“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 8. The Purpose of the Mystery:
Because of everything that Paul has revealed to these Christians before this temporary interruption, Paul is now revealing to them the magnitude of their participation in What God planned through Christ from the beginning of time. The mystery (that which was previously unknown) has been revealed in them. These Christians who are ‘ in ' Christ have become part of the great working of God.
- They have been made alive, having been dead in their trespasses.
- They have found peace, having been made one by the blood of Christ.
- They have found all spiritual blessings in this state.
- They have been made fellow citizens in a heavenly kingdom.
- They have been built into the house of God, with Christ as both its head and foundation.
This was the mystery that once was hidden, but now is revealed in all who accept the Gospels message. The revealing of the mystery was the theme of the last lesson, now we want to take a look at the purpose of the mystery.
Ephesians 3:8-13
“To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, 9 and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ; 10 to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places, 11 according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, 12 in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him. 13 Therefore I ask that you do not lose heart at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.”
Less Than. Paul begins this segment with a literary double emphasis. He wishes for the readers of this epistle to know his true feelings of inadequacy in being entrusted with the Gospel. With that said, he continues with his regarding it an honor to be selected by the Lord to be the one to preach the Gospel to the Gentiles.
Gentiles. These are all those who for generations past have been: Chap. 2:12 “that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.”
Unsearchable Riches of Christ. Unsearchable simply means, “that which cannot be traced or comprehended”. It describes the riches that are unsearchable, not our ability to obtain them. An example: We buy computers not understanding everything they have the ability to do for us.
Fellowship of the Mystery. Paul says that the purpose of the mystery and its being revealed now is so that ‘ all ' may ‘ see ' the fellowship of the mystery. I believe that this is the key to the purpose of the mystery. The mystery again is the truth that the Gospel was to be given to the world for the benefit of Jews and Gentiles. Fellowship means the joint participation or mutual enjoyment of all nations in equal relationship to Christ as their Savior. Note Paul's words to the Roman Christians: Romans 1:16
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.”
The purpose for the mystery being revealed is for ‘ all ' to ‘ see ' the power of God to salvation. In addition to the purpose of all seeing the power of God, it is also the intent of the mystery being revealed to show what is created by the manifold wisdom of God from the work of the Gospel.
Intent. At the beginning of verse 10 , Paul shows that it was God's intention that the mystery no longer be hidden as was the case at the end of verse 9 .
Manifold Wisdom of God. It is at this junction that I want you to consider an 8x10 piece of paper. If you were to begin to fold the paper over on its self and you continue this process until it is folded 1000 times (don't try to determine if this is really possible, just imagine it for the sake of the exercise). Now consider that at the middle of this many folded piece of paper lays the answer to a question you have always wanted to know and that each fold contained a clue but not the answer. You work diligently opening each leaf and in time you finally come to the one answer you have been looking for. This is the way that God has had to reveal His wisdom to men in order for them to understand.
Jesus sent out seventy disciples as Luke records in chapter 10 , Jesus blessed them and everyone who received the things Jesus revealed to them. Jesus would reveal that this was the beginning of something that prophets and kings desired to see in times past, note: Luke 10:24
“for I tell you that many prophets and kings have desired to see what you see, and have not seen it, and to hear what you hear, and have not heard it."
The Apostle Peter would also record that both prophets and angels wanted to see the fullness of the grace which has been revealed now completely in Christ and His church, note: 1 Peter 1:10-12
“Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you, 11 searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow . 12 To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven--things which angels desire to look into.”
The wisdom of God for the salvation of man includes ‘ all ' the heavenly spiritual instruction that mankind needs for proper service to God. This was kept from men and angels for thousands of years, but it is now revealed in and by the church of Christ .
It is the height of blasphemy for any man or human organization that would pretend to give spiritual or moral instructions to man in place of or along side of that which was given in complete form, in and by the church of Christ .
Eternal Purpose: All Biblical time in scripture with regard to mankind is referenced from the creation. Therefore, the eternal purpose of God for man revealed in and by the church of Christ , was planned by God since the beginning of the world. God was planning for the complete salvation and redemption of man and it is here referred to as His eternal purpose.
Accomplished ‘in' Christ. God's eternal purpose for man was perfected in Christ. This was the opening thought of Paul in the first chapter, note: Chap. 1:3
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,”
In whom. This refers to Christ, whom we now know was foreordained of God to be the one through whom this eternal purpose was to be accomplished. The boldness spoken of here is not that of self importance. It is a confidence based on the truth of what has been revealed that causes one to act without hesitation or remorse (faith). This confidence has allowed us ‘ in ' Christ to have access directly to God, by being part of God's eternal purpose.
Therefore. Since they now know without any uncertainty that they as Christians are the eternal purpose of God ‘ in ' Christ and are literally the mystery revealed (what the angels, prophets and kings desired to see in times past), they should not lose heart. Paul did not want them to consider his imprisonment or any persecution that they might suffer in like fashion as a deterrent, but to consider such things to their glory. I don't want to continue this thought as it is the theme of the next lesson.
Summary. The purpose of the mystery therefore was that the Gospel should be made known to every person regardless of bloodlines, heritage, or nationality. In addition, it was for the world to see the complete wisdom of God in and by the church of Christ .
I have heard people say that they are looking for a church to go to! Based on the understanding of this lesson, the question should be are you looking for the church, to be a part of?
Those of us who have sought out this church should in addition have such an appreciation for all God has done on our behalf, that the world might see God's wisdom in us. This is the theme of the next lesson.
Next: “Appreciation of the Mystery”