The Mystery of Christ Made Known
The Mystery of Christ Made Known
Normally a mystery is an unknown secret but in this context, it is a secret that has been revealed by God to His people. In our present study, Apostle Paul explains the mystery of Christ in Ephesians chapter 3.
First, Paul tells the Ephesians that he is a “prisoner of Christ Jesus for the Gentiles”. Paul is writing from the prison (house arrest) in Rome. He ended up in prison because of his efforts to preach and bring the gospel to the non- Jews, the Gentiles. His own Jewish brothers accused him and wanted to kill him and he appealed to Caesar and now in prison in Rome. Ephesians 3:
“For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles— 2 if indeed you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which was given to me for you, 3 how that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already, 4 by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ), 5 which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets
Notice that Paul said that he is a “prisoner of Christ Jesus” and not a prisoner of the Romans. For Paul, Christ is the One who allowed him to be in prison for Christ purposes. Through and as a result of his imprisonment, the Gospel spread because Paul kept preaching to the soldiers who were guarding him and were often chained to him.
Are you and I a prisoner of Jesus today? Are there some sticky situations you have found yourself that God has allowed so that His glory will be shown to someone? Is it a sticky marriage, job, home, school, neighborhood situation that seem to keep you under guard and you really cannot do too much on your own except that which God has sanctioned and ordained in your life? Welcome to the life of faith in Christ. We are not our own. We have been bought with a high price so we must allow God to have His way and say in our lives. Please keep in mind that “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory“- 2 Corinthians 4: 17. It is momentary and temporary situation or in Paul’s case imprisonment. Let’s use our afflictions to minister God’s grace to others.
What is that mystery? Here it is:
6 that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel, 7 of which I became a minister according to the gift of the grace of God given to me by the effective working of His power.
The Gospel is the mystery which the Old Testament prophets talked about but now has been made known in the New Testament with the coming of Jesus who has died for our sins and reconciled us both Jew and Gentile to God. The Gospel is still the only Promise that saves sinners and makes them saints.
Observe that Paul became a “minister” of the Gospel by the gift of the grace of God. The word rendered “minister” is not like we use it today as a title like “I am a minster in the Baptist Church”. No, the word minister here is same as a waiter in a restaurant who waits tables and supplies the customers’ needs. Are you and I “ministers” in this sense or are we just interested in titles? Are you patiently “waiting tables” for your family, friends, co-workers and neighbors? Do we even know their needs or do we just want to give them what we think? There is only one basic need for all of us. We all need the grace of God and grace (favor) from people.
Let’s stop giving people what they and us deserve - revenge and punishment. God has not given us the punishment which we deserve because of our sins (which is His mercy) but has given us what we do not deserve - salvation which is His grace. This past Father’s Day, I got what I do not deserve, love and kindness, and gifts from my family. As you may already know, I am not the best father or husband. I am only carrying on by God’s grace even in my inadequacies. Thank you Family!
Christ is no longer a mystery. He has been made know to us by the Holy Spirit through the Gospel. Let’s make Christ known to others who do not yet know Him. This summer, can you at least have purposeful conversation with someone to introduce him or her to Christ? Just one person! You can do it. You are a minster of Christ by the grace of God. It is a privilege to minister and please let’s not misuse it.
Have a Grace Day. Receive and give God’s grace to someone today.
Normally a mystery is an unknown secret but in this context, it is a secret that has been revealed by God to His people. In our present study, Apostle Paul explains the mystery of Christ in Ephesians chapter 3.
First, Paul tells the Ephesians that he is a “prisoner of Christ Jesus for the Gentiles”. Paul is writing from the prison (house arrest) in Rome. He ended up in prison because of his efforts to preach and bring the gospel to the non- Jews, the Gentiles. His own Jewish brothers accused him and wanted to kill him and he appealed to Caesar and now in prison in Rome. Ephesians 3:
“For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles— 2 if indeed you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which was given to me for you, 3 how that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already, 4 by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ), 5 which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets
Notice that Paul said that he is a “prisoner of Christ Jesus” and not a prisoner of the Romans. For Paul, Christ is the One who allowed him to be in prison for Christ purposes. Through and as a result of his imprisonment, the Gospel spread because Paul kept preaching to the soldiers who were guarding him and were often chained to him.
Are you and I a prisoner of Jesus today? Are there some sticky situations you have found yourself that God has allowed so that His glory will be shown to someone? Is it a sticky marriage, job, home, school, neighborhood situation that seem to keep you under guard and you really cannot do too much on your own except that which God has sanctioned and ordained in your life? Welcome to the life of faith in Christ. We are not our own. We have been bought with a high price so we must allow God to have His way and say in our lives. Please keep in mind that “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory“- 2 Corinthians 4: 17. It is momentary and temporary situation or in Paul’s case imprisonment. Let’s use our afflictions to minister God’s grace to others.
What is that mystery? Here it is:
6 that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel, 7 of which I became a minister according to the gift of the grace of God given to me by the effective working of His power.
The Gospel is the mystery which the Old Testament prophets talked about but now has been made known in the New Testament with the coming of Jesus who has died for our sins and reconciled us both Jew and Gentile to God. The Gospel is still the only Promise that saves sinners and makes them saints.
Observe that Paul became a “minister” of the Gospel by the gift of the grace of God. The word rendered “minister” is not like we use it today as a title like “I am a minster in the Baptist Church”. No, the word minister here is same as a waiter in a restaurant who waits tables and supplies the customers’ needs. Are you and I “ministers” in this sense or are we just interested in titles? Are you patiently “waiting tables” for your family, friends, co-workers and neighbors? Do we even know their needs or do we just want to give them what we think? There is only one basic need for all of us. We all need the grace of God and grace (favor) from people.
Let’s stop giving people what they and us deserve - revenge and punishment. God has not given us the punishment which we deserve because of our sins (which is His mercy) but has given us what we do not deserve - salvation which is His grace. This past Father’s Day, I got what I do not deserve, love and kindness, and gifts from my family. As you may already know, I am not the best father or husband. I am only carrying on by God’s grace even in my inadequacies. Thank you Family!
Christ is no longer a mystery. He has been made know to us by the Holy Spirit through the Gospel. Let’s make Christ known to others who do not yet know Him. This summer, can you at least have purposeful conversation with someone to introduce him or her to Christ? Just one person! You can do it. You are a minster of Christ by the grace of God. It is a privilege to minister and please let’s not misuse it.
Have a Grace Day. Receive and give God’s grace to someone today.
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