WHAT THE ECCLESIA IS.

It is a mystery!
The Kingdom of the Heavens was no mystery, for the Hebrew Scriptures contain many prophecies describing it in glowing terms. Daniel, Isaiah and Micah all added their voice to its coming. God had promised it and Israel was expecting the Messiah.

But there was a mystery that they could not understand, the suffering Messiah and His glories.
1 Peter 1:9-12. This is between the cross and the crown.

9. Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.
10. Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you:
11. Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified BEFOREHAND the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.
12. Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.

MYSTERY REVEALED

The mystery of the Ecclesia was first revealed to Paul the apostle, chosen by Christ for the nations. See Galatians 1:16 and Ephesians 3: 1-11

16. To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:

1. For this cause, I Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus FOR YOU, the nations - since you surely hear of the stewardship of God's grace which is given to me for you, seeing that the mystery is made known to me by revelation…..

The Ecclesia of today was unknown to the Hebrew patriarchs and prophets. In the Hebrew scriptures there were two classes of people in the eyes of God:-

1.The people of Israel. Called out from the nations
2.The rest of the nations.
Now there are 3 classes, Israel, the Ecclesia and the rest of the world.

God has readjusted the ages by a declaration, to bring in the dispensation of His grace. Hebrews 11:3 In this dispensation He is 'calling-out' a people to be a body of Christ.

3. Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.

SPIRITUAL BODY

While Israel is a called-out body, it is a national body composed exclusively of the descendants of Abraham: but the Ecclesia is a spiritual body. "Christ Jesus, in whom the entire building, being connected together is GROWING into a holy temple in the Lord: in whom you, also, are being built together for God's dwelling place, IN SPIRIT." Ephesians 2:19-22 and Galatians 3:27,28.

19. Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;
20. And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
21. In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:
22. In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

27. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus

Israel and the Ecclesia are distinct and separate and cannot be blended; this is clear from the fact that their election was made at different times. The election of the Ecclesia antedates the election of Israel, for Israel was chosen in Abram. Genesis 12 : 1-3.

However the Ecclesia was chosen in Christ BEFORE the disruption of the world. Eph.1: 4-6. "For you are observing YOUR CALLING, brethren, that there are NOT MANY wise according to the flesh…. So that no flesh should be boasting before God." 1 Corinthians 1: 26-31.

The Ecclesia is the individuals of all nations who is "being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation (mercy seat, where God meets man) through faith in His blood, to declare AT THIS TIME His righteousness: that He might be just, and the justified of him, who believeth in Jesus." Romans 3: 21-26.