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The Mystery Revealed
The Mystery Revealed
Within the living word of God lies hidden wisdom, knowledge and the mysteries of God (1Co 2:7; 4:1).
What we shall be at the return of our Lord is one of the mysteries, but we know we shall be like Him
[Jesus] (1 John 3:32). Before going into basic foundational doctrines and into deeper spiritual truths I
would like to lay the ground work for a basic understanding of the “mystery” of the church age. Having a
basic understanding will allow believer’s to receive the deeper truths with less resistance from the flesh.
This five-fold mystery was foretold but kept hidden from ages to generations (Col 1:26; Ro 16:25; 1Co 2:
7; Eph 3:5,9). This mystery, by divine revelation through the Holy Spirit, was revealed and made known to
Paul as well as committed to Paul, (Ro 16:25, Eph 3:2-5). Only in Paul’s Spirit inspired writings alone do
we find the doctrines of the full mystery revealed of the believer’s position, walk, the gospel of grace and
the church revealed in union with Christ, as the body of Christ.
Using the Bible as my sole reference and having the Holy Spirit as my only guide, to the best of my
knowledge (and I lean not on my own) this mystery is a five-fold mystery (as far as the mystery revealed
and committed to Paul in relation to the topic of this article), each part inseparable forming a cohesive
whole.
1st The gospel of grace having three distinctions, two of which would be better referred to as events
leading to the revelation of the gospel of grace. One event is the saving gospel had been brought to the
gentiles (Eph 3:6; Col 1:26). This occurred because Israel, in part, had been blinded until the fullness of
the gentiles has come in (Romans 11:25; Acts 28:28). Israel’s rejection of their Messiah resulted in the
gospel, the salvation of God, being sent unto the gentiles. Because of Israel's rejection the “kingdom
gospel” being preached to Israel was taken to the gentiles as the “gospel of grace” revealed unto Paul.
To have a more complete understanding of the clear distinctions between the kingdom gospel and the
gospel of grace I recommend reading Why so Many Churches by Dr Noah Hutchings. The gospel of grace
places the believer not under law but under grace. The kingdom gospel has to do with promises and
covenants made to Israel and the Messiah, Christ, establishing His Messianic Kingdom on earth.
2cnd The Body of Christ which is the Church, a new creation (Eph 3:1-11, 5:30-32; 1Co 12:13; Col 1:18,
24). There is now a union between Christ and believer’s, His universal church. As believer’s we have been
united to Christ in a very real way as to be part of Christ, His body; our old self crucified with Christ and
our very life hid with Christ in God. As believer’s consisting of the body of Christ, earthly distinctions of
Jew, Greek or gentile do not exist but have been abolished; having been made fellow citizens into one
household of God (Eph 2:15-22). Gentiles are fellow heirs of the same body and partakers in Gods
promise in Christ by the gospel (Eph 3:6). And after the millennial reign Christ will gather the Church and
Israel as one according to Eph 1:10. (Also see Eph 2:15,16)
3rd Christ IN You (Col 1:26, 27; Romans 8:10; 2 Co 13:5). This side of Calvary believer’s now have Christ
IN them through the indwelling Holy Spirit. Col 1:27 says, 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. And
Christ IN you is declared to be the hope of glory, a joyful expectation of the believer’s glorified state
through Christ Jesus on the day of full redemption and the joy of Gods eternal presence.
4th Believer’s are IN Christ. The believer’s positional identity IN Christ is through union with Christ in His
death and resurrection. Spiritually and positionally believers have been placed IN Christ by the baptism of
the Holy Spirit. Corporately, or universally, the church has been placed (as the body) in Christ. However,
this experience is also a personal one as each believer is placed IN Christ. This union of believer’s being in
Christ is inseparable from the making of a one new man in Himself as the household of God (Eph 2:15-
19).
5th – Through union the church is the Bride of Christ (Romans 7:4; Eph 5 29-32; Rev 19:7-9, 21:9, 22:17).
For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. For this cause shall a man leave his
father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great
mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church (Eph 5:30-32). Through the literal reading of this
particular verse of scripture in proper context, I do not believe the full revelation of this particular mystery
will be realized entirely this side of heaven. This mystery will be fully known at the marriage supper of the
lamb. Taking this scripture in relation to Gen 2:23,24; Eph 5:30 and Romans 7:4, I can come to a finite
understanding. Adam says to Eve, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh (Gen 2:23).
Christ is the second Adam and the church is the bride of Christ. As Eph 5:30 says, we are now members
of His [Christ] flesh and bone. Through the work of the cross, Christ has grafted us in, the branch to the
vine, bone of His bone.
Continue to............ Justification
Within the living word of God lies hidden wisdom, knowledge and the mysteries of God (1Co 2:7; 4:1).
What we shall be at the return of our Lord is one of the mysteries, but we know we shall be like Him
[Jesus] (1 John 3:32). Before going into basic foundational doctrines and into deeper spiritual truths I
would like to lay the ground work for a basic understanding of the “mystery” of the church age. Having a
basic understanding will allow believer’s to receive the deeper truths with less resistance from the flesh.
This five-fold mystery was foretold but kept hidden from ages to generations (Col 1:26; Ro 16:25; 1Co 2:
7; Eph 3:5,9). This mystery, by divine revelation through the Holy Spirit, was revealed and made known to
Paul as well as committed to Paul, (Ro 16:25, Eph 3:2-5). Only in Paul’s Spirit inspired writings alone do
we find the doctrines of the full mystery revealed of the believer’s position, walk, the gospel of grace and
the church revealed in union with Christ, as the body of Christ.
Using the Bible as my sole reference and having the Holy Spirit as my only guide, to the best of my
knowledge (and I lean not on my own) this mystery is a five-fold mystery (as far as the mystery revealed
and committed to Paul in relation to the topic of this article), each part inseparable forming a cohesive
whole.
1st The gospel of grace having three distinctions, two of which would be better referred to as events
leading to the revelation of the gospel of grace. One event is the saving gospel had been brought to the
gentiles (Eph 3:6; Col 1:26). This occurred because Israel, in part, had been blinded until the fullness of
the gentiles has come in (Romans 11:25; Acts 28:28). Israel’s rejection of their Messiah resulted in the
gospel, the salvation of God, being sent unto the gentiles. Because of Israel's rejection the “kingdom
gospel” being preached to Israel was taken to the gentiles as the “gospel of grace” revealed unto Paul.
To have a more complete understanding of the clear distinctions between the kingdom gospel and the
gospel of grace I recommend reading Why so Many Churches by Dr Noah Hutchings. The gospel of grace
places the believer not under law but under grace. The kingdom gospel has to do with promises and
covenants made to Israel and the Messiah, Christ, establishing His Messianic Kingdom on earth.
2cnd The Body of Christ which is the Church, a new creation (Eph 3:1-11, 5:30-32; 1Co 12:13; Col 1:18,
24). There is now a union between Christ and believer’s, His universal church. As believer’s we have been
united to Christ in a very real way as to be part of Christ, His body; our old self crucified with Christ and
our very life hid with Christ in God. As believer’s consisting of the body of Christ, earthly distinctions of
Jew, Greek or gentile do not exist but have been abolished; having been made fellow citizens into one
household of God (Eph 2:15-22). Gentiles are fellow heirs of the same body and partakers in Gods
promise in Christ by the gospel (Eph 3:6). And after the millennial reign Christ will gather the Church and
Israel as one according to Eph 1:10. (Also see Eph 2:15,16)
3rd Christ IN You (Col 1:26, 27; Romans 8:10; 2 Co 13:5). This side of Calvary believer’s now have Christ
IN them through the indwelling Holy Spirit. Col 1:27 says, 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. And
Christ IN you is declared to be the hope of glory, a joyful expectation of the believer’s glorified state
through Christ Jesus on the day of full redemption and the joy of Gods eternal presence.
4th Believer’s are IN Christ. The believer’s positional identity IN Christ is through union with Christ in His
death and resurrection. Spiritually and positionally believers have been placed IN Christ by the baptism of
the Holy Spirit. Corporately, or universally, the church has been placed (as the body) in Christ. However,
this experience is also a personal one as each believer is placed IN Christ. This union of believer’s being in
Christ is inseparable from the making of a one new man in Himself as the household of God (Eph 2:15-
19).
5th – Through union the church is the Bride of Christ (Romans 7:4; Eph 5 29-32; Rev 19:7-9, 21:9, 22:17).
For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. For this cause shall a man leave his
father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great
mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church (Eph 5:30-32). Through the literal reading of this
particular verse of scripture in proper context, I do not believe the full revelation of this particular mystery
will be realized entirely this side of heaven. This mystery will be fully known at the marriage supper of the
lamb. Taking this scripture in relation to Gen 2:23,24; Eph 5:30 and Romans 7:4, I can come to a finite
understanding. Adam says to Eve, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh (Gen 2:23).
Christ is the second Adam and the church is the bride of Christ. As Eph 5:30 says, we are now members
of His [Christ] flesh and bone. Through the work of the cross, Christ has grafted us in, the branch to the
vine, bone of His bone.
Continue to............ Justification