Rooted in Christ-Part 9- The Mystery Made Manifest

Introduction

Paul has just finished writing of the responsibility that he felt to fulfill God’s call for his life and now he speaks of the particular truth that he has been called to deliver.

He speaks of this truth as a mystery which was once unknown but has now been revealed to the saints by God and His messengers.

This mystery was simply a truth that had always been a part of God’s plan but which had, up until the days of Christ and the apostles, not been fully revealed or realized.

Let us further examine the mystery of which Paul speaks

The Nature of the Mystery (Vs. 26)

Up until the time of Jesus Christ God had been primarily dealing with one people group, the nation of Israel and the only way for a Gentile to gain access was for them to become a Jewish proselyte.

The Jews were convinced that this was the way it would always be and that Jews and Gentiles would never be upon equal footing before God and yet in the church this is exactly what God has orchestrated.

The Jews asserted their special place in God’s plan and could not fathom that the Gentile nations would be fully included.

The mystery of which Paul speaks is the uniting of the Jews and Gentiles in Christ and how the Gentiles now have equal access to God through Jesus Christ.

Acts 10:34- Peter’s recognition of the mystery made manifest/Acts 11:1-4-the Jews response/ Acts 11:15-18- the mystery made manifest to the Jewish believers.

Paul speaks of Christ in you, speaking to the Gentile believers in Colosse, as the mystery which has been made manifest. It was always to be expected that the Messiah would come to Israel but it was completely unexpected that He would also make redemption available to the Gentiles directly without their submission to the Jewish faith and tradition.

In Christ salvation was made accessible to all mankind equally through faith in His death, burial, and resurrection.

Ephesians 2:11–13 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.

What a glorious truth that has now been made manifest! What a testimony to God’s grace and mercy to make salvation available to all men!

The Jews struggled with this truth but ultimately accepted it while the Gentiles rejoiced in this truth that they could now have direct relationship with God.

It was Paul who summed it up best:

Romans 10:12–13 KJV 1900

For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Paul had been especially chosen to take the message of the gospel of Jesus Christ to the Gentile nations and it was his ministry among them that made the mystery clearly manifest as God worked mightily in their midst.

God will once again deal with the nation of Israel at some time yet to come but in this present age all who come to God in faith by Christ Jesus are united in one body under the headship of Christ.

Now let us take a few moments to examine the:

The Significance of the Revelation (Vs. 27)

Paul states that the manifestation of the mystery made known the riches of God’s glory among the Gentiles.

This revelation is significant for a number of reasons but let us consider a few of them tonight.

The hope we have in Christ- before this mystery was made manifest, the Gentiles had no hope but now in Christ they have a glorious hope. Where before the Gentiles could only come to God through conversion to Judaism, now they have been given eternal life through simple faith in Jesus Christ.

All of us who have placed our faith in Jesus Christ have a glorious hope of spending eternity in the presence of God because of this mystery which has now been made manifest.

How we ought to rejoice that God has given us the opportunity to be the children of God and to inherit eternal life.

The access we have to God- before this mystery was made manifest, direct access to God was limited to the Jewish priesthood alone.

Now every believer has direct access to God through our mediator, Jesus Christ. We can now go directly to God.

Hebrews 4:14–15 KJV 1900

Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

Jesus Christ is our great high priest and through our relationship to Him by faith we have direct access to the throne of God.

The responsibility we have to men- (Vs. 28) “every man”- because salvation has been made available to all mankind, we who have received this glorious truth, have a responsibility now to deliver it to all men.

Just as Paul was given a special responsibility to take the gospel to the Gentile nations, so also has God given to you and I a responsibility to proclaim the gospel within our sphere of influence.

The dispensation of the gospel was not to Paul alone but to every believer who has received it. We make Christ known among those that God has placed in our lives to whom the mystery has not yet been made manifest.

Paul had proclaimed the message to the Gentiles and then those who believed upon Christ were continuing to proclaim the message and to further the reach of the gospel, the result being a church in Colosse which Paul had never personally been in contact with.

The hope for mankind is only found in Jesus Christ and we who have this glorious hope must do all that we can to deliver this hope to those who remain hopeless.

Conclusion

What a joy to be a part of the body of Christ and what a glorious hope that we have. How grateful we ought to be for God’s abundant grace by which we have been redeemed.

We ought to thank God for the hope we have in Christ, the direct access we have to God and the wonderful opportunity God has given us to be His messengers of hope to the hopeless.

Let us not neglect to make Christ known to them!