Comparisons

It is interesting and helpful to compare Old Testament and New Testament portions of Scripture. The same truths are found in both Testaments, if you have the needed insight. The following message is an example of what I am talking about. We are going to compare a portion of Ephesians the fourth chapter with two psalms.

Ephesians 4:7-8 But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.
8 Wherefore He saith, When He ascended up on high, He led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.

The corresponding verse in the Old Testament will come from sixty eight Psalm.

Psalm 68:18 Thou hast ascended on high, Thou hast led captivity captive: Thou hast received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that the Lord God might dwell among them.

When it says that He ascended on high it doesn’t mean He ascended up in the sky, but in a higher realm of spirit. God is Spirit and He is omnipresent and so is Christ. The spirit realm and God’s presence is all around us, but at the same time is invisible.

What does it men when it says that He led captivity captive? All people are in captivity to worldliness. Ye adulterers and adulteresses know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? Whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. James 4:4. All people are held captive by the spirit of the world. Thus, the mission of the Lord Jesus Christ: He came to deliver us from our captivity to the spirit of the world and to make us captive to the grace and liberty of God. He led captivity captive and if you are in submission to God, you know what that means.

Christ received gifts for men, even for the rebellious! Does that mean He will give gifts of the Spirit to those who are rebellious? He gave gifts to you didn’t He? Most Christians are not yet in complete subjection to God, but many of them have received gifts from the Lord.

The last part of verse 18 is most telling and interesting: that the Lord God might dwell among them. Everything before that was for this purpose. Jesus Christ ascended on high, led captivity captive, and has received gifts for men, even for the rebellious, all for the purpose of dwelling among His people. Now back to Ephesians.

Ephesians 4:9 Now that He ascended, what is it but that He also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?

This verse is also taken from the Psalms.

Psalm 139:14-16 I will praise Thee, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are Thy works: and that my soul knoweth right well.
15 My substance was not hid from Thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
16 Thine eyes did see My substance, yet being imperfect; and in Thy book all My members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.

These three verses are speaking of the Body of Christ. The Body of Christ is fearfully and wonderfully made, a marvelous work of God that is made in secret. The Body of Christ is not made up of all Christians. It is the ones who will manifest the fullness of Him that filleth all in all (Ephesians 1:23). It is made in secret! It is like the Kingdom of God which also comes forth secretly: The Kingdom of God cometh not with observation (Luke 17:20).

Verse 15 says that the Body of Christ was “curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth” and Ephesians 4:9 says “now that He ascended, what is it but that He also descended first into the lowest parts of the earth.” What does that mean? He descends into the lowest parts of the earth and the Body of Christ is wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. He is not speaking of the literal earth but the earthen nature of man. He descends into the lowest parts of the earthen nature of those who are becoming members of the Body of Christ, and there He wages war upon the works of the flesh spoken of in Galatians 5:19-21. That war is called the work of the cross (Matthew 16:24-25). It is also the tribulation we go through to enter into the Kingdom of God (Acts 14:22).

Now verse 16: Thine eyes did see My substance, yet being imperfect; and in Thy book all My members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them. Think about it! “When as yet there was none of them” God was aware of them and every member written in His Book.

Lets take another verse from Ephesians four.

Ephesians 4:10 He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that He might fill all things.

Jesus Christ ascended far above all heavens. How many are there? When the Scriptures speak of heavens it is not referring to the sky heavens with airplane traffic. It is speaking of the heavens of the spirit realm. Knowing that will open up many portions of Scripture. Let’s look at a couple. And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but He that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven. John 3:13. At that moment of time Jesus was speaking with Nicodemus. He was standing on the earth and was in heaven at the same time. The Son of man which is in heaven was standing on earth while ministering to Nicodemus. Let’s look at one more. Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. Hebrews 4:14. This does not mean that He zoomed through the heavens of the sky. Neither is it only speaking of His ascension after His resurrection. Passing through the heavens is the same as going from glory to glory (II Corinthians 3:18). As we grow spiritually, we go from glory to glory or from heaven to heaven. So it was with Jesus. At the age of twelve He knew He must be about His Father’s business (Luke 2:49). Hebrews 5:8 says that He learned obedience by the things He suffered. In other words, He grew spiritually. He was moving from glory to glory or from heaven to heaven. So, from a very early age He began Passing through the Heavens (Hebrews 4:14). He was blazing a trail for us to follow. He was the pattern Son showing us how to become as He is, for He must fill all things. And we are the things He desires to fill; that is, to fill us with Himself.