Deeper Look # 4 – Part 1

The mystery of Christ was revealed to His holy apostles and prophets. This section of scripture contains one of the most commonly overlooked examples of New Testament prophetic ministry in the Bible. As evidenced in both Paul and Peter’s writings (2 Corinthians 3 & 1 Peter 1, for example), both the angelic host and the Old Testament prophets could not see this mystery, even though they were the ones ministering it on our behalf.

Paul mentions that there are apostles and prophets in his generation who possess the same knowledge of the mystery of Christ that those in ages past did not understand. This gives us insight into the nature of New Testament prophetic ministry and how it further develops the truths already revealed by Old Testament prophetic ministry. New Testament prophets actually have access to gaze upon the person of Christ, which was not accessible to their predecessors.

This is a very different mindset than much of what I see advertised as “prophetic ministry” today. All believers have access to gaze upon the beautiful nature and wonderful truths of Jesus, including those who are more prophetic in their gifting. While we have access to something Old Testament prophets did not have access to, many of us are so unfamiliar with the message and meaning of the Old Testament prophets that we ourselves struggle to see the whole picture.

How many of our modern prophets are gazing into the Law, history, and prophets of the Old Testament with the benefit of unveiled faces? How many prophets today are searching the Scriptures to discover the testimony of Jesus throughout the Old Testament? How many of us realize that the prophetic ministry was expanded from just a few select individuals to becoming a ministry accessible to the whole body of Christ?

We’re so worried about false prophets that we’ve done a poor job of discipling true prophets. False prophets will be among us no matter how we view prophecy. We cannot escape their presence within the Church. We have the decision to either despise prophecy or to disciple true prophets. What is the conclusion? If we despise prophecy it means we may eventually despise the testimony of Jesus itself.

The Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel, of which I became a minister according to the gift of the grace of God given to me by the effective working of His power.

Ephesians 3:6-7 NKJV

3:6 The mystery of Christ is this: Gentiles are fellow heirs, members, and participants of God’s promise in Christ. Gentiles now have access to the life, blessings, fellowship, salvation, and kingdom of the Jewish Messiah.

I believe this is a truth we often take for granted, and do not often fully develop in our understanding. Commonly I hear people reduce this mystery to mean Gentile access to salvation. Yet, if we read this in context to everything Paul has written up to this point, the idea of being co-heirs and partakers with Israel is a huge deal.

First, this easily refutes any sentiment of replacement theology, which is a teaching claiming that the Church has replaced Israel. How could we replace something we’ve been so graciously invited to join?

Second, the weight of the message concerning this mystery is placed on the need for a messenger or messengers willing to proclaim it. This means that while the mystery is revealed to us so that we can understand it, the truth is many still need to hear it and its fulfillment is not yet complete. Similar to many biblical truths, we live in a present age which reflects the tension and paradox of things which have been accomplished in one sense, but are not yet complete in full.

That is, the mystery is the truth, and we cannot escape its reality. However, it is also something yet-to-be completed in time. As many New Testament truths are, we will not see the fullness until Jesus returns. Even so, we are commanded to walk in its truth and labor diligently in fellowship with Jesus by the Holy Spirit to quicken its coming to pass.

How do I know it hasn’t been fully completed yet? We know because, quite simply, Jesus is not reigning in Jerusalem at this present moment. He is not yet restoring the fortunes of Israel and rendering decisions, justice, and peace for many nations.

3:7 Paul is a servant of this grace and message concerning Christ, and by the proclaiming of this mystery Paul witnesses the effective working of Christ’s power. This verse is an indirect allusion to Psalm 133, which exclaims, “How good and pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity… For there the Lord commands the blessing; even life forevermore”.

Paul understands that the effective working power of God, chief among them (in the language of Ephesians) the predestined blessings of God, are a result of the proclamation and pursuit of co-heir fellowship in unity.

Deeper Look # 4 – Part 2

This is worthy of reflection. The whole book of Ephesians could be summed up in this one sentence: “Jew and Gentile are heirs together in the promise of Christ.” The whole letter hinges upon the revelation of this mystery.

I honestly believe that if we got this verse right it would have a dramatic and profound effect on our lives. It would transform our teaching, priorities, and mission. If we embraced its message it would correct so much false doctrine and false expectation. I believe our co-heirship reflects the unity, humility, and servanthood proclaimed so often by the prophets, Jesus, and the apostles.

To get it right, we also need to emphasize the Christ of the co-heirship. Unity, humility, and servanthood are but mere dead works if we have not received Jesus of Nazareth as the Christ.

This unity in Christ honors the diversity and uniqueness of promise granted to all believers. It will prophesy unto the restoration of a hope and future to many peoples, tongues, and nations (Revelation 10). If the Gentiles are truly granted co-heirship, we are truly many people and nations joined together into a common spiritual inheritance which will reflect many diverse earthly and eternal inheritances. Yet, we all get to labor together in this promise, and in the process we learn and develop maturity in Christ because of the myriad of lessons, expressions, and acts of worship which we will all bring to the table of fellowship.

We are taught the values and promises of this mystery in Matthew 5-7, John 13-17, Romans 8-12, Psalm 133, Revelation 10, and many others. The threads of this message are weaved throughout the whole Bible. Paul summarizes the matter in one sentence.

“Jew and Gentile are heirs together in the promise of Christ.”