Even the Mystery Which Hath Been Hid From Ages And From Generations But Now Is Made Manifest To His Saints - Part 1592

"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, whom we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus." (Colossians 1:26-28)

Of late, we are increasingly hearing varying opinions expressed regarding the mystery that was held in the bosom of the Father from the beginning of the world. In many cases, these viewpoints are having the effect of leading believers away from a true understanding of the old covenant and new testament -- as dispensations with a unique, yet inherent purpose. Because of this, I am encouraging each and every one of you to search the scriptures for the truth. To study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that need not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of truth." (II Timothy 2:15)

And, as Simon Peter (a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ) states, "to give diligence to make our calling and election sure; for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall. for so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ." (II Peter 1:10-11)

Thus, while we together delve into this subject, let's endeavour to seek those things which are above, and put on the new [man] which is renewed in knowledge after the image of Him that created Him, letting the Word of Christ dwell richly in all wisdom, so that we can come to the knowledge of the truth. (Colossians 3:10, 16) 

Note that on the new testament side, there are four scriptural references specific to dispensation: I Corinthians 9:17; Ephesians 1:10; Ephesians 3:2; Colossians 1:25) Looking at each scripture in context, let's begin with Ephesians 2, wherein both mystery and dispensation (as in the dispensation of the grace of God) are described.

"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: 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) 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; that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, and of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ by the gospel: 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. 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; and to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: to the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, according to the eternal purpose which He purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord: in whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of Him." (Ephesians 3:1-12)

Some of the corresponding verses to Ephesians 3:1-12 can be found in Acts and Romans:

In the first, the Lord Jesus is saying unto Aanias (regarding Saul/Paul) that "he is a chosen vessel unto Me, to bear My Name before the Gentiles, and kings and the children of Israel; for I will shew him how great things he must suffer for My Name's sake." (Acts 9:15-16) Jesus confirms this same instruction again in Acts 22:21 -- "Depart: for I will send thee far hence unto the Gentiles." And again in Acts 26:15-18: 

"I am Jesus whom thou persecutes. But rise: and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee; delivering thee from the people and [from] the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee, to open their eyes, and to turn [them] from darkness to light, and [from] the power of satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in Me." (Acts 26:15-18)

"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 fullness of the Gentiles be come in. And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, "There shall come out of Sion on the deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: for this is My covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins." As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, [they are] beloved for the Father's sake, for the gifts and calling of God [are] without repentance, for as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief; even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy, they also may obtain mercy. For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that He might have mercy upon all." (Romans 12:25-33)

"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: to God only wise, [be] glory through Jesus Christ for ever, amen." (Romans 16:25-27)

Before anyone jumps to the conclusion -- "Hath God cast away His people?" the answer remains "God forbid ..." (Romans 11:1) But the explanation is far more reaching than just looking at the Jews and the Gentiles, which Paul alludes to in Romans 3. Indeed, "There is none righteous, no not one. There is none that understand. There is none that seeks after God. They are all gone out of the Way. They are together become unprofitable. There is none that doeth good, no not one .... there is no fear of God before their eyes." (Romans 3:10-18; Psalm 10:7; 14:1-3; 36:1; 53:1-3; 5:9; 140:3)

It is here that we begin to see the differences between the covenant of law and the new testament of grace -- "that all the world may become guilty before God. Therefore, by the deeds of the law, there shall no flesh be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin, but now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; even the righteousness of God [which is] by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference, for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. 

" -- whom God hath set forth [to be] a propitiation through faith in His blood to declare His righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; to declare, [I say] at this time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of him which believes in Jesus." (Romans 3:19-31)

We are now seeing a transition from the one God which shall justify the circumcision by faith to include also the uncircumcision through faith. This is not to suggest that Abraham's belief in God did not have merit for "his faith is counted unto him for righteousness." (Romans 4:1-3; 4:5; Genesis 15:6; Ephesians 2:8-9) "For we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness." (Romans 4:9)

Which begs the following questions -- Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the circumcision also? How was it then reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? The answer is found in Romans 4:10: "Not in circumcision but in uncircumcision!"

"And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which [he had yet] being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also; and the father of circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which [he had] being [yet] uncircumcised, for the promise, that he should be the heir of the world [was] not to Abraham, or to his seed through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. 

For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect; because the law works wrath: for where no law is, [there is] no transgression. Therefore, [it is] of faith, that [it might be] by grace: to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed: not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all.

(As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations) before Him whom he believed, [even] God, who quickens the dead, and called those things which be not as though they were -- who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, "So shall thy seed be." (Romans 4:1-18)

What happens next? Abraham, who is one hundred years old performs with ninety year old Sarah to bring forth a son. "He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully persuaded that what He had promised He was able also to perform. Because of this, it was imputed to him for righteousness. (Romans 4:18-22; Genesis 15:6)

But it was not written for his sake alone -- that it was imputed to him -- but for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on Him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead, who was delivered for our offences and was raised again for our justification. (Romans 4:19-25) 

Therefore, being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. (Romans 5:1-2; Isaiah 32:17; Ephesians 2:14, 18; I Corinthians 15:1; Hebrews 3:6)

More to come!

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