We cannot attain a unity of any kind if we do NOT realize the “hope of our calling”. That includes catholics.
Eph 1:18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,
Eph 4:4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;
Eph 4:4-6
4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;
5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism,
6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
I suppose everyone notices the references to the “hope of your calling”. I point out the reference of Ephesians 1:18.
2 Peter 1:12...be established in the.... present ….truth.
That verse is very important to consider. Over time God has dealt with man in different ways as He so chooses for His Divine purpose.
Rom 10:16-17 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord..... who hath believed our report?..... So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
As new messages come from God there are those that choose not to believe even though they claim to be Godly people. They ignore the message and continue with the status quo. Jeremiah was given a new revelation from God and that message was delivered. Here is how that message was treated:
Jer 36:23 And it came to pass, that when Jehudi had read three or four leaves, he cut it with the penknife, and cast it into the fire that was on the hearth, until all the roll was consumed in the fire that was on the hearth.
There is a Jehudi around every corner in Christendom today. Has been that way since the days of Adam and Eve.
There is only a small inner circle that believes the Truth for today and accept God at His Word.
The fact is that there are 3 churches/ekklesias mentioned in the Bible that are IN CHRIST.
Eph 3:15 Of whom ...EVERY.... family in heaven and earth is named,
There is more than one sphere of blessings in God's plan...one for each of the three named churches.
The first church is Israel:
Matt 15:24 I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
Matt 10:5-7 These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
Matt 16:18....upon this rock I will build my... ISRAEL;
Their hope is the land of Canaan. "The meek shall inherit the earth"..the land of Canaan. That is ...the hope.... of Israel (Acts 28:20)
The second church is the church of the firstborn:
Heb 12:23 To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven
The hope of that calling will be to inherit the New Jerusalem descending DOWN from heaven as seen in Revelation. They are listed in Hebrews chapter 11 and will include the martyrs/overcomers of Revelation. They will live and reign with Christ for a 1,000 years of His total reign as a reward for service. They have a ..BETTER... country (Hebrew 11:16) and a ...BETTER ...resurrection (Hebrews 11:35)....a BETTER hope (7:19)
Clarification before I proceed to the third calling and hope associated with that calling.
The NT and OT divisions are uninspired and are not in the original manuscripts. Malachi left off with Israel in view and Matthew picks up the narrative at the birth of their Messiah in the Person of Jesus Christ. Israel was the focus of the Lord's earthly ministry (Matthew 15:24, Romans 15:8, Hebrews 1:2). Israel was also the main focus of the Acts period (Acts 1:6 and 28:20). The good olive tree and the wild olive tree showed the Gentiles at a disadvantage. The epistles associated with the Acts period were also focusing on Israel.
The first two callings are located under the temporary Heaven that was spread forth as a tent called the firmament. The third calling is not under this temporary heaven and has yet to be revealed until AD 63.
Acts 28 is very important. Please take it to heart. There was a great rent in that chapter. Israel now had their last call to accept Jesus as Messiah but they did not and Israel was set aside as favored nation at that point in time. Paul, being the apostle to the Gentiles (Ephesians 3:1), was then given a new revelation concerning a new group/church/company/ekklesia of redeemed bound for a different and higher hope. This calling was never before revealed in any way, shape or form. It was hid IN God (Ephesians 3:9) and never revealed to anyone (Ephesians 3:5) before that point in time in 63AD. The olive tree was hewn to the roots at Acts 28 and Israel was temporarily set aside as prophesied in Hosea 1:9.
This revelation was for the church which is...HIS...body (Ephesians 1:22,23) and ….the hope …..of the calling today is to the Heaven far above all where Christ sits at the right hand of God (Colossians 3:1-4). This calling is the only one that pierces the temporary heavens to the throne of God back to the Heaven of Gensis 1:1. It is the only one associated with His fulness.
This new calling, that numbered Israel among the nations and being on the same plane as Israel, was rejected by all in Asia (2Tim 1:15). They forsook Paul and did not believe the latest report from God.
This new company of redeemed is called the One NEW Man and is not associated with the olive tree as seen in Romans nor is it asscociated with Israel and the Levitical priesthood. This calling is the only calling that was known BEFORE the (katabole/overthrow) of the world (Genesis gap destruction). Those in the earthly sphere are FROM and SINCE the foundation of the world.
