Jim, I know you like that dispensation word and I have posted the very same scripture you just did.
"1For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles—2if indeed you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which was given to me for you, 3how that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already, 4by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ), 5which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets: 6that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel, 7of which I became a minister according to the gift of the grace of God given to me by the effective working of His power." Ephesians 3:1
OK now that is the same you just posted. What do you make of the highlighted verses....
1. Paul says NOW been revealed by the Spirit, to His holy apostles and prophets.....
the Spirit came at Pentecost
2. and he says the Gentiles are fellow heirs......fellow heirs with whom?? the only people we could possibly be fellow heirs WITH is Israel, because THEY are the heirs
3.Paul always acknowledges what he received. He NEVER said that he ALONE received it.
Here is another interesting verse. What do you make of it?
Eph. 2:
4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy,
5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions--it is by grace you have been saved.
6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,
7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.
made? seated? We are indeed in the Kingdom. |
