Week 11 The Revelation of Truth
LESSON ELEVEN
GOD’S ECONOMY
Hymn God’s Eternal Economy
Scripture Reading:
1 Tim. 1:4 Nor to give heed to myths and unending genealogies, which produce questionings rather than God’s economy, which is in faith.
Eph. 3:9-11 And to enlighten all that they may see what the economy of the mystery is, which throughout the ages has been hidden in God, who created all things, in order that now to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenlies the multifarious wisdom of God might be made known through the church, according to the eternal purpose which He made in Christ Jesus our Lord.
DEFINITION OF THE WORD ECONOMY
The Greek word for economy is composed of two words. The first word oikos means “house” or “home,” denoting a household or a dwelling place; the second word nomos means “law.” When these two words are combined together, it means “household law,” and it may be explained further to mean “household administration.” Since it is a household administration, it implies an arrangement or a plan. Since the household administration is to enforce the household rules, naturally it has an arrangement with a plan. Since it is an arrangement or a plan, there must also be a purpose. (The Economy of God and the Mystery of the Transmission of the Divine Trinity, p. 20)
GOD’S HOUSEHOLD MANAGEMENT, THE DISPENSATION FOR
ADMINISTRATION OF GOD’S HOUSE, AND THE DIVINE DISPENSATION
It denotes a household management, a household administration, a household government, and, derivatively, a dispensation, a plan, or an economy for administration (distribution); hence, it is also a household economy. (Holy Bible Recovery Version, 1 Tim. 1:4, footnote 44)
TO DISPENSE GOD HIMSELF INTO HIS CHOSEN PEOPLE IN HIS TRINITY
In what way does God dispense Himself into His people in His Trinity? This dispensing has three steps. First, it is of God the Father. The Father is the source, the origin. Second, this dispensing is through God the Son, who is the course. Third, God’s dispensing is in God the Spirit, who is the instrument and sphere. Through these steps of God the Father, through God the Son, and in God the Spirit God dispenses Himself into His chosen people.
FOR THE PRODUCING OF THE CHURCH AS THE KINGDOM OF GOD
CONSUMMATING IN THE NEW JERUSALEM
God’s New Testament economy to dispense Himself into His chosen people is for the producing of the church (Eph. 3:10). This dispensing brings forth the church for the manifestation of the multifarious wisdom of God according to His eternal purpose made in Christ (Eph. 3:9-11).
1 Corinthians 4:17 and 20 show that the kingdom is the church life today. In verse 17 Paul refers to his ways “which are in Christ, even as I teach everywhere in every church.” Then in verse 20 he says, “The kingdom of God is not in speech, but in power.” These verses show that the kingdom of God is the church everywhere, and the church everywhere is the kingdom.
The church as the kingdom of God will have a consummation, and this consummation will be the New Jerusalem for the eternal expression of the Triune God. Revelation 21:2 says, “I saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.” The New Jerusalem is a living composition of all the saints redeemed by God throughout all generations. It is the bride of Christ as His counterpart (John 3:29) and the holy city of God as His habitation. (Rev. 21:3) (The Conclusion of the New Testament, pp. 17-18)
References: The Economy of God and the Mystery of the Transmission of the Divine Trinity, ch. 2; Conclusion of the New Testament, msg. 2; Holy Bible Recovery Version, 1 Tim. 1:4, footnote 44.
