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 The Hope of the Church of the One Body - Part 8 (final).
The lesson on October 7, 2007 finishes the audio series on the hope of the church.
We have been studying the hope of the Church of the One Body for eight lessons now and we have seen hope as defined as something of what is expected, or trusted in.
The word “trust” in verse 12 could have been translated as “hoped in Christ”.In the previous lesson, we looked at the hope of the one body
being the out-resurrection which the Apostle Paul revealed in Philippians 3:11 “If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.” and
Colossians 3:4 “When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.” There is a second coming of Christ to each
group that has been called. The second coming to Israel according to the flesh they are looking for Jesus to come back which we looked at in
Matthew 24 when he sets up the Kingdom of Heaven here on Earth. Another advent of the Lord is when he presents Heavenly Jerusalem
coming down to be set up here on Earth which was covered in Revelation. This involves the group known as Abraham’s seed which was identified in
Galatians 3. Now the third group that is looking for Christ’s appearing is that of the church of the one body which involves the heavenly inheritance. In
Philippians 3:10-11, we read of Paul trying to express some very important issues: “That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the
fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.” The translators
have not recognized the three spheres of blessing. This is the failure in the
translation of this verse which has not been accurate. The phrase “resurrection of the dead” here should have been “the
resurrection from the dead”. This is because in the Greek it says “ek nekron” which denotes “out from among the dead
people”. This is the only time in scripture where this occurs. This final lesson in the series is an important one to review.   Click here to listen now. You may also want to  download the handout for review while you listen. Be sure and review all of the audio lessons on the hope of the church.
 Colossians Study - Part 1
.This is a new series that covers the book of Colossians. This is an important book because it is a prison epistle that is
written to us. All scripture is for our learning but all scripture is not written to
you. We don’t obey the scribes and Pharisees that sit in Moses’ seat… these
instructions were to Jesus’ disciples at that time in scripture. Paul is an apostle
to the Gentiles. He didn’t start out this way… when he was called on the road to Damascus; the first place he went to go and tell of Christ was in the
Synagogue to the Jews. Paul changed during the Acts period from going to the Synagogue and the Jews to going to the Gentiles. We see in Galatians that
Paul’s ministry becomes one that was unto the uncircumcision. Galatians 2:7 (KJV) says “But contrariwise, when they saw
that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter;” Paul’s
journey to Galatians was during the Acts period and is an example of the seven books Paul wrote during this time (those
books being Galatians, 1 & 2 Corinthians, 1 & 2 Thessalonians, Romans, and Hebrews). The subject matter of the Acts
period is the same in the books that Paul wrote during that time… We see that in the book of Acts, from Acts 1 through
Acts 28… Israel is the primary focus. Acts 1:6 (KJV) “When they therefore were come together, they asked of him,
saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?” Acts 28:20 (KJV) “For this cause therefore have I
called for you, to see you, and to speak with you: because that for the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain.” Then
when the Jewish elders could not come to agreement with what Paul was saying… they departed… and that is when the
salvation was sent (authorized apart from Abraham) to the Gentiles as it says so in Acts 28:28. Up until this point,
salvation was in the hands of Israel (remember it was said that salvation was out of the Jews) as it said in John 4:21-22.
After Acts 28:28, the Gentiles have been the depository of the salvation message for over 2000 years. At the close of
Acts, Paul sets aside his ministry to the Jews (circumcision) and completely dedicates himself to the ministry of the Gentles
(uncircumcision). The first book he wrote after Acts was Ephesians, where he declares this special ministry to the
Gentiles. The seven books Paul wrote after Acts 28 are the ones written specifically to us, and contain our appropriate
doctrine which is what we should follow today (these seven books are Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, Titus, Philemon
, 1 & 2 Timothy). The lesson on October 14, 2007 begins a new audio series on Colossians. Click here to listen now. You may also download a handout to review while you listen to the lesson. Be sure and keep up with this series in the audio room.
 Colossians Study - Part 2.
This is the second lesson in the series on Colossians that was given on October 21, 2007. We see that Epaphras was a minister unto Colossae and we see in
chapter 1 that he has come back to Paul in Rome, who is in prison, and has expressed some
concern about the doctrine that is being taught back in Colossae. There was a Gnostic
teaching at that time that Jesus was a continuation of a long string of angels that came down
from God. Epaphras wanted help in refuting this in Colossae and we see Paul’s comment about Christ in Colossians 1:15 (KJV) “Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every
creature:” Paul also warned those in Colossae that this belief would spoil them as to the
reward they were to receive (look at Colossians 2:8-10; and 2:18). And then Paul starts talking
in chapter 3 & 4 of Colossians about the practical leaning of a believer, which included the walk
that should accompany the belief of the believer. The walk that is necessary to acknowledge the unique calling that they
had. Epaphras had probably heard Paul’s message to the Ephesians and he wanted more information on this special
ministry that Paul had received and was now revealing in detail to the Christian following he was responsible for in
Colossae. We know it was unique because of what was said in Colossians 1:9-10, and 1:25-26. There is a distinct
difference between the Acts period and the Ephesians period and our walk should be in relation to the doctrine of the Ephesians message which is when The Mystery was revealed. Click here to listen now for the second lesson in this series. You should also download the handout to review while you are listening. Be
sure and review all of the lessons in the Colossians study.
 Colossians Study - Part 3. The lesson on October 28, 2007 is the third lesson on the
book of Colossians. We have learned that Epaphras was a strong minister unto the church at Colossae which Paul testified in Col. 4:12 who communicated to Paul his
concerns about the doctrine being taught in Colossae. The letter itself was brought to the
Colossians by Tychius, who was another faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord
as is stated in Col. 4:7. Epaphras is with Paul in Rome and some say that Colossians is a
sister letter to the book of Ephesians. He stated the great conflict he had for them in
Colossae and also for the Laodiceans (Col 2:1). Paul even mentions of a letter that should
be read to the Laodiceans in Col. 4:16 which is probably the book of Ephesians. When you compare the message of Ephesians and Colossians, you find that they are sister
letters in that the messages in both books are similar and complimentary therefore it behooves us to read both books
together. This is an important book because it is one of seven epistles written by Paul to the Gentiles and it is where we
find our doctrine which should establish our Christian walk. Paul even talks about this in verse 10…”That ye might walk
worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;” This walk
is part of what Paul is praying about, as we see in verse 9…”For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not
cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;” What was it that sparked this prayer? This is not the first time he mentions prayer because you see him
mention prayer in Col. 1:3 saying “We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you”.
Paul is demonstrating that prayer should be an important part of your Christian walk in that all people should be prayed for. Even our Lord said this in Luke 18:1 “…that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;” which Paul is following as a faithful
steward. He even asks specifically for prayer in Col. 4:3 “Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door
of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ…” Click here to listen now. You may also want to download the handout to review while you listen. Be sure and review all of the lessons in the Colossians study.
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Audio Lessons for this Month
