A Mystery, which in other ages was not made known
But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory (I Corinthians 2:7-8).
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 (Ephesians 3:1-6).
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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 (Ephesians 3:1-6).
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Ancient archway in the Valley of Hinnom (photo by A. Chrysler)
Past, Present and Future
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. (Ephesians 2:11-13). That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2:7).
One way to improve our understanding as we study God's Word is to place the passages that we are reading into one of three categories. Past (dealing mainly with the house of Israel), present (dealing mainly with the Church, the body of Christ) or future (eternity). In "time past" God, through Abraham, separated a people unto himself. The children of Israel had a favored status with God: Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee: And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed (Genesis 12:1-3). Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel (Exodus 19:5-6).
We see the favored status still prevalent in the gospels. Jesus came to the lost sheep of the House of Israel (Matthew 15:24) and the twelve were told ,"Go not into the way of the Gentiles" (Matthew 10:5-6). The four Gospels as well as the Old Testament speak of time past. Jesus and the twelve were trying to convince the nation of Israel that their long awaited king had arrived and that they could set up their kingdom through which all nations would have salvation. But as a whole, Israel rejected her king and the time had come for God to reveal His long held secret to Saul (Paul).
In Acts chapter 9, the resurrected Christ, through Paul, begins to build the Church, His body. He revealed to Paul that there would no longer be a distinction between Jew and Gentile (Ephesians 2:14). This speaks of the "But now", or present period in God's word. Therefore, when we study God's word and perceive a distinction between Jew and Gentile, we are reading about Israel's kingdom program.
Time Past
God spoke by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began (Acts 3:21 - Luke 1:70). Luke 18:31-34 says, Then he took unto him the twelve, and said unto them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished. For he shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spitted on: And they shall scourge him, and put him to death: and the third day he shall rise again. And they understood none of these things: and this saying was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken. The twelve didn't understand, and therefore didn't teach, salvation through belief in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Luke 24:27 says, And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself. Luke 24:44-47 says, And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
The Holy Spirit had not yet been rejected by Israel as a nation at this time and there still was the possibility that Israel, as a whole, would listen to the twelve and accept Christ as their Messiah. Christ could have, and would have, come down from heaven to set up the kingdom even after His crucifixion! But Acts 7:51-60 describes the rejection of the Holy Spirit by Israel and this marked the end of Israel's opportunity until the time of the Gentiles be fulfilled. According to Matthew 1:21, Jesus came to save "his people" from their sins. Matthew 10:5-8 says, These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not. But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give. The story told in Matthew 15:22-28 is an example of the focus of Christ's earthly ministry being on the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
Israel, as a whole, rejected God the Father when He sent the Old Testament prophets and they killed and persecuted them. Israel rejected God the Son, Jesus Christ, when they crucified Him on the cross. Finally, Israel rejected the Holy Spirit. After Jesus had returned to the Father, Israel, as a whole, rejected the apostles that preached by the power of the Holy Spirit, like Stephen. Acts 7:52-60 - Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers: Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it. When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth. But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked steadfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, And said, Behold I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God. Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord, And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul. And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
But Now
I Corinthians 2:7 - But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory.
Ephesians 2:13-14 - But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes 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...
Ephesians 3:3-5 - How that by revealation 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...
Ephesians 3:8-9 - 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...
We must make the distinction between that which was made known by the prophets "since the world began" (Acts 3:21) and the mystery which was hidden "from the beginning of the world" (Ephesians 3:9). One is the "time past" kingdom message to Israel (under the Law) and one is the "but now" message to the Church the body of Christ (under Grace).
Ages to Come
And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast (Ephesians 2:1-9).
Paul spoke of another mystery in his letter to the Romans: 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 fulness of the Gentiles be come in. And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob... (Romans 11:25-26).
One way to improve our understanding as we study God's Word is to place the passages that we are reading into one of three categories. Past (dealing mainly with the house of Israel), present (dealing mainly with the Church, the body of Christ) or future (eternity). In "time past" God, through Abraham, separated a people unto himself. The children of Israel had a favored status with God: Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee: And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed (Genesis 12:1-3). Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel (Exodus 19:5-6).
We see the favored status still prevalent in the gospels. Jesus came to the lost sheep of the House of Israel (Matthew 15:24) and the twelve were told ,"Go not into the way of the Gentiles" (Matthew 10:5-6). The four Gospels as well as the Old Testament speak of time past. Jesus and the twelve were trying to convince the nation of Israel that their long awaited king had arrived and that they could set up their kingdom through which all nations would have salvation. But as a whole, Israel rejected her king and the time had come for God to reveal His long held secret to Saul (Paul).
In Acts chapter 9, the resurrected Christ, through Paul, begins to build the Church, His body. He revealed to Paul that there would no longer be a distinction between Jew and Gentile (Ephesians 2:14). This speaks of the "But now", or present period in God's word. Therefore, when we study God's word and perceive a distinction between Jew and Gentile, we are reading about Israel's kingdom program.
Time Past
God spoke by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began (Acts 3:21 - Luke 1:70). Luke 18:31-34 says, Then he took unto him the twelve, and said unto them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished. For he shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spitted on: And they shall scourge him, and put him to death: and the third day he shall rise again. And they understood none of these things: and this saying was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken. The twelve didn't understand, and therefore didn't teach, salvation through belief in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Luke 24:27 says, And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself. Luke 24:44-47 says, And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
The Holy Spirit had not yet been rejected by Israel as a nation at this time and there still was the possibility that Israel, as a whole, would listen to the twelve and accept Christ as their Messiah. Christ could have, and would have, come down from heaven to set up the kingdom even after His crucifixion! But Acts 7:51-60 describes the rejection of the Holy Spirit by Israel and this marked the end of Israel's opportunity until the time of the Gentiles be fulfilled. According to Matthew 1:21, Jesus came to save "his people" from their sins. Matthew 10:5-8 says, These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not. But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give. The story told in Matthew 15:22-28 is an example of the focus of Christ's earthly ministry being on the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
Israel, as a whole, rejected God the Father when He sent the Old Testament prophets and they killed and persecuted them. Israel rejected God the Son, Jesus Christ, when they crucified Him on the cross. Finally, Israel rejected the Holy Spirit. After Jesus had returned to the Father, Israel, as a whole, rejected the apostles that preached by the power of the Holy Spirit, like Stephen. Acts 7:52-60 - Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers: Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it. When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth. But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked steadfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, And said, Behold I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God. Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord, And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul. And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
But Now
I Corinthians 2:7 - But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory.
Ephesians 2:13-14 - But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes 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...
Ephesians 3:3-5 - How that by revealation 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...
Ephesians 3:8-9 - 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...
We must make the distinction between that which was made known by the prophets "since the world began" (Acts 3:21) and the mystery which was hidden "from the beginning of the world" (Ephesians 3:9). One is the "time past" kingdom message to Israel (under the Law) and one is the "but now" message to the Church the body of Christ (under Grace).
Ages to Come
And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast (Ephesians 2:1-9).
Paul spoke of another mystery in his letter to the Romans: 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 fulness of the Gentiles be come in. And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob... (Romans 11:25-26).
Remnants of the "Cardo" in the city of Jerusalem (photo by A. Chrysler)