To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ; to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places.

Ephesians 3:8-10 NKJV

3:8 In this verse Paul puts his life and ministry into its proper place. Who is Paul? What is an apostle? Are these the things we should long to see? Will anyone in our generation pick up the fallen ministry of proclaiming the unsearchable riches of the mystery of Christ?

I’ve heard many times the idea of the unsearchable riches of Christ be reduced to proclaiming any number of generic “deep” truths and mysteries. This is perpetuated by the pride of those who have refuted the simplicity of Paul’s pursuit of humility for the sake of grace. These unsearchable riches of Christ is Christ Himself making one new man out of two very different groups of people. These very different groups are divided by those who already had clear covenant promises, and those who did not.

3:9 “And to make all see the fellowship…” In the Greek, the word fellowship (used in the NKJV) here is a different grammatical use, but is still the same word often rendered administration or dispensation. In this use however, it is more familial in nature. A good way to explain it is to think of the familiar phrase “brother’s keeper”. We are to be our brother’s keeper in regards to this mystery. Our goal is to help one another walk this out and to hold one another accountable to the mystery in love and patience.

Through its inclusion in the New Testament, the whole body of Christ is given charge over a mystery which was hidden in God until the appointed time of its release. We are the chosen stewards of one of God’s most prized revelations about Himself and His people.

3:10 The intent, or purpose of the stewardship of this mystery is to make known the manifold (complete/whole/multifaceted) wisdom of God by the Church to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms. How many of us know that this is an essential ministry and foundational calling upon the identity of the Church? I am fairly confident this is not the conclusion where most of us would end on the matter, but it is what Paul is telling us.

The concept of Christians today putting on display the manifold wisdom of God to the rulers and authorities of the heavenly realms is a very difficult concept to convey because much of the Church today does not have a firm grasp of the nature, identity, function, and authority of the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms. Yet, our stewardship of the mystery of Christ is intended to convey a rich, whole, and mature testimony of God’s wisdom to these rulers who exist in what is currently an unseen realm called the heavens.

Deeper Look # 5: Ephesians 3:10; Daniel 10 & 12; Revelation 12

There are heavenly authorities, which in the Bible are sometimes called powers, rulers, principalities, and forces of the air. The prince (ruler) of these powers of the air is the adversary of Israel, and the accuser of the brethren- who is Satan. Ha Satan, his Hebrew title, simply means “the adversary”.

Earlier in Ephesians (2:1-3), Paul stated that all those who have not been made alive in Christ are dead in trespasses and sins, according to the course of disobedience laid out by this prince. Apart from Christ, we are enslaved to the lusts and desires of our carnal being, and because of this we are also enslaved to the works of Satan. This is true regarding all who have not yet been redeemed. Therefore, though Satan is a prince and power of the air (who currently abides in the heavenly places), the greatest effect of his authority exists on earth through deeds of disobedience and lawlessness.

Yet, Satan is not the only ruler and power existing in the heavenly places. We also know of such individuals as the chief messenger (archangel) Michael, who is described in Daniel as an angelic prince who stands guard over ethnic Israel (Dan 10:21; 12:1). In Revelation 12, we see that both Michael and Satan have a following of angelic beings. In Daniel 10, the princes (principalities) of Greece and Persia are also mentioned. We can conclude that there are a multitude of heavenly rulers, and the realm of authority granted to these authorities consist of earthly geographic and ethnic territories.

We see in Revelation 12, prior to Jesus’ return to earth, there is a war among these powers in which Michael and his allies defeat Satan and his allies. The result is Satan and his allies being thrown to earth to be prepared for their judgment at the return of Jesus.

Paul’s reference to these authorities within the context of the mystery of Christ is no small statement. Consider if you will, that in at least some region of the heavenly realms there exists great war and conflict related to geographic and ethnic boundaries on earth. Heaven is not exclusively the pristine and perfect place many western Christians believe. Just as the earth is suffering violence due to geographic, political, and ethnic crisis, so also the kingdom of heaven suffers violence.

By hearing, believing, and walking in obedience to the mystery of Christ as God longs to reveal and produce the spiritual fruit of this mystery within the body of Christ, we become a testimony of God’s peace and authority before a heavenly host suffering violence due to the chaos caused by the rebellion of the adversary and the fall of mankind. The body of Christ, in the pursuit of honoring and lifting up one another as we partner together in our co-inheritance, convey the mystery of Christ’s rule on earth through imperfect vessels who are waiting for the perfection that is to come through the government of the King of Kings.

Among ourselves, we have been given a jurisdiction of unlimited and unhindered grace to affect peace within the body of people governed by the Son of God Himself, that is, the body of Christ. We have the ability and the commandment to walk in the power of this oneness up until the day Jesus. Within this specific context, the body of Christ is given authority (through submitting one to another) amongst itself. We have grace to walk in oneness among our own members, but not with those who do not yet have faith. We cannot force the world walk in unity or agreement with the mystery of Christ until they first receive the Gospel.

So the question is, can the whole body of Christ, which is divided by theological views, countries, cultures, ethnicities, and social statuses actually achieve the unity, peace, and order promised to us by the mystery of Christ? Can we truly receive one another in brotherly love, affirming our co-inheritance and value as members of the same body? Can we be those who rejoice and celebrate one another’s unique gifts and rewards in Christ? Can we receive one another and contend together to obtain our great inheritance as the body of Christ?

I not only believe that we can, but I believe it is necessary.