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The Daily Word of Righteousness
Building the House of God, #12
There is one body and one Spirit— just as you were called to one hope when you were called— One Lord, one faith, one baptism; (Ephesians 4:4,5—NIV)
We are right back where we started, in the fourth chapter of Ephesians. This is significant, if you will think about it.
If you will reread the entire Book of Ephesians you will notice the emphasis on the one new Man, also on the House of God. It all makes sense. There is no such thing as a Jewish church or Jewish Kingdom. There is only the Body of Christ, the one body, the one Spirit, the one hope, the one Lord, the one faith, the one baptism. This fact is unmistakably clear in the New Testament, particularly in the Epistles of Paul.
But back to Isaiah, as we consider the fact that there are two groups of saved people on the new earth, the Church, and then the nations of saved people who are the inheritance of the Church and the reason for God and Christ wanting to have a house in which to live among these nations.
Then you will look and be radiant, your heart will throb and swell with joy; the wealth on the seas will be brought to you, to you the riches of the nations will come. (Isaiah 60:5—NIV)
Compare the above with the following.
The glory and honor of the nations will be brought into it. (Isaiah 60:26—NIV)
These appear to be the same event.
Notice also:
And you will be called priests of the LORD, you will be named ministers of our God. You will feed on the wealth of nations, and in their riches you will boast. (Isaiah 61:6—NIV)
The sixty-first chapter of the Book of Isaiah has quite a bit to say about the relationship between the elect and the saved nations. The chapter starts off with the building up of the members of Zion into oaks of righteousness. After they are built up they minister to the peoples of the earth.
And provide for those who grieve in Zion—to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor. They will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places long devastated; they will renew the ruined cities that have been devastated for generations. (Isaiah 61:3,4—NIV)
And you will be called priests of the LORD, you will be named ministers of our God. You will feed on the wealth of nations, and in their riches you will boast. (Isaiah 61:6—NIV)
Today we are being built into oaks of righteousness. When that has been concluded and the elect have learned to live by the Life of Jesus, then He and we shall appear and bring judgment and justice to the nations of the earth. This is the coming of the Kingdom of God prophesied by John the Baptist and the Lord Jesus.
Conclusion
We have presented to you simply understood means and ends sequences. Let's see if you can remember them.
The purpose of gifts and ministries is—?
You've got it! To bring us to maturity as measured by the stature of the fullness of Christ.
The purpose of bringing us to maturity is—?
Right! To prepare a house for the Lord.
To be continued.