Wrongly Dividing the Word of Truth - Biblical-data.org

Ultra-Dispensationalism - H.A. IronsidePage 33 of 54being the chief corner stone; in whom all the building fitly framed together groweth(note the tense; it is not yet completed, it is still in process of construction, but it isgrowing) unto an holy temple in the Lord; in whom ye also are builded together foran habitation of God through the Spirit."How blind must he be who can see in such a passage as this, disassociation of theEphesian saints from the work which God began at Pentecost! They are builded into thesame temple and rest upon the same foundation.This is made even clearer in the next chapter, where Paul gives us probably the fullestinformation concerning the one Body that we have anywhere in the New Testament, and,therefore, we must devote considerable time and space to it. First, he tells us that he wasa prisoner of Jesus Christ because of the Gentiles, and he explains that in the next fewverses. It was his devotion to the revelation of the mystery which is part of thedispensation of the grace of God, that resulted in his imprisonment. He did not get thisdispensation after he was in prison. Then he insists that this revelation was not made inprevious ages unto the sons of men, that is, it was not made known in Old Testamenttimes. But he tells us it is "now revealed unto His holy apostles and prophets by theSpirit." Now if I believed in over-emphasis as some do, I should like to print these wordsin very bold type, but to do so would be an insult to the intelligence of my readers. Isimply desire to ask their most careful attention to these words. The Bullingerites tell usthat the mystery was only made known to the apostle Paul, not to other apostles. Theapostle himself tells us here that "it is now revealed unto His holy apostles and prophets."Note not only the plural, but that others besides apostles had this revelation. How utterlyabsurd would words like these be if he were referring to something that had just beensecretly made known to him! But is it true that other apostles and prophets had alreadyknown if the mystery? It is. This he declares in these words. What is that mystery?Verse six is the answer."That the Gentiles should be fellow-heirs, and of the same Body, and partakers ofHis promise in Christ by the gospel."file://C:\MYtemp3\Wrongly_dividing.htm2/12/06