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Almighty God, who created the world and all things contained therein. By you Father is this world held together. Father thank you for opening our understanding of your Word so that we can do your Will. Father, thank you for your gift of holy spirit, that shows us things to come, guides us into the truth and is our infallible proof in the senses world that we are born again of your spirit and are your sons and daughters. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.

February 2019's teaching showed us in Acts 2 the believers continued in the true standard with unrelenting continuance. With absolute resolve, their faces set like a flint, they continued in the apostles' doctrine, in fellowship, in breaking of bread and in prayers as a result, "fear [respect] came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles" (Acts 2:43).

This month's teaching is on Living the Great Mystery in the Church Epistles (Part I).

To fully understand what it means to live the great mystery in the Church Epistles, I want to share with you a record in the Gospel of John. Before the Lord Jesus Christ ascended into heaven, he stated in John 16:12-14:

I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.

Howbeit when he [it], the Spirit of truth, is come, he [it] will guide you into all truth: for he [it] shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he [it] shall hear, that shall he [it] speak: and he [it] will shew you things to come.

He [it] shall glorify me: for he [it] shall receive of mine and shall shew it unto you.

In this passage, you will see that the pronoun "he" is replaced with the gender-neutral pronoun "it." The Spirit of God has no gender. Throughout the Bible, "the Spirit of truth" is not a he or she; the spirt has no gender, so it is "it." Look at 1 John 5:6:

And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth.

We must ask ourselves what is "the Spirit of truth?" How will it "guide" us "into all truth?" How will it show us "things to come?" How shall the "Spirit glorify me" [Jesus Christ]?"

The "Spirit of truth" mentioned here is also called the "Comforter" in John 14:16 and 15:26, "the promise of the Father" in Acts 1:4, Luke 24:49 and "the gift of Holy Ghost", "holy spirit" in Acts 2:38. All of these terms refer to the gift of holy spirit given by God on the day of Pentecost (see Acts 2:4).

Just as Jesus Christ stated in John 16 referenced above, the spirit of truth did come. God's gift of holy spirit came on the day of Pentecost as documented in Acts 2:4. After Pentecost, the born-again Judean believers of the first century were making an enormous transition! They were changing from the Gospel Administration, built on the old Testament Laws, to a new Administration built on Grace.

In these seven Church epistles addressed to the new Administration of Grace. We have what is called the "Spirit of truth." So, we ask, how will this Spirit "guide" us "into all truth?" How will it show us "things to come?" And how will the "Spirit glorify" Jesus Christ?

The only place in God's Word that answers these questions are in the seven Church epistles - Romans, Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians and Thessalonians. The great mystery that was hid in God before the foundation of the world can be found in these seven chapters of the Bible. Let's start learning more about our teaching for this month by looking at Ephesians 3:2-6:

If ye have heard of the dispensation [administration] of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward;

How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,

Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;

That the Gentiles should be fellow-heirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel.

Colossians 1:27 expands on this and states:

To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

Jesus Christ did not know about the great mystery. It was hidden in God, this new Grace Administration; it was the Great Mystery. Once the Grace Administration started, the believers needed teaching concerning this new doctrine; they needed to know how to live the Great Mystery. The Church Epistles taught the believers of the new Grace Administration how to reproof themselves and how to correct themselves. Remember, the previous chapters in the Bible "were written for our learning" (Romans 15:4).

1 Corinthians 10:32: says:

Give none offence, neither to the Jews [Judeans], nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God.

The church of God is made up of both Judeans and Gentiles. The church of God began in the Grace Administration. The tenets of the Law Administration were there for Israel to live by, but we are in the Church of God which is made up of both Judeans and Gentiles; we are no longer under the Law! Romans 10:4 tells us:

For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believeth.

The Church Epistles hold the practical instruction to live righteousness in the believers' lives. Living the Great Mystery meant understanding and putting into practical application the instruction provided to this new beginning provided by the Grace Administration.

Every man or woman believes what they believe because of what they were taught. A man or woman can believe less than what he or she was taught, but not more. What we believe today will determine our tomorrows! Therefore, we must rightly divide the doctrine of God's Word, so we can live a more abundant life today and in the future! Living the Great Mystery means rootling and grounding ourselves in the Church Epistles and walking the talk provided therein. II Timothy 3:16, tells us:

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. [bold added for emphasis]

All scripture without exception, from Genesis 1:1 to Revelation 22:21, was given by God! How was scripture given? "By inspiration of God." This phrase comes from the one Greek word - theopneustos - which means God breathed. The words "God breathed" is a figure of speech. Figures of speech throughout the Bible are God's marking as to what He wants emphasized. Theopneustos or the figure of speech used here attributes human characteristics to God emphasizing God as the source of His Word! 2 Peter 1:21 tells us:

For the prophecy [Word of God] came not in old [any] time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost [holy spirit].

The Word of God did not come by the will of man, "but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit"!

Paul said in Galatians 1:11-12:

But I certify [guarantee] you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ [the humbled one now glorified].

II Timothy 3 tells us what the scriptures can provide us with:

• Doctrine or the true criteria or standard.
• Reproof to correct practical error.
• Correction to correct doctrinal error.
• Instruction for righteousness or right living.

What is the purpose of the scriptures? Look at II Timothy 3:17.

That the man [or woman that is] of God may be perfect [mature] and thoroughly [from the inside out] furnished [equipped] unto all good works.

The man or woman that carries out the works of Jesus Christ must be from the inside out, fully equipped to do the works Christ did. And the Bible tells us we can do greater works than Jesus Christ, because the new birth was not available until after Pentecost. No one could be born-again while Jesus Christ was on the earth! But now we can teach people how to be born-again of God's Spirit. Isn't that wonderful? As born-again believers, we can do greater works than Jesus Christ! But don't believe me - believe John 14:12:

Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.

That's why Jesus Christ could not be God! If he is God, then we are going to do greater works than God! That's an impossibility! Here is the caveat - We cannot do works of Jesus Christ until we know the doctrine. Doctrine is the basic truths, the principles, the standard. Doctrine includes skills for practical application. Living the Great Mystery - our teaching for this month - means understanding the doctrine as laid out in the Bible of the Grace Administration. It means living the God breathed doctrine and the instruction contained in the seven Church Epistles.

The seven Church Epistles of the Grace Administration are laid out with three foundational purposes: Doctrine, Reproof and Correction. God set forth the Word in the Grace Administration so that we could live the true standard (Doctrine), adjust behavior (Reproof), and act to modify our thoughts and behavior (Correction). Our goal is to understand how these Church Epistles work together to make up the "instruction in righteousness."

The number seven in the word of God is spiritual perfection. When we attentively look at the Church Epistles, we see that Romans, Ephesians and Thessalonians are Doctrine epistles teaching us how to rightly divide God's Word. Corinthians, and Philippians are Reproof epistles for not obeying doctrine epistles. And Galatians and Colossians Correct doctrinal mistakes. When we get away from doctrine, we start practicing error. Once we practice error long enough, we make it a doctrine, such as traditions of men, then we need correction. Colossians 2:8 says:

Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.

Let's start with the foundational Epistles - the Doctrine Epistles of Romans, Ephesians, and Thessalonians. Three is the number of completeness in the Word of God. The number three represents divine perfection. For example - Believing, hope and love; body, soul and spirit; formed made and created.

Romans, Ephesians and Thessalonians serve as the basic doctrinal teaching and instruction for the Grace Administration. These three doctrine epistles deliver all the essential truth for a man or woman to be born again of God's Spirit and to manifest a more abundant life.

Romans is first among the doctrinal epistles, because it contains the groundwork, the foundation, the beginning point, for the "all truth" knowledge which Jesus Christ said he would send after his ascension. Romans teaches us about humankind in the unredeemed state of Adam who fell from God's Grace into ungodliness and unrighteousness.
Romans declares:

By the deeds [works] of the law there shall no flesh be justified in God's sight (Romans 3:20).

But because of God's grace through Jesus Christ, the believer is justified freely by God's grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus (Romans 3:24).

Therefore, being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 5:1).

By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand and rejoice in hope of the glory of God (Romans 5:2).

Therefore, there is now no condemnation [judgement] to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit (Romans 8:1).

And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ (Romans 8:17).

Isn't this wonderful? "For since by man [Adam] sin came death" (1 Corinthians 15:21) upon all men and women. Romans lifts us up and exhorts us to be reunited back to God by His grace and His son Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:22 tells us:

For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

As born-again believers, living the Great Mystery, Romans tells us we are "more than conquerors through him that loved us" (Romans 8:37)! We are told that nothing can "separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8:39).

After nine chapters of doctrine in Romans, we are taught how to be born again of God's Spirit. The foundation is laid for the Grace Administration in chapters 1-9 of Romans. We are then given the keys to living the Great Mystery in Romans 10:9-10:

That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Romans sets forth God's will, purpose and desire in making us see what we are and what we have in Christ! We are encouraged to "prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God" (Romans 12:2) by living the Great Mystery through the doctrine, reproof, and correction in the seven Church Epistles of the Grace Administration.

The next doctrinal epistle is Ephesians and begins with man as a born-again son of God. It opens with man already blessed because of his spiritual wholeness achieved through Christ Jesus. Ephesians tells us what God has already done for us in Christ and what we have in Christ. We learn about the inheritance of the saints and the exceeding greatness of his power to us who believe! We learned what is the Great Mystery!

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

According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love (Ephesians 1:4).

To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved (Ephesians 1:6).

In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness [remission] of sins, according to the riches of his grace (Ephesians 1:7).

That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ (Ephesians 1:12).

The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints (Ephesians 1:18).

And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power (Ephesians 1:19).

One new man (Ephesians 2:15).

The believers are in the household of God (Ephesians 2:19).

That the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel (Ephesians 3:6).

There are subtle, but important differences between these first two Doctrine Epistles. These differences show how each individual must make up his or her mind to be born-again of God's spirit and be a part of His household.

The final Doctrine epistle of the Grace Administration is 1 and 2 Thessalonians. In these two chapters of Thessalonians, the message is one of exhortation and promise - the believer is gathered together forever in glory (2 Thessalonians 2:1). This revelation in Thessalonians stands last in the seven Church Epistles, it is significant that Thessalonians was the first one revealed to the Apostle Paul. Thessalonians completes the doctrinal package and sets forth the great hope and right teaching regarding the return of Christ and gathering together.

These seven Church Epistles are set in the Bible in perfection of their spiritual truth. In none of the New Testament manuscripts, except one (Papyrus), does the sequence of these seven Church Epistles ever differ; although the sequence of the other books of the New Testament do. God's people needed the hope of Christ's second coming to look forward to, just as the Old Testament believers needed to look for Christ's first coming.

We learned all scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction in order to live the Great Mystery in righteousness. We discussed three doctrines epistles, Romans, Ephesians and Thessalonians. These three doctrines epistles provide us the standard or criteria for the Grace Administration.

Father, thank you for your Word. Thank you for these wonderful magnificent and superb Church Epistles, which provides your doctrine, reproof and correction and gives us instruction in righteousness, so that we can live a super conqueror abundant life in Christ! Father thank you for opening our understanding of the doctrine of the Church Epistles. Thank you that we can know Your Word and will regarding the Great Mystery documented in the Church Epistles. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.

Next month's teaching we will look at an example of Doctrine, Reproof and Correction in the Church Epistles.

In the Lord,

Ministry of Reconciliation
Son of God through Jesus Christ
Ambassador for Christ

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