The Mystery in Ephesians
Part 3





"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:'' (Eph. 1:3)

We are not given much insight into what "spiritual blessings'' are. What physical, material blessings would be in the earthly sphere, spiritual blessings would be in the heavenly sphere. They would be in perfect harmony with the environment for which they are designed. The wealth of Glory has been willed to the members of the Church over which Christ Jesus is the Head. No wonder Paul says, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ.''

The Church of the One Body is to be received up into Glory one day. When this takes place the Church will then receive its inheritance. While we pilgrim through this world, the material blessings that we enjoy from time to time are only as manna in the wilderness. The real joy of our blessings awaits us. Thus, we are instructed to "set our affections on things above, not on things on this earth'' (Col. 3:2) . What the blessings of the Land of Promise will be to Israel and what the blessings of New Jerusalem will be to the Overcomes, that is what every spiritual blessing will be to the Church of the One Body. This will be realized in resurrection on the tip-top of the universe up above the firmament; up where Christ is now seated at God's Right Hand.

As members of the Church of the One Body we may be called upon to suffer need or want, sickness or sorrow, or we may abound and be full. Whatever our state, we are to ''therewith be content". There is no guarantee for abundance in this life. The ungodly may seem to prosper. Some saints may appear to be so richly blessed, but to judge a man's spiritual worth by what we see would be foolish. Members of the One Body are to live in light of a new plane; that is, a spiritual plane. This plane is on resurrection and ascension ground where every blessing that is spiritual is reserved for this new company and calling.

HEAVENLY PLACES

What the Promised Land will be to redeemed Israel, what New Jerusalem will be to the Overcomer and what the New Earth will be to Job (and others), "heavenly places'' will be to the Church of the One Body. Each company of God's redeemed is to enjoy a particular sphere of blessing. ''Heavenly places'' answers the question of where the Church of the Mystery will enjoy its blessings. No other company or calling was ever given any hope at all of "heavenly places'' being the place of their Inheritance. Not until the Apostle Paul received the revelation of the Mystery did anyone ever entertain a legitimate hope of living again in the highest heaven. A legitimate hope would be based upon a promise from God. Most all pagans and heathens had the idea that upon death they would go to "the great spirit in the sky'', or to "the happy hunting ground in the sky'' or to "hillbilly heaven'' or some other such place. But God had never given anyone a promise they they would live again in "heavenly places'' until the Mystery was made known to Paul the prisoner.

Until Acts 28:28 all of God's redeemed looked either to the land of Palestine, Paradise restored (i.e. the New Earth) or New Jerusalem as their place and sphere of blessing. No one who believed what God had revealed had any idea of heaven becoming their abode. For it was known by Bible believers that:

"The heaven, even the heavens, are the Lord's: but the earth hath he given to the children of men. '' (Ps. 115:16)

Those who looked for the establishment of the Kingdom were told by the Lord, Himself, that the meek shall inherit the earth (Matt. 5:5).

Even Job was assured his Redeemer lived and that in the latter day in resurrection he would see God "upon the earth'' (Job 19:25-26).

Those who walked in the steps of faithful Abraham from Genesis 12 to Acts 28 "looked for a city which hath foundations whose builder and maker is God" (Heb. l 1:10). ''For God hath prepared for them a city'' (Heb. 11:16). It is heavenly in origin and character, but it comes down from God out of heaven (Rev. 21:2,10) and comes to rest upon the New Earth. This city is the ''city of the Living God, the heavenly Jerusalem'' (Heb. 12:22). Even the Apostle Paul (the writer of Hebrews) said during the Acts economy, "For here we have no continuing city, but we seek one to come.'' (Heb. 13:14). He did not say that they sought it to go to'' but rather one to come'' He refers a "Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all (i.e. that walk In Abraham's steps of faith'' (Gal. 4:26).

When the Acts 28 crisis was reached and Israel blessings connected with the Kingdom program were set aside, Paul ceases being bound for Israel's hope (Acts 28:20), and then became an ambassador in bonds to make known the Mystery (Eph. 6:19-20; Col. 4:3).

"Heavenly places'' is then revealed to be the place of blessing for the new calling, the Church of the One Body. The new and fresh revelation which Paul receives from the Ascended - Enthroned - Exalted Christ Jesus is that there is now going to be a called-out company that is to be blessed with all spiritual blessings, not in the land, not in Paradise restored, nor in the City of the Living God, but in HEAVENLY PLACES.

"Heavenly places'' is a phrase that only occurs in the Ephesian Epistle. This fact makes its association with the Mystery even more obvious.

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us (i.e. the Church of the One Body) with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Chest: '' (Eph. 1:3)

". . . according to the working of his mighty power, which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,'' (Eph. 1:19,20)

"And hath  raised us (i.e. members of the Church of the One Body) up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: '' (Eph. 2:6)

"To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, '' (Eph. 3:10)

Heavenly places is uniquely associated with the Mystery as Indicated by the fact that nowhere else in Scripture is this phrase used. This sphere of blessing is unparalleled and unequaled in all the Word of God.

Therefore it could be said, the destiny of the Church over which Christ is the head is heavenly places. It is a definite place. Its location is above the highest heaven (Eph. 4:10). It is up above the firmament of Genesis 1:6. It is far above all principality, and power,'' (Eph. 1:21). It is at God's Own Right Hand where Christ ascended and is now seated. The calling of the Church of the Mystery has the unique privilege of being the only company and calling of God's people who will inhabit the heavenlies. The Church of God was looking for the return of the Lord Jesus Christ, that is, His coming. He was in heaven: the Church of God was anticipating His return from heaven. Notice the contrast between the two callings. The Church of God looked for His coming; the Church of the One Body looks for its manifestation with Him in Glory (Col. 3:4).

The fact that the Church during the Book of Acts looked for the Lord's return is very significant when we realize that after Acts 28:28 Paul receives the revelation of the Mystery and ceases looking for the Lord's return, because His return was postponed. The Lord is no longer in heaven awaiting Israel's repentance. The possibility of Israel's repentance ended with Acts 28:17-28. Thus ended the possibility of the Lord's return to earth. This did not take the Lord by surprise. He was not "left holding the bag." The purposes of God were not frustrated. Instead, Paul, the prisoner, learns that God ushered in His ''eternal purpose'' (Eph. 3:11) and it concerns the Great Secret (i.e. the Mystery). That is to say, Christ is now the Head over all things to the Church which is His Body (Eph. 1:22-23), as well as Head over all principality and power (Col. 2:10).

When God's "eternal purpose'' is worked out with the Church of the One Body then He will again deal with Israel. Revelation Chapter One will pick up where Acts Chapter Twenty-Eight ended. Then the Lord's return will be imminent.

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