The Great Mystery

The Great Mystery

Concerning this mystery we read that it was not made known to the sons of men in other ages, but that it has now been revealed to His holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit: that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel.

The great mystery is that it had now become possible for the Jew and the Gentile to become “one new man” on the basis of what had transpired in Jesus’ body. In Chapter 2:13-18, Paul explains what happened in Jesus’ body. He broke down the middle wall of division, the enmity, by abolishing in His flesh the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might create one new man from the two, thus making peace.

There is no difference between the flesh of the Jew and the Gentile. Nothing good dwells in their flesh. It is full of passions and desires, which are the cause of all the corruption that is in the world. In this area the Jews were helped by the law. If they were faithful to the law, sin was punished and people feared to sin, but they did not become a “new man.” The law, with its commandments and ordinances, has a glorious task to perform by putting a stop to sin—for as long as the passions in the flesh (covetousness) have not been put to death. However, concerning Jesus it says that He abolished in His flesh the law contained in commandments and ordinances. This is that great mystery of godliness: He who was manifested in the flesh and justified in the spirit. 1 Tim. 3:16.

When God sent His Son, He partook of flesh and blood as the children. Heb. 2:14; Rom. 1:1-4. We read further that God condemned sin in the flesh so that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who walk according to the Spirit. Here we can see that Jesus abolished the law that was contained in commandments and ordinances, in His flesh. When sin in the flesh—covetousness—was put to death, the law was fulfilled. It had nothing to do anymore. Jesus consecrated the new and living way through His flesh. The Father gave Him light, and Jesus offered Himself through the eternal Spirit as an offering without spot. Heb. 9:14. All these offerings in the flesh by which the law is fulfilled, so that it has nothing to do anymore, are in the Holy Spirit whom Jesus sent into the world on the day of Pentecost. All those who receive the Holy Spirit, and walk according to the Spirit, are led to the same offerings in the flesh to which the Son (He who suffered death according to the flesh, but was made alive in the spirit to bring us to God) was led by the Father. 1 Pet. 3:18; Heb. 10:19-20.

“And that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. . . . For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.” The Spirit is also known as the Spirit of truth. Unless I love the truth, the Spirit cannot lead me to sin in the flesh, which needs to be put to death so that I can partake of “salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth.” 2 Thess. 2:13.

In Christ Jesus the type of person we are is irrelevant. We belong to Christ by walking in the Spirit and by keeping the flesh, with its passions and desires, crucified. Thus we can be built up to be one body, to be “one new man.” Col. 3:11-15; Gal. 5:24. The same work that went on in Christ’s body now goes on in us. That is why we read, “Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh . . .” (1 Pet. 4:1-2) and “That you partake of Christ’s sufferings . . . .” V. 13. “The power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death . . . .” Phil. 3:10. “Always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.” 2 Cor. 4:10-11. Then we are His body.

This is a great mystery to religious people who speak only of a Jesus who kept the law in our place and who suffered and died for us; and they invite people to come to the foot of the cross. They understand nothing of what God did in Jesus’ body for our salvation. Therefore they are not being created to be “one new man.” They have no fellowship in the Spirit as members of one body, which is why they have to organize their assemblies. They know nothing of what it means to grow up to Him, Christ, who is the head. Eph. 4:15-16. That is why they need to install their leaders and elders by majority vote. Education and talents are very important to them.

God be praised that He has freed us from this work of man, having revealed the mystery of Christ to us which is for our salvation, for the edification of the body of Christ unto that oneness that exists between the Father and the Son. John 17:21-23.