This is a great mystery:
but I speak concerning Christ and the church.
Ephesians_5:32
The revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith: To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen. Romans_16:25-27
In Deuteronomy_29:29 we read,
The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law.
The revealed things belong to us and our children. Yes, God has given us something that has been kept secret from all the Old Testament saints. Abraham did not know these things, Moses did not know these things neither did Elijah not even Solomon, but it has now been revealed to Paul so you and I can understand it and enjoy it and rejoice in it. What is it? What does it mean? Let us look and see what the word of God has to say about the mystery.
There are a number of mysteries but this one is the great mystery.
This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. Ephesians 5:32
For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles, if ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward: How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) 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; that the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel: whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power. 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: in whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him. Ephesians_3:1-12
Some things we learn from these verses.
First, what the great mystery is: The Jewish believers with the Gentiles believers would be fellowheirs and of the same body and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel.
Second, the revelation of the mystery: From the beginning of the world it has been hid in God, but it was eventually shown to Paul by divine revelation.
Third, the fellowship of the mystery: To make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery.
The mystery brings before us the precious truth that though it was hid from all those in the Old Testament, it now has been revealed so we can enter into its full meaning. Both Jewish and gentile believers have become one body with Christ as the head. They have the same nearness the same priviliges and the same destiny. They are one, no longer divided, no longer at odds but of the same body.
It is important to understand what it means to have Christ as head of the one body.
I have found it helpful to contrast headship with lordship.
The lordship of Christ is summed up in three words – (1) supremacy, (2) authority and (3) rule.
We see an illustration of this in Joseph – (1) he was second only to Pharaoh, (2) he was given the kings ring to seal any law that he would make and (3) he moved the people into the store cities.
In Philippians 2:9-11 we read
Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
The headship of Christ can also be summed up in three words – (1) sustenance, (2) direction and (3) control.
We see an illustration of this when the Lord fed the multitude – (1) and they did eat and were all filled, (2) he gave to the disciples and had them give to the multitude and (3) he had them sit down in companies.
In Colossians 1:18-20 we read,
And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; and, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.
When we read about His lordship we read about things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth or infernal things as in the new translation. But when we read about His headship we only read about things in earth, and things in heaven. That is because the infernal things do not get their sustenance from the Lord and they refused to take their direction from Him.
The one body is to get it’s sustenance from the head and He has given us wonderful things to feed upon in His word, the body is to be directed by he head and He clearly lays out that direction in His word. The body is to be controlled by the head and He also shows us in His word things the He does not want the body to do.
One of His directives is found in Ephesians 4:1-3
I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, with all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
And some things not to do such as found in 1 Corinthians 11:10
Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.
Those at Colossie were not holding the head, they were not feeding on His word, not taking their direction from Him and not allowing His word to control them.
It seems to me that, as we become more familiar with the truth of this great mystery, we can say that the great mystery is the key to the New Testament.
The gospels and Acts establishes the gospel and Romans brings before us not only the gospel but special features of that gospel, which is the basis for the mystery and the mystery has to do with the oneness of the body with Christ as it’s head. Ephesians, mainly, develops the truth of the mystery. In all the other epistles as well as the seven churches of the Revelation, there is encouragement to walk together and/or correction of something that would ruin the outward display of this oneness.
Going back to Ephesians 3 we find reference to the revelation of the mystery and the fellowship of the mystery
How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) … and to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery
Let us consider these two very important points – the revelation of the mystery and the fellowship of the mystery.
The mystery was made known to Paul by divine revelation. The word for revelation is “apokalupsis”. It means - disclosure: - appearing, coming, lighten, manifestation, be revealed, revelation.
Paul was very well taught in the Old Testament writings, he went to the best schools of the day, but he was limited in his understanding because of what was still hid but soon to be revealed.
He knew the history of the Old Testament very well. He knew about Adam and Eve, he knew about Isaac and Rebecka, he knew about Joseph and Asanath, he knew about Moses and Ziporah, he knew about the law that allowed gleaners to come into the fields after the reapers as well as many other old testament things.
Now when the revelation of the mystery was given to Paul he instantly could see that what he learned was more than just history. He could see that Adam and Eve is a picture of Christ and His bride – bone of His bone, he could see that Isaac and Rebecca is a picture of Christ and His church – Christ loved the church, he could see that Joseph and Asanath is a picture of Christ and His church – sharing His glory, he could see that Moses and Ziporah is a picture of Christ and His church – sharing in His rejection, he could see that the gleaner in Leviticus 23 comes in between the feast of Pentecost and the feast of trumpets is a picture of the return of Israel, yet it has a beautiful application to the church in the present day.
Not only this but the whole of the Old Testament opened up to Paul in a way that he had never seen before.
And Paul was to preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ and to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery
The word for fellowship is “koinonia”. It means - partnership, that is, (literally) participation, or (social) intercourse, or (pecuniary) benefaction: - (to) communicate (-ation), communion, (contri-), distribution, fellowship.
In John 17:20-21 the Lord prayed that all believers might display, in a practical way, a oneness - the same oneness that He had with the Father.
Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; that they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.
The Father and the Son were ever together. He that has seen the Son has seen the Father. What ever the Son did, the Father was there. It was a perfect partnership if I can use the term, a perfect fellowship.
The early saints continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship. They enjoyed a partnership that was based on the teaching of the apostles. John takes us a step further and tells us that their fellowship (partnership) was with the Father and with the Son.
As we had seen Paul was to preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ and to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery.
We may ask what is this fellowship, this partnership, this participation that we are to see. As often in the word of God the key is near the door.
In chapter 4 verses 1 through 3 we read:
I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, with all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
Working together, a fellowship, a partnership, participating in the endeavour to keep the unity of the Spirit.
It may be helpful to point out here that this does not mean that we must agree on all doctrinal points. We must hold dear the truth of the person of Christ, who He is and His finished work. In all other points where there may be differences, we are to work with each other, study the word together, pray about the differences and be teachable.
The way that it can be done is: With all lowliness – not taking a place above our brethren, Meekness – not taking matters into our own hands but waiting on the Lord, Longsuffering – one has asked “how long is longsuffering?”, Forbearing one another in love – love never fails; Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace – Matthew 5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
The chapter goes on to say,
There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling.
There is only one body. How far from the mind of God are comments that some use speaking about “their fellowship”, “the body of believers they are associated with” etc. It is sectarian and very much spoken against in the word of God. A sect is any group that wants an identity other than being part of the one body. It is divisive and misrepresenting the Lord’s desire that we function as one, one body, not many.
There is one Spirit. The Spirit formed the one body at Pentacost and it would be destroying His own work by leading the Lord’s people to divide up into many groups. We are to keep in mind there are other influences that would lead the Lord’s people to divide up into many groups, but it is not the Spirit of God.
John tells us to test the spirits. 1 John 4:1
Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
There is only one body of Christ. There is only one Spirit of God.