and that kingdom far from being a mystery or secret, was the main theme of the Old Testament Scriptures, so the

Pentecostal church could never have been designated with truth as a `secret hid in God'. Had it been so, the Apostle

would have been bound to declare it. As he had asserted in Acts 20:20,27 he had `kept back nothing' as a faithful

minister of the Word but made known everything. Not only this, in the second chapter of Ephesians, Paul reveals

that the composition of this new company was a fresh beginning, a new creation, by the Lord of Jewish and Gentile

believers and as such could not have been an evolution from the Acts, even though it was based firmly upon

justification by faith and the basic doctrine of redemption by the precious blood of Christ:

`Having abolished in His flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances (decrees) for

to make (CREATE) in Himself of the twain (two, Jewish and Gentile believers) one new man, so making peace'

(Eph. 2:14-16).

To create, means a new beginning, not the patching up or improvement of something old.

Not only this, there are other features which make the Body of Christ, as revealed in Ephesians and Colossians,

unique. A unique word is used of this company in Ephesians 3:6, sussoma, literally a joint-body, a body where each

member shares fully and on perfect equality with the others. The word is not used in the Corinthian epistles or

elsewhere for it could not be true while the `olive tree' illustration obtained during the Acts (Rom. 11:16-23).

A unique Time Period. The choice of the Father of each individual member was described as being `chosen

(elected) in Christ before the foundation of the world', that is, before creation (Eph. 1:4). 2 Timothy 1:9 and Titus

1:2 literally read `before age-times'. No other company of the redeemed is associated with such a period. The

expression is only used elsewhere in Scripture of Christ Himself (John 17:24; 1 Pet. 1:20). Other companies of

believers are declared to belong to that aspect of the kingdom which has been prepared by God, `since the

foundation of the world' (Matt. 25:34). One must surely distinguish between before an event, and since an event.

The importance of this heavenly company in the plan of God is surely emphasized by the timing of His choice

which was before creation.

A unique Title. `The church which is His Body, the fulness of Him that filleth all in all' (Eph. 1:22,23). This title

with its great content defies complete explanation. In Christ dwells `all the fulness of the Godhead bodily' (Col.

2:9). This church is His fulness and each member is `filled to the full (complete) in Him' (Col. 2:9,10). Such

language is above anything given to Israel, wonderful though their blessings were. Ephesians and Colossians are

predominantly the epistles of fulness (Eph. 1:10,23; 3:19; 4:13; Col. 1:19; 2:9).

A unique Status. Ephesians 3:6 gives the relationship of each redeemed member of this church. As we have before

shown, there is a threefold emphasis on perfect equality in sharing between Jew and Gentile (`fellow-heirs',

`fellow-members' of the Body and `Fellow-partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus') which could not exist as long as

Israel was first in the outworking of the plan of God and the `olive tree' figure obtained. In the Body of Christ,

saved Jew and Gentile have lost their earthly status, the Jew with his many privileges in the flesh (Rom. 9:4,5) and

the Gentile with his complete lack of them, being `far off', `aliens', Christless and Godless (Eph. 2:11-13). They are

now brought together in complete equality and unity, everything that could have been a barrier being broken down

by the Lord (Eph. 2:14-16).

A unique Sphere of Blessing. This is described as being in heavenly places where Christ is now enthroned `far

above all' (Eph. 1:19-21). The Lord Jesus must be localized somewhere for He has a glorified body. Likewise we

are told that `principalities and powers' (heavenly princes) exist also in these heavenly places and they obviously

must be somewhere (Eph. 3:10). The Lord Jesus Christ has been exalted to the highest pinnacle of glory and the

phrase `in the heavenlies' is only another way of describing this supreme sphere, which elsewhere is expressed as

being `far above all heavens' (Eph. 4:10). This shows us that heaven is a great deal more complex and wonderful

than we realized. Ephesians 1:20-22 gives us the enthroned Christ in the heavenly places which is described as

being far above anything the human mind can conceive. Ephesians 2:6 goes further and reveals the Body of Christ

enthroned there with Him. It is surely impossible to get higher than the ascended and glorified Lord, so we can say

with truth that this is the climax of revelation for the redeemed of God. With all their wonderful blessings, Israel had

nothing equalling this. Never do we read in the Word of God that this nation will ever be exalted to the right hand

of God. They were intended to be `high above all nations' of the earth (Deut. 26:18,19) but never above the spiritual

dignities that exist in the highest heavens as well as those on earth.