In the Book of Ephesians we find a wealth of doctrinal instruction which is directed by the Holy Spirit to the believers of the present day. We remember that “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works” (II Timothy 3:16-17). However, this does not mean that “all scripture” is written to us, and for our doctrinal instruction. It is all “written for our learning” (Romans 15:4) and it is all “profitable for our doctrine,” but it is not all directed to us, or to our particular dispensation. Therefore, we must study to show ourselves approved unto God, workmen that needeth not to be ashamed, “rightly dividing the Word of Truth” (II Timothy 2:15).
As we apply II Timothy 2:15 to our Bible study, we find that the Bible falls into seven general dispensations. There are also shorter and more specific dispensations within each of these seven. A dispensation, as the term is used in the Bible, is a period of time during which a man or men are tested as to their obedience to some specific revelation from God.
The present dispensation, in which we find ourselves and during which God is calling out the church which is the body of His dear Son, was given to Paul, and is spoken of as “the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to His saints” (Colossians 1:24-27). Revelation concerning this mystery dispensation is not to be found in the Word except in the writings of Paul.
Paul is the one and only apostle spoken of as the apostle, preacher, or teacher of the Gentiles. His ministry is definitely set forth as a minister to the Gentiles. This truth is made plain in II Timothy 1:11—”Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles,” in Romans 11:13—”For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify mine office,” and again in Galatians 2:7-9—”But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter: (For he that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles:) And when James, Cephas, and John who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship, that we should go unto the heathen and they unto the circumcision.”
In order to understand clearly the message which God has given to us through the apostle Paul, we must distinguish between the three definite periods in the general dispensation of grace, which begins at Calvary and ends with the return of Christ in glory. The three periods are set forth in the Scriptures as follows:
- From the crucifixion of Christ to the setting aside of National Israel—Acts 28:28.
- From the setting aside of National Israel to the catching up of the church which is the body of Christ—Phillippians 3:20-21.
- From the catching up of the church which is Christ’s body to the return of Christ in glory—Revelation 19:11-16.
A careful study of these three periods, within the dispensation of grace, will bring to our attention:
- God’s dealings with National Israel during the book of Acts period, or the first period mentioned above.
- God’s dealings with the church, which is the body of Christ, or the period in which we are now living, the second period mentioned above.
- God’s dealings with Israel and the nations during the Great Tribulation period, which will follow immediately after the catching up of the Body, or the third period mentioned above.
Even though three distinct periods of ministry are recognized during this present age of grace, we must understand that only two different companies of saints are dealt with. The first and the last of these three different periods of the Holy Spirit’s ministry is directed toward National Israel, while the middle period of His ministry is given to the church, which is the body of Christ. In other words, the present mystery dispensation is a parenthetical period which fits in between God’s dealings with National Israel during the Acts period and His dealings with National Israel during the tribulation period.
The Book of Ephesians is directed to the saints of this parenthetical period fitting in between God’s dealings with National Israel during the Acts period and His dealings with National Israel during the tribulation. In other words, the message which God gave to National Israel from Calvary to Acts 28:28 will be given again to the same people during the tribulation period which falls between the catching up of the body of Christ and the return of Christ with His body, to set up the Kingdom. The message given during these two periods has to do with the kingdom of heaven which is to be set up on earth when Christ returns. This kingdom dispensation is commonly referred to as the millennium. It is separate and distinct from the church which is the body of Christ. The hope and calling of the kingdom saints is the heavenly reign of Christ on earth. The hope and calling of the body saints is the rapture of the church into glory with Christ. This is clear to the Bible student who has observed that Israel is God’s earthly people and the body of Christ is God’s heavenly people.
The hope of Israel and the setting up of the kingdom are the subjects of Old Testament prophecy, the gospel accounts, the epistles of Peter, James and John, and the book of Revelation, but the hope of the body of Christ and the catching up of the church into glory is revealed through Paul’s epistles only.
It is also helpful to note that Paul’s epistles written during the Acts Period—Romans, I and II Corinthians, Galatians, and I and II Thessalonians—revealed his double ministry, “to the Jew first, and also to the Greek (Gentile)”—Romans 1:16. During this period his marching orders are found in I Corinthians 9:19-22 where he was “made all things to all men,” that he might “by all means save some.” All of these epistles were written while God was still dealing with National Israel in the closing part of the Acts period.
Acts 28:25-28 marks the time of the setting aside of National Israel, and from that time forth the Holy Spirit uses Paul to magnify the truth concerning the body of Christ and the mystery dispensation. His epistles written after Acts 28:28 are Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, I and II Timothy, Titus and Philemon. In these epistles “the middle wall of partition” between the Jew and the Gentile is no longer standing (Ephesians 2:14-18). It was broken down at the cross, but was permitted to separate between the saved Jews and the saved Gentiles as long as God dealt with Israel as a nation, or up to Acts 28:28.
It is evident that the last appeal which the Holy Spirit made to National Israel was made through the apostle Paul, and is recorded in Acts 28:17-28. This message was given to “the chief of the Jews” (verse 17). At that time, Paul was bound with a chain for the “hope of Israel” (verse 20). As Paul unburdened his heart before the Jewish brethren, he “testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening” (verse 23).
There was nothing in this last message to Israel concerning the body of Christ, or the mystery dispensation. He could not have given them truth concerning the “mystery” out of the law of Moses and the prophets because the mystery had been hid “from ages and from generations” previous to its revelation to Paul (Colossians 1:25-28). It was the “kingdom of God” that Paul preached to these dispersed Jews of Rome. Therefore, he used the Scriptures given through the Law of Moses and the prophets.
When the Jews “agreed not among themselves” concerning Paul’s message, he closed his message with a quotation from Isaiah, chapter 6, saying, “Well spake the Holy Ghost by Isaiah the prophet unto our fathers, saying, go unto this people, and say, hearing ye shall hear and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see and not perceive: for the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles and that they will hear it” (verses 25-28).
These verses mark the setting aside of National Israel until after the church, which is the body of Christ, is completed and glorified. With the nation of Israel set aside and the middle wall of partition between the Jew and the Gentile broken down, there was no more place for “the law of commandments contained in ordinances.” For full proof of this statement carefully and prayerfully study the following Scriptures:
Ephesians 2:14-15—”For He is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; having abolished in His flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in Himself of twain one new man, so making peace.”
Colossians 2:13-14—”And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath He quickened together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses; blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to His cross.”
Colossians 2:20-22—”Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances, (touch not; taste not; handle not; which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men.”
With the nation of Israel set aside and the middle wall of partition broken down, there is no more place for “the law of commandments contained in ordinances” (Ephesians 2:15, Colossians 2:14and 2:20-23).
As we go into a verse by verse study of the Book of Ephesians, we must remember that we are not in the “shadow” days of the Old Testament, nor in the “Jew only” and the “Jew first” days of the book of Acts, but we are studying a book which has to do with the revelation of the very capstone of God’s entire building program, namely the building of the church which is Christ’s body—Ephesians 1:22-23.
