The Mystery of Christ

Ephesians 3:3,4  "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)"

Here Paul states that he was made aware of the mystery by revelation. The word revelation here has the idea of disclosure. God revealed or manifested to Paul what the mystery was. This mystery was not taught to Paul but revealed to Paul by Jesus Christ. Galatians 1:12  For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.  By the way any system of theology that has its origins in man and has to be taught is not from God. God reveals His truth through one man! Paul then states that this mystery that was given to him by revelation, had previously been eluted to in the beginning of this letter. Ephesians 1:9,10  "Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ..."  The mystery of His will was to bring together in one, both Jew and Gentile, by Jesus Christ.  Colossians 1:26,27  "Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:"  This mystery involved blindness of the Jews in rejecting Christ, which opened the door for the Gentiles to experience salvation. Romans 11:25  "For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in."  As a result of Israel's rejection of Christ, the age of grace now reigns with the Gentiles. The Gentiles are now partakers with the Jew in the eternal inheritance and have been made part of Abraham's family.  Galatians 3:28,29  "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise."  So the mystery in Christ was how God was going to unite both Jew and Gentile together as one family. Jesus Christ was the only one who could unite God with man and also unite Jew and Gentile into one family. Notice in Christ all nationalities are able to be apart of the family of God.   Romans 16:25,26  "Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:"  We ought to rejoice that no matter what race, nationality, or culture a person is of, they can all partake in eternal salvation and be a member of God's family. Only Christ could make this possible, this is the mystery of Christ. 

A Prisoner of Jesus Christ

Ephesians 3:1,2  "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:" 

Paul states that it is for this cause, the cause of building believers faith, that he writes. This cause that Paul had was not his own but given to him. 1Timothy 1:16  "Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting."  Paul's was not seeking his own cause but was fervently serving for the cause of Christ. Paul was diligent and determined to make sure the cause of Christ kept going forward and so he enlisted Timothy to continue in this great cause of making the ways of Christ clear to His church.  1Corinthians 4:17  "For this cause have I sent unto you Timotheus, who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord, who shall bring you into remembrance of my ways which be in Christ, as I teach every where in every church."  Paul was the apostle to the Gentiles and spent much time in jail for preaching the Gospel.   As the "prisoner of Jesus Christ," Paul was saying, that it was his identification with Jesus Christ that landed him in prison. He is saying, I am in prison for standing with Christ. Philemon1:1,9  "Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy our brother, unto Philemon our dearly beloved, and fellowlabourer." "Yet for love's sake I rather beseech thee, being such an one as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ." As believers we ought to be willing to go to jail for Christ. However, I wonder if we as Christians have ever made ourselves prisoners for Christ. What do I mean? Have we so locked ourselves into Jesus Christ that it is as if we are in stocks and bonds. Are we so committed to Christ that we have lost our own freedom to do what we want to do? Are you being detained in Christ? Let's live our lives so dedicate to His cause that we are as prisoners to Him. The  "dispensation of the grace of God" was given to Paul to preach. Colossians 1:25  "Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God;"  The word dispensation means to administer. Paul was to administer the economy of grace as God's chosen Apostle to the Gentiles. A dispensation is a frame of time in which God works in specific ways. This does not mean God saves people in various dispensations different ways. God may work in different ways but there has always only been one way of salvation. Faith in God's promised seed. 

The Building of Believers

Ephesians 2:21,22  "In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit." 

Jesus the chief corner stone was laid. Set in alignment to Him was the apostles and prophets making the foundation for the building. The building that is upon the foundation is made up of believers. New Testament believers are the church of Christ that He promised to build in Matthew 16:18. Each believer is fitly framed together in the body of Christ.  1Peter 2:4-7  "To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,"  Every believer is a brick that makes the building of God. The house of God. The church of God. Not only are we as believers the stones that make the building collectively, individually we are a temple for the Holy Ghost. 1Corinthians 6:19  "What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?" 1Corinthinas 3:16  "Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?"  Every body of a believer is a building. You are the temple where the Holy Spirit resides. All believers together are a building (the local church) where God meets with us. The body of the believer is an habitation of God through the Spirit.  1Corinthians 3:9-11  "For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building. According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ."  As believers it is so important that we are faithful to the assembly of believers. The church is not a building made of wood, brick, aluminum or any other material. The church is a building of believers. If we are not a faithful to our local building of believers then we are missing the mark. Get to church!

The Cornerstone and Foundation

Ephesians 2:20  And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; 

We as New Testament believers are God's building. God is using us to build a building. We will come back to this in our next couple of verses but today I want to focus on the Cornerstone and Foundation. A cornerstone also known as a setting stone, is the first stone set in the construction of a foundation. All other stones are set in alignment to this stone, making the foundation for the entire structure. Jesus is the chief corner stone. Psalm 118:22 "The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner." Jesus quoted this verse in Psalms to His disciples to explain the Jews rejecting Him. Matthew 21:42 "Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?" Jesus was telling His disciples that He was the setting stone that God was going to use in building the foundation of His spiritual house. The apostles and prophets would be aligned with the corner stone to make the foundation for the building of God's house. 1Corinthians 12:28 "And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers..." Jesus Christ came as the chief corner stone and was laid down. The apostles and prophets were then laid as the foundation being aligned to the corner stone so that God could build His building thereon. We will further develop the thought of God's building in our next devotion but let's dwell on the corner stone today. Acts 4:10-12 "Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead...is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name...whereby we must be saved." All of us who are saved are built upon the foundation of Jesus Christ. It is essential for any building to have a strong foundation. We have a firm foundation and the wise man builds his house upon the rock. Are you building your life upon the rock? It starts with salvation when the chief corner stone is set in your heart. From that point on we need to make sure we are listening to His sayings (the Word) so are life is being built upon a sure foundation. Isaiah 28:16 "Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste." In this wishy washy day of Christianity we need some solid Christians who are standing on the rock of ages, the sure foundation of Jesus Christ. If you build your life on Jesus, when the winds and storms of grief, uncertainty and doubt assail, you won't fall.

The Household of God

Ephesians 2:19  "Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;"

Paul begins this verse with confirming what he has already said about us no longer being aliens, strangers and foreigners. He again makes this point clear based upon what he has said in the previous verses. Now therefore...based upon the fact His blood redeems, based upon the fact that He is our Peacemaker and based upon the fact that He is our Accessor, ye are no more strangers and foreigners.  We are fellow citizens with the saints. The specific saints Paul is referring to are those Old Testament believers who already made there journey to Heaven at the resurrection of Christ when..."the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many." (Matt. 27:52,53) In conjunction with Ephesians 4:8  "Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men."  What Paul is saying is that we as New Testament believers are fellow citizens with our brethren who have already entered heaven, even though we remain on earth. Although we are here on earth our lifestyles ought to resemble the citizens of Heaven. Philippians 3:20  "For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:"  The word conversation means community or citizenship. Paul is instructing us to behave as a citizens of Heaven as we patiently wait the return of Christ. As believers in Jesus Christ we are called to a higher standard of living. We are to live as if we are already in Heaven, that's are home, that's where we belong. No longer are we estranged or alienated from God but have made to be citizens of His Kingdom. Paul continues and goes further. Not only are we citizens of Heaven we belong to God's household. We are in the family of God. We live as children that are away from the house where we belong. Ephesians 3:15  "Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,"  God the Father is waiting for us to come home where we belong. All saved Christians are a member of the household of God, therefore..."As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith."  (Galatians 6:10)  

Jesus Is Our Accessor

Ephesians 2:18  "For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father." 

Jesus is our Mediator. Jesus is our Peacemaker. Jesus is our Redeemer. Jesus is also our Accessor. "For through him (Jesus) we both have access..."  It is only through Jesus we have access to the Father. John 14:6  "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."  Jesus is the way to the Father. Not only is Jesus the hallway that leads to the Father, He is also the door of the hallway. John 10:7,9  "Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep...I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture."   Jesus is our access to God. The Greek word for access is prosagōgē and it simply means admission. Jesus is our ticket of admission. If you have Jesus you have a non redeemable ticket to Heaven. More than that though, right now you have access to God in prayer because of Jesus. Hebrews 10:19  "Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,"  Jesus is the only one who has full access to God. He wants to us access all that God has for us. We must come to God through Jesus. When we pray we must pray in Jesus name. He is our Accessor.  Romans 5:2  "By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God."  By our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ we come boldly unto the throne of God. Are you praying like you should? Maybe you are under estimating the broad access that you have to the King! We have been granted access because of Jesus but we don't go the Father alone. It is the Holy Spirit who accompanies us in prayer to the throne making intercession for us. One Savior, One Holy Spirit and One Father. The child of God enjoys great company when he prays. 1Corinthians 8:6  "But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him."  Pray today, my friend. Pray! 

My Peacemaker - II

Ephesians 2:16,17  "And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh." 

Now due to the established fact that Jesus in our peacemaker, we can rest assure that we are no longer alienated from Him. We are no longer separated from Him but are nigh unto Him. Through the precious blood of our personal peacemaking Mediator we have been reconciled to God. Romans 5:10  "For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life." Jesus lived a sinless life thus making Him the only perfect sacrifice that God would accept. Jesus was slain on the cross so that the enmity we had with God would be slain. The work of the cross was the work of reconciling man with God. Colossians 1:20,21  "And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled."  Amen and amen, boy it feels good to be reconciled and at peace with God! What love. What grace. What mercy. What longsuffering the Lord has shown in going out of His way to make reconciliation possible. It cost Him His Son. I'm not sure why He loves me so much but I'm sure glad He does! He sent Jesus to be our peacemaker.  2Corinthians 5:18,19  "And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation."  There is only one Mediator between man and God and that is Jesus! Jesus, My Peacemaker has reconciled all believers back to God. Jesus the God-man makes it possible for us to have reconciliation with God. Because of Jesus my relationship with God has been restored. Praise God! Listen, my friend, If God be for you who can be against you. If God is by your side (reconciled) then why fear, frown or falter? He is our peacemaker! Now it is our job to go tell others how they too can have reconciliation with God. He has given us "the ministry of reconciliation."  So let's go tell the world the word of reconciliation; Jesus!

My Peacemaker - I

Ephesians 2:14,15 "For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;"

Jesus Christ is "our peace." That is of no surprise for He is the Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6  "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace."  Jesus was born to bring us peace. At his birth the Angel said, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men." (Luke 2:14)  Jesus was the only one who could bring peace. Act 10:36  The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:) We are now no longer Aliens and Strangers to God, nor are we at enmity with Him, for we have been made nigh by the blood and now have peace. Romans 5:1  "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:"  Jesus is our peacemaker and brings unity, "who hath made both one, and hath broken down the...wall between us."  Unity with God and each other, for we are one in Him.  Colossians 3:11  "Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all." We have been adopted into Abraham's family and are to be one big happy family. The family of God! Jesus in His flesh put away the enmity and judgment that was against us because of the law. Jesus has brought peace. We are at peace with God as "one new man."  Galatians 6:15  "For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature." Those that are in Christ Jesus are a new creation. 2Corinthians 5:17  "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."  Be encouraged, dear brother as a new creature in Christ we have no reason to fret, worry or be anxious. We have the peace that passes all understanding available to us in the person of Jesus Christ. Listen my friend we have a peacemaker and are on the winning side. Rejoice and say, "Jesus is my peacemaker!"   

It's Still the Blood

 Ephesians 2:13  But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. 

Once I wandered in sins black night, there was no way I could make my wrongs right. Then that old accuser to the Lord did cry, "he is a sinner and now he must die." But it's still the blood that saves from sin, it's still the blood that cleanses within, from the highest star in Heaven to the depths of the sea. It is still the blood of Jesus that brings victory to me! In our previous verse we learned of our awful condition as aliens and strangers of God. We were a far off, we were at enmity with God, we were strangers separated from God. BUT now,  (Amen! Aren't you glad for the "but's" of the Bible.) we who were lost and undone, separated from a Holy God are now brought nigh by the blood of the Lamb. This blood is precious blood. 1Peter 1:19  "But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:"  Glory be to God, Who reached down His hand for me, cleansed and washed me, making me whole! Rejoice today my friend, that when we were at or worst, God's love was at it's best.  Rom 5:8 "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."   Now because of the blood of Jesus. Now because of His sacrificial atonement. Now because of the cross of Calvary, we are made nigh unto God. Hallelujah! Now that were are in Christ Jesus we are not longer strangers or aliens, but a new creature. Now that we are in Christ Jesus there is no longer any condemnation. We are now nigh unto God. Psalm 145:18  "The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth."  We have been made nigh because there is power in the blood of Jesus, yes wonder working power in the blood of the Lamb. Hebrews 9:14  "How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?"  Let's serve Him today and everyday while rejoicing that, it's still the blood that has power! Then I heard a voice say, "Father, I'll go and I'll pay his sin debt in Calvary's flow. I will bare in my body the marks of the cross to save this child who is sin sick and lost." And it's still the blood that saves from sin it's still the blood that cleanses within, from the highest star in Heaven to the depths of the sea. It is still the blood of Jesus that brings victory to me!