The Untraceable Riches of Christ: by David Buckman

"Bible Exposition Fellowship"

Early-Bird Encouragement: May.2009

The Untraceable Riches of Christ

(Part 2)

Dear Brethren in Christ Jesus,

I would like to bring to your attention in this early-bird news letter a "well message" that had been hidden in the mind of our great God and Savior until He graced Paul, "the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you, the nations," who, claimed to be less than the least of all the saints, yet by the grace that was granted to him from God, enabled him to write the [Gr.graphon propheetikon] "prophetic scriptures" as the prisoner of Christ at Rome for the nations.

"...To me, less than the least of all saints, was granted this "the" grace: to bring the [Gr. EU-ANGGELION, "WELL MESSAGE" or EVANGEL of the UNTRACEABLE [Gr. ANEXICHNIASTON] riches of Christ to the nations..." [Eph.3:8]

Now before we examine some of these untraceable riches let us first read of this Greek word in the only other place it is used in the Scriptures, and again we find it is used by the apostle to the nations.

"...O, the depths of the riches and the wisdom and the knowledge of God! How INSCRUTABLE [Gr. ANEXERAUNETA] are His judgments and UNTRACEABLE [Gr. ANEXICHNIASTOI] His ways! ..." [Rom.11:33]

The apostle went on to say;

"...For who knew the mind of the Lord? or, who became His advisor? or, who gives to Him first, and it will be repaid him? seeing that out of Him and through Him is "the" all: to Him be the glory for the eons of the eons! Amen..." [Rom.11:34-36]

Now, let us have a look at the "well message" or evangel of the untraceable riches of Christ, that brings unto us, the nations, revelations concerning His creation and celestial honors, dignities and glories which were unknown until God granted Paul, who claimed to be less than the least of all saints, the grace to make them known to us through his [Gr. graphon propheetikon] "prophetic scriptures" written from prison at Rome in 62.A.D. at the close of both the administration of the Law and the dispensation of the Acts of the apostles.

[1] FIRSTBORN OF CREATION:

The very first of these glories and honors of the evangel of the "untraceable riches of Christ to be revealed by Paul to the nations is that He is "the Firstborn of every creature," and it is written;

"...the Son of His love,...Who is the Image of the invisible God, FIRSTBORN OF EVERY CREATURE, for in Him is the all created, that in the heavens and the that on the earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones, or lordships, or sovereignties, or authorities, ALL IS CREATED THROUGH HIM AND FOR HIM, AND HE IS BEFORE ALL, AND ALL HAS ITS COHESION IN HIM..."

What marvelous and lofty statements literally filled with the "well message" of the untraceable and inscrutable revelations of the Son of His love Who is God's Faithful and true Witness, and God's "the" creative Original: Therefore "creation" was not only "in Him" as its Firstborn, but also "through Him" and "for Him." Consequently, then, He is the rightful "Owner and Sovereign" of all! This IS what Jesus told His disciples when He referred to the spirit of truth recorded in the gospel of John?

"...Still much have I to say to you, but you are not able to bear it at present. Yet whenever that may be coming the spirit of "the" truth it will be guiding you into all the truth, for it will not be speaking from itself, but whatsoever it should be hearing will it be speaking, and of "the" what is coming will it be informing you. ALL, whatever the Father has, is "MINE." Therefore I said to you that of "MINE" is it getting, and will be informing you..." [John.16:12-15]

This is emphatically what Paul wrote to the nations in his "prophetic Scriptures" ?

May God grant us the grace and open our minds with a spirit of wisdom to grasp with increasing measure and realization, this transcendent glorious truth of the Son of His love, in Whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Amen!

[2] THE IMAGE OF THE INVISIBLE GOD:

God is spirit, and those who are worshiping Him must be worshiping Him in spirit and truth [John.4:24], and though present and powerful, is, nevertheless, INVISIBLE, and as such, He can not be known by His creatures. Consequently, there must needs be a Mediator Who is a perfect IMAGE, a visible form of the invisible Deity.

That Image is, "the Son of God's love,"...Who, being "inherently" in the form of God,.." is truly the visible manifestation of the invisible God, and fully and completely revealing all the attributes of the Deity to His creatures. May God grace us with the wisdom to comprehend this revelation truth.

[3] THE COMPLEMENT OF GOD:

In the Greek the word is PLEEROOMA, FILLing, indicates what is put in to fill up, as a piece of cloth which fills up a tear in a garment. [Matt.9:16] or the fragments of food which filled up the hampers [Mark.8:20] and that which fills Christ [John.1:16]. Keep this meaning in mind as we consider its divine usage in the revelation of another glory and riches of Christ.

"...in Him the entire complement delights to dwell..." [Col.1:20] and "...in Him the entire complement of the Deity is dwelling bodily..." [Col.2:9]

These scriptures show us that Christ was not only accorded the glories of being the Image of the invisible God, Firstborn of every creature, and the complement of God, but that He is also the bodily dwelling place or residence of "entire complement or filling of God."

God granted the grace to Paul to bring this "well message" or evangel of the untraceable riches of Christ to us and we should be praying the prayer Paul prayed, that we should be strong to grasp with heart realization these glories. These declarations of Scripture truly speak of the deep things of God. Paul said that we are being built together as God's dwelling place, in spirit;

"...Consequently, then, no longer are you guests and sojourners, but are fellow citizens of the saints and belong to God's family, being built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets..."

I would like to pause here and explain who the "apostles" and "prophets" are that Paul is referring to. He is not referring to the twelve apostles chosen before His ascension into heaven, or John the Baptist. [Matt.11:11] but those apostles and prophets He chose after His ascension. It is to Paul and his associates who were graced with Paul's stewardship and revelation evangel and the secret of the evangel and the ministry of adjusting the saints into the new "administration" of grace and the new "dispensation" of the "secret economy" revealed when the administration of the Law and the dispensation of the Acts of the Apostles closed.

"...Now the "He ascended," what is it except that He first descended also into the lower parts of the earth? He Who descends is the same Who ascends also, up over all who are of the heavens, [Eph.1:20-23] that He should be completing all. And the same One gives these, indeed, as apostles, yet these as prophets, yet these as evangelists, yet these as Pastors and teachers, toward the ADJUSTING of the saints..."

Why did they, the "SAINTS" need "ADJUSTING" ?

They needed to be adjusted into the new "environment," in the new administration of the grace of God in the new dispensation of the secret economy. The administration of the Law had closed and the dispensation of the Acts of the apostles and the gifts of pneuma hagion "spirit holy" the signs and wonders given to Israel that were the partial fulfillment of the Prophet Joel, [Acts.2:16-21] which will yet in the future have a complete fulfillment, "CEASED" at that time, [UNTIL THE APOCALYPSE] and was replaced with "faith-obedience" to Paul's "evangel" and "the secret of the evangel" hushed in times eonian yet manifested now to all the nations for faith obedience during this secret economy. [Rom.16:25-27]

"The readjustment of the saints, changing them from a condition of tutelage and dependence on the blessings of Israel to mature manhood and independent celestial blessings, was effected by sending them specially endowed apostles and prophets, pastors and teachers. The service of the apostles and prophets is now superseded by the Scriptures, such as this epistle, which were written to accomplish the same end. This is in contrast to the giving of the Law, which brought them into captivity [Ps. 68:18]. This grace sets aside all enslaving laws and decrees." A.E.K.

Paul teaching in the assembly at Corinth [57.A.D.] was already preparing them for the "maturity" that the spirit of truth would bring at the closing of the administration of the law and the commencement of the secret economy. He carefully explained how the gift ministry was to be only temporary until the "maturity" may be coming.

It is most likely that Paul had received the knowledge and full understanding of the secret economy, and the maturity that was impending, and the passing away of the era of immaturity some fourteen years earlier when he was snatched away to the third heaven. Paul said he was snatched away into paradise and hears ineffable declarations which it is not allowed a man to speak.

All these ineffable declarations Paul had heard, but he was not allowed to make them known publicly until Israel's apostasy and final rejection of the King and Kingdom at the close of the book of the Acts. It was then that he speaks Isaiah's prophecy of doom to the elders and turns to the nations and write the "prophetic scriptures" by the commandment of God and reveals the untraceable riches of Christ to all the nations.[Acts.28:28]

Listen to Paul as he carefully prepares them for the close of the dispensation of the Acts of the apostles, and begins to lay the seeds of the maturity about to be revealed and the close of the administration of Law.

"...Love is never lapsing: yet, whether prophecies, they will be "DISCARDED", or languages, they will "CEASE", or [the gift of] knowledge, it will be "DISCARDED." For out of an installment are we knowing, and out of an installment are we prophesying. [in 57.A.D.] Now when MATURITY may be coming, [ it came ,62.A.D. PUBLICLY through the spirit of truth promised in John.16:12-15] that [spiritual gift dispensation] which is out of an installment shall be [it was] discarded.

When I was a "MINOR" [in Christ] I spoke as a minor, I was disposed as a minor, I took account of things as a minor. Yet when I became a man [MATURITY IN CHRIST ARRIVED] I discarded "the"that which is a minor's..." [1.Cor.13:8-11]

If we look intently into the [Graphon Propheetikon] "prophetic Scriptures" written by Paul from Rome in 62.A.D. after the close of the administration of Law, we never again find a single mention of the "pneuma hagion" powerful sign gift ministry with the mighty signs and wonders that were plentiful in the dispensation of the Acts of the apostles during the administration of the Law.

Search in vain for those miracles of healing and you will not find a single occurrence mentioned. In fact you will find the opposite. Paul now admonishing Timothy to take a little wine for his often infirmity.[1.Tim.5:23] At this state of crisis in the apostles ministry we begin to note the decline of all physical blessings. His own thorn in the flesh was not removed [2.Cor.12:7] Timothy his nearest and dearest friend is afflicted with frequent infirmities. "Instead of healing him, or recommending such a course, he suggests a remedy." A.E K.

In closing this news letter I would like to quote from Paul's first [Graphon Propheetikon] "prophetic Scriptures" the epistle, Ephesians, written from Rome, according to the injunction of the eonian God, being made known to all nations for faith-obedience.

"...Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ Who blesses us with every SPIRITUAL BLESSING AMONG THE CELESTIALS IN CHRIST...in Whom we are having the deliverance through His blood, the forgiveness of offenses in accord with the riches of His grace, which He lavishes on us; in all wisdom and prudence making known to US the secret of His will [in accord with His delight, which He purposed in Him] to have an administration of the complement of the eras, to Head up all in the Christ both that in the heavens and that on the earth in Him in Whom OUR LOT WAS CAST ALSO, being designated beforehand according to the purpose of the One Who is operating all in accord with the counsel of His will, that WE should be for the laud of His glory, WHO ARE PRE-EXPECTANT in the Christ..." [Eph.1:3, 7-12]

The Greek word proelpizo before-expect is a reference to US, "the ecclesia which is His body, the complement of the One completing the all in all" who are expecting to be snatched away to our realm inherent in the heavens [Phil.3:20-21] before His presence and apocalypse on the earth at the unveiling and close of this eon [age] and the inauguration of the earthly Kingdom of God with His Israel people, [Rom.11:25-36] once again having the preeminence over the nations for the millennial reign of the Son of Man "...on the throne of David His father, and He shall reign over the house of Jacob [not the joint body of Christ] for the eons. And of His Kingdom there shall be no consummation..." [Luke.1:32-33]

Unless we have a sound pattern of words and distinguish between the things that differ and correctly partition the word of truth and go on to maturity, we will find ourselves in the position that Paul spoke of in his instructions in the Ephesian epistle.

"...And this same One gives these indeed, as apostles, yet these as prophets, yet these as evangelists, yet these as pastors and teachers, toward the adjusting of the saints for the work of dispensing, for the upbuilding of the body of Christ, unto the end that we should all attain the unity of the faith and of the realization of the son of God, to a MATURE MAN, to the measure of the stature of the COMPLEMENT OF THE CHRIST, that we may by no means still be MINORS, surging hither and thither and being carried about by every wind of teaching, by human caprice, by craftiness with a view to the SYSTEMATIZING OF THE DECEPTION.." [Eph.4:11-14]

If the pre-existence of the Son of His love and the celestial honors, dignities and glories of His pre-existence are not referring to the untraceable [Gr. ANEXERAUNETA] riches of Christ that Paul the prisoner of Christ Jesus was granted the grace to bring to the nations, what was the untraceable riches of Christ ?

Jesus speaking to Cleopas said;

"...O foolish and tardy of heart to be believing on all which the prophets speak! Must not the Christ be suffering these things, and be entering into His glory?..." And, beginning from Moses and from all the prophets, He interprets to them, in all the scriptures, THAT WHICH CONCERNS HIM..." This proves that Paul's evangel of the untraceable riches of Christ was not in any previous scripture prior to his prison epistles.

In the gospel of Luke we find a messenger from God;

"...Now in the sixth month, the messenger Gabriel dispatched from God to a city of Galilee...And the messenger said to her, "Fear not Miriam, for you have found favor with God. And Lo ! you shall be conceiving and be pregnant and bringing forth a Son, and you shall be calling His name Jesus. He shall be great, and Son of the Most High shall He be called. And the Lord God shall be giving Him the throne of David His father, and He shall reign over the house of Jacob for the eons. And of His Kingdom there shall be no end..."

In the Psalms we can trace more of His coming glories;

"...What is man that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?

For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and has crowned him with glory and honor. Thou madest him to have dominion over the work of thy hands; thou has put all things under his feet..." [Psalm.8:4-6]

Paul speaking in [57.A.D] to the Corinthians of this eventual outcome says;

"... For even as, in Adam, all are dying, thus also in Christ, shall all be vivified. Yet each in his own class: the First fruit, Christ; thereupon those who are Christ's in His presence; thereafter the consummation, whenever He may be giving up the Kingdom to His God and Father, whenever He should be nullifying all sovereignty and all authority and power. For He must be reigning until He should be placing all His enemies "under His feet." The last enemy is being abolished: death. For He subjects all under His feet. Now whenever He may be saying that all is subject to Him, then the Son Himself also shall be subjected to Him Who subjects all to Him, that God may be all in all..."

I have mentioned all the future glories and riches and they all can be traced throughout the Scriptures, and all prior to Paul being graced by God to bring the evangel of the UNTRACEABLE RICHES OF CHRIST TO THE NATIONS in 62.A.D in His "prophetic Scriptures" written as the prisoner of Christ at Rome.

Finally, I repeat once more;

If the untraceable [Gr. ANNEXERAUNETA] riches of Christ that Paul the prisoner of Christ Jesus was granted the grace to bring to the nations was not the celestial honors, dignities and glories of His pre-existence as the Son of His love. What were these untraceable riches not found in any Scripture prior to Paul's [Gr.Graphon Propheetikon] "prophetic Scriptures", the prison epistles written from prison at Rome in 62.A.D. as the prisoner of the Lord for the nations.? [Eph.3:1]

May God bless you real good.

David and Carol Buckman.

Down-under in the land of OZ.

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