"The dispensation of God" was given to Paul to "complete the word of God" (Col. 1:25; J.N.D. Trans.). Creation, providence, law, government, the kingdom, incarnation, atonement, every subject had been unfolded in the Word of God, except one. When it was revealed through Paul, the full circle of revelation was completed; this was the mystery of Christ and the Church. First, that Christ should, as man, be set in the heavenlies, having all dominion, by redemption (personally He had it as God), as Head over all things in heaven and earth, to the Church, His body, united to Him by the Holy Ghost come down from heaven. Second, that He was "in you"-Gentiles-the "hope of glory." This was a new thing. When Christ came, He was the "minister of the circumcision [the Jew] for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers" (Rom. 15:8).
Abraham was the vessel of the promises of God; they were repeated to the fathers, Isaac and Jacob; Israel took the promises on the ground of law and man's responsibility, and forfeited them totally; then Christ came, in whom were all the promises of God, yea and amen. He came to establish the promises, as heir of them all, to the people to whose fathers they had been made; that is, the Jews. He was rejected, and instead of becoming the "crown of glory... unto the residue of His people" (Isa. 28:5), the heir of glory goes on high; and the poor Gentile believer, who had no promises, comes in on the footing of pure mercy, not promise, as we read, "that the Gentiles might glorify God for His mercy" (Rom. 15:9); he gets a place in Christ on high, united to Him who is the heir of all the glory; and not only are we in Him, but He is in us-not the "crown of glory," but "the hope of glory." "Christ in you, the hope of glory."