The Four Mysteries of Ephesians

In Ephesians we see four mysteries relevant to the called out Church of today. (Mystery; MUSTERION Greek. Primarily that which is known to the initiated: made known only by Divine revelation). Colossians 1:26 Ampl. Version

26. The Mystery which was hidden for ages and generations (from angels and men), but is now revealed to His holy people (the Saints).

1. THE MYSTERY OF CHRIST. Ephesians 3:34.

Christ's suffering, death and power of the resurrection were a mystery to the Jews. They couldn't understand past the physical to the spiritual. They were looking for a physical Kingdom on earth ruled by a King and didn't see the bigger picture.

The kingdom they sought which was the kingdom of the Messiah, is a literal and futuristic Kingdom which destroys and displaces earth's kingdoms. Daniel 2:44

44. And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a Kingdom, which shall never be destroyed; and the Kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever.

This is the allotment of God's chosen people Israel, a physical Kingdom on earth with their Messiah as King. Genesis 13:15-17.

15. For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever.
16. And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered.
17. Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give it unto thee.

The Kingdom of the Son of God's love is a present, spiritual power. Colossians 1:13-17. The Church is not rescued from earth's governments but from the powers of darkness., which direct and dominate them.

13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
14. In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
15. Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
16. For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
17. And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.

It's Manifestation: Ephesians 3:1-8

This mystery was revealed by revelation to Paul, who said "the mystery is made known to me by revelation. To enable those who are reading to apprehend my understanding in the mystery of Christ IN SPIRIT that the nations are to be;

1. JOINT ENJOYERS of an allotment.
2. JOINT BODY
3. JOINT PARTAKERS of the promise IN Christ Jesus, through the good news of which I became the dispenser. Ephesians 3:1-8

1. For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,
2. If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:
3. How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,
4. Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)
5. Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;
6. That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:
7. Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.
8. Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;

It's Realisation: Colossians 1:9 to 2:7

The two paramount points in universal history are;

1. The creation of the Son, John1:1-5, 14. Matthew 17:5

1. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2. The same was in the beginning with God.
3. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
4. In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
5. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

14. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

5. While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.

2. The resurrection of the Son. 1 Corinthians 15:3-8.

3. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
4. And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
5. And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve:
6. After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.
7. After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles.
8. And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.

Through His death and vivification He will do more than restore the lost creation to the Father. The cross, which speaks of His estrangement from God, is the basis on which reconciliation is built. The benefits it brings are not confined to earth or mankind, but include the celestial realms as well. The universal reconciliation cannot be fully accomplished until the close of God's plans, when all sovereignty, authority and power, even death are rendered inoperative. 1Cor. 15:24-27.

24. Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.
25. For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.
26. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.
27. For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him.

On earth the Messiah never left the land of Israel. Now, IN SPIRIT Christ walks amongst the nations, dispensing blessings as he did to the House of Israel. Gradually IN SPIRIT, through the apostle Paul's ministries, he unfolds the purpose of his mystery to be "the Headship over all the Church, which is His body, the complement which is completing the entire universe". Ephesians 1:22,23.

22. And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,
23. Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.

It's Expression: Colossians 4:2-6

2. Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving;
3. Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds:
4. That I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.
5. Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time.
6. Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.

The great burden on the apostle's heart at this time, was the transcendent revelation of Christ and the mystery of His glories, which had been committed to him. In His omniscience, God allowed Paul's imprisonment, however, had he been free Paul would probably have proclaimed Christ's universal dignities by word of mouth to his own generation.

Yet, being imprisoned, he committed his message, by the help of the Holy Spirit in writing, a method that has been immeasurably more effective. We can now be taught by his writings in spiritual education and earthly deportment. Colossians 1:24-29;

24. Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church:
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;
26. Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:
27. 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:
28. Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:
29. Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.