02 The Three Treatises
The Three Treatises
We will now view the perfect order and divine reason for the three formal treatises, Romans, Ephesians and Thessalonians.
Romans is first because it is the foundation, the beginning, the starting point, for the "all truth" knowledge which Christ proclaimed He would send after His ascension.
Paul was a son of God by the new birth in a perpendicular relationship, but to his fellowmen he was a servant of Jesus Christ as verse 1 of Romans declares. He was called an apostle, "separated" to give "the gospel of God" which reveals God’s grace regarding the great mystery. In Romans man is shown to be in utter depravity and totally helpless, but by God’s grace through Jesus Christ the believer is justified from sin and sins. Romans indicates that the believer died with Christ, was buried with Christ, arose with Christ, and is made a son and heir of God in Christ Jesus. Romans sets forth God’s purpose, will and desire in making every believer what he is and has in Christ. Where the magnificent eighth chapter of Romans terminates its doctrinal (right believing) teaching regarding the believer, the revelation given in the treatise of the book of Ephesians begins. Ephesians does not start with man’s depravity, as does Romans, but with God’s purpose and will for every believer. Ephesians specifically shows what God in Christ makes available unto the believer. Ephesians is presented from God’s point of view, whereas Romans starts with man’s need.
Ephesians declares, in no uncertain terms, what Christ has made every believer to be in Him.
Note that the first chapter of Ephesians declares, "God ... who hath blessed [past tense] us with all spiritual blessings" (verse 3). God has chosen us in Christ (verse 4). He has made us lovely and acceptable (verse 6). In Christ we have redemption and remission from sin according to the riches of His grace (verse 7). All of Christ’s work is to the end that we should be to the praise of His glory (verse 12). All believers are to be enlightened so as to know the riches of His glory in the saints (verse 18). All believers are to know what is the exceeding greatness of His power to us who believe (verse 19). In Romans the believers receive the good news of what the sinner obtained by grace. In Ephesians the believers receive the revelation of the abundance of God’s goodness in the unfoldment of the great mystery, and "the exceeding greatness of his power to usward who believe." In Romans the sinner is dealt with individually, while in Ephesians it is the saved sinners, as one body, "one new man" collectively. In Romans the believer is dead with Christ (6:8) and risen with Him (6:11). In Ephesians the believer is seated in the heavenlies with Christ (2:6). In Thessalonians the believer is gathered together (II Thess. 2:1) forever in glory. The revelation in the treatise of Thessalonians stands last. It follows Romans and Ephesians because there is no more of the "all truth" available to the Church when the believers are gathered together unto Him. The consummation is reached in Thessalonians, for in this treatise is given the revelation that the believer shall be caught up to be with the Lord, and be as He is in glory. This is the final end of the revelation of the "all truth" the Spirit was to lead believers into, according to Christ’s promise in the Gospel of John before Christ’s ascension. The Word of God declares in II Timothy 3:16, "All scripture is given by inspiration of God [God-breathed], and is profitable for doctrine [right believing, Romans, Ephesians, Thessalonians], for reproof [where we are not believing rightly, Corinthians, Philippians], for correction [to get us back to right believing, Galatians, Colossians], for [which is] instruction in righteousness."