“…by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already, by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ), which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets: that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel….” Eph. 3:3-6 (Read v. 1-13)
What is the mystery of Christ which was revealed to Paul and the other apostles and prophets? What did Christ reveal to the apostle Paul following his conversion on the road to Damascus? Cf. Galatians 1:11ff.; 2 Cor. 12:1ff.
Before God created the heavens and earth through Christ or gave life to the first human being, He had already planned to give His Son, Jesus Christ, as a sacrifice for the sins of the world and gather together His elect from the sons of men, from all the nations and families of the earth, in Christ Jesus. Though bits and pieces of God’s plan were revealed to man during the days of the Old Testament patriarchs and prophets, the fullness of His gracious plan was revealed when God sent His Son into the world a true man to fulfill all righteousness for us and to suffer and die for the sins of the world and rise again.
Included in this mystery is that Christ’s shed blood would be for the sins of all and that God’s grace and mercy extended not only to the descendants of Abraham but to all the nations of the earth. Thus, Paul preached repentance and remission of sins in Christ Jesus to the Gentiles, to people of all nations and families. And all who believe and trust in Christ as Savior are adopted into God’s family and church. “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise” (Gal. 3:26-29).
As the Gospel is preached and people from all nations are brought into God’s kingdom and family, this mystery of the ages is revealed not only to us but to the angels of heaven.
O Father, thank you for revealing to us that we too are forgiven and acceptable through Jesus’ perfect sacrifice on the cross for the sins of the world. Amen.
[Devotion by Randy Moll. Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.]