Six Precious Revelations Which He Received From Christ in Glory
1. the Believer Justified
From All Things
The first time we hear the inspired voice of Paul preaching is in Acts 13. In verse 39 Paul reached beyond that which had heretofore been preached and communicated the precious truth that “in Him [JND] all that believe are justified from all things.” Paul alone teaches that the believer is “in Christ” (Rom. 8:11There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. (Romans 8:1)). Peter tells us of forgiveness of sins and coming glory, but Paul tells us that Christ is our life (Col. 3:44When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. (Colossians 3:4)), that Christ is our righteousness (1 Cor. 1:30), that we are “risen with Christ” (Col. 3:11If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. (Colossians 3:1)), and that even now we are made to “sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus” (Eph. 2:66And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: (Ephesians 2:6)). In a future day, we shall also be “glorified together” with Him (Rom. 8:1717And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. (Romans 8:17)).
2. the Truth of the One Body
There was no revelation of the church as the body of Christ in the Old Testament. The church as the body of Christ was formed at Pentecost, when by one Spirit all believers were baptized into one body (see 1 Cor. 12:12-13). The word “church” simply means “called-out ones,” and in that sense all believers in every dispensation were “called-out ones” (Acts 7:3838This is he, that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel which spake to him in the mount Sina, and with our fathers: who received the lively oracles to give unto us: (Acts 7:38)), but when the church is viewed as the body of Christ, we must always remember that it was formed as such at Pentecost. Paul received this wondrous revelation from Christ in glory (see Eph. 3:1-61For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles, 2If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward: 3How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, 4Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) 5Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; 6That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel: (Ephesians 3:1‑6)). The other apostles doubtless learned it from Paul.
3. the Special Significance of the Lord’s Supper
Previous to Paul’s revelation, they were breaking bread, thus commemorating the Lord’s death (Acts 2:4242And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. (Acts 2:42)). Now Paul gives them the added blessedness of the truth that the one loaf is a precious symbol of our oneness with Christ. He received it “of the Lord” — that is, by revelation (see 1 Cor. 10:15-17 and 1 Cor. 11:23-26). The first day of the week (the Lord’s day) is the Christian’s day, for it is the sign of new creation, and we are part of that new creation (2 Cor. 5:17).
All believers are now members of the body of Christ, and before the loaf is broken it symbolizes this precious glorious truth, so that we (if intelligent) do not break bread just as forgiven sinners, or even as saints, but as members of the body of Christ. After the loaf is broken, it speaks to our hearts of His death. Oh, how it touches our hearts as we think of the Lord of glory in death for us!
4. the Coming of Christ
for His Bride
The coming of Christ for His bride, in its proper Christian character, is given us only in Paul’s revelation. Every time the Lord’s coming is spoken of in the Old Testament, it is His coming in judgment and for the setting up of the kingdom on earth.
Now Paul tells us in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 that he had received this precious truth from the Lord. These verses give us the Christian’s present hope. We wait for God’s Son from heaven and seek, by spreading the gospel, to save sinners from the judgment that will follow His coming for His heavenly saints and from the everlasting punishment that awaits all who have not believed the gospel.
5. Absent From the Body ...
Present With the Lord
Previous to this precious revelation given by Paul, there was no scriptural light as to the interval between death and the resurrection of the body (see 2 Tim. 1:9-10 JND). Here Paul tells us that life and incorruptibility have come to light by the gospel.
The dying thief was the first believer to have the revelation of this precious truth, that to depart from this life is to be “with Christ.” This was an individual revelation for himself alone, but now Paul has given us this glorious truth in Philippians 1:2323For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better: (Philippians 1:23) and 2 Corinthians 5:8 for all saints. In Luke 16 the curtain is brushed aside a little, but “Abraham’s bosom” is the figure used, and we are not told where Abraham was.
6. the Resurrection Body
of Glory
Paul alone gives us the precious revelation that in resurrection we shall have bodies of glory, like Christ (see Phil. 3:2121Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself. (Philippians 3:21) and 1 Cor. 15:51-54). Those departed to be with Christ wait, in a brighter waiting room than we here on earth, for the glorious resurrection morning, when “the dead in Christ shall rise first; then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air” (1 Thess. 4:16-17). Then we shall be escorted by the Lord Himself to the Father’s house and introduced there with these words: “Behold I and the children which God hath given Me” (Heb. 2:1313And again, I will put my trust in him. And again, Behold I and the children which God hath given me. (Hebrews 2:13)).
H. E. Hayhoe (adapted)