'How that by revelation He made known unto me the mystery; ... ... ...
That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body,
and partakers of His promise in Christ by the gospel:'
(Eph 3: vv. 3 & 6)
Hello
@Doug,
The mystery that Paul made known, by divine revelation, is summed up by Paul in Col. 1, in this way.:-
'Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you,
and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ
in my flesh for His body's sake,
which is the church: Whereof I am made a minister,
according to the dispensation of God
which is given to me for you,
to fulfil the word of God;
Even the mystery which hath been hid
from ages and from generations,
but now is made manifest to His saints:
To whom God would make known
what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles;
which is Christ in (or among) you, the hope of glory:
Whom we preach,
warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom;
that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:
Whereunto I also labour,
striving according to His working, which worketh in me mightily.'
(Col 1:24-29)
* The risen Christ was now, in or among the Gentiles, and He was & is still their hope of glory.
* The detail of the truth revealed by Paul though, is in the Ephesian letter from the beginning. and the prayer of verses 17-23 is vital for every believer who would fully understand it. Chapter 3 is where Paul refers to
'The Mystery of Christ' to illustrate to His readers His credentials, in order for them to receive with confidence '
The Mystery' itself that he had subsequently received, and sought to convey.
* He had the
'unsearchable' riches of Christ to make known. Riches that were not the subject of the Old Testament Prophets, as was the case with '
The Mystery of Christ', which was searchable by reference to those Prophets of old with the enlightenment of the Spirit of God:-
'Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given,
that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;
And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery,
which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God,
who created all things by Jesus Christ:
To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places
might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,
According to the eternal purpose which He purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:'
(Eph 3:8-11)
* Forgive me, Doug, for I find it difficult to put 'The Mystery' into words, for it is the sum total of what is contained in those prison epistles, which right from the beginning of Ephesians is full of glorious, wonderful truths, revealing the blessings, which are all spiritual, and are ours in Christ. They, in themselves are unique, and the place of their future enjoyment is also unique, being in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. We, who were far off Gentiles are now, united and equal to believing Jews, Israel no longer having a privileged position. All is 'in Christ' and is spiritual in nature. No longer grafted into Israel's olive tree, but part of the household of God
'in Christ' brought near to God the Father, 'in Him'.
* Israel's day will come, and they will fulfil all that God intends that they should, but during this present dispensation of Grace, salvation has been sent to the Gentiles and,
'they will hear it' (Acts 28:28).
'For now we see through a glass, darkly;
but then face to face:
now I know in part;
but then shall I know
even as also I am known.
(1Co 13:12)
Thank you
In Christ Jesus
Chris
