If a believer is to be established in the full Christian revelation of truth, he will need an understanding of what has been given to the Church in Paul’s two-fold ministry. In Romans 16:2525Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, (Romans 16:25) Paul speaks of these two things as “my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ,” and “the revelation of the mystery.” His “gospel and preaching” is unfolded in the epistle to the Romans, and the revelation of “the mystery” is unfolded in Ephesians and Colossians. The gospel announces what God has for the blessing of man, but the Mystery discloses what there is for the pleasure of God concerning His Son.
The Mystery
“The mystery” is a secret that God has kept hidden in Himself “through the ages” of time, but has now made known through the special revelations given to the Apostle Paul (Eph. 3:4-5, 94Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) 5Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; (Ephesians 3:4‑5)
9And 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: (Ephesians 3:9); Col. 1:2626Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: (Colossians 1:26); Rom. 16:2525Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, (Romans 16:25)). It discloses God’s great purpose to glorify His Son in two spheres—in heaven and on earth in the world to come (the Millennium), through a specially formed vessel of testimony, the Church, which is Christ’s (mystical) body and bride.
The Mystery is not Christ in His holy and glorious Person, nor is it His life of perfection as He walked in this world, nor is it His death and resurrection and His coming again (His Appearing) to reign over this world. These things were all spoken of in the Old Testament and known to those who were familiar with those Scriptures. The Old Testament foretells of a Jewish Messiah reigning over the earth with Israel and the Gentile nations rejoicing under Him. But the Mystery reveals something more; when Christ will reign, He will have a complement at His side—the Church, His body and bride. God will use this special vessel to enhance the glory of Christ in that coming day of display. Moreover, the Mystery reveals that Christ will not only reign over the earth, but the whole universe will be under the administration of Him and His bride.
Paul said to the Ephesian elders, “I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God” (Acts 20:2727For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God. (Acts 20:27)). Therefore, those to whom he was writing must have had some introduction to these wonderful things.
The Development of Truth in the Epistles
It has been often said that the highest truth in the whole Bible is found in the epistle to the Ephesians. There is a distinct progression of truth in connection with our identification with Christ in Paul’s epistles. They are:
The epistle to the Ephesians does not present Christ as “crucified,” “dead,” or “buried.” It begins developing the truth concerning our identification with Him on the other side of death, as “quickened,” “raised,” and “seated” in Him in the heavenlies (Eph. 2:66And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: (Ephesians 2:6)). The epistle sees the believer on the highest ground with Christ and opens out the wide expanse of blessings that we have in Him.
Two Parts of the Epistle
While the truth that Paul gives here in this epistle is very high, God intends that it would be immensely practical. There are two great parts to the epistle: chapters 1-3, which are doctrinal, and chapters 4-6 which are practical. Since every Christian doctrine has a moral and practical application to the lives of believers, the exhortations given in the latter three chapters are based on the doctrines stated in the first three.
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Seated
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Raised
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Raised
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Quickened
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Quickened
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Buried
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Buried
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Dead
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Dead
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Dead
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Crucified
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Crucified
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Galatians
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Romans
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Colossians
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Ephesians
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