Please first read, Ephesians 1:9; Ephesians 6:19-20; Ephesians 3:9-11; Ephesians 3:1-5; Colossians 1:24-27; and Colossians 4:3-4.
In Ephesians 1:9 we read “Having made known unto us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He hath purposed in Himself.” Then in Ephesians 6:19-20, the Apostle Paul wrote that he was in the Roman jail for “the Mystery of the Gospel.”
As we read the Epistle to the Ephesians, we learn that “the Mystery of God’s will” was “the Mystery of the Gospel.” What was the Mystery mentioned in these verses? The Mystery has been made known and God, the Father, wants all of His children to know it. (Ephesians 3:9). (Ephesians 1:16-23; Ephesians 3:14-19).
Christ, in John 6:39-40, told us something of the will of God, “And this is the Father’s will which hath sent Me, that of all which He hath given Me, I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.” “And this is the will of Him that sent Me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on Him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.”
This is still God’s will, “by the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” (Hebrews 10:10). But God’s ETERNAL purpose is to have a company of redeemed sinners separate and distinct from all other companies.
In 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 we read of the Gospel by which believing sinners are saved. But note in these verses these words, “according to the Scriptures.” Christ’s death and resurrection was that the Scriptures might be fulfilled. (Acts 13:29-30). (Luke 24:44-46). Therefore, when the Apostle Paul preached that saving Gospel, it was NOT “the Mystery of the Gospel,” for that “Mystery” message was NOT made known by, or to, ANY of Israel’s prophets. (Colossians 1:25-26). That is why it is called “the unsearchable riches,” meaning “untraceable” or “unprophesied riches.”
“The Dispensation of the Mystery” is, “according to God’s eternal purpose in Christ.” (Ephesians 3:9-11). This Grace and purpose was given to members of the Body of Christ BEFORE the world began. (2 Timothy 1:9; Ephesians 1:4-11; Romans 8:28-29). It was God’s SECRET until AFTER Israel rejected Christ in resurrection. It was revealed to, and through, the Apostle Paul, who was born out of due season; chosen by Christ to be “the Apostle of the Gentiles.” (Romans 11:13; 1 Corinthians 15:6-10). It was for this reason that Paul (Saul) was the ONLY unbeliever, the ONLY unsaved person on earth, who saw Christ after He was raised from the dead. Then he said by God’s Grace He was the LORD’s master builder, who laid the foundation, and saints must build with him. (1 Corinthians 3:10).
For this distinctive message and ministry, because he was the custodian of this Divine deposit, he suffered as an evil doer in chains, the prisoner of the LORD Jesus Christ for Gentiles. (2 Timothy 2:8-9; Ephesians 3:1-5). And he added that others should be partakers of the same afflictions and suffer persecution. (2 Timothy 1:8; 2 Timothy 3:12).
And here is The Mystery of God: The Eternal Purpose of God in Christ...
Before Israel was created for God’s glory, before all of the promises concerning Israel’s coming glory and the millennial reign of Christ on earth, even, before Adam had sinned, or was created, God PREDESTINATED that members of the Body of Christ should be conformed to the image of His Son. (Romans 8:28-29). They would be SEATED in the Heavenlies in Christ. God’s eternal purpose is to have a company of redeemed sinners SEPERATE and DISTINCT from ALL OTHER companies. Dwell on this.
These predestinated and justified believers are to be JOINED to Christ as ONE flesh, to make ONE New Man, the Perfect Man, with HEAVENLY citizenship, to appear with Christ in glory. (Ephesians 2:6; Ephesians 5:31-32; Ephesians 2:5; Ephesians 4:13; Philippians 3:20-21; Colossians 3:1-4).
THIS the Father wants every Christian to make known (Ephesians 3:9). And, of course, Satan hates this message with a vicious hatred.
Thus we see “the Mystery of God’s will,” DIFFERS from the PROPHESIED kingdom. (Acts 3:19-21; Amos 9:11-15). God is NOW, During this Dispensation of the Mystery, building up the Body of Christ. (Ephesians 4:9-13). At the close of this Dispensation of Grace, The LORD will return in the AIR, (1 Thessalonians 4:17) and call home His Body. Then, at the close of the Great Tribulation, The Christ will return to EARTH, (Revelation 19:11-21) after the close of this age and Dispensation of Grace, to build, then, again, the tabernacle of David. (Acts 15:15-18).
Must Read Additional Study…
WHAT IS THE MYSTERY OF THE GOSPEL, part 1 of 3
There is in the Bible, the Gospel, or Good News, for the unsaved, and the Gospel for the saved. Confused...Don't be! And, what is the truth for saints in the Bible that transcends all other truth, grand and glorious? It is The Mystery.
WHAT IS THE MYSTERY OF THE GOSPEL, part 2 of 3
Members of the Body of Christ, in knowing and making known The Mystery, wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against spiritual wickedness in the heavenlies, against principalities and powers in the heavenlies (Ephesians 6:11-20). Read More, click the link
WHAT IS THE MYSTERY OF THE GOSPEL, part 3 of 3
The very moment the believing sinner is saved by the Grace of God, by the Faith in the perfect, finished, work of the perfect Christ, he, then and there becomes a member of the Body of Christ. The baptism in this operation of Faith is a Divine baptism, NOT a water baptism.
***
In Ephesians 1:13 the Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul declares that men are saved and sealed by hearing and BELIEVING the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation. Therefore, here, now, is declared unto you the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation: "that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures" 1 Corinthians 15:3-4. BELIEVE today. The time is short.
So There You Have it!
Spread this message to everyone you know, far and wide.
Grace be to you and peace, from God: our Father, and The LORD Jesus Christ.
In The LORD Jesus Christ,
The Lion and Lamb Ministry
Pastor David Picos, D.D.
Minister and Ambassador for Christ in the Ministry of Reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:18-20)
Subscribe Here to the LLM Newsletter , Follow LLM on Twitter , Subscribe to LLM on Youtube , LLM on MySpace , and FaceBook
No comments:
Post a Comment