Category Mystery

Victory in Christ

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“But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)“

Ephesians 4:7-10

There is a victory for Israel. There is a victory for the Church, the Body of Christ. Israel’s victory is still yet future. Whereas, our victory is right now in the Dispensation of Grace. Paul quotes from Psalm 68 here in Ephesians 4:8. He does so to talk about the victory and the gifts that God gives to us as a result of Jesus Christ our Lord ascending up far above all heavens and obtaining that victory over sin and death.

But first, let’s go to Psalm 68 to see Israel’s victory. Psalm 68 is, like many other passages of Scripture, about Israel being delivered from her enemies. God is the one going to do the delivering of the nation. Ps 68:1 says, “Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered: let them also that hate him flee before him.” Verse two continues to say that His enemies will be driven away, and will perish at the presence of God. “But let the righteous be glad; let them rejoice before God: yea, let them exceedingly rejoice” (68:3). God is going to “bring out those which are bound in chains” (68:4) (Compare Ps 107:1-14; 146:7; Acts 12:7-10). He will bring the nation of Israel out of captivity. The Kings (of the world) at the end of Tribulation will “flee apace” (68:12). Then we get to verse 18, where it says, “Thou [speaking of God] has ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive: thou hast received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that the LORD God might dwell among them.” He is the God of their salvation (68:19-22). The chapter ends with saying “O God, thou art terrible out of thy holy places: the God of Israel is he that giveth strength and power unto his people, Blessed be God.” God will save the people of Israel when He comes back at the end of the Tribulation. They will have victory in the end.

“But thanks be unto God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.“

1 Corinthians 15:57

But, what about us today? Jesus Christ our Lord has obtained victory for us apart from the law. His righteousness has been revealed without the law, and therefore, we conclude that a man is justified without the deeds of the law (Rom. 3:21-28). Israel has been concluded in unbelief, so that He might have mercy upon all (Rom. 11:32). Whoever believes on the Lord Jesus Christ that He died for them, was buried, and rose again the third day shall be saved. It doesn’t matter whether we are Jew or Gentile, male or female, bond or free (Gal. 3:28). Salvation isn’t just of the Jews anymore in this current dispensation. The Lord Jesus Christ first descended into the lower parts of the earth by dying on the cross for our sins, and then he ascended up far above all heavens, so that we might be joined to His own Body and have victory through Him. This victory is offered to all and given to anyone who believes. Colossians 2:15 says, “And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.” 1 Corinthians 15:54-57 says, “So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be unto God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” God wants us to know of this victory, and rejoice in it! It is God’s will that every man be presented as perfect in Christ Jesus (Col. 1:28; 2 Tim. 3:16-17). We are to know of our completeness in Him as members of His Body. That we are circumcised (without human hands), baptized (spiritual, not water), and risen with Christ (Col. 2:9-13; Rom. 6:3-4). We are quickened (made alive) with Him, risen with Him, and seated with Him in heavenly places (Eph. 2:5-6). Since we have this victory through our Lord Jesus Christ, God then “gives gifts unto men.”

Now, back in Ephesians 4:7 it says, “But to every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.” 1) Every saint is given grace. 2) It’s according the measure of the gift of Christ. 3) We are given grace “for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ” (Eph. 4:12-13).

“But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.“

Ephesians 4:7

First, “But to every one of us is given grace.” The first six verses of Ephesians 4 goes into the unity of the Spirit. There is one body, one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God and Father of all. But grace is given to each and every member of that one Body. This fits with 1st Corinthians 12 and Romans 12. 1 Corinthians 12:4-6 says that there are “diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit…differences of administrations, but the same Lord…diversities of operations, but is the same God which worketh all in all.” Then the chapter continues to say “For as the body is one, and hath many members…” (1 Cor. 12:12). Romans 12:4 says, “For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office.” Each member may have its own office, gift, function, etc., but we are all still one together in Christ.

“…according to the measure of the gift of Christ.”

Ephesians 4:7b

Second, the grace that is given to us is “according to the measure of the gift of Christ.” The Father has given His Son all things. What Christ has, we also have. Romans 8:17 says of us, “And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.” As God’s saints, we are His heirs. Therefore, joint-heirs with Christ. It is Christ who is the actual heir of God. For Christ is the Father’s only Begotten Son. He is the Son of God. But, because we are joined to Christ’s body and members of Him, therefore, we are made heirs too. Then, in Romans 8:32 it says, “He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him freely give us all things?” God delivered up His Son to die on the cross for us, who is the same one that has ascended up far above all heavens. The God who has done that for us, “how shall He not [also] with Him [with Christ] freely give us all things?” We learn that God’s grace abounds in this current Dispensation. That’s why it’s called the Dispensation of the Grace of God (Eph. 3:2). God is able to do “exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think” (Eph. 3:20). Romans 5:15 says “But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.” “But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound” (Rom. 5:20b). Grace reigns in this Dispensation (Rom. 5:21). Then, in 2nd Corinthians 9:8 it says, “And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work.” God’s grace is abundant. It was won by our Lord Jesus Christ when He ascended up far above all heavens. And now, He is able to abound all His grace towards each one of us, so that we may abound to every good work. God’s grace, all of it, is available to each one of us.

“For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.“

Ephesians 4:12

Third, the grace given to us is for the purpose of perfecting the saints. It’s not for our own benefit. We are to profit one another. “But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal” (1 Cor. 12:7). We are to “present every man perfect in Christ Jesus” (Col. 1:28). “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works” (2 Tim. 3:16-17). We are many members, and yet we are one Body. As the expression goes, “we’re only as strong as our weakest link.” It’s God’s will for all of us to grow in Christ, to grow in His grace. So that we would all come in the unity of the faith. So that none of us are “tossed to and fro by every wind of doctrine”, that the world tries to teach us (Eph. 4:14).

“By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.“

Romans 5:2

All of God’s grace is available to us. We just need to learn to access it. How do we do that? By faith (saved by grace through faith, Eph. 2:8-9). How do get faith? By hearing the Word of God (Rom. 10:17). That is, by studying the Word of Truth, rightly divided (2 Tim. 2:15). Our standing is in the grace of God. We are saved by His grace, and we access into that grace wherein we stand by faith. As we study God’s Word, and believe it, then can we access God’s grace. God has given us a “more excellent way” (1 Cor. 12:31). The sign gifts that were given out to individuals in the early days of the Church have ceased. We now have the completed Word of God (Col. 1:25). The gift(s) that remains is the grace of God. It is His grace that abounds towards us. And of course, faith, hope, and love (1 Cor. 13:13)! 2nd Corinthians 12:9 says, “My grace is sufficient for thee; for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” As we grow in His grace, we learn to glory in our tribulations/infirmities, which produces in us patience, which produces experience, and which produces hope (Rom. 5:3-5). Just remember that our hope is in the one that rose again from the dead and has ascended up far above all heavens!

This is our commission for today. To preach the cross and make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery (1 Cor. 1:18; Eph. 3:9). It is God’s will that we present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. We are to explain to people the completeness that we have as His saints as members of the Body of Christ. We are all to continue to grow in Christ, to become mature saints, so that we “all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.” Praise ye the Lord! We have victory through Him.

Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved! Believe that He died for your sins, was buried, and rose again the third day. And you will then have victory through Jesus Christ our Lord.

The Day of Salvation

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“(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)“

2 Corinthians 6:2

There is a day of salvation for Israel and there is a day of salvation for the Body of Christ. Last week, we talked about the old and new covenant (see Prophecy Overview). The new covenant is Israel’s salvation. Israel broke the first covenant, and they would need a new covenant to be made with them where they could achieve eternal life. Christ came the first time to die on the cross for their sins and the sins of the whole world. The second time that He will come (He hasn’t come back yet), He will come to save Israel from her enemies, bring her out of the fire and into the Kingdom. That will be Israel’s day of salvation. Our day of salvation, on the other hand, is happening right now in the current Dispensation, the Dispensation of the Grace of God.

First, let’s go to Isaiah 49 to understand why Paul uses the quotation that we find in verse two. Isaiah 49:8 says, “Thus saith the Lord, In an acceptable time have I heard thee, and in a day of salvation have I helped thee: and I will perserve thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, to establish the earth, to cause to inherit the desolate heritages.” God has heard His people Israel and has helped them. God will in the person of His Son, the King of Israel, come back and make a new covenant with them to establish the earth. God had promised Abraham that he would inherit the land/the earth (Gen. 12; Mt. 5:5). Earlier in Isaiah 44:2, Jacob is said to be God’s servant and Jesurun (Israel in their uprightness/righteousness, or redeemed Israel) is God’s chosen. Then, Isaiah 45:4, Israel is called God’s elect. (Election has to do with being chosen to service, not chosen to be saved.) In 49:6, it says “And he said, it is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth.” Over and over again, we see that Israel was and is to be a light unto the world. They are to be God’s salvation unto the end of the earth. They are to be the channel/vessel in which God uses to bring salvation to the world. And the LORD would help them to do that (being a light to the world) by making a new covenant with them, where He would put the law in their inward parts and give them a new spirit to cause them to walk in His statutes (Jer. 31:31-34; Ezek. 36:26-27)

So, how does this apply to us? How does Paul use this verse in 2 Corinthians? Just how God will help Israel to be that light unto the world during the Kingdom, He helps us during this Dispensation of Grace to preach the message of reconciliation for today. We have been “committed the word of reconciliation” (2 Cor. 5:19). And therefore, we are the ambassadors of Christ (5:20). Therefore, Paul starts chapter six with “we then are workers together with him [Christ].” We are to preach the gospel of Christ to the world, to both Jew and Gentile, and everyone that simply believes will be saved. “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it [the gospel] is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek” (Rom. 1:16). Instead of Israel being that chosen vessel to bring a message of salvation to the world, the members of the Body of Christ are chosen as His ambassadors. We are literally workers together with Him, because we belong to His Body. We have been entrusted with the glorious gospel of the blessed God (1 Tim. 1:11), the gospel of the grace of God (Acts 20:24), as God’s servants for Jesus’ sake to bring the word of reconciliation to those who are lost.

“According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust.“

1 Timothy 1:11

Why was Paul saved? According to Acts 26:18, it was “to open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.” In Colossians 1:12-13, we read that God has made us “partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light” and has “translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son.” 2 Corinthians 4:6 says “For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” God has concluded all in unbelief, so that He might have mercy upon all. Paul is a pattern to all those who will believe on Christ as their Savior. Today, we are saved by grace through faith and it is not of ourselves. We are saved by God’s mercy and grace. Paul was made a minister, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to preach the man Christ Jesus as the one mediator between God and men, and that He came into this world to save sinners like you and me (1 Tim. 1:15; 2:5). He came preaching Jesus Christ, so that we might obtain salvation by Him.

“For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; 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; And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby.“

Ephesians 2:14-16

How fitting is it that the Body of Christ should be that chosen vessel to bring the message of reconciliation! For the Body is that message. God today is reconciling both Jews and Gentiles into one Body. And He did it by the cross. Christ died on the cross for all of our sins, whether you are Jew or Gentile, male or female, bond or free. We are all sinners. Christ came to save all of us. Those of us who will simply believe on Him will be joined to Him. Salvation isn’t just for the Jews in this Dispensation. Salvation is offered unto all by the grace of God! God isn’t imputing the world’s trespasses unto them. “Through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses” (Acts 13:38-39). If we believe that Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again the third day, then we will be justified. And we become members of His own Body. As members of His Body, God has chosen us in His Son “to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth” (2 Thess. 2:13). “For God has not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thess. 5:9). He has saved us from the Lake of Fire, but also that prophesied day of wrath called the Tribulation.

“And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.“

1 Thessalonians 1:10

The wrath to come is the Tribulation, the day of the Lord, the day of vengeance of our God. The prophet Isaiah spoke of the acceptable year of the Lord and the day of vengeance of our God (Isa. 61:1-2). In Luke 4, Jesus Christ stood up in the synagogue and read from this passage in Isaiah, but He stopped short. He only read the acceptable year of the Lord and He said that was fulfilled in their ears. The day of vengeance is still to come. In Acts 2 on the day of Pentecost, Peter says “But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; And it shall come to pass in the last days.” It goes on to say that the Spirit will be poured upon them and they will dream dreams, prophesy, and see visions. This was fulfilled on the day of Pentecost. However, verses 19-20 have not been fulfilled yet. The signs in heaven and earth have not happened yet. But what we learn is that the last days were beginning. So, the next thing on the prophetic timeline was to be the Tribulation. The next thing was that day of the Lord. Zephaniah 1:14-15 says “The great day of the Lord is near, it is near, and hasteth greatly, even the voice of the day of the LORD: the mighty man shall cry there bitterly. That day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of wasteness and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness.” But Paul wrote in 1st Thessalonians that we wait for His Son, which has delivered us from the wrath to come. God has not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Thess. 1:10; 5:9).

God interrupted the prophetic timeline in order to usher in a day of grace, a day of salvation. Instead of continuing on with the day of wrath, He decided to postpone that day. He decided and He planned to do this from before the foundation of the world to send His Son to make in Himself one new man, which is the Body of Christ (Eph. 1:4; 2:15). It was kept a secret, but now God had made it known to the Apostle Paul (Rom. 16:25-26; Eph. 3:9). He planned to reconcile both Jew and Gentile, whomsoever would believe, into one Body by the cross. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son” (John 3:16). “But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom. 5:8). He died on the cross for our sins, buried our sins away forever, and rose again from the dead for our justification. He did that for us, so that we may be identified with Him. That is, with His death, burial, and resurrection (Rom. 6:3-4). He died and rose again, so that we also may be resurrected with Him. He did that for us, so that we may obtain salvation by Him.

In conclusion, the Dispensation of the Grace of God right now is the day of salvation. It is the accepted time for us to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ. God has committed to Paul’s trust, and therefore, our trust as well the glorious gospel of Christ. That is, that Christ came into this world to save sinners. He came and died for our sins at the cross, was buried, and rose again the third day. He sent the Apostle Paul with this gospel, the word of reconciliation, in order to open our eyes and to turn us from darkness to light. It is the gospel of Christ that does that. “For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” (2 Cor. 4:6). Those of us who have believed this gospel, God has translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son. He has made us members of the Body of Christ (1 Cor. 12:12-13). He has reconciled all believers together in one Body by the cross. Therefore, all believers are workers together with Him. But, it’s of course our job to “make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery” (Eph. 3:9), so that we would all know that we are all a part of this one Body. We are justified by His grace. We are made the righteousness of God in Christ. Therefore, He has delivered us from the wrath to come. He has delivered us from that day of wrath. Thanks be unto God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ for saving us.

“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.“

Acts 16:31

“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.“

1 Corinthians 15:3-4

The Grace of God Abounds

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“If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward: How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)“

Ephesians 3:2-4

We are so blessed to be living in the Dispensation of the Grace of God (Eph. 3:2). We see God’s grace put on full display right now in this current dispensation. God’s grace can be found in any dispensation, but there is only one Dispensation of Grace. It is filled with His grace from beginning to end. It is filled with His grace from our salvation to the redemption of our bodies (Rom. 8:23). We are saved by His grace and we live by His grace too! It is God’s power and grace that saves all those that believe that His Son died for them and their sins, was buried, and rose again the third day. It is also by His power and grace that enables His saints to walk after Him. God is able to and will save the sinner that will simply call out to Him and put their trust in Him. He is also able to and will work in the believer who will let the “word of Christ dwell in them richly in all wisdom” (Col. 3:16). God is with the believer every step of the way. “If God be for us, who can be against us?” (Rom. 8:31)

“But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.“

Acts 20:24

We start our study first with the Gospel of the Grace of God, which is the gospel that saves us today. The Apostle Paul “received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God” (Acts 20:24). This gospel is also called the gospel of Christ. Romans 1:16-17 says, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.” Paul also calls it “my gospel,” because it was revealed first unto him (Rom. 16:25; cf. Rom. 2:16; 2 Tim. 2:8). The gospel itself being that Christ died on the cross for our sins, was buried, and rose again the third day and everyone that believes what Christ accomplished for them there at the cross will be saved. It does not matter whether you are a Jew or Gentile, bond or free, male or female (Gal. 3:28). For whosoever believes on Him shall be saved (Acts 16:31). This message of grace, the gospel of the grace of God, and the Dispensation of the Grace of God were committed unto Paul. It was first revealed unto Him. In Galatians 1:1, it says “Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised Him from the dead.” Then, in Galatians 1:11-12, it says “But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.” Also, in 1st Corinthians 3:10 it says “According to the grace of God committed unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation…” God had a secret that He kept hidden in Himself since the world began, but then He first revealed it to the Apostle Paul.

“ Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.“

1 Timothy 1:16

Paul was to be a pattern. 1 Tim. 1:16 says, “Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.” Titus 2:11 says “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared unto all men.” Titus 3:4 continues to say “But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared.” It appeared “not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us” (Titus 3:5). And it (His grace, kindness, and love) appeared first to Paul, when he was called Saul of Tarsus, on the road to Damascus when the Lord Jesus Christ appeared before Paul in Heaven and had mercy on him by saving him. It wasn’t brought about by his own works. For he was still at that time “breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord” (Acts 9:1). The same is true for all of us who will believe on Christ. We aren’t saved by our own good works, but by God’s mercy He saves us. We are saved by grace through faith (Eph. 2:8-9). We are justified by grace as Titus 3:7 continues on to say. Romans 3:24 says “Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.”

Why is this so great? What makes what happened with Paul so special? According to prophecy, this was not revealed to happen. There was something else that was to come after the stoning of Stephen in Acts 7. According to prophecy, there is the acceptable year of the Lord and the day of vengeance of our God. Isaiah 61:1-2 foretold of this and when Christ was here on the earth he proclaimed the first part and said that it was fulfilled in that day He was here (Luke 4:16-21). But, He left out the day of vengeance. That part has not been fulfilled yet. Jumping to Acts 2 and starting at verse 16 we see that what was happening at the day of Pentecost was prophesied by the prophet Joel. “This is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams.” This part of that prophecy was being fulfilled on the day of Pentecost. But, Acts 2:19-20 have yet to be fulfilled. Israel will go through the Tribulation and will see “wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke: The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood before that great and notable day of the Lord come.” But, it hasn’t happened yet. When Peter indicts Israel, he says to them that “God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ” (Acts 2:36). Then Peter again says in Acts 5:31 concerning Jesus Christ whom they crucified “Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.” Then Stephen recounts Israel’s history in Acts 7 saying of Moses in verse 35, “This Moses whom they refused, saying, Who made thee a ruler and a judge? The same did God send to be a ruler and a deliverer…” Then finally before Stephen died, he sees “the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.” The fact that He was standing, not sitting, meant that He was going to come back and judge them. The next stage to happen on the prophetic timeline was Christ to come back to the earth and be that ruler and judge, ruler and deliverer, a Prince and a Saviour, both Lord and Christ. He will judge the nations that persecuted His people (Israel) and comfort them that mourn for Him. He will deliver Israel from the hand of her enemies and save them.

Then, Saul comes walking in. And he came persecuting the disciples of the Lord and therefore also the Lord Himself. According to prophecy, the next thing on the timeline was judgment. God could have judged Saul and his fate would’ve been the Lake of Fire like every other unbeliever, who dies in their sins. But, God instead decided to show his mercy to Saul and save him.

” For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,“

Titus 2:11

“But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,“

Titus 3:4

“Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;“

Titus 3:5

Instead of ushering in the day of vengeance where God will judge the nations that persecuted Israel, He did something else. God instead ushered in the Dispensation of Grace. He postponed that day of prophecy. Instead, He decided (He had it planned all along, but it was a secret) to show His love and mercy and grace to the whole world, which He is still showing to this day. We read in Romans 1 that God had given up the Gentiles back in Abraham’s day to their reprobate minds. And now, God concluded all of Israel in unbelief as well, so that He might have mercy upon all (Rom. 11:32). His grace has appeared unto all men (Titus 2:11). Instead of judging Saul of Tarsus, God saved him. God does the same thing for anyone that will simply believes on Him. Those who believe that Christ, who is the Son of God (God Himself), died on the cross for their sins, was buried, and rose again on the third day will be saved. God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation” (2 Cor. 5:19). Christ has made peace through the blood of His cross (Col. 1:20), so that we might be reconciled. When we believe, we become members of Christ’s own body, the Body of Christ (not Israel, or spiritual Israel). We did nothing ourselves to deserve eternal life. We did nothing to deserve God’s grace. “But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us” (Eph. 2:4). “But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom. 5:8). “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast” (Eph. 2:8-9). All of this was a mystery, which God kept hidden in Himself, until the right time where He would reveal it unto the Apostle Paul for the first time. God is forming the church, which is His Body (Eph. 1:22-23) today in the Dispensation of the Grace of God. The Body is made up of both Jews and Gentiles who have placed their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior. We are justified freely by His grace. We are made the righteousness of God in Christ (2 Cor. 5:21).

“And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:“

2 Corinthians 9:8

But not only are we saved by grace through faith. God is also able to make all His grace abound toward us (His saints) in our walk with Him. Why does He do this for us? So, that we might abound to every good work. God wants us to abound in Christ. Romans 5:20 says, “Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound.” We are instructed to abound in hope (Rom. 15:13). The sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds by Christ (2 Cor. 1:5). Paul prays that our love may abound yet more and more (Phil. 1:9). We are to know how to abound and to suffer need, and Paul prays that fruit may abound to our account (Phil. 4:11-13, 17). Lastly, we are to abound in everything (2 Cor. 8:7). Romans 8:32 says, “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?” God’s grace is truly sufficient for us (2 Cor. 12:9). We always have all sufficiency in all things (2 Cor. 9:8); and we are blessed with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ (Eph. 1:3). Christ’s strength is made perfect in our weakness (2 Cor. 12:9). “For when I am weak, then am I strong” (2 Cor. 12:10). I am strong, because of Christ Jesus our Lord, who lives in me (Col. 1:27).

In conclusion, God is showing His grace more than ever in this Dispensation, which is called the Dispensation of the Grace of God. Where sin abounded under the law, grace abounds much more now that we are no longer under the law. God’s grace, kindness and love has appeared unto all men whether Jew or Gentile, bond or free, male or female. It appeared “not by works of righteousness which we have done, but by His mercy He saved us.” God has postponed His plan with the nation of Israel and the prophetic program. Instead of going into the Tribulation and the day of vengeance, God ushered in a day of grace. Why? Because God is love and longsuffering. He doesn’t wish that any should perish (2 Peter 3:9,15). Instead, He wants everyone rather to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth (1 Tim. 2:4). So, God appeared unto Paul and gave to him the revelation of the mystery, the truth of the one Body (the Body of Christ). This grace was committed unto him, because he was to be a pattern for all those who would also believe on Christ to life everlasting. Instead of judging Paul, God saved him by His mercy and grace. God will do the same today for anyone that believes that Christ died on the cross for their sins, was buried, and rose again the third day for their justification (1 Cor. 15:3-4; Rom. 4:5, 24-25). Those who will believe will be saved. You will be justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus (Rom. 3:24). Once you are saved, God is able to make all grace abound toward you, so that you may abound to every good work. If we begin in the Spirit, then we will also be made perfect in the Spirit (Gal. 3:1-5). God’s grace reigns in this dispensation.

“That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.“

Romans 5:21

To those who have not yet believed, do so now. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved! Believe that Christ died on the cross for your sins, was buried, and rose again the third day for your justification. You will then be justified (declared righteous) freely by His grace.

Partakers of the Inheritance of the Saints

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“Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:“

Colossians 1:12-14

The Apostle Paul starts out by giving thanks unto the Father. In Colossians 3:17, it tells us “and whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.” We owe our thanks unto God. Everything we have and everything we are in Christ is because of God.

We are saved by the power of God and we also live by His power as well. We are saved by grace (that is, His grace) through faith, it is not of ourselves, but instead it is the gift of God (Eph. 2:8-9). We are saved through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Col. 1:14; Rom. 3:24). We know that God is the God of all comfort (2 Cor. 1:3-7), and that He is able to perform that which He has promised (Rom. 4:21; Phil 1:6), that is eternal life to all those that believe on His Son. Therefore, we can go through this life with patience and longsuffering with joyfulness, while also giving thanks unto the Father.

For what has the Father done for us? The Scripture says in Colossians 1:12-13 that He has made us meet or fit to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light, and that He has translated us into the Kingdom of His dear Son or the Son of His love.

How has God made us meet to be partakers in the first place? This is the first question we will address. Before we were saved, we were lost. Romans 3 tells us that we are all sinners, and because we are sinners we, therefore, deserve death (Romans 6:23).

  • Romans 3:9 – Both Jews and Gentiles are under sin.
  • Romans 3:10 – There is none righteous, no, not one.
  • Romans 3:19 – All guilty before God
  • Romans 3:20 – No flesh justified by the deeds of the law. For by the law is the knowledge of sin.

Concerning us Gentiles, Ephesians 2:11-12 says “Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world.” We once were without Christ and without God. We had no hope. Israel was God’s chosen nation, His elect. It says in Romans 3:2 that to Israel were committed the oracles of God. In Romans 9:4, the Israelites had the adoption, the covenants, the law, the service of God, and the promises. So, how did God make us fit to be partakers?

“For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.“

Romans 11:32

God concluded both Jews and Gentiles in unbelief, so that He might have mercy upon us all. Romans 11:11 says that “through their [Israel’s] fall salvation has come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them [Israel] to jealousy.” Then, in Romans 11:17, it says “And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest of the root and the fatness of the olive tree.” Israel has fallen temporarily, and salvation and blessing having come on the Gentiles (through Israel’s fall, not rising). We have been made partakers of the root, which is Abraham, and the fatness of the olive tree, which is the blessing of Abraham.

In Romans 4:13, it says that “the promise, that he [Abraham] should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham , or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.” In verse 3 of this same chapter, it said that “Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.” The same is true of us, when we believed the gospel, that is that God had “raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; who was delivered for our offences, and raised again for our justification” (Rom. 4:23-25). God counted Abraham’s faith as righteousness. He does the same for us. He counts us righteous, when we first believed or trusted in Christ as our Savior. It is not through the law. “For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect” (Rom. 4:14). In other words, if righteousness came by the law, then faith doesn’t matter. Christ wouldn’t have needed to come and die for us, if the law could have given us life. We could just keep the law ourselves and expect to have eternal life by our own good deeds. But we know this isn’t the case. For it was in chapter three of Romans we read that we are all sinners. But, after declaring us sinners, it also says “But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested” (Rom. 3:21). And in Romans 3:22 it says “Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe.” God counts us righteous, because of what His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, has done for us on the cross. It is through or by the faith of Jesus Christ. It is through His work on the cross. When we believe on Christ, our faith is counted as righteousness. Therefore, Romans 4:16 concludes that “it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all.” Notice that it is of faith, that it might be by grace. Romans 5 and 6 goes on to talk about that more in detail. Romans 5:21 says “that as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.” Then Romans 6 goes on to talk about our identification with Christ and how sin no longer has dominion over us, because we are not under the law, but under grace (Romans 6:11). We are now alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

“But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.“

Galatians 3:22

Now, if we go to Galatians 3, we see there once again that it is by the faith of Jesus Christ that the righteousness of God has come. And those that believe on Him will be justified. Starting in verse 6, we have Abraham again and God counting him righteous, because he believed God. Then in verse 9, it says “they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.” Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law by being made a curse for us, so that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith (Gal. 3:13-14). In verse 16, it was to Abraham and his seed that the promises were made. We learn that the seed is Christ Himself. And verse 29 says, “and if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” Here is an overview of what happens.

  • Abraham believed God and is counted righteous. (Gal. 3:6; Rom. 4:3)
  • All those which be of faith are also then blessed with Abraham. (Gal. 3:9)
  • Not justified by the law. (Gal. 3:11; Rom. 3:20-21)
    • if it were by law, then it is no more of promise. (Gal. 3:18; Rom. 4:14)
    • if law could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by law. Then Christ would’ve have need to come. (Gal. 3:21)
    • But God gave it to Abraham by promise (Gal. 3:18)
    • So, that it can be by faith and grace. Through the righteousness of faith. (Rom. 4:13-16)
  • The righteousness of God comes by the faith of Christ
    • the blessing of Abraham comes through Jesus Christ (Gal. 3:14)
    • the promise by faith of Jesus Christ (Gal. 3:22)
  • Christ is the seed (Gal. 3:16)
  • By faith in Him, we become the children of God. (Gal. 3:26-29)
    • we become a part of Christ (belong to His body), who is the seed of Abraham (Gal 3:29; Rom. 7:4; 1 Cor. 12:12-13)
    • Therefore, we are heirs according to the promise. We are recipients of the promise that came by the faith of Jesus Christ and given to us who have faith in Him. (Gal. 3:22, 29)
  • Therefore, we are justified by faith. (Gal. 3:11; Rom. 3:28)
    • we are made the righteousness of God in Christ (2 Cor. 5:21).
    • We are found in Him, having the righteousness of God which is by faith. The righteousness that is through the faith of Christ, not through the law (Phil. 3:9)

Therefore, God has made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance by justifying us. He has counted our faith as righteousness. We are made the righteousness of God in the Lord Jesus Christ. We are counted as righteous, because of what Christ did for us on the cross. Christ is the seed, and we are joined to Him. We are found in Christ.

“And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith.“

Philippians 3:9

Now that we know how God has made us meet to be partakers, the next question is what has He made us partakers of? And we have actually already answered this as well, at least in part. That is, we are made partakers of Christ. Back in Colossians 1:12, it says we are made partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light. We as God’s saints have obtained an inheritance in Christ (Eph. 1:11). That inheritance is laid up for us in Heaven, the hope of eternal life (Col. 1:5; Titus 1:2-3). But, God Himself also has an inheritance. His inheritance is in the saints. Ephesians 1:18 says “The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what is the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints.” God has his inheritance, and it is of the saints in light. And we are made partakers of that. We have become saints ourselves, when we believed in Jesus Christ as our Savior. When we believed that Christ died on the cross for our sins, was buried, and rose again for our justification, we became partakers of the inheritance of the saints. Furthermore, Paul adds that God has delivered us from the power of darkness and translated us into the Kingdom of His dear Son. Then, Paul goes on to write that Christ is the “head of the body, the church” in Colossians 1:18. In other words, the “inheritance of the saints” is the “Kingdom of His dear Son” and that Kingdom is the Body of Christ. God the Father has made us to be partakers or members of the one Body, the new creature, to be members of Christ. To be partakers of His own Body. For it is in Him that we have redemption through His blood (Col. 1:14). It is in Him that we are found, not having our own righteousness, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith (Phil. 3:9).

God wants us to know this. Colossians 1:9 says that He wants us to be “filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding.” Ephesians 1:18, speaking of God’s inheritance in the saints, says that we should “know what is the riches of the glory” of it. Colossians 1:26-27 says God has made “known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” He has made this known to His saints, whom He has an inheritance in. And he wants us to know this. The only reason we are of any value is because of who we are in Christ Jesus our Lord. Christ is our life. He is our righteousness (1 Cor. 1:30). God has made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance by making us the righteousness of God in Christ. “For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell” (Col. 1:19).

In conclusion, God the Father has made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance. He has done so by the faith of Jesus Christ. It was because of what Christ did on the cross for us, by being made a curse for us, that we can therefore have faith in him and have eternal life. When we do believe, we belong to Christ, who is Abraham’s seed. Therefore, we are heirs according to the promise. We are heirs through the righteousness of faith. By faith in Christ Jesus we became the children of God. We are made the righteousness of God in Christ. We have obtained an inheritance in heavenly places in Christ. God also has an inheritance in us. We have been joined to Christ, and are members of His own body, where Christ is the head of that body. For we are found in Christ, having His righteousness, not our own. For we are complete in Him! This was made possible because of what Christ did for us on the cross. Praise God! This is why we give thanks unto God.

“For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:“

Colossians 2:9-10

If you haven’t believed yet, I hope you would. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved (Acts 16:31). Believe that Christ died on the cross for your sins, was buried, and rose again the the third day according to the Scriptures, and you will be made the righteousness of God in Christ. You will be found in Him, a member of His Body. He did all the work for you. All you have to do is just believe!

Renewed in Knowledge After the Image of Christ

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For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;

Colossians 1:9-10

In the previous lessons, we learned that it was by the will of God to make Paul an apostle of Jesus Christ and a minister to make known what is the mystery of Christ. We also learned that God has saved us and given us a holy calling “according to His own purpose and grace” (2 Tim. 1:9-10). He had given that to us in His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Christ Jesus is God’s elect that He had chosen before the foundation of the world (Eph. 1:4). We as believers are simply chosen in Him.

God wants us to know this mystery, and the glory of it. In the verse above, He wants us to be “filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding” (Col. 1:9). This is for the purpose that we “might walk worthy of the Lord.”

Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:

Colossians 1:28

Here, it says that we “may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.” First, notice that it says every man. A major thing that distinguishes the mystery from the prophetic program with Israel is the fact that in the Body, there is now no difference between Jew and Gentile. Under the law, if a Gentile wanted to be saved they had to go through the nation of Israel. The middle wall of partition was still up, but now that wall is broken down (Eph. 2:14). Salvation has now come unto the Gentiles, not because of Israel’s rising, but rather through their fall (Rom. 11:11; Isa. 60:3).

God wants us to be perfect or mature or complete in Christ. Speaking of our position in Christ, we are already complete in Him (Col. 2:10) the moment that we believed the gospel. But, from a practical point of view we are still on this earth in our old bodies waiting to return home (which is Heaven), to receive our new bodies and to be with our Lord. In Ephesians 3:4, it says “Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ.” Then, if we are to turn back to Colossians 4:5, we learn that we are to “walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time.” God has revealed this mystery to his saints through the ministry of the Apostle Paul, because He wants us to know it. And once we know it, we are to walk in it. We are to pray that God would open to us a door to be able to speak this mystery and to make it manifest to them that have not yet learned of this mystery (Col. 4:3-4). Everything that we do by the Spirit working in us is for the purpose of edifying (building up) the Body of Christ. It is for the purpose of making all His saints perfect in Christ Jesus.

For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

Ephesians 4:12-13

This perfect man that Ephesians 4:13 mentions is the same as the Body of Christ. It is the one new man. This perfect man is unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ. In Colossians, we learn that “it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell” (Col. 1:19). What fulness? The fulness of the Godhead (Col. 2:9). “That in all things he might have the preeminence” (Col. 1:18).

In Scripture, we learn of three images. We have the image of God, the image of Adam or man, and we have the image of Christ.

And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

Genesis 1:26-27

And Adam lived an hundred and thirty years, and begat a son in his own likeness, after his image; and called his name Seth:

Genesis 5:3

The first two we find in the book of Genesis. In the beginning, when God created man, He created him “in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.” Originally, we were created in the image of God. It was considered very good. But, something happened. We (specifically, Adam sinned) sinned. Romans 3:23 says “for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” So, when we come to Genesis chapter 5 and verse 3, where it says Adam begat his own son, what image was his son born of? It says “he begat a son in his own likeness, after his image.” Seth and the rest of mankind from that point onward was after the image of Adam.

We had sinned and we needed a savior. We cannot save ourselves. But, thanks be unto God, for he has provided a solution. He provided a Savior, a Redeemer. That would be His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Christ came and died for our sins, was buried, and rose again the third day (1 Cor. 15:3-4). He was delivered up upon that cross for our offences/sins, and was raised again for our justification (righteousness) (Rom. 4:25). All you have to do be saved is to believe in what He did for you at the cross.

When you believe, you are made the righteousness of God in Christ (2 Cor. 5:21). You become a part of the Body of Christ, the new man, the perfect man. The final image is found in Colossians.

And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:

Colossians 3:10

The new man, it says, is “renewed in knowledge after the image of him.” That is, the image of Christ. And it says there at the end that Christ created him. The “him” at the end there is once again the new man. Christ created the new man.

God created us after His own image originally. Then, Adam sinned against God and begat a son after his own image. That’s why we are all born with a sin nature. When born, we are all in Adam. And we would be doomed if the story stopped there. But, Christ came to “make in himself of twain [Jew and Gentile] one new man, so making peace” (Eph. 2:15). He created us (those who believe) in Himself, after his own image. Believers are taken out of Adam and put into Christ. We are no longer after the image of Adam or man in general. But now, we are after the image of Christ. We have been redeemed through His blood (Eph. 1:7).

Christ has “made peace through the blood of His cross” in order to “reconcile all things unto himself” (Col. 1:20). We have the hope of being conformed to the image of His Son (Rom. 8:29) and for our bodies to be “fashioned like unto his glorious body” (Phil. 3:21). We have this hope “which is laid up for us in heaven” (Col. 1:5). All of this can be yours, if you just believe. Recognize that you are a sinner. You have sinned against God. Then, believe that Christ came and died on the cross for your sins, was buried (took away your sins forever), and rose again the third day for your justification. Believe and you will be saved! You will be renewed in knowledge after the image of Christ.

Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; 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; And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:

Ephesians 2:11-16

In conclusion, God made Paul an apostle and gave to him a new revelation, from Jesus Christ Himself, to make known to His saints what is the mystery of Christ. This mystery was “kept secret since the world began” (Rom. 16:25-26). But now, God has revealed it in this dispensation of grace. He has saved us and called us in Christ Jesus our Lord. It was Christ that was chosen before the foundation of the world. And we are chosen in Him, when we believe the gospel. God wants us to “come to a knowledge of the truth” (1 Tim. 2:4) and be “filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding” (Col. 1:9), so that we “might walk worthy of the Lord” (Col. 1:10), and to “present every man perfect in Christ Jesus” (Col. 1:28). We have been reconciled unto God through the blood of His cross and are made after the image of Christ. Therefore, we are to walk in that wisdom, to be renewed in knowledge (day by day), because of who we are in Christ.

We are complete in Him! (Col. 2:10) We are renewed in knowledge after the image of Christ!