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explain the work of the new ministry given after the great change of Acts 28: This is
the intention in Heb. 11: 3, where the "ages were adjusted", and in Heb. 10: 5, "the body
prepared" for the Lord, when the time came for the setting aside of sacrifices and
offerings. To offer acceptable service these Hebrew believers were under the necessity of
being "fitted", "mended", "restored", or "adjusted" to the new dispensation and to the
terms of the New Covenant. This is also true of ourselves. If we are members of the
One Body, blessed under the terms of the Mystery, we must be adjusted or fitted to our
new calling before we shall be acceptable. Hence the prayers of Eph. 1: and Col. 1:
with this in view. Hence, also, the special ministry of Eph. 4:
This acceptable service is summed up in the words of Heb. 13: 21, "to do His will",
and this is true for every dispensation and phase of the divine plan. It is true of the
kingdom of heaven (Matt. 6: 10), as well as of the Mystery (Eph. 1: 9). It is the goal of
all prayer (Col. 1: 9; 4: 12). The will of God comprises the whole work for which
Christ came, lived and died (Heb. 10: 7, 9, 10). The will of God sums up all service
(Heb. 10: 36; 13: 21).
All is "through Jesus Christ, to Whom be glory unto the ages of the ages, Amen".
Here is the purging of the conscience from dead works in order that service to the living
God may begin (Heb. 9: 14). This alone makes service acceptable. Throughout the
epistle there has been one movement, away from all else to Christ, and it will refresh us
to go over the epistle with this in mind before we finish.
(1) SPEAKING OF THE WORD HE SAITH:
"God, Who at sundry times . . . . . spake in time past . . . . . by the prophets, hath in
these last days spoken unto us in Son" (Heb. 1: 1, 2).
(2) SPEAKING OF ANGELS HE SAITH:
"Unto which of the angels said He at any time, Thou art My Son, this day have I
begotten Thee?" (Heb. 1: 5).
"Of the angels He saith, Who maketh His angels spirits . . . . . But unto the Son He
saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever" (Heb. 1: 7, 8).
(3) SPEAKING OF CREATION HE SAITH:
"They shall perish; but Thou remainest . . . . . They shall be changed: but Thou art
the same" (Heb. 1: 11, 12).
(4) SPEAKING OF ADAM HE SAITH:
"But now we see not yet all things put under him. But we see Jesus . . . . . crowned
with glory and honour" (Heb. 2: 8, 9).
(5) SPEAKING OF MOSES HE SAITH:
"Moses verily was faithful . . . . . as a servant . . . . . But Christ as a Son over His own
house" (Heb. 3: 5, 6).
(6) SPEAKING OF JOSHUA HE SAITH:
"For if Jesus (Joshua) had given them rest, then would He not afterward have spoken
of another day" (Heb. 4: 8).