We continue again today in the book of Acts after some time looking at Paul’s final letters, his so-called “prison” letters, since they were written while he was bound by a chain in Rome. The reason for the intermission from our overview of the Transition period as revealed in the Acts was to see how the truth was given to him by the resurrected Lord Jesus after Acts 28 showed much evidence of what Paul calls in Col. 1:25 “the complete word of God”.  That fullness (a later letter keyword) had been given and Paul wrote that truth in these last letters.  So, although the fundamental truths relating to this dispensation of grace were revealed to Paul earlier, the completion of that teaching remained “hidden” until finally given as he writes in several places including Eph.3 and Col. 1.   Today our lesson is focused on chapter 26 where we find Paul’s quite engaging review of his testimony before King Agrippa.  It is here that the King utters these words: “almost thou hast persuaded me to be a Christian”.  Paul’s response was monumental.  Enjoy!

If I were to put a title on today’s lesson, I guess it might be this: “Paul’s Defense (or should I say, Testimony) Against Jewish Leaders in Jerusalem, Acts Chapter 22”.  We began with a little review of why we had departed from our studies on the Great Transition to look at Paul’s letters to the Ephesians and Colossians.  Our main point was that after the “to the Jews first” outreach of Paul before the end of the Book of the Acts, Paul was taught further by the ascended Christ regarding the fullness of grace poured out on Gentiles independently of his people Israel and apart from the promises given to them.  That was the completed teaching which he calls “the Mystery”.  Then, after the apostle had formally set Israel and the Jews of the dispersion aside, even as far away as Rome, Paul was not only taught by Christ but also released from the limitations formerly imposed upon him.  The prison letters which we looked at included those glorious teachings.   But today and next time, Lord willing, we return to the book of Acts and begin in chapter 22 where we find his testimony before the Jews in Jerusalem that sought to take his life with the false charges of idolatry and heresy.  He focuses on the glorious resurrection of Jesus Christ which all Jews must surely receive if they are to be saved — and that is the unbelieving Jews great stumbling block along with the works requirements of the Mosaic Law.

In our overview of The Great Transition from the Pentecostal Dispensation to the Fullness of Grace revealed after the setting aside of Israel at the end of the Acts, we have considered by necessity the completed revelation give to Paul for the churches.  For that, we have looked at the prison letters of Paul.  Written after Acts 28, they reflect the Dispensation of Grace after Israel is formally set aside. With Paul's commission to go "to the Jews first" and also to minister even to Gentiles with limitations "because of the Jews", Paul could not reveal the fullness of grace as he could after Acts 28.  So here in this letter, written to the saints in Colosse probably at the same time as the Ephesian letter, we see Paul writing about how grace is reigning indeed, in human relationships of every kind and as the fundamental principle of the spiritual life.  Then, in his final words in the letter, he mentions a number of saints including one Onesimus, a runaway slave from this very city of Colosse whom he led to Christ in Rome. That name goes down in history as a result of this mention and due to the apostle's letter to Philemon, a saint (and slaveholder) in Colosse who was the master of Onesimus.  So Paul's very personal and intimate words regarding that perhaps most difficult of all human relationships, that between slaves and their masters.  Grace reigns, he writes, even their! 

Grace Reigns, Our Outline:

• Grace Reigns: In Human Relationships (Col. 3:18-25, 4:1)
• Grace Reigns: As the Fundamental Principle of Life (4:2-6)
• Grace Reigns: Even In Paul's Final Words (4:7-18)

Blessings Untold for the Colossians Too Under Grace: The Essence of Grace Doctrine, Colossians, Chapter 3:

• The Exhortation, Its Foundation (Chapter 2, Verses 20-23)
• The Exhortation, Its Foundation — Continued (Chapter 3, Verses 1-4)
• The Exhortation, Three Analogies —The Body of Christ (Verses 5-8)
• The Exhortation, Three Analogies — The Two “Men” (Verses 9-11)
• The Exhortation, Three Analogies — Grace as a Garment (Verses 12-14)
• The Exhortation, Grace Displayed — in Power and Great Glory (Verses 15-17)

Through three analogies the apostle teaches critical truth here regarding the full work of the Lord in this dispensation of his abundant grace.  The Body teaching (found only in Paul’s letters and nowhere else), the teaching of the New and Old Man in the believer, and the teaching of the key to Christian living, namely reckoning on the completed work of Christ on our behalf and how that may be enjoyed in this life (using words like “mortify” and “put off/on”) is the heart of the teaching here. But the words at the end of chapter 2 and at the beginning of chapter 3 summarizing the foundational teaching of how we have been identified with Christ in his death and resurrection and showing how his new life in us is at the heart of God’s working today, are so encouraging.  We are so blessed to live today under the fullness of God’s grace and truth.  Amen.

Blessings Untold for the Colossians Too Under Grace: The Essence of Grace Doctrine, Colossians, Chapter 2:

• Our Privilege: Living Life to the Fullest, Filled with His Joy (Col. 1:1-11) 
• Our Position: Having Been Translated into the Kingdom of His Dear Son Who Is the Fullness of God (Col. 1:12-20) 
• Our Prospect: Being Found Holy, Unblameable and Unreproveable in His Sight (Col.1:21-23)

 Paul here in the introduction to the letter to the Colossians, explains in a very short and powerful way what it means to be a believer today.  We are to be filled to overflowing with his joy, no matter what.  The rationale of this is also given, namely, that we have been already translated into his heavenly kingdom, the Kingdom of his Dear Son, who is himself the fullness of God made flesh.  Know this, our future is mapped out eternally.  The issue then is how will we live here.  We are empowered to live in the fullness of grace.  Will we do that is the question.

Paul’s teaching here in Colossians 1 and beginning in 2 gives us the Word and the Enabling for a Life of Joy:

• Paul’s Teaching is Clear: He Fulfilled the Sufferings of Christ in His Body 
• Paul’s Teaching is Complete: The Mystery Was Delivered to Him for Us 
• Paul’s Teaching is Powerful: We are Enabled to Suffer as Paul Did

 Paul goes on in chapter 1 to finish his introduction with much wisdom and truth.  He introduces his apostleship, the precious word of the mystery given to him for us, and emphasizes that his sufferings for us and for Christ’s glory were ordained by God.  Since we are all members of his Body and he is the Head, he teaches that we are also called to suffer as he did.  For in the Body of Christ all the members suffer together.  Praise God. 

Blessings Untold for the Colossians Too Under Grace: The Essence of Grace Doctrine, Colossians, Chapter 1:

• Our Privilege: Living Life to the Fullest, Filled with His Joy (Col. 1:1-11) 
• Our Position: Having Been Translated into the Kingdom of His Dear Son Who Is the Fullness of God (Col. 1:12-20) 
• Our Prospect: Being Found Holy, Unblameable and Unreproveable in His Sight (Col.1:21-23)

 Paul here in the introduction to the letter to the Colossians, explains in a very short and powerful way what it means to be a believer today.  We are to be filled to overflowing with his joy, no matter what.  The rationale of this is also given, namely, that we have been already translated into his heavenly kingdom, the Kingdom of his Dear Son, who is himself the fullness of God made flesh.  Know this, our future is mapped out eternally.  The issue then is how will we live here.  We are empowered to live in the fullness of grace.  Will we do that is the question.

Ephesians 5-6 — Walking by the Spirit Is the Key to Godly Living — Part 2:

• Living Grace — Parent - Child Relationships Are Transformed (6:1-4)
• Living Grace — Relationships In the World Outside Are Ennobled (6:5-9)
• Living Grace — Our Warfare Against Satanic Foes Will Continue (6:10-24)

Paul here goes back to Moses’s Law because some principles of God’s administration over his creation are trans-dispensational.  One of these is the God given relationship ordained between parents and their children. Another he addresses is that between the believer and those outside the Body of Christ.  He picks for the latter from our point of views the rarely found relationship between slaves and their masters.  What is true in that extreme case can easily be applied to many human relationships.  Satan has always sought to harm and destroy those relationships, whatever the dispensational plan of God.  Finally Paul defines the spiritual warfare every believer is part of by necessity.  Indeed, our warfare is spiritual and heavenly and not essentially of this earth however may appear.

Ephesians 5 — Walking by the Spirit Is the Key to Godly Living - An Introduction:

• In our study today we learned what Paul the apostle of the Gentiles reveals in chapter 5 of this great letter to the Ephesians concerning our current circumstances under which we are living today with the fullness of God’s wonderful grace a reality. There are three aspects to our teaching today: Things are not really as they might seem!  The “moment” must be gained for Christ for the days are evil.  His Spirit and empowering are essential for this and the God-given hierarchy of authority must be honored.  The whole structure of our living is to be re-oriented according to God’s ordained hierarchy, whether in marriage, regarding the family, or in our relationships outside the family.  Walking by the Spirit with His Fullness is the Key to Godly Living, as we shall see.  Marriage and that relationship in Christ is so much more that it might seem to be as we shall see today.  It is all part of the sacred secret, Paul writes, and that is all about Christ and the church which is His Body. Our outline is simplicity itself:

• It Is Our Privilege to Redeem the Time for the Days are Evil, Verses 1-16 x
• The Walk of the Believer Is Enabled by the Spirit, Verses 17-20
• Membership in the Church Which Is His Body Promotes Submission, Verses 21-33 

Chapter 4 of the Ephesians further reveals Paul’s Testimony to the Ephesians with the special focus on experiencing the full redemption we have in Christ Jesus!  This is a powerful and liberating message on how God is working today under grace.  There are no legalities here and nothing relating to Israel’s privilege as that has temporarily been set aside so that grace might reign towards all, whether Jew or Gentile.  Ephesians is post Acts 28:28 and the Great Transition has ended.  Our outline is this:

Paul’s Testimony to the Ephesians — Chapter 4:

• The Seven Dimensions of the Keeping of the Unity of the Spirit, Verses 3-6
• The Full Measure of Grace Given to Believers through the Resurrected Christ, Verses 7-11
• The Perfecting of the Saints and Its Goal, The Unity of the Faith, Verses 12-16
• The New Man and the Very Practical Difference It Makes, Verses 17-24