Jesus as God's Mystery

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Transcript

What is a Mystery?

Ephesians 1:9 KJV 1900
Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:
The type of mystery being spoken of here is not the typical “whodunit.” We are not trying to solve a crime or decode a secret puzzle. The type of mystery we are talking about is a secret plan that is originally hidden, but then later revealed. Notice that Paul says God’s will was a mystery, but now it has been made known.
We are talking about God’s will, God’s desires, God’s plan that was originally hidden. But, Paul makes it clear that whatever the plan was, it has now been made known.
Ephesians 3:3–5 KJV 1900
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;

God’s Mystery

If the mystery of God has been revealed, then what is the mystery of God?
The mystery of God has to do with the salvation of mankind.
Man has rebelled against God’s commands and sinned. The penalty for sin is death.
Romans 6:23 KJV 1900
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Death means a separation. We are spiritually separated from God because of our sin.
Isaiah 59:1–2 KJV 1900
Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; Neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, And your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.
The question is how could we get back into the presence of God and make up for our offenses?
Since God created man as perfect, God lost a perfect man. Only a perfect man could be offered back to God to restore what He had lost. Now that we have sinned, we are no longer perfect and cannot offer ourselves. Jesus would come from Heaven to Earth to live as a perfect man and offer Himself as a perfect sacrifice for our sins. By accepting that sacrifice on our behalf, we are able to have our sins forgiven and return to the presence of God.
Ephesians 1:3–7 KJV 1900
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

Jesus as God’s Mystery

Jesus was the perfect sacrifice to pay the penalty for the sins of all mankind, both Jews and Gentiles.
John 3:16 KJV 1900
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Ephesians 6:19 KJV 1900
And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,
Romans 16:25–26 KJV 1900
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:
Jesus broke down the middle wall of partition between Jews and Gentiles
Ephesians 2:11–14 KJV 1900
Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; That at that time ye 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: But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;
Jesus has brought Jews and Gentiles together in one kingdom and one house, with access to the Father.
Ephesians 2:15–19 KJV 1900
Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;
The church is the household or family of God where Jews and Gentiles can be placed together. Jesus is the foundation upon which the house of God, the church, is built.
1 Timothy 3:15 KJV 1900
But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.
Ephesians 2:19–22 KJV 1900
Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.
The church, or household of God, is also described as the body of Christ, the one body in which both saved Jews and Gentiles are placed.
Ephesians 1:22–23 KJV 1900
And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.
Ephesians 5:23 KJV 1900
For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.
Jesus put both Jews and Gentiles into the family of God, the body of Christ, the church, where all spiritual blessings are.
Ephesians 1:3 KJV 1900
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
Jesus put both Jews and Gentiles into the family of God, the body of Christ, the church, making them “fellowheirs” of the inheritance of eternal life.
Ephesians 3:1–6 KJV 1900
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 fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:
Ephesians 1:11 KJV 1900
In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:

Conclusion

With Jesus, both Jews and Gentiles can have:
the penalty for their sins paid
the middle wall of partition between them broken down
access back to God
placement in the family of God
access to all spiritual blessings
an inheritance of eternal life in Heaven with God
Jesus is the summation of the mystery, God’s originally hidden plan for man’s salvation, now revealed to us all.
Ephesians 3:9–11 KJV 1900
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:
Colossians 1:26–27 KJV 1900
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:
Ephesians 1:9–10 ASV 1901
making known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he purposed in him unto a dispensation of the fulness of the times, to sum up all things in Christ, the things in the heavens, and the things upon the earth; in him, I say,
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