Mystery in Paul's Epistle to the Ephesians

 

Much of Paul’s Epistle to the Ephesians is devoted to explaining the mystery, which makes it very hard to be brief, but I shall try. I think mystery in Ephesians is related to the mystery of the kingdom and the mystery of blindness in part is happened to Israel, offering more details. So let’s “Launch out in the deep, cut away the shore line / And be lost in the fullness of God.”* 

Ephesians 1:9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: ¹⁰ That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:

the mystery of his will... that in the dispensation of the fullness of times he might gather in one all things in Christ. In my younger days I was taught this refers to the second coming, but I have since changed my opinion. I now believe it is “that plan by which God has provided salvation for a lost world; and according to which he intends to gather all believers, both Jews and Gentiles, into one Church under Jesus Christ, their head and governor,” (Adam Clarke), as we will see next...

Ephesians 3:3 How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, {ie 1:9} ⁴ Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) ⁵ Which 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; ⁶ That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:

This is the mystery of his will – that Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel, that is heirs with, members with, partakers with; the Gentiles would be equal participants with the Jews in the promises of the Gospel and in the body of Christ. The prophets had declared that salvation would come to the Gentiles, but what they didn’t see is that Israel and the Gentiles would be on equal footing, sharing equally in the inheritance of Christ, one body in Christ.

Ephesians 3:8-12

⁸ 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; ⁹ 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: ¹⁰ To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,  ¹¹ According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:  ¹² In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.

This is the mystery of his will, the equality of Jew and Gentile: one promise, one inheritance, one body in Christ. Not only so, but this unity and harmony serves to bring glory and honor to God. In Christ and visibly seen in the Church, all that separates in the world is erased. A healthy church is made up of people I wouldn’t normally hang out with, but in Christ we are one! This is the fellowship of the mystery.

 Ephesians 5:32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

Marriage between a man and a woman is designed to be a picture of Christ and His Church. This is a rich passage!

Ephesians 6:19 And [pray] for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,

God had revealed the mystery of His will to Paul and commissioned him to proclaim it, yet Paul asks for prayer that he might faithfully fulfill his calling. We are in this together!

This is astonishing and wonderful and deep. It is amazing how much of Ephesians is dedicated to the mystery of His will. The Justin Martyr (AD 100-165) quote I began with captures this wonderfully. Sadly, a large segment of the church in America is so homogenous that I’m afraid we struggle to appreciate this. Society is segregated by ethnicity, economics, education, and so are many churches. In Christ, these divisions, these walls, are broken down and a new people is created. May Christ, the Head of the Church, grant grace to each church and every believer in each church to reflect the fellowship of this mystery.


NEXT: Mystery in Paul’s Epistle to the Colossians

* Launch Out, a hymn by A.B. Simpson & R. Kelso Carter