In this article when using the term "One New Man" I will be referring
to the Church or Body over which Christ is the Head as described in
Paul's prison epistles. According to Eph. 2:15 God made or created the
One New Man when He broke down the middle wall of partition and
abolished the Law after the close of the Acts period. I am firmly
convinced by the Scriptures that the One New Man is not the same Church
or Body that Paul describes in his Acts epistles. If they were the same,
their description would be identical. But by comparing them with one
another, I see that they are totally different and things that are
different are not the same.
The mistake that many people make today is assuming that whenever Paul
mentions "The Body" in his Acts epistles and prison epistles, he is
writing about the same Body. This is like the same mistake people make
when they read the word "Church" in the Bible. They read about a church
in Matthew and a church in Ephesians and they assume that they are the
same church just because the word "Church" is used in both places. But
even though the word "Church" is used in both places they are not the
same church because their descriptions are totally different. In the
same way, just because the word "Body" is used in Paul's Acts epistles
and his prison epistles that doesn't mean that they are the same Body.
It's my firm conviction that THEY ARE NOT THE SAME BODY, for what is
said about one is not true of the other. And as far as I am concerned it
is spiritual dishonesty to say they are the same, when it is so apparent
that they are different.
The main purpose of this article is not only to show the difference
between the One New Man and the Acts Body, but also to show great and glorious this Body is. God has given the One New Man
unique blessings, a unique inheritance, a unique Hope,
a unique position, far different from the Acts Body, or to any other Body of believers in the Bible. It is
my prayer that you the reader will see the differences and rejoice as a member of the Body that God calls "One
New Man".
As you read this article please do the following 3 things.
(l.) Forget what "the preachers" say about the subject of this
article, no matter how fundamental or dispensational they claim to be.
(2.) Compare every verse with your Bible and be willing to believe
the verses mean what they say and say what they mean.
(3.) Don't try to "explain away" things that are obviously different.
The following is a scriptural description of the One New Man.
(I.) THIS BODY IS CALLED A MAN, NOT A WOMAN
In Eph.2:15 Paul said "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."
The Body of the prison epistles is called ONE NEW MAN whereas, the Acts
Body is called a "CHASTE VIRGIN ESPOUSED TO A HUSBAND"(IICor.11:2) The
fact that one is called a MAN and the other a WOMAN should be enough in
itself to convince the seeker of Truth that they are not the same
Body.
(II.) THIS BODY IS UNRELATED TO ABRAHAM AND ISRAEL
In Eph. 2:12 Paul said that the Body in the prison epistles were "Aliens
from the commonwealth of Israel". An alien of Israel is unrelated to
Israel and Abraham, whereas the Acts Body is made up of the children and
seed of Abraham (see Gal. 3:29 and Rom. 4:9-16). This is why Paul said
in Eph. 4:6 that the Body in the prison epistles has only ONE, God and
FATHER. The Acts Body had TWO fathers, God and Abraham. I think it is
also significant to note that Abraham's name appears 19 times in the
Acts epistles, but not even ONCE in the prison epistles.
(III.) IT'S MOTHER IS NOT THE HEAVENLY CITY NEW JERUSALEM
In Gal. 4:26 the Acts Body called New Jerusalem it's mother because they
were partakers of the New Covenant being the seed of Abraham
(Heb.11:8-10). The Body over which Christ is the Head is unrelated to
Abraham, strangers from the covenants of promise (Eph.2:12).
Consequently, it has no hope in the Heavenly City New Jerusalem. It's
hope is in Glory far above all Heavens and far
above New Jerusalem (Col.3:4, ITim.3:6, Eph.2:6; Phil. 3:20).
(IV.) THIS BODY IS NOT GRAFTED INTO ISRAEL
In the Acts period, members of the Acts Body were grafted into Israel,
the Good Olive Tree (Rom.11:17). But at the close of the Acts period
Israel, the Good Olive Tree, was completely cut down, cast away, and
became Lo-Ammi (see Hosea 1:9). Consequently when God created the One
New Man after the close of the Acts period there was no Good Olive Tree
left to be grafted into. Instead the One New Man was grafted into or
made members of Christ's Body, Flesh and Bones-Eph.5:30.
(V.) THIS BODY DOES NOT PARTAKE OF ISRAEL'S SPIRITUAL THINGS
The Acts Body was blessed with the "Blessings of Abraham" and Israel's
"spiritual things" (Rom.15:27, Gal. 3:14). But the Body in the prison
epistles is said to be BLESSED WITH ALL SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS IN HEAVENLY
PLACES IN CHRIST (Eph.1:3). These blessings are found exclusively in the
prison epistles of Paul, especially the Book of Ephesians.
(VI.) THIS BODY DOES NOT PARTAKE OF THE NEW COVENANT, BUT OF THE
DISPENSATION OF GRACE
The New Covenant was made with the House of Israel according to Heb.
8:8. Only those related and allied with Israel partook of the New
Covenant and it's blessings and hope, such as the Acts Body in IICor.
3:6. But the 'Body' of the prison epistles is unrelated to Israel being
"Aliens from the commonwealth" (Eph. 2:12) and does not partake of the
New Covenant being "STRANGERS from the covenants of promise"(Eph. 2:12).
Instead, God has given this Body something much better than the New
Covenant. He gave the "One New Man "the Dispensation of Grace
(Eph.3:l-2). Just as the New Covenant is far better than the Old
Covenant (Heb. 8:6-10), the Dispensation of Grace is far better than
both the New and Old Covenants.
(VII.) THIS BODY HAS AN INHERITANCE IN A HEAVENLY KINGDOM, NOT AN
EARTHLY ONE
The "Acts Body" had an inheritance in the Kingdom of God (IIThess.1:4-5,
ICor.15:50, Acts 14:21-22) which was an earthly kingdom promised and
offered to Israel and those allied with Israel (Dan.2:44, Lk.8:1, Acts
1:3-6). But the "One New Man" of the prison epistles is given an
inheritance in the "KINGDOM OF
HIS DEAR SON" according to Col.1:12-13. This Kingdom is located in
Heavenly places where Christ sits at the right hand of God (CoI. 3:1-3,
IITim.4:18, Phil.3:20). The One New Man has already been translated into
this Kingdom according to Col.1:13, and now sits together with Christ as
citizens of this kingdom according to Eph. 2:6.
(VIII.) ITS HOPE IS NOT ISRAEL'S HOPE, BUT THE BLESSED HOPE
Throughout the Acts period members of the Acts Body were grafted into
Israel the Good Olive Tree and became partakers of her spiritual things
including her Hope of resurrection (Acts 28:20). Her Hope was the
Second
Coming of Christ at the Last Trump immediately after the Great
Tribulation (Matt. 24:29-31, I Thess. 4:14-18, I Cor. 15: 50-54). Paul
preached this Hope, wrote about it, and was imprisoned for it according
to Acts 28:20. But after the close of the Acts period a radical change
took place. Israel the Good Olive Tree was cut down and became Lo-Ammi.
The Law was abolished and the Dispensation of Grace began. At the
same time the creation of the One New Man took place and a new hope
dispensed to its members. it's Hope is Christ's APPEARING IN GLORY far
above all Heavens, not His COMING IN THE AIR to the Earth (Col.3:1-4,
Phil. 3:20, ITim. 3:16). This Hope is far better than any hope
previously offered to'' anyone in times past, that's why it's called the
"Blessed Hope" in Titus 2:13. (I think it's significant to note that the
word "COMING" referring to, Christ's Second Coming, DOES NOT appear one
time in the prison epistles, whereas, the word "APPEARING" referring to
Christ's Appearing in Glory DOES NOT appear one time in the Acts
epistles.)
(IX.) IT'S SALVATION DOES NOT PROVOKE ISRAEL TO JEALOUSY
Throughout the Acts period the salvation of the Gentiles in the "Acts
Body" provoked Israel to jealousy according to Rom.11:11. Paul also used
his office as the Apostle of the Gentiles to provoke Israel to jealousy
and salvation according to Rom.11:13-14. This of course was consistent
with his heart's desire in Rom.10:1 - that Israel might be saved.
But the salvation of the One New Man has no effect or bearing
whatsoever upon Israel in anyway. God saved the One New Man by His
Grace, not to provoke Israel to jealousy, "But that in the Ages to Come
He might shew the exceeding riches of His Grace in His kindness toward
us through Christ Jesus. - Eph.2:5,-7.
(X.) IN THIS BODY NO MEMBER HAS ANY ADVANTAGE OVER THE OTHER
In the Acts Body Jews and Abraham's seed clearly had the advantage
over the Gentiles (Rom.1). But in the "One New Man" all advantages are
erased and all members are placed on an equal footing and standing
before God. Paul said in Eph. 2:14 "For He is our peace, who hath made
both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us."
With the breaking down of the "middle wall of partition" Israel lost all
of her advantages and the preeminence she once had over the Gentiles in
times past including the Acts period. The One New Man is FITLY FRAMED
TOGETHER and SITS TOGETHER in heavenly aces in Christ Jesus (Eph. 2:6,
22).
(XI.) GENTILES IN THE ONE NEW MAN ARE NOT ACCOUNTED AS JEWS OR ABRAHAM'S
SEED
Throughout the Acts period faithful Gentiles in the Acts Body were
accounted as Abraham's seed (Rom.2:26-29, Rom.4:11,Gal.3:29). The previous
verses clearly show the advantage that Abraham's seed had in the Acts
Body. But in the One New Man both Jews and Gentiles alike lose their
identity and take Christ's identity in its place. In Col. 3:11 Paul said
that in the New Man there is neither Greek, nor Jew, circumcision nor
uncircumcision, barbarian, Sythian, bond nor free: BUT CHRIST IS ALL,
AND IN ALL. In the One New Man CHRIST IS ALL, in other words, Christ's
identity is the ONE AND ONLY identity that believers have whereas the
Acts Body had both Christ's and Abraham's (Gal. 3:28-29).
(XII.) THE ONE NEW MAN IS NOT OBLIGATED TO AID OR ASSIST ISRAEL
The Acts Body had an obligation and a duty to minister unto Israel in
"carnal things" according to Rom.15:27. Paul commanded the Acts Body to
take up offerings for Israel in ICor.16:1-3.
But the One New Man does not partake of Israel's "Spiritual things"
and has no duty or obligation to minister unto her in "carnal things" or
to take up collections for her on the first day of the week. Instead the
One New Man "works and labors with his hands the thing which is good,
that he may have to give to him that needeth" (Eph.4:28) and supports
those who follow the ministry of Paul as the prisoner of Jesus Christ
for us Gentiles (IITim.1:8, Phil.3:1,3).
(XIII.) THE ONE NEW MAN'S DESIRE IS NOT THE SALVATION OF ISRAEL
Throughout the Acts period Paul's heart's desire was the salvation of
Israel (Rom.10:1) and the Acts Body was commanded to have this same
desire in ICor.11:1. But the One New Man's desire is totally different.
His desire is "To preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of
Christ; and to make all men see what is the fellowship of the Mystery,
which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God (Eph.3:8-9).
(XIV.) THE ONE NEW MAN'S DOCTRINE IS A MYSTERY, NOT PROPHECY
Throughout the Acts period most of the doctrines that Paul preached
and wrote about to the Acts Body were based upon the Old Testament
Scriptures. In Acts 26:22 Paul stood before Agrippa and gave an account
of his Acts ministry when he said, "I continue unto this day, witnessing
both to small and great, saying none other things than those which the
prophets, and Moses did say should come: That Christ should suffer, and
that He should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should
shew light unto the people, and to the Gentiles." And when you read
Paul's Acts epistles you see that he CONTINUALLY quotes the Old
Testament Scriptures as the basis of his doctrine. (Take a couple of
hours and read the book of Romans and count the verses in this one Acts
epistle: where Paul quotes and refers to the Old Testament as the basis
of the doctrines he writes about in this epistle. Keep in mind also that
Romans is the last Acts Epistle Paul wrote. But when you come to the
prison epistles where you find the creation and description of the One
New Man, you will suddenly realize that you are on different ground. The
doctrine in these books is based upon the Mystery that was hid in God
AND hidden from ages and generation (Col.1:26) before the foundation of the world (Eph.1:4). In these books
written exclusively to the One New Man, Paul does not quote the Old
Testament scriptures as the basis of his doctrine. THERE IS ALMOST A
COMPLETE ABSENCE OF ANY REFERENCE TO THE OLD TESTAMENT IN THE PRISON
EPISTLES. Examine Ephesians, Philippians, and Colossians and see this
fact for yourself. In these Books every verse and chapter is something
new and different from anything written before them, (Ephesians chapters
1-2 takes my breath away every time I read them). The doctrine of these
books is based upon the secret that God revealed to Paul as a prisoner
in Rome after the Acts period.
NEXT>