The third revelation committed to Paul was that of the resurrection of the departed saints plus the fact that some of us may never have to die. How does that integrate with the other two revelations? In this way: If the truth of Christ and the church is the highest truth that God can give to man, and if the memorial of the Lord’s supper is the expression of that truth for the church here on earth, what about the saints that have passed off this scene? Are they going to lose any of the benefits accruing to the living saints? No, we are assured that they lose nothing, for the Lord is watching over them and is going to bring them all back that they, with us, should be changed and so fitted for the blessing when we enter into the fullness of what we have now received by faith. This raising of the dead saints and the changing of the living to be caught up to meet the Lord in the air is commonly called the rapture or the catching away of the church.
When all who are predestinated to form part of that mystical body are gathered in through the preaching of the gospel, there will sound the shout in the air as the church is caught away from the earth forever. We must go to 1 Thessalonians 4 to find out how this takes place. All these three revelations committed to Paul are interrelated. Together they complete the special Pauline testimony.
In our chapter this afternoon, Colossians 2, we find the Apostle is much concerned that there might be full acknowledgment of the mystery of God. “This I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words” (vs. 4). “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. For in Him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in Him” (vss. 8-10).
Dear saint of God, “Ye are complete in Him.” Oh, how jealous Paul was that that truth continue with us. “Complete in Him” — but that is connected with the truth of Christ and the church. You cannot separate them. It all hangs together, and Paul says in that first verse, “I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you.” On what point? That they might be saved? No! That they might get to heaven when they die? No! That they might enter into this mystery — that that might form and fashion their lives. And he goes on to develop the doctrine as it practically affects the life of the believer.
Turn to the last chapter of this same epistle, verse 12: “Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always laboring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.” There was a man who labored in spirit for the Lord by praying. Was he gospel-minded? I have no doubt he was. No saint is in a healthy state of soul who is not gospel-minded, but I tell you there was something about Epaphras that went beyond being gospel-minded. Epaphras was church-minded. Are you church-minded? Are you? Paul was. Paul commends Epaphras for the fact that he labored and sweated and toiled in spirit that the saints of God might enter into the full acknowledgment of all the truth of God. We are living in such shallow times that Christianity has become so watered down that in many places today it is becoming synonymous with the concept of a home and foreign missionary society.