“The Just Shall Live By Faith”
New King James Version Written by: David Hicks
Romans 1:17 “ For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "The just shall live by faith."
Galatians 3:11 “But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for "the just shall live by faith."
Hebrews 10:38 “Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him."
“Articles of Faith”
The Church of Christ
(A Study in Ephesians)
Lesson 7. The Mystery Revealed:
In our previous lessons we have investigated the answers to the presuppositions that Paul established in the first chapter:
- What is the hope of His calling?
- What are the riches of His inheritance in the saints?
- What is God's great power toward those who believe?
Initially we learned that we had been quickened from the dead (dead in trespasses and sins, 2:1-5 ), and have been raised with Christ, to sit in heavenly places ‘ in ' Christ (spiritual kingdom, the church, 2:6-10 ).
In our last lesson we learned that in addition to this resurrection from our sinful past to a new life of righteousness, that Christ has created a peaceful and unified environment for all of His saints. This He has done by breaking down the walls of division by reconciling all men to God, making all who obey the works prepared beforehand by God, fellow citizens and members of the house of God ( 2:11-22 ).
It is now that Paul is going to interrupt himself and give some insight to these Christians of just the magnitude of what he has revealed to them thus far. It is in them that God has begun to reveal the cosmic secret of what has been planned through Christ from the beginning of the world ( Chap. 1:4 ), note:
Ephesians 3:1-7
“For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles-- 2 if indeed you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which was given to me for you, 3 how that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already, 4 by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ), 5 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: 6 that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel, 7 of which I became a minister according to the gift of the grace of God given to me by the effective working of His power.”
“For this reason”. Paul begins this interlude with the understanding that everything he is going to reveal next is because of what he has already testified to them concerning everything God has done for them ‘ in ' Christ. It is from here through verse 13 that Paul will put in explanatory information concerning the interlude.
“Prisoner”. As Paul wrote this, he was under arrest in Rome. His arrest and final appeal to Caesar have brought him to his present location, and all of this has been brought about by preaching the Gospel to the Gentiles (see: Acts 21:26-33 ; 28:17-22; Ephesians 6:11 ). In addition, it was Christ that took possession of Paul for this very purpose (see: Acts 9:16 ; 26:16-18; Philippians 3:12 ).
“My Knowledge”. In verse 2 , Paul had been given charge of administering the grace or favor of God (the Gospel) unto the Gentiles. The Spirit of God addressed the intelligence of Paul (not by an impression made on his emotion) and made known to Paul the truths and facts of the Gospel (revelation). In this fashion, he would then be able to teach and instruct them to the Ephesians and others. Paul does not say that when they read this that they would understand his emotional state, but that they would understand his knowledge!
“Mystery of Christ”. It is in these first 7 verses of this chapter that Paul is saying that what was previously concealed has now been revealed ‘ in ' Christ. The word mystery used here simply means, “anything not known, whether it is simple or complicated in nature”. This mystery had been made known to Paul by revelation, as it had to the other Apostles and New Testament prophets ( 3:5 ). The opening two chapters of Ephesians have unfolded Paul's understanding of the mystery ( 3:4 ).
Here is the essential breakdown of the mystery:
I. Gentiles are now fellow heirs, members of the same body, and joint participants in the promise with believing Jews who have followed Jesus Christ ( 3:6 ).
II. That the mystery includes a heavenly dimension, the union of Christ with His church (‘ in ' Christ through the Gospel, 3:6 ; Chap. 5:32 ).
Paul has previously spoken concerning the chain of revelation that has revealed to him and the rest of the Apostles the mystery of God concerning the kingdom of Christ , note:
1 Corinthians 2:6-13
“However, we speak wisdom among those who are mature, yet not the wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. 7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory, 8 which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 9 But as it is written:
"Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him."
10 But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. 11 For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. 13 These things we also speak, not in words which man's wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual.”
Paul explains that the mystery is revealed in the wisdom of God and not of men. Thus it's true power is seen in the result of its work . It is what the Gospel creates ‘ in ' Christ, which fulfills everything God planned and has not revealed until Christ was exalted.
This brings us back to the magnitude of what Paul has been revealing to the Christians concerning the kingdom and those who are ‘ in ' Christ. They have become part of the great working of God ‘ in ' Christ. God raised Him from the dead and gave Him a throne over a kingdom (His body, the church), for which He gave Him all authority ( 1:20 -23 ). By this great working of God ‘ in ' Christ, all who have obeyed the Gospel have been made alive with Him ( 2:1-10 ). ‘ In ' Christ all men are now fellow citizens and joint heirs with Christ in the house of God ( 2:11 -22 ).
This is the Gospel that Paul was made a minister (one who carries out the instructions of another) on behalf of ( 3:7 ). Paul was an inspired Apostle, and possessed that measure of the Holy Spirit that enabled him to execute his official position.
I assure you friends that after we have finished the third chapter of this study, there will be no question concerning the importance of the true church of Christ !
Next: “ The Purpose of the Mystery ”