Monday: The Long-Hidden Mystery of the Gospel
What is the mystery that has been entrusted to Paul? Ephesians 3:1-6.
As you study Ephesians 3:1-6, note the following:
- First, Paul writes this part of the letter specifically to Gentile believers in the house churches of Ephesus (Ephesians 3:1).
- Second, Paul claims to be the recipient of something he labels “the stewardship of God’s grace,” given to him “for you,” for Gentile believers (Ephesians 3:2, ESV). This stewardship, or this ministry of grace, is Paul’s way of describing the commission given to him to preach the gospel (“God’s grace”) to the Gentiles (compare Ephesians 3:7-8, ESV).
- Third, Paul claims that a mystery has been revealed to him, a topic he has already written about in the letter (see especially Ephesians 1:9-10; Ephesians 2:11-22), the “mystery of Christ” (Ephesians 3:3-4). Paul does not wish to be understood as the inventor of the gospel, but he does lay claim to a God-given ministry to proclaim it.
- Fourth, Paul is not alone in having received advanced revelation about this mystery, as the Spirit has also revealed it to Christ’s “holy apostles and prophets” in a way that surpasses the revelation of God’s plan to earlier generations (Ephesians 3:5). The term prophets here probably refers to those possessing and exercising the gift of prophecy among early Christian house churches rather than the prophets of the Old Testament. The mystery, which was once hidden, has now become what we might call an “open secret.”
- Finally, he declares: “This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel” (Ephesians 3:6, ESV).
Image © Steve Creitz from GoodSalt.com
Paul is passionate about the gospel and especially about the way it is expressed in the church, which is composed of both Jews and Gentiles. These two groups have become the building blocks of God’s new community, His new brand of humanity, the church (see Ephesians 2:14-16). We could say they are now transformed from being enemies to being “co-heirs,” “co-bodied” (included in a single body, the body of Christ), and “co-partakers” of the gospel promise (see Ephesians 3:6).
| What, if any, attitudes, maybe even below the surface, might you hold that contradict the inclusiveness taught by the gospel? How do you get rid of them? |
(21)
I think that we need to be careful to make a distinction between mystical and mystery. There is a fair degree of emphasis on the mystical in some branches of Christianity associated with transcendental meditation, spiritual discovery, and quite a number of related expressions. It is as though you can discover some special meaning about something through some specialised activity.
On the other hand, when Paul speaks of a mystery he is using it in the sense of "being surprised". The mystery of Ephesians 3 is not some ethereal experience but rather the surprising discovery that salvation is not a special provenance of the Jews, but freely available to both Jews and Gentiles alike.
The Jewish notion of salvation was that they were the special recipients of salvation and in order to be "saved" one had to become Jewish. The surprise (mystery) for the early apostles was that salvation was not just for the Jews, it was available to everyone. The Jews were very wrong and it took a long time for them to understand the mystery.
Moving forward to the 21st century, I read Seventh-day Adventist's motivation for proselytizing as very focused on the notion that we have got it right and in order to be saved in the end-time a person needs to adopt the Seventh-day Adventist worldview. In my mind, I question is: How different are we from the Jews? Are we any better than they? Do we have to discover a mystery (surprise) that applies to us today?
What have we got to say to the rest of the world? Join us or you will perish in the lake of fire! Or, we have an experience that we want to share with you now that is going to surprise both of us!
My thought-provoking brother, Maurice Ashton gm,
For the umpteen time, I must hasten to say I'm say I'm truly impressed by creative thought pattern. Some of what you say somehow, makes me a little nervous for real. Case in point,
'Moving forward to the 21st century, I read Seventh-day Adventist's motivation for proselytizing as very focused on the notion that we have got it right and in order to be saved in the end-time a person needs to adopt the Seventh-day Adventist worldview'.
'How different are we from the Jews?'
'Are we any better than they?'
'Do we have to discover a mystery (surprise) that applies to us today?
The questions that are raised should be properly address, in order we don't follow suite like the old covenant Israel. Noticed I didn't used the term 'Modern Israel [a quote Sevent Day Adventist coined]. I am now 60 years young, and I/ remembered when I first gotten Baptized, I was in a bible study class for nearly 3 months, we were the time was given [along with the others in the class] some text that we have to know and must explain what they meant at MV the Evening before our baptism! I wish there was a forum whereby these can be addressed.
People [fellow SDA's Christians] are disgruntled, especially those that are older than me, alluding to the notions that the 'Church' has forget her teachings if you know what I mean. The last time I remember is Peter telling the new converts in Jerusalem, that they were to believe in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and they will be saved.
I think the answer lies in understanding the focus. Paul continually reminds us to "live in Christ", "In Him we live and move and have our being" and so on. If we get the focus right, then the other things follow.
"I think the answer lies in understanding the focus." 👍
"If we get the focus right, then the other things follow." 👍
You know the truth; now; all there is, is to do 🙏
I'm not sure that I totally understand your concerns, but I feel the issue is not Adventist beliefs. Properly taught, they are a great blessing and we don't need to be afraid of them. The Jews also had great blessings to contribute to the Christian church and Paul pointed this out in Romans 2.
However, there is a lot of Adventist "culture" that almost gets elevated to a level of doctrine that often is a barrier to people joining us. This might be the way our churches or services look, organizations within the church, music, dress and so on. These things aren't bad, but people don't need to embrace them to join us. We have to remember church isn't just about being comfortable.
Attitudes regarding:
(i) the role of women in the ministry
(ii) how to embrace change by those who favour proven methods-this is mainly between the elderly and the youth
(iii) self obssession
(iv) diversity
(v) equating disability with sin by the inappropriate use of the Word
(vi)marginalisation,exclusion,rejection of some classes due to traditional practices,religious convictions and customary law
Can contradict the inclusiveness taught in the Gospel.
How to get rid of them
We must focus on others and the redemptive mission of God and not on ourselves,thus the church and non belivers will be impacted.Let us love all people unconditionally as God loves all unconditionally.There must not be short sightedness and entitlement.Churches are to be places where all are welcome,where there is openess and we are to be hospitable to all.Inclusion embraces diversity.However there are to be boundaries when it comes to inclusivity.We must follow the example of Christ who gave us an example of how to overcome traditional,religious an cultural boundaries and barriers.Jesus spoke of "the little ones" and also "who is my neighbour?",He did not care about the Canaanite's woman religion or culture.He cared for the spiritual and spiritual needs of all those He came across.We must also show love,compassion and generosity.
Matthew 8:3 "And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him."-Jesus reached out the outcasts,who had excluded from the societies.
What, if any, attitudes, maybe even below the surface, might you hold that contradict the inclusiveness taught by the gospel? How do you get rid of them?
Even as Christians, we can be influenced by societal norms, prejudices, and personal experiences, which may lead to attitudes that contradict the inclusiveness of the Gospel. Some of these attitudes could include racism (the belief that different races possess distinct characteristics, abilities, or qualities, especially so as to distinguish them as inferior or superior to one another), sexism (prejudice, stereotyping, or discrimination, typically against women, on the basis of sex), classism (prejudice against people belonging to a particular social class), ageism (treating someone unfairly because of their age), and xenophobia (dislike of or prejudice against people from other countries). These attitudes can manifest subtly, through bias, favoritism, or exclusion.
However, we MUST follow the biblical principles handed down to us, even when the rest of the world think and behave differently. We are to 'model' the behavior we expect to see in others.
May God bless these studies and each of us, more than we can ever ask or imagine. Have a great day!
The issue of diversity is a worry for me in the Adventist church of today. Do we really welcome diversity or do we try at great lengths to get everyone "circumsized" so that they are in conformance with our notions of righteousness.
It is it time that we become awake to the modern mystery just
as how Paul urged the Jews back then to do the same!!!
Wayne, I don't know from where you are writing, but in the western world and North America, in particular, the word "diversity" has currently been co-opted by political and social revisionist entities. So, perhaps, it is not useful to use that terminology.
Perhaps we should rather consider embracing one another in love, leaving room for also setting boundaries in love, just as the Word of God does. (Current "diversity" and "inclusivism" policies run rough-shod over boundaries clearly spelled out in the Word of God. I'm fairly certain that Paul did not have that kind of "diversity" in mind.)
Case Study: One of your friends states, “What attitudes might people hold that contradict the inclusiveness taught by the gospel? How do we get rid of these attitudes?” How would you respond to your relative?
I suspect we all have our prejudices. The trouble with most prejudices is that the people who have them don't know that they do. So how can they get rid of them? I suspect that the only way to change to spend time with Jesus and ask Him to change our minds to be like His. 😊
To be honest, it is almost impossible to avoid the impact of the prevailing social pressures on us as Christians. As humans, we naturally feel more comfortable being around others who look, speak, dress, behave, and have the same values like us. That is why we choose to go to a particular Seventh-day Adventist church in a certain location, we live in a certain part of town and we aspire to earn a living doing something that we feel comfortable doing. So how does my Christianity play into this? Our only hope lies in the transforming power of the Holy Spirit. However, it will only happen if the recognize that we need it, and we need it so badly that we will hunger and thirst for it. Holy Spirit, I need you to come and fix me. Please, I need you today. Thank you for revealing my weaknesses to me. Amen.
@Melvin Pascall, I just love the fact that you used the phrase 'almost impossible'. That only tells us that the impact of social pressures on us as Christians is 'almost possible.' Which will we choose? I am inclined to lose the word almost, because with God ALL things are possible. Have a fantastic day!
The mystery of the gospel has already been explained to my satisfaction. I had thoughts to put in writing this last Sabbath, then I found that those thoughts were expressed by others very well in the last three days, though I miss brother Unrue and Brother R.G. White's thoughts.
I am glad their has been a distinction made between the mystery of the gospel and mysticism. For the gospel is not mysterious, it has though been suppressed, or hidden if you prefer, and made a mystery by the enemy.
Whether the problem is Jews, or Seventh-day-Adventist We need to realize it is not the person that is boasting, we have it and you don't, it is the enemy that is getting people saying that. I believe for the most part we are incorrectly labeled as, we have it and you don't'ers. The other term is legalist, for example, if we even discuss James 1:21-25. If we are called people of, we have it and you don't, we should wear the shoe if it fits, don't wear the shoe if it does not fit. If it fits, ask for forgiveness. Now do not let the enemy make us fearful of spreading the good news of the gospel. Rather remember that God has not given us the spirit of fear, rather a spirit of power, love, and of a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7.
So, we will, I am sure, discuss later on in the quarter, a summary of how to live in Christ: It is to gird our waist with the truth, put on the breast plate of (Christ) righteousness, shod our feet with preparation of peace, take the shield of faith (in Jesus Christ) and take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Now all of this is, defending us against the enemy.
The KJV translates Eph.3:2 a bit different: ”… if indeed you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which was given to me for you, …. .”; a bit different from the version the author uses which reads: ‘Paul claims to be the recipient of something he labels: “the stewardship of God’s grace,” given to him “for you”, for Gentile believers.’ Dispensation means: "something that is distributed or given out."
I understand this passage to mean that God dispensed His Grace to faciliated Paul’s conversion from being a zealot working against the ‘People of the Way’ to becoming one of them, and, consequently, to take the ‘Word of God’ which saved him from damnation to the Gentiles and so fulfill the mystery of the Will of God.
Yes, indeed - the mystery of the ‘dispensation of the grace of God’ experienced by Paul to inspire his heart and mind to understand the 'mystery of Christ'. The solidly convicted Jew has become a solidly convicted follower of Jesus Christ’s Gospel - this is indeed God’s Grace personified in Paul, the ‘prisoner’ of Christ!
May I suggest that the Ekklesia exists without the distinctions of ethnic or racial identities! All members of the Body of Christ are identified only by their shared life in Jesus Christ.
We are only considered to be 'Gentiles' because we are not Jews, but this distinction is no longer relevant to the sonship of believers. We are heirs equally, and as heirs – “We share in His sufferings in order that we may also share in His Glory” – Rom.8:17.
This mystery was not known prior?
The great prophets, like Isaiah, Jeremiah, Moses, did not fully understand this mystery? They were given great revelations but something about this mystery they did not fully grasp. It wasn't until Jesus came that the mystery began to unfold.
It was Jesus, talking about the kingdom of heaven in parables that said:
Why was it hidden? Why was it unknown in Old Testament times?
Is it still hidden for many today? This is a question for which I found an answer in Ellen White's writings:
Like others mentioned, the mystery concerns what it means to "be in Christ". This changes the inner person and makes them "new Creatures in Christ", not just people who've tried to change some habits, but changes their whole outlook on life, living in connection with Christ.
Probably the biggest challenge many of us face is thinking that our culture best represents Christianity. This has often been a European/North American issue, but I think every culture is prone to it. We sometimes spiritualize certain things that are really cultural. They aren't necessarily bad, but they aren't moral issues and we often almost treat them that way.
Generational tensions seem to be a constant too and I'm starting to realize it's easy to judge younger people because their "spirituality" doesn't look like mine.
Reading today's verses impresses me that the church is better with both Jews and Gentiles. Though Paul was sent to the Gentiles, he constantly speaks of one body where they all come together. And together is better than apart. We need to remember this when considering the divisions that exist in our midst.
Quite challenging to understand is the love of God for us, a real mystery. How can you be passionate about someone who betrays you? Even though Jesus is long out of the cross, and we try to nail Him every time we sin, His love for us continues steadfast.
I understand this passage to mean that God dispensed His Grace to facilitate Paul’s conversion from being a zealot working against the ‘People of the Way’ to becoming one of them, and, consequently, to take the ‘Word of God’ which saved him from damnation to the Gentiles and so fulfill the mystery of the Will of God.
Yes, indeed - the mystery of the ‘dispensation of the grace of God’ experienced by Paul to inspire his heart and mind to understand the 'mystery of Christ'. The solidly convicted Jew has become a solidly convicted follower of Jesus Christ’s Way - this is indeed God’s Grace personified in Paul, the ‘prisoner’ because of Christ!
May I suggest that the Ekklesia exists without the distinctions of ethnic or racial identities! All members of the Body of Christ are identified only by their shared life in Jesus Christ.
We are only considered 'Gentiles' because we are not 'Jews', but we all belong to the same human family. Distinctions are no longer relevant to the Ekklesia - the children of God. We all share equally our inheritance, and as heirs – “We share in His sufferings in order that we may also share in His Glory” – Rom.8:17.