The instigators of this system boasted of having superior knowledge, that is, human knowledge, with all its vain imaginations. Sir Robert Anderson was correct in his observation that “Satan still camps under the tree of knowledge.”

“The mighty God, THE EVERLASTING FATHER, The Prince of Peace” (Isa. 9:6).

Jehovah Witnesses like to question the deity of Christ based on (Col. 1:15). To most people the term “firstborn”is commonly understood to mean, “the one born first into the family.” However, in the
Old Testament the firstborn was not necessarily the first to be born. In other words, the term is not exclusively associated with origin, sometimes it was used as a title of honor and dignity to denote a position of priority. For example, was Israel the first nation of civilization? History bears out that
there were numerous nations in existence long before Israel. But consider these words of the Lord, “And thou shalt say unto Pharaoh, Thus saith the Lord, Israel is My son, even My firstborn.” Firstborn, that is, in the sense of a position and standing above all other nations. Furthermore, God channeled His choicest blessings through His chosen nation, which meant they enjoyed certain rights and privileges that were denied others.

The same can be said of Esau and Jacob. You will recall that when Jacob was old Joseph brought Manasseh, his firstborn son, along with Ephraim, to his father’s side to be blessed. It is interesting to note that when Jacob placed his right hand on the head of the younger Ephraim, Joseph sought to correct his father’s error, but observe the patriarch’s response: “And his father [Jacob] refused, and said, I know it, my son [Joseph], I know it: he [Manasseh] also shall become a people, and he [Manasseh] shall also be great: but truly his younger brother [Ephraim] shall be greater then he [Manasseh], and his seed shall become a multitude of nations” (Gen. 48:19).

These examples from the Old Testament serve as reminders that the term firstborn must never be limited to first in time. Paul’s reference to Christ in Colossians 1:15 as “the firstborn of every creature” is not to be understood in the sense that He was the first created being; this would be out of harmony with the context. Christ holds a position of priority over His creation, because He is the Creator. Therefore, Christ is God, for only God has the power to create ex nihilo or out of nothing. “For by Him were all things created.” Who filled the heavens with stars which cannot be numbered, and calls them all by their names?—Christ. Who designed the eggshell? And how is it possible for a baby chick to grow inside a closed shell without oxygen? Scientists have discovered, to their amazement, that the eggshell has thousands of microscopic pores which allow oxygen in and carbon dioxide out.

The Bible documents various reversals of death, but Jesus holds the distinct honor of being the firstborn from the dead. He is the firstfruits of them which slept; only Jesus died, arose and never died again. All others died a second time because they did not obtain a glorified body as Jesus did. According to Colossians 1:18 one of the purposes of Christ’s resurrection from the dead was to assume the headship of the Body of Christ “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” . Here again He holds a position of priority. The headship of Christ supplies each member of the Body with an endless source of life, both spiritually and eternally. Since only God can impart life this gives us further proof of the Deity of Christ.

Vs. 19-20… Paul understood the importance of the saints being established in the faith. This would enable them to walk worthy of their calling and to be unshaken by hard circumstances. A knowledge of the “greatness of His power” and a proper application of it are essential to live a godly life in Christ Jesus.

In the dispensation of Grace God has revealed His power in a much different way than in time past. For Israel God parted the Red Sea, fed them with manna and killed their enemies. Paul shifts the emphasis from time past miracles to the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

As we study the Word of God rightly divided, we are to understand that God has arranged His dealings with mankind into two programs. We have His prophesied purpose and His secret purpose. Prophecy has to do with the earth and Christ’s reign upon it during the millennial kingdom, while the Mystery concerns our exaltation with Christ in the heavenlies. Consequently, there is a twofold purpose in regard to the resurrection of Christ. According to prophecy Christ was raised to be seated on the throne of David (Acts 2:29,30). Since God’s Prophetic Program has been temporarily suspended, this promise that was originally made with David is yet to be fulfilled.

With the introduction of the dispensation of Grace, God has given us a new revelation regarding His Son. Paul says: “Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things. Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to “my gospel” (II Tim. 2:7,8 ) Paul challenged Timothy to “consider what I say” and the Lord would give him wisdom. Then he says: “Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel.” Paul makes it very clear that he wasn’t proclaiming “another Jesus.” Rather it was the same person—Jesus Christ of the seed of David. What the apostle wanted Timothy, and us, to understand was that he preached the resurrection of Christ in a completely different light. Today the terms of salvation include belief in the resurrection of Christ (I Cor. 15:1-4). We also learn through Paul’s gospel that we are identified with Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection (Rom. 6:1-4).

Vs. 21-22…These verses plainly state that Christ has been given absolute power and authority over His entire creation because He humbled Himself unto death, even the death of the Cross. If the Father has “put all things under His feet,” how do we explain the ongoing rebellion of men and angels who continue in their evil ways? The answer---this is the administration of Grace—sin is not being judged today. While Christ has the authority to do so, He has chosen not to exercise His power in accordance with the riches of His grace. Paul adds these words of clarification: “But when He saith all things are put under Him, it is manifest that He is excepted, which did put all things under Him. And when all things shall be subdued unto Him” (I Cor. 15:27,28). Notice carefully the phrase “all things shall be subdued unto Him.” The day is fast approaching when the Lord will exercise His rightful authority to judge the affairs of men. The Book of Revelation bears record that God will ultimately triumph over sin in His universe.

We learn from I Corinthians 12 that the head is said to be a member of the Body. Therefore, headship has to do with the mind of Christ, which is accessed through the Pauline revelation (Phil. 2:1-5).