The Dispensation of the Fullness of the Times

Ephesians  1:10, “That in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are heaven and which are on earth – in Him.”

Here we have a prelude of what God the Father will do just before He ushers in the Eternal State.

The word translated as dispensation comes from the Greek word oikonormia; which in the Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon has the following meanings.

Dispensation oikonormia

1.      The management of a household or of household affairs.

1a)       specifically, the management, oversight, administration of another’s property.

1b)       the office of a manager or overseer, stewardship.

1c)       administration, dispensation.

Thus, this word dispensation gives us a picture of God the Father managing and administering time itself; for His own good pleasure.

The Greek word pleroma translated as fullness has in it the thought of filling up completely.

Notice it is God the Father managing the affairs of men, managing the affairs of angels, managing the affairs of fallen angels and managing time itself. All these things He co-ordinates and brings together. They all coalesce in “...the fullness of the times...”

The reason, “...He might gather together in one all things in Christ...” Christ will be pre-eminent!

Gone – is what men did to Christ at Calvary.

Gone – is Armageddon.

Gone - is the thousand year’s reign of the Millennium years.

Gone – is the uprising of the wicked at the end of the thousand year’s reign.

Time shall be no more! The Eternal State will commence.

For those who are born again believers in the Lord Jesus Christ there is eternity with Him in Heaven.

For those who have died in their sins there is eternity in the Lake of Fire.

The Lord Jesus Christ is my Saviour and God. Can you confidently say the same?

One of my favourite passages in Scripture is Jude 24, 25, “(24) Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, (25) To God our Saviour who alone is wise, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever. Amen.”

May it be so with you!

Jon Peasey

Biblical Perspectives blog  www.jon-peasey.blogspot.com 

[All Scriptures quoted are from the New King James version]

[You are welcome to comment on this blog post by clicking on the comment section at the end of the post.]

We have obtained an inheritance

Collins Concise Dictionary defines inheritance as:

1.        (a) A hereditary succession to an estate, title etc.

            (b) The right of an heir to succeed on the death of an ancestor.

            (c) Something that may legally be transmitted to an heir.

2.      Something inherited; heritage.

Who is the “we” referred to in the title of the blog post?

Who gives this inheritance?

Why is the inheritance given?

How is the inheritance obtained?

When does the inheritance take place?

Where is the inheritance situated?

What does the inheritance consist of?

We find the reference to our title in the book of Ephesians.

Ephesians 1:11, “In Him [Christ] also we obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him [God the Father] who works all things according to the counsel of His will [God the Father].

Words in square brackets are inserted for the sake of clarity.

Who is the “we”? Ephesians 1:6, 7 gives us the answer. “(6) ...He [God the Father] made us accepted in the Beloved [Christ]. (7) In Him [Christ] we have redemption through His blood the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace [God the Father].” It is those who have been redeemed through the blood of Christ who get the inheritance.

Who gives this inheritance? If we were to read from verse 1 it would become obvious that it is God the Father who gives the inheritance through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Why is the inheritance given? Verse 5 tells us that we are adopted as sons of God the Father. Verse 6 tells us that we are accepted in Christ, the Beloved. Verse 7 tells us that we have been redeemed through the blood of Christ and our sins are forgiven. If we are sons, then we are heirs, and heirs are legally entitled to their inheritance.

How is the inheritance obtained? Usually an inheritance is given upon the death of the person giving the inheritance. In that sense, the Lord Jesus Christ died upon the cross at Calvary to give us an inheritance from God the Father.

When does the inheritance take place? When we die and go to Heaven, then we enter into the fullness of our inheritance.

Where is the inheritance situated? Although we do enjoy some of the benefits of our inheritance here on Earth, the full benefits and blessings of our inheritance can only be obtained in Heaven. It is a heavenly inheritance.

What does the inheritance consist of? Here are some of the things in store for us.

1        Eternal life (John 3:16).

2        A home in Heaven (John 14:2, 3).

3        Being part of God’s family (John 14:2, 3); (Ephesians 1:5).

4        Joint heirs with Christ (Romans 8:16, 17).

5        The complete absence of sin, sorrow and death (Revelation 21:4).

6        Eternal joy and happiness (Psalm 16:11).

This inheritance is guaranteed. Ephesians 1:13, 14, “(13) ...having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise. (14) Who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.”

This inheritance is reserved for us 1 Peter 1:4, “...an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you.”

It is God’s inheritance which He will share with us through the Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 1:18, “the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints.”

Fellow believers in Christ, what a truly amazing inheritance is prepared for you and me by God the Father! May your meditations of Him be sweet.

Jon Peasey

Biblical Perspectives blog  www.jon-peasey.blogspot.com 

 [All Scriptures quoted are from the New King James version]

[You are welcome to comment on this blog post by clicking on the comment section at the end of the post.]

The Seven I Will's of Exodus 6

Exodus, as we know, is the book that records God’s deliverance of the children of Israel from slavery in Egypt. In Chapter 6 God speaks to Moses and gives him a message for the children of Israel.

Exodus 6:6-8, (6) “Therefore say to the children of Israel: ‘I am the Lord; I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, I will rescue you from their bondage, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great judgments. (7) ‘I will take you as My people, and I will be your God. Then you shall know that I am the Lord your God who brings you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians. (8) ‘And I will bring you into the land which I swore to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; and I will give it to you as a heritage: I am the Lord’. ”

Pharaoh the ruler of the Egyptians is a type of Satan, the Devil. Satan desires to have all mankind under the bondage of sin and death. He doesn’t give up any soul without a struggle.

In Ephesians chapter 2 Satan is called “the prince of the power of the air.” Let’s look at verses 1-3.

(1)”And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, (2) in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, (3) among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.”

In Scripture the number 7 is the number of perfection, or completeness.

(1)    I will bring you out.

(2)    I will rescue you.

(3)    I will redeem you.

(4)    I will take you as My people.

(5)    I will be your God.

(6)    I will bring you into the land.

(7)    I will give it to you as a heritage.

Note the completeness of the seven I will’s; which God brought to pass in the experiences of the children of Israel.

Brought out – Rescued – Redeemed – Became God’s people – God became their God – Brought into the land – The land became their heritage.

Note the similarities in our time. God brings us out of the bondage of sin and death. God rescues us from the sentence of death. God redeems us through the blood of Christ. We become God’s people. God becomes our God. We will be brought into the heavenly land. In heaven we have “...an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you.”    (1 Peter 1:4).

Are you passing through trials and tribulations? So did the children of Israel. God brought them out of Egypt in order to bring them into the Promised Land; a land “...flowing with milk and honey.”

Fellow believer in Christ, keep looking up and keep going on. “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.” (2 Corinthians 4:17).

Jon Peasey

Biblical Perspectives blog

[All Scriptures quoted are from the New King James version]

[You are welcome to comment on this blog post by clicking on the comment section at the end of the post.]