It has been said that everyone loves a great mystery. My Bible study today was about a “mystery” which Christ let us in on. The mystery given to us to know (Matt 13.11; Luke 8.10), that we’re cautioned NOT to be ignorant of (Rom 11.25), and that we are STEWARDS of! (1 Cor 4.1). This mystery was hidden before Christ, but now is made known to us (Col 1.26). This mystery gives our lives eternal purpose and value.
Mystery: something difficult or impossible to understand or explain.
Subject Sentence: the mystery is CHRIST IN YOU THE HOPE OF GLORY (Col 1.26)
Aim of this passage: To realize the mystery of Christ and live out the reason for it.
I. CAUSE of the mystery:
Dispensaion of the grace of God given me towards others (Eph 3.2)
Application ?: Am I giving out the grace of God to others???
II. DEFINITION of the mystery
That others should be fellow heirs and of same body and partakers of God’s promise in Christ by the gospel. (Eph 3.6)
Application ?: Am I a bridge of reconciliation to others, demonstrating the purpose of God?
III. FELLOWSHIP of the mystery
It is a GIFT of the grace of God, given to me by the working of His power, to give to others to make all see the fellowship of the mystery and the unsearchable riches of Christ (Eph 3.7-9)
Application ?: Am I ministering grace to others according to the effectual working of Christ’s power in me??
IV. INTENT of the mystery
Unto principalities and powers might be known the manifold wisdom of God through the Church (Eph 3.10)
Application ?: Does my life declare the wisdom of God which is for the express purpose of reaching others?
“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. Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.”
(Eph 3:1-13 KJVS)
