The Mystery of Christ

Reading Portion

Ephesians 3:3-6

Lesson Content

Thirteen mysteries are mentioned in the Holy Bible. Mysterie s are the hidden truths of God. These mysteries were not made known to men in former ages but are now revealed to the holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit (Eph.3:5). “... It is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven...” said Jesus to His disciples who had forsaken their all and followed Him (Matt.13:11). The mysteries of God are revealed to the faithful and consecrated

servants of God (Matt. 16:17-19). The mystery of Christ is one of the thirteen mysteries in the Bible. There are three parts in the mystery of Christ (Eph.3:6). They are:

(1) The Gentiles are of the same body;

(2) partakers of the Father's promise in Christ;

(3) fellowheirs by the gospel.

1. The Gentiles are of the same body: Here the ‘body’ means the spiritual Body which is the Church (Col.1:18). The Lord Jesus is the Head of this spiritual Body. In the Old Testament days, only the Israelites were the people of God or the Church of God (Acts 7:38). However, now, God brings the Gentiles also into His Body, the Church, through Jesus Christ (Eph.2:12-16). All those who receive the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, whether they be Jews or Gentiles, bond or free, are made the members of His Body, the Church (I Cor.12:13). This is a great privilege extended to the Gentiles in this period of Grace.

2. The Gentiles are partakers of the promise of the Father in Christ: God gave promises to Abraham and to his seed. We read of them in Genesis 12:2,3. He was promised that he would inherit the world, and that he would be a father of many nations (Rom.4:13,17; Gen.17:5). He received these promises, not through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. These promises belong not only to Abraham, but to his seed as well. This seed is Christ (Gal.3:16). Christ comes into us through the baptism of the Holy Spirit (Jn.14:16,20). Since Christ comes into us in this manner, the blessings given to Abraham come to us through Him. Therefore when we receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit, the promise of the Father is fulfilled in us (Gal.3:14; Lk.24:49; Acts 1:4; 2:38,39).

3. The Gentiles are fellowheirs by the gospel: In the beginning God created man in His own image, and after His likeness and made him heir of all things on earth (Gen.1:28). However, man was deceived by Satan and thereby lost his inheritance. After this God chose the Israelites, made them heirs by giving them His laws. But they could not fulfil it. When the fulness of time was come, God sent His own Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, to this world. H e Who came as man, overcame Satan on the cross (Heb.2:14,15) and therefore God appointed Him heir of all things (Heb.1:2). Through the death of the Lord Jesus Christ on Calvary, the Gentiles too are made fellow- heirs through faith in Him, by the baptism o f the Holy Spirit and by the perfect gospel along with an appropriate victorious life. The Lord raises up consecrated apostles and reveals this mystery to them that they might preach the perfect gospel which would make the Gentiles fellow- heirs (II Tim.1:10,11).

Moral

We should be made one in the Body, the Church having no difference, strive to receive the promises of God by faith, and overcome the devil, the flesh and the world and reign with the Lord Jesus as fellowheirs in eternity.