What Is the Mystery of Christ?
Share
When we behold a mystery, we understand we lack details which give us clear understanding of a subject, event, or person. In the case of the mystery of Christ, the Lord God kept some of His purposes a mystery for a period, and then revealed the mystery in His perfect time. The mystery of Christ is explained by the Apostle Paul in Ephesians 3:6, “This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.”
This is the best news ever for the Gentiles (all non-Jews). But for the Jews — those who thought they possessed sole rights as “God’s chosen ones” — the news was unbearable to the point of unbelief and rebellion. Jesus knew this, and while He was in Jerusalem preaching at the synagogue, “…the Jews gathered around Him and said to Him, ‘How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.’ Jesus answered them, ‘I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in My Father’s name bear witness about Me, but you do not believe because you are not among My sheep’” (John 10:24-26).
This “mystery” is fully captured in Jesus, who, “came to seek and save the lost” (Luke 19:10). Jesus is the “light of the world” (John 8:12), and He said, “Whoever follows Me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8:12). John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.”
The world spoken of here is the entire human race. And the word whoever means anyone and everyone who believes. As regards humanity and who can be saved, this is an all-encompassing verse — no ethnic group is disqualified.
Where in the Bible Does It Mention “the Mystery of Christ?”
In addition to the clear definition of the mystery of Christ in Ephesians 3:6, Scripture has two specific verses that say, “the mystery of Christ.” Both refer to the proclamation of the mystery Paul made in the Ephesians verse.
“When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ” (Ephesians 3:4).
“At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison—" (Colossians 4:3).
All of the verses are spoken by the Apostle Paul, God’s chosen ambassador to the Gentiles (Acts 13:44-14:7). He is referring to the overarching theme of the mystery of God (Revelation 10:7) woven through the Old Testament, revealed in the person and work of Jesus Christ in the New Testament, and culminating in the fulfillment of God’s redemptive plan.
Paul wrote Ephesians to encourage the church to accept the redemption achieved by Jesus Christ, and to act in fresh obedience. He wrote the letter to the Colossian church to refute the claims of false teachers. To that end, Paul proclaimed the supremacy and sufficiency of Christ, and that He is our identity. It would be good to read through Ephesians and Colossians so you gain a better understanding of why Paul wrote each epistle.
How Does Paul Explain the Mystery of Christ to the Ephesian and Colossian Churches?
In Ephesians 1:1-13, Paul makes a profession of who, by the grace of God, he is: “a prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles” (v. 1). He explained how he was called to come to them and that the mystery of Christ was not made known to previous generation (v. 5) but has been revealed by the Spirit to the Apostles and prophets. He then shares the huge news that Christ is not only for the Jews, but that Gentiles are “fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the Gospel” (vv. 5b-6). In essence, Paul speaks of the universal church unlimited by ethnic race, but based on those whom God elects for salvation.
Paul then expands on his unworthiness but by God’s grace. He was sent to share the good news of salvation through Jesus Christ with the Gentiles. He undergirds this truth by stating it’s from God, “who created all things.” Paul emphasizes God’s eternal purpose, which is Christ who gives all in the faith access to the Father.
Of the Colossians, Paul asks them to pray for God to open a door for them for the word, to declare “the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison—" (Colossians 4:3). Leading to his doxology in Colossians, Paul says that he desires to make the word clear as he continues his ministry. The Colossian church was already established and knew Christ as the long-awaited messiah. Paul’s letter to them serves an encouragement to continue in their faithful walk with the Lord.
What Is the Revelation of the Mystery Mentioned in Romans 16:25-27?
Paul’s doxology in the book of Romans is a succinct summary of the magnificent theology he espoused in the sixteen chapters of the book. Romans 16:25-27 reads,
“Now to Him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages. but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith — to the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! Amen.”
This was the headline news that was anathema to the Jews. Ligonier Ministries explains this well, “Under the old covenant, the truth of justification in Christ alone was taught in types and shadows, but now with the advent of Jesus and the Apostolic proclamation of the gospel, what was always there in the prophets is now seen with full clarity. Israel was called to bless the world by giving birth to the Messiah who unites Jew and Gentile in one body because there is no other way to stand before God except clothed in the righteousness of Christ. God strengthens through the gospel, according to what the prophets foretold, in order to bring about the ‘obedience of faith’ (Romans 16:26). All that the Lord has done is so that we might trust in Him alone and then serve Him in gratitude for His great salvation.”
The Lord Christ assigned the Apostle Paul to preach the gospel to the Gentiles, therefore taking part in the revelation of the mystery. We see this responsibility given to him in Acts 13, while he and Barnabas were in Antioch with the church there. “While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, ‘Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them’” (Acts 13:2).
Paul and Barnabas preached to the Jews, who rejected Paul’s words about Jesus Christ. In Acts 13:46-48, we read about Paul’s charge to go to the Gentiles — which is the mystery of Christ. "And Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly, saying, ‘It was necessary that the word of God be spoken first to you. Since you thrust it aside and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we are turning to the Gentiles. For so the Lord has commanded us, saying, ‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’ And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed.”
Why Were the Jews so Enraged by the Mystery of Christ?
The Jews were (and still are) misguided by their understanding of God’s redemptive purpose. They looked for the Messiah as prophesied by the ancient prophets but refused to believe in Him because He did not usher in a physical kingdom at that time and throw off the yoke of Roman rule. He also went outside Israel to preach the gospel, which He embodies. He also (rightly) claimed to be God, which they out-and-out rejected.
There are many instances in Scripture of Jesus healing people outside the nation of Israel. In Matthew 8:5-13, the Bible reports Jesus healed a Gentile Centurion’s servant. When Jesus tells the Roman official He will heal the servant, the centurion protests, saying he is unworthy (i.e., not a Jew). Jesus’ reaction is a seal on the destiny of the Jews, “Truly, I tell you, with no one in Israel have I found such faith. I tell you, many will come from east and west and recline at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven, while the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matthew 8:10-11). (In fact, the Jews gnashed their teeth at Him while He was still on earth).
For the consummate statement Jesus made that reflects the gospel is for all men, we need only look at what’s known as the Great Commission. Matthew 18:18-20 tells us, “And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.’”
Jesus came for all humankind, “to take away the sin of the world” (John 1:29).
God went to the Gentiles because of the Jews’ hardened hearts. The Jews were stuck on the Law and, to their partial credit, they sought to follow the law for righteousness. But to their shame, they never realized the law was given to reveal sin (Romans 3:20) and the need for a Savior (Romans 3:23). They rejected the grace of God given freely through His Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus pronounced seven woes on the Jewish religious leaders who stood on tradition over Scripture (Matthew 23:13-29).
United in Christ as Fellow Heirs
The good news of Christ was therefore preached to and accepted by Gentiles. The church was first called so in Antioch, far outside Israel. This news baffled and enraged the Jews, who considered themselves the only heirs of God’s promises. They disbelieved Jesus was the Messiah, and sought His death.
But the Gentile believers are now fellow heirs of the kingdom with Christ (Romans 8:17). We are God’s children (John 1:12), the elect (Romans 8:28-30), saints (Romans 1:7), grafted into the promise, and ambassadors of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:20). We are part of “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord [that] will be saved” (Romans 10:13).
We are saved by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, according to Scripture alone, and for the glory of God alone (the Five Solas of the Reformation).
Paul — the Apostle to the Gentiles — was a Jew, a strict Pharisee and son of Pharisees (Acts 23:6). Before Christ met him on the road to Damascus (Acts 9), Paul persecuted Christians to death (Acts 7:59-8:3). But God called Paul to Himself through the Lord Jesus (John 6:44). God took a man who ravaged the church and changed his heart and mind to be one of the greatest preachers of the gospel.
Paul continues in Romans 15 when he tells the church Christ came as a servant to the Jews to witness to God’s truth regarding the promises made to the Patriarchs. He also came that “the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy” (Romans 15:9). Paul then refers to Old Testament prophecy regarding Christ and His outreach to the Gentiles, too (Psalm 69:9; Isaiah 11:10).
The Jews, however, were and remain against Christ. Paul said, “For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For, being ignorant of the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes” (Romans 10:2-4).
Here’s the wonderful part for Jews (and for everyone who currently rejects Jesus Christ as Lord). As true as this is for us non-Jews, it’s also as true for the Jews who come to believe in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. For all who believe are justified in Christ — we the church are united in and with Christ, “and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18).
Photo credit: ©Getty Images/Liudmila Chernetska
