…in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ…
Summary: Why does Paul refer to Christ as the “mystery of God?” The answer has to do with God’s love for all of his creation.
In Job’s long-running conversation with his three friends, Zophar the Naamathite challenges Job with this question:
“Can you fathom the mysteries of God? Can you probe the limits of the Almighty?” (Job 11:7)
Paul does not claim to “fathom” these mysteries. However, he claims that God has “revealed” them to him (Ephesians 3:2-5).
Why is Christ a mystery?
The answer to that question is in the four Gospel accounts of Jesus’ life. At the culmination of the Old Covenant, after centuries of recorded interactions with God, the leaders of the people God had hand-picked to be “his people” (Deuteronomy 7:6) failed to recognize the Son of God when he came.
The Jewish people, for the most part, were blinded by their own expectations. Jesus was not like them. He was “gentle and humble of heart” (Matthew 11:29). They were not. Their desire for control caused them to see Jesus as a threat instead of their Messiah.
How is this possible?
The answer to this question is part of the answer to Paul’s mystery. The other part of the answer has to do with the rest of us, the Gentiles. Who would have thought that God would include us in his plan for salvation?
Oh, wait a minute. Wasn’t Job a Gentile, too? Yet hundreds of years before Jesus walked the earth Job says, “I know that my redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand on the earth” (Job 19:25).
All of this leads us to wonder; if Job knew Jesus was going to include the Gentiles, why didn’t everyone else?
Application: Thank God his plan for redemption includes the whole world.
Food for Thought: What else do you consider a “mystery of God?”
Anything that He has not clearly revealed that we cannot know through our own observation is something I would consider a mystery. God reveals what we do not know in Scripture. When He does that then that particular mystery is solved. His word plus the Holy Spirit’s illumination leads to insight for living our faith.
John 16: 13 – 15: But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. 14He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you. 15All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will receive from me what he will make known to you.”
Thank you, Rich!
I love the verse you have referenced! The Spirit of Truth is very real and a very good Teacher! 🙂
There are a lot of aspects of God’s Creation that are a mystery to me. They speak more to the “logistics.” They are a mystery to me because they don’t line up with what I know of the “natural world” as I have experienced it. I don’t think I will ever find out the “how’s” in this life, but I find them interesting to contemplate. Not knowing the “how’s” doesn’t bother me because I know the “whys”, at least at a personal level that hold’s to God’s grace and mercy, and the call of Christ. I may never fully understand the magnitude of the “why’s” until I am in His presence in Heaven, and even then not as fully as He does.
Thankfully, the Will of the Lord is not a mystery to us, or at least, doesn’t have to be.
John 3:8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
Romans 12:2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Thank you, Chris.
Your response reflects a spirit of humility, a very important part of the Body of Christ.
What else do you consider a “mystery of God?”
We are spiritual beings, confined to physical bodies, confined to this physical world where the majority believe accumulating things of this world is our path to success. “He who dies with the most toys wins”.
1 Corinthians 2:14, But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised.
Our creator knows our limitations, and has provided a way for all to see beyond this physical world, receive life as spiritual beings sensitive to His voice.
John 3:16, For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
Only those receiving the sacrifice of His Son Jesus Christ have been provided with spiritual eyes and are now, daily improving their spiritual eyesight. There are also Mystery’s of God which will be revealed to each as He determines. Right now we should, in the power of His Holy Spirit focus on.
John 16:8, When he comes, he (The Holy Spirit) will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment:
Luke 8:10 He replied, “The knowledge of the mysteries of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to others I speak in parables, so that, ‘though seeing, they may not see; though hearing, they may not understand.’
Thank you, Ron!
“Spiritual eyes” allow us to “see” the mysteries of God.
Very true and very cool to think about.