The final episodes of our multi-part miniseries on the fullness of God under grace revealed through Paul continues today with the critical teaching the Rapture or Catching-Up of the Body of Christ found in 1 Corinthians 15.  Our title today is “The Dispensation of the Mystery — Part 6: The Rapture (Catching Up) of the Body of Christ (Continued)”.  In this episode we will look at the details of Paul’s teaching there concerning the Rapture and its essential Pre-Tribulation timing. That the revelation regarding our coming resurrection or transformation / translation is called a “mystery” in contrast to the earlier verses that focus on the “orders” of the resurrections is most significant as we shall see today.  This is important since it establishes the timing of our Rapture as well. 

The final piece of our multi-part miniseries on the fullness of God under grace revealed through Paul will now consider an important part of that revelation, namely the Rapture or Catching-Up of the Body of Christ into heaven’s glory.  Our title today is “The Dispensation of the Mystery — Part 5: The Rapture (Catching Up) of the Body of Christ, An Introduction”.  In this episode and in the following we will look at Paul’s teaching concerning the Rapture and its essential Pre-Tribulation timing. 

Our three part miniseries on the fullness of God under grace revealed through Paul is concluded with an overview of the entire Pauline teaching on “fullness”, a key word for the apostle.  He uses this word 40 times in his letters, 34 of which are specifically about the fullness of God as revealed for the body of Christ.  Our title today is “The Dispensation of the Mystery — Part 4: The Capstone: Paul’s Revelation of the ‘Pleroma’ or Fullness of God”.  This is the “capstone” of the Pauline revelation and places the church which is his body in the very center.  The work of almighty God today is centered in the Body of Christ with Christ Jesus as its head and from whom every blessing of grace flows.

Finishing our three part miniseries on the fullness of God under grace revealed through Paul, today our subject is “The Fullness of Christ’s Supply Given to Us for Our Empowering”.  It is appointed for all believers to suffer for his sake - Phil. 1:29.  God will arrange the circumstances of this and then we shall have the privilege to enter into those sufferings knowing there are for Christ’s sake and they are for his ultimate glory.  

He is intimately connected to us as head of the Body church and suffers when we do.  To recognize that we may willingly suffer these trials for his glory is most blessed and encouraging.  We are thereby strengthened with his mighty power to endure these sufferings and to do so with great joy.

As we do so the resurrection life of Christ is manifest in our mortal bodies or all to see.  We are thereby energized for the endurance needed for such a journey as this.  It is a promise of God.  Amen. 

The apostle Paul is our example not only regarding our salvation by grace but also in regards to our living under grace.  In this message, we learn one of the profound consequences of being a member of Christ's Body church, the church of this dispensation of the grace of God.  As members of Christ's Body, we are intimately connected to him, meaning we receive much in spiritual blessing including his resurrection quality of life.  A key verse to examine is in Col. 1 where it is written that we also have received Christ himself:  " . . .  the riches of the glory of this mystery, Christ in you the hope of glory."  The benefits of this are on many levels, some of which we consider here in this message although others will be reserved for a future time.  But the other side of this is in the area of suffering.  If we are intimately connected to Christ, then he is also intimately connected to us.  So as we suffer in this world, he does as well.  That is a major teaching of Pauls and we examine it in this message today.

This is the first part of a three part series.  Paul was trained up and then sent forth by the risen and ascended Christ Jesus as apostle of the Gentiles.  He was sent out and empowered to communicate the essence of what he was doing during the dispensation of the grace of God.  This may be considered from three perspectives:

• - The Fullness of the Word of God Given to Paul for Our Edification
• - The Fullness of Christ’s Suffering Given to Paul for Our Example
• - The Fullness of Christ’s Supply Given to Us for Our Empowering

This message is part one of that series.  So to summarize, it is through Paul and through Paul alone that the word of God for us today has been communicated.  That does not mean that the rest of the Bible is not important for us.  It is.  In Rom. 15:4 Paul writes that it is for our encouragement.  It is not for our obedience, but is for our faith and encouragement while the Pauline revelation is for both out faith and our obedience.  It is there that the walk of the believer is found.  We truly are not under the law but are under grace.  That is profound.

We continue today to consider what happened when Stephen was stoned and Saul stood nearby as his official accuser.  The rulers in Israel (the Sanhedrin) had given Saul this authority and the result was Stephen’s martyrdom after he had preached one of the most powerful sermons ever.  

But now the tables for Israel begin to turn.  Though many were saved through Stephen’s preaching, his stoning seals their fate for now as God saves his chief enemy on earth, Saul.  Saul is saved miraculously while in the height of his rebellion and is then sent forth as the apostle of the Gentiles with a message of completed redemption through the death and glorious resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ and simple faith in him apart from works in any sense.  He was as he said later “the chief [or first] of sinners” saved by grace through faith.  He was set forth for all to see as an archetype of what it means today to be a believer.  But the most profound teaching of all is in the area of the new life that this apostle demonstrated before all.  That is our main focus today in our fellowship around some truly glorious and exceedingly powerful scriptures, all focusing on Paul’s sufferings and their example for us.

Today we consider again the special working of the Holy Spirit after Pentecost as God continues to foreshadow the coming Kingdom in Israel’s midst.  The “final opportunity” for God’s nation is lost as  the Jewish leaders fail to repent and believe the gospel that Stephen preaches.   Stephen’s stoning seals their fate for now as God will not save his chief enemy on earth, Saul, and send him forth as apostle of the Gentiles.

We are continuing our studies on The Long War Against God.  In these messages we are focused on Satan's failed attempts to thwart the redemptive plan of Almighty God beginning with his heavenly rebellion and ending with the final chapter in the book of Revelation.  This Satanic warfare is all about the promise of the Seed of the Woman first written on in Gen. 3:15.

We are continuing our studies on The Long War Against God.  In these messages we are focused on Satan's failed attempts to thwart the redemptive plan of Almighty God beginning with his heavenly rebellion and ending with the final chapter in the book of Revelation.  This Satanic warfare is all about the promise of the Seed of the Woman first written on in Gen. 3:15.