In the Epistle to the Ephesians we learn three truths, which are ours through sovereign grace: our adoption, our inheritance and our sealing by the Spirit. Adoption is individual. The inheritance we share with Christ. The sealing of the Spirit gives the house character of our blessings, and this is what we would speak about from 2 Kings 4 and 1 Tim. 3.
The Old Testament should be read and understood in the light of the New Testament. The Old Testament prophets did not themselves understand, but searched their own Scriptures to see what they meant.
Now the Spirit of God has come and He opens to us all of the truth (John 16), if we want it opened to us. How much we have depends on how much we want and are willing to walk in. He is here to open it all to us if we want it. Both in Kings and Timothy we learn the way in which it is opened. Timothy gives us the doctrine and Kings gives the picture.
In the words, "if I tarry long," he is speaking of the two thousand years that the Church has been on earth. The Apostle is setting before us, not himself, but his ministry Since He is going to tarry long-the Church period-we are reminded how we are to behave ourselves in the house of God. He adds, "Which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth." 1 Tim. 3:1515But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. (1 Timothy 3:15).
This is remarkable. What is the house of God? This scripture says, "the pillar and ground of the truth." Was he speaking of something to take place in the future when we will be caught home to heaven? He is speaking of what is being formed right now, which God has set up for His present habitation on the earth.
It is not only to men, but also to the principalities (angels of high rank) and powers in the heavenlies, that the manifold wisdom of God is to be known through the Church.
In the tabernacle in the wilderness you would see on the mercy seat two cherubim with their faces inward and downward as they spread their wings over the mercy seat. They were looking at the precious blood on the mercy seat, "which things the angels desire to look into." By marvelous wisdom God takes poor, wretched sinners who were on their way to hell and forms them into one body, first to be a testimony of God on the earth and then to be with Christ as His companions for all eternity!
Our response to these truths will be manifest at the judgment seat of Christ, either for reward or for loss.