Evangel and the Secrets of the Evangel Part 2
By Mark Farquharson
Conciliation of the world
The conciliation of the world is one of the most important secrets of the evangel. “Conciliation” and “reconciliation” mean different things. A number of people, including me in the past, have use the two words incorrectly, thinking they mean the same thing, when they do not. Often the Greek word for 'conciliation' is mistakenly translated “reconciliation.” Reconciliation is when both sides in a conflict agree to peace and friendship. However conciliation is one side offering peace and friendship.
2 Corinthians 5:14-21 For the love of Christ is constraining us, judging this, that, if One died for the sake of all, consequently all died." And He died for the sake of all that those who are living should by no means still be living to themselves, but to the One dying and being roused for their sakes. So that we, from now on, are acquainted with no one according to flesh. Yet even if we have known Christ according to flesh, nevertheless now we know Him so no longer." So that, if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: the primitive passed by. Lo! there has come new!" Yet all is of God, Who conciliates us to Himself through Christ, and is giving us the dispensation of the conciliation, how that God was in Christ, conciliating the world to Himself, not reckoning their offenses to them, and placing in us the word of the conciliation." For Christ, then, are we ambassadors, as of God entreating through us. We are beseeching for Christ's sake, "Be conciliated to God!" For the One not knowing sin, He makes to be a sin offering for our sakes that we may be becoming God's righteousness in Him." {CLV}
Christ died for the sake of all, that is all mankind. This is so that the living should not be living for themselves, but should be living to Christ who died for their sakes and was roused for their sakes. Those who are in Christ are a new creation. God conciliates the chosen to Himself through Christ, and gives the faithful the dispensation of the conciliation. That is the faithful are to dispense the message of the conciliation. How God through Christ is “conciliating the world to Himself, not reckoning their offenses to them, and placing in us the word of the conciliation.” God holding out the hand of peace and friendship. That is the word of the conciliation has been placed in the faithful. The faithful being ambassadors of Christ, are to be beseeching for Christ's sake, "Be conciliated to God!" This being part of the evangel.
Romans 5:6-11 For Christ, while we are still infirm, still in accord with the era, for the sake of the irreverent, died." For hardly for the sake of a just man will anyone be dying: for, for the sake of a good man, perhaps someone may even be daring to die, yet God is commending this love of His to us, seeing that, while we are still sinners, Christ died for our sakes." Much rather, then, being now justified in His blood, we shall be saved from indignation, through Him." For if, being enemies, we were conciliated to God through the death of His Son, much rather, being conciliated, we shall be saved in His life." Yet not only so, but we are glorying also in God, through our Lord, Jesus Christ, through Whom we now obtained the conciliation." {CLV}
Christ died for the sake of the irreverent, for the sake of the chosen, while they were still sinners. The faithful are justified through Christ’s blood. The faithful, were once enemies, but were conciliated to God, through the death of Jesus Christ, His Son. They shall have salvation when their Lord, Jesus Christ returns. These ones have obtained the conciliation.
Lets now look at Romans 11:1-32. Back in the days of Elijah there was a remnant that followed God, and that did not bow knee to the image of Baal, a false god. In the current era, that is the era of grace, there is also a remnant Romans 11:1-5.
Romans 11:6-8 Now if it is in grace, it is no longer out of works, else the grace is coming to be no longer grace. Now, if it is out of works, it is no longer grace, else the work is no longer work." What then? What Israel is seeking for, this she did not encounter, yet the chosen encountered it. Now the rest were calloused, even as it is written, God gives them a spirit of stupor, eyes not to be observing, and ears not to be hearing, till this very day." {CLV}
The chosen encountered grace, but Israel did not encounter grace. God give Israel the spirit of stupor, resulting in their eyes not observing and ears not to be hearing. This is still the case today as it was the case when this was written.
Romans 11:9-11 And David is saying, Let their table become a trap and a mesh, And a snare and a repayment to them:" Darkened be their eyes, not to be observing, And their backs bow together continually." I am saying, then, Do they not trip that they should be falling? May it not be coming to that! But in their offense is salvation to the nations, to provoke them to jealousy." {CLV}
In the offense of Israel is the salvation to the nations, to provoke them to jealousy. The salvation went to the nations because of their blindness and deafness, which God give to them. That is it was God’s doing, for He is the one in control.
Romans 11:12-15 Now if their offense is the world's riches and their discomfiture the nations' riches, how much rather that which fills them!" Now to you am I saying, to the nations, in as much as, indeed, then, I am the apostle of the nations, I am glorifying my dispensation, if somehow I should be provoking those of my flesh to jealousy and should be saving some of them. For if their casting away is the conciliation of the world, what will the taking back be if not life from among the dead? {CLV}
Those of Paul’s flesh, meaning those of Israel, if those were provoked to jealousy, then some should be saved, they would receive life from among the dead. Those that have faith are considered to be a live, those that do not have faith are considered to be dead, that is spiritually dead, even if they are physically alive. When someone gets faith, then they move from death to life, a spiritual resurrection, and a spiritual birth, but not a resurrection f the body. The cast away of Israel is the conciliation of the world. That is the conciliation includes the nations and Israel, which is not left out.
Verses 16-24 are about God’s cultivated olive tree. At the start the boughs, the large branches of the olive tree were only Israel. That is the people of Israel were the boughs of the tree.
Romans 11:16 Now if the firstfruit is holy, the kneading is also; and if the root is holy, the boughs are also." {CLV}
If the firstfruit is holy and the root is holy, then the boughs, the large branches are holy also.
Romans 11:17-19 Now if some of the boughs are broken out, yet you, being a wild olive, are grafted among them, and became a joint participant of the root and fatness of the olive, be not vaunting, you are not bearing the root, but the root you." You will be declaring, then, "Boughs are broken out that I may be grafted in." {CLV}
Some of the boughs are broken out, and wild olives are grafted among the boughs. That is some of the people of Israel are broken out, that is they are no longer part of the olive tree. A wild olive that is grafted in, is a believer from among the nations. The boughs were broken out that the wild olives, the believers from the nations shall be grafted in.
Romans 11:20-21 Ideally! By unbelief are they broken out, yet you stand in faith. Be not haughty, but fear." For if God spares not the natural boughs, neither will He be sparing you!" {CLV}
They were broken out because of their unbelief. The believer is to stand in faith, for if you do not have faith God will not spare you.
Romans 11:22 Perceive, then, the kindness and severity of God! On those, indeed, who are falling, severity, yet on you, God's kindness, if you should be persisting in the kindness: else you also will be hewn out." {CLV}
The one grafted in should “Perceive, then, the kindness and severity of God!” Severity on the one falling, kindness on the one persisting in the kindness. If not persisting in the kindness you will also “be hewn out.”
Romans 11:23-24 Now they also, if they should not be persisting in unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again." For if you were hewn out of an olive wild by nature, and, beside nature, are grafted into a cultivated olive tree, how much rather shall these, who are in accord with nature, be grafted into their own olive tree!" {CLV}
“They” meaning here the boughs that were broken out, those of Israel that were broken out. If those ones that were broken out “should not be persisting in unbelief,” then they will be grafted in, “for God is able to graft them in again.” The one from the nations, is the one hewn out of an “olive wild by nature” and is “grafted into a cultivated olive tree.” How much rather shall those who were broken out, “be grafted into their own olive tree!”
Romans 11:25 For I am not willing for you to be ignorant of this secret, brethren, lest you may be passing for prudent among yourselves, that callousness, in part, on Israel has come, until the complement of the nations may be entering." {CLV}
The brethren should not be ignorant of this secret, “that callousness, in part, on Israel has come, until the complement of the nations may be entering.” That is the callousness, hardheartedness will continue until the full complement of the nations has entered. The complement of the nations, is the believers from among the nations. This full entering of the complement will be achieved just before Jesus Christ returns.
Romans 11:26-27 And thus all Israel shall be saved, according as it is written, Arriving out of Zion shall be the Rescuer. He will be turning away irreverence from Jacob." And this is my covenant with them Whenever I should be eliminating their sins. {CLV}
The Rescuer will be arriving, that is Christ Jesus will arrive. All Israel will be saved, but not right when Jesus returns. When the dead of Israel are raised from the dead after the millennium they will see Jesus Christ on His throne, however most will be outside the holy city, they will inhabited the restored nation of Israel on the new Earth. The Rescuer, Jesus will be turning away their irreverence, their disrespect. Over time all of Israel will be saved.
Romans 11:28 As to the evangel, indeed, they are enemies because of you, yet, as to choice, they are beloved because of the fathers." {CLV}
Those ones that were broken out, those that have a spirit of stupor, are enemies because of the believers from the nations, however “they are beloved because of the fathers.”
Romans 11:29 For unregretted are the graces and the calling of God. {CLV}
The graces and the calling of God is not regretted.
Romans 11:30-32 For even as you once were stubborn toward God, yet now were shown mercy at their stubbornness, thus these also are now stubborn to this mercy of yours, that now they also may be shown mercy." For God locks up all together in stubbornness, that He should be merciful to all." {CLV}
The faithful were once stubborn, but were shown mercy because of Israel’s stubbornness. Israel will be shown mercy, and all the world will be shown mercy, for God locks up all together in stubbornness, that He should be merciful to all.
The Justification of All Mankind
The justification of all mankind, which is part of the evangel, is covered in the verses Romans 5:15-19.
Romans 5:15 But not as the offense, thus also the grace. For if, by the offense of the one, the many died, much rather the grace of God and the gratuity in grace, which is of the One Man, Jesus Christ, to the many superabounds." {CLV}
The death sentence was pasted on to the many, that is the rest of mankind, by the offense of the one, that is the offense of Adam.
Romans 5:16-19 And not as through one act of sinning is the gratuity. For, indeed, the judgment is out of one into condemnation, yet the grace is out of many offenses into a just award." For if, by the offense of the one, death reigns through the one, much rather, those obtaining the superabundance of grace and the gratuity of righteousness shall be reigning in life through the One, Jesus Christ." Consequently, then, as it was through one offense for all mankind for condemnation, thus also it is through one just award for all mankind for life's justifying." For even as, through the disobedience of the one man, the many were constituted sinners, thus also, through the obedience of the One, the many shall be constituted just." {CLV}
All mankind were condemned through the one offense of Adam, his disobedience, and all mankind are justified through the just award, the obedience of the One, Jesus Christ. This obedience being his death on the cross.
All Vivified, Made Immortal
Before getting into all being Vivified, it would be good to explain the meaning of the word “Vivified.”
“vivifies us together” comes from the Greek word suzoopoieo. Meaning to reanimate conjointly with (figuratively): - quicken together with {from Strong numbers}.
“vivified” comes from the Greek word zoopoieo. Meaning to (re-) vitalize (literally or figuratively): - make alive, give life, quicken {from Strong numbers}.
That is vivified, or vivify, means make alive, which can be figurate or literally.
“vivifies us together” as used in Colossians 2:12-15 & Ephesians 2:4-7 is referring to someone’s spiritual resurrection, more on this later. Those who do not know Christ, those who are not in Christ are spiritually dead, even if they are physically alive.
1 John 3:14 "We are aware that we have proceeded out of death into life, for we are loving our brethren. He who is not loving is remaining in death." {CLV}
The brethren have proceeded out of death into life. That is the brethren have had a spiritual resurrection. They were dead spiritually, but now they are alive spiritually. Those who are not loving are remaining in death, even if they are physically alive. Unbelievers while they are still alive are counted as being figuratively dead, they have not proceeded into life.
However “vivified” used in other places in the scriptures refers to what I call a Full Resurrection or Complete Resurrection, when a person gains their immortality. At this point a person will have a new celestial body.
Romans 8:10-11 Now if Christ is in you, the body, indeed, is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is life because of righteousness." Now if the spirit of Him Who rouses Jesus from among the dead is making its home in you, He Who rouses Christ Jesus from among the dead will also be vivifying your mortal bodies because of His spirit making its home in you." {CLV}
Who roused Jesus from the dead? God, the Father, Jesus could not raise himself, for He was dead. Now if the spirit of God, is making its home in you, God who rouses Christ Jesus from among the dead will also be vivifying you mortal bodies. When God roused Christ Jesus from the dead, He vivified Christ, making him immortal. Jesus did not need a spiritual resurrection, for He was never dead spiritually. He will also be vivifying the mortal bodies of the faithful, those who have Christ in them. It is not talking about a spiritual resurrection here, because if you have Christ in you, then this will have already happened. And it says “vivifying you mortal bodies” meaning making you immortal. Thus talking about a change to you body, making your body alive, for you are mortal. This is a future event, that will happen when Christ Jesus returns. However God will not be vivifying your old body of flesh, but you will get a new body, as covered below.
1 Corinthians 15:21-28 For since, in fact, through a man came death, through a Man, also, comes the resurrection of the dead. For even as, in Adam, all are dying, thus also, in Christ, shall all be vivified. Yet each in his own class: the Firstfruit, 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, it is evident that it is outside of Him Who subjects all to Him." Now, whenever all may be subjected to Him, then the Son Himself also shall be subjected to Him Who subjects all to Him, that God may be All in all.)"{CLV}
Here it is not talk about just a resurrection of the body or a spiritual resurrection, but a full resurrection beyond the point of death, when someone gains their immortality. Through a man, Adam, came death, and through a Man, Christ, comes the resurrection of the dead. That is a resurrection from death to life. In Adam, all mankind and animals are dying, thus also in Christ, shall all mankind and all animals be vivified. Here vivified meaning, made alive beyond the point of death, gaining immortality. Animals are include, because death passed on to them at the same time, and they will be in Christ in the future as cover later in this article.
“Yet each in his own class.” That is each in his own group, there being five groups. The first group is just the Firstfruit, Christ. Jesus Christ physically died and was physically resurrected. When Christ was resurrected from death He gain immortally.
The second group is the first fruits, faithful in Christ, those who are Christ's in His presence, that is when Christ returns. At this point when Christ returns all the faithful, all those who are Christ’s will have had their spiritual resurrection already, which means it can not be refer to that. When He returns as we know the dead in Christ will be resurrected from death and again immortally, and those in Christ that are alive at his return will gain immortality at that time as well. The third group is those who are faithful during the millennium.
The fourth group are all the animals. Each one gaining their immortality soon after the creation of the new Earth. The fifth group, are all the rest of mankind. Each one of them will gain their immortality after they have been resurrected spiritually.
“Yet each in his own class: the Firstfruit, Christ; thereupon those who are Christ's in His presence; thereafter the consummation,”
One could think that when it states “thereafter the consummation” it means that the rest of mankind, the last class, will be vivified at the consummation. However that is not the case at all. It is not stating when the rest of mankind will be vivified at all.
Read it again “thereafter the consummation,” that is after those who are Christ’s have been vivified there is the consummation. It is stating that after that class has been vivified, there is the consummation. That is at some point after that class has been vivified there is the consummation. It then goes on to state what happens at the consummation, not mentioning any vivification. What happens, Christ gives over the kingdom to God. In fact those in the Lake of Fire get into the kingdom, before the consummation. It does not state that the rest of the dead will be vivified at the consummation. What it says is that first Christ is vivified, then those who are Christ’s are vivified, it does not mention when the last group get vivified.
All mankind will be vivified in Christ, at the end of the last eon. The next eon is the millennium reign. There are three eons to go after this present eon. The Judgement eon is when the rest of mankind are resurrected and those not on the scroll of life are cast into the Lake of Fire. From there at the start of the last eon they will be moved into cities on the new Earth. They will still be experiencing the lake of fire spiritually. At the end of the eons all mankind will be in Christ, and all will be vivified. At the consummation, the end of the eons, God will be ALL in ALL. For more on the eons refer to my article: “God's Plan of the Eons”
1 Corinthians 15:35-36 But someone will be protesting, "How are the dead being roused? Now with what body are they coming? Imprudent one! What you are sowing is not being vivified if it should not be dying. And, what you are sowing, you are not sowing the body which shall come to be, but a naked kernel, perchance of wheat or some of the rest." Yet God is giving it a body according as He wills, and to each of the seeds its own body." Not all flesh is the same flesh, but there is one, indeed, of men, yet another flesh of beasts, yet another flesh of flyers, yet another of fishes." {CLV}
God is the one doing the sowing, giving each seed its own body. Seed, in this case meaning a person or an animal. The seed, the person or animal needs to be dying for it to be vivified. If it is not dying, it can not be vivified. That is all mankind and all animals will be vivified, become immortal.
1 Corinthians 15:40-49 There are bodies celestial as well as bodies terrestrial. But a different glory, indeed, is that of the celestial, yet a different that of the terrestrial, another glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars, for star is excelling star in glory." Thus also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is roused in incorruption. It is sown in dishonor; it is roused in glory. It is sown in infirmity; it is roused in power. It is sown a soulish body; it is roused a spiritual body. If there is a soulish body, there is a spiritual also. Thus it is written also, The first man, Adam, "became a living soul: the last Adam a vivifying Spirit." But not first the spiritual, but the soulish, thereupon the spiritual." The first man was out of the earth, soilish; the second Man is the Lord out of heaven." Such as the soilish one is, such are those also who are soilish, and such as the Celestial One, such are those also who are celestials." And according as we wear the image of the soilish, we should be wearing the image also of the Celestial." {CLV}
God sown the seeds of all flesh in corruption, dishonor, infirmity and a soulish body. The resurrection of the dead, that is the resurrection of all who are dying in Adam, that is all mankind and all animals. All mankind and animals will be roused in incorruption, glory, and power. They will have new spiritual bodies. There are two Adams, the first Adam is the one God created out of the earth. The Last Adam is Jesus Christ, who is a vivifying Spirit, He is the second Man, the Lord out of heaven. All flesh have the image of the soilish, they will all have the image of the Celestial, but each in their own order.
The Reconciliation of All to Jesus Christ
This being want I would say is a most important secret of the evangel.
Colossians 1:15-20 {Jesus Christ} Who is the Image of the invisible God, Firstborn of every creature, for in Him is all created, that in the heavens and 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. And He is the Head of the body, the ecclesia, Who is Sovereign, Firstborn from among the dead, that in all He may be becoming first, for in Him the entire complement delights to dwell, and through Him to reconcile all to Him (making peace through the blood of His cross), through Him, whether those on the earth or those in the heavens. {CLV}
All is created in Jesus Christ, that is in the heavens or on the earth. All is created through Him and for Him. All mankind, All spirit beings {Angels and Demons and Satan}, and All animals are created through Jesus Christ and for Jesus Christ.
All has its cohesion in him, all mankind and all animals and all spirit beings, have cohesion in him, they will one day have cohesion in Jesus Christ. The entire complement delights to dwell in Christ. The entire complement, including all mankind and all animals and all spirit beings, delights to dwell in Him. This is clearly a future event, when all, every person, creature and spirit being {including those that were once evil}, will delight to dwell in Him. At some point in the future all will be reconciled to Christ, whether they are on the earth or in the heavens. Jesus Christ is the one reconciling all to Him, and through Him. He is making peace through the blood of His cross.
Colossians 2:8-10 Beware that no one shall be despoiling you through philosophy and empty seduction, in accord with human tradition, in accord with the elements of the world, and not in accord with Christ, for in Him the entire complement of the Deity is dwelling bodily. And you are complete in Him, Who is the Head of every sovereignty and authority, {CLV}
The entire complement of God will dwell in Christ. That is all mankind, all animals and all spirit beings {angels and demons} will in the future dwell in Christ. The faithful are complete in Christ.
Philippians 2:5-8 For let this disposition be in you, which is in Christ Jesus also, Who, being inherently in the form of God, deems it not pillaging to be equal with God, nevertheless empties Himself, taking the form of a slave, coming to be in the likeness of humanity, and, being found in fashion as a human, He humbles Himself, becoming obedient unto death, even the death of the cross." {CLV}
Philippians 2:9-11 Wherefore, also, God highly exalts Him, and graces Him with the name that is above every name, that in the name of Jesus every knee should be bowing, celestial and terrestrial and subterranean, and every tongue should be acclaiming that Jesus Christ is Lord, for the glory of God, the Father." {CLV}
In the future everyone will acclaim that Jesus Christ is Lord, for the glory of God, the Father. In the future Christ’s reign will be visible, all will know that He is reigning, but He will not be alone in His reign. The body, the chosen, the saints will be reigning with Him.
Copyright © Mark J Farquharson 2010-2011