So this sealing and earnest was part of the Acts church that was waiting for the

repentance of Israel and the early return of the Lord Jesus, and this was before the

dispensation of the Mystery (Eph. 3: 9, R.V.) had been revealed through the apostle Paul

in his Roman prison.

Needless to say, those who were sealed in Eph. 1: are those whom the Father had

selected (or elected) "before the foundation of the world", and the doctrine of election

runs through the whole plan of God in the purpose of the ages. Israel were an elect

nation (I Chron. 16: 13; Psa. 105: 6; Isa. 43: 20). The faithful remnant of Israel were

elect too (Rom. 9: 11; 11: 5) and the Body of Christ is also elect (Eph. 1: 3, 4). But let

us not make wrong deductions. In a recent exposition of the Scriptures the author

insisted that as this was so, every one of the elect from Genesis onwards must be in the

Body of Christ!

God has a vast new creation in view, a new heaven and a new earth which is beyond

our comprehension, and He has chosen just where He wants His redeemed children to be

in eternity and He is Sovereign in this. Did not the Lord Jesus picture this figuratively

when He likened the new universe to "the Father's house" which has "many rooms"

(John 14: 2, N.I.V.)? These Christ is now preparing for His children. Yet the general

Christian view is that God has one big "room" in the future where He will lump together

all His children!* [* - Paul was caught away to the third heaven in a vision, so there must be at least

The newly created "new man" of Eph. 2: 15 is an elect company whom the Father

wills to bless in the heavenly places "far above all". Even now He sees them enthroned

with the exalted Christ there (Eph. 2: 6), a unique sphere of blessing for any of the

redeemed of God (and there are a number of other unique features too). No wonder its

members are exhorted to seek and set their mind on "things above, where Christ is seated

on the right hand of God, and not on the things of earth" (Colossians 3: 1, 2), for this

super-heavenly calling will be their future home in eternity.

Now all this is what the Holy Spirit opens the eyes of believers to see, and gives a

measure of understanding which increases as we receive the Word by faith and ask for

the Spirit of revelation. This is further emphasized in Col. 1: 25-27 which tells us that

God wishes or wills to make this secret known among the Gentiles, "which is Christ

among you (A.V. margin), the hope of glory".  Paul's aim was "to make plain to

everyone the administration (dispensation) of this Mystery (Secret now revealed by

God)" (Eph. 3: 8, 9). Of course he is not claiming to be able to do the Spirit's work of

enlightenment, nor did he believe that everyone then living in the world would see it.

There is no word for "men" as in the A.V. rendering of these verses. The "all" obviously

refers to all whom the Father has chosen (Eph. 1: 4).

Some might imagine that this revealed truth is so wonderful that perhaps only a few

choice people would receive it. But this is not true, for in the practical section of

Ephesians (4: 16) it is clearly taught that the growth of all the Body depends on "the

working in due measure of every part, unto the building up of itself in love" (R.V.). And

this must be true otherwise the Body would be lop-sided. "Every part" means every