The Mystery
by Pastor Cornelius R. Stam
In Ephesians 3:1-3 “the dispensation of the grace of God” is specifically called “the mystery” (i.e., secret). It is thus designated for two reasons:
1. It had been “kept secret since the world began, but now,” through Paul, had been “made manifest” (Romans 16:25). “In other ages” it was “not made known” (Ephesians 3:5). Rather, “from the beginning of the world” it had been “hid in God” (Verse 9), “hid from ages and from generations, but now… made manifest to His saints” (Colossians 1:26).
2. It was at the same time the explanation, the key, to all God’s good news, including that which had been proclaimed in ages past. It explained how it was that Abel could be declared righteous by bringing an animal sacrifice, “God testifying of his gifts” (Hebrews 11:4), how Noah could become “an heir of… righteousness” by building an ark (Hebrews 11:7), how anyone could be saved under the dispensation of the Law, and how it is that we can be saved today by grace through faith alone.
Thus we have in Paul’s epistles, not only the gospel [good news] of “the secret” (Ephesians 3:1-3), but at the same time, “the secret of the gospel” (Ephesians 6:19,20).
This great secret, revealed to and through Paul, has rightly been called the capstone of divine revelation, for it concerns God’s eternal purpose in Christ. Through Paul, the chief of sinners saved by grace, God has now made this glorious secret known to us (Ephesians 1:9) that we, in turn, might make it known to others (Ephesians 3:9).
In Him All Things Created
Jesus Christ is the One by (in) whom "all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him" (Colossians 1:16-17a). The word "all" means exactly that. Because He is God, everything that was created was created by (in) Christ. Who else but God has the wisdom and power to do so? John said of Him, "All things were made through Him, and without (apart from) Him nothing was made that was made" (John 1:3). These verses are devastating to the blasphemous idea that Christ Himself was a created being. That is why the Jehovah's Witnesses, in their perversion of the Scriptures, add an extra word to Colossians 1:16 so that it reads: "For by him all [other] things were created." The word "other" is not found in any Greek text. Christ is "the Firstborn over all creation" because all things were created in Him (sphere), through Him (agency) and for Him (purpose).
He is Before All Things
Jesus Christ is "before all things" (Colossians 1:17b). Being the eternal Word, Christ is before all things as to time. In the beginning, when the universe came into being, Christ already existed (John 1:1-2). Being Almighty God, the Creator of all things, and thus the "Firstborn," Christ is before all things as to position and authority.
In Him All Things Consist
Not only did Jesus Christ create all things, bringing them into existence out of nothing, He is also the One by (in) whom "all things consist (hold together)" (Colossians 1:17c). Hebrews 1:3 says that Christ, "being the brightness of God's glory and the express image of His person" upholds "all things by the word of His power."
Head of the Body, the Church
Just as Jesus Christ is over all the created universe, He is over the new creation as well, being "the Head of the Body, the Church (Colossians 1:18a). After His death on Calvary, God raised Christ from the dead, exalted Him to His own right hand, "far above" all authority and rule and every name that is named, and gave Him to be "the Head over all things to the Church" (Ephesians 1:21-2
He is the Beginning
Jesus Christ is Head over the Church, because "He is the beginning" (Colossians 1:18b). The word "beginning" is from the Greek word "arche" which speaks of that which holds the highest position. For example, Michael is called the archangel. "Beginning" carries the ideas of both originator and ruler. Christ says of Himself: "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End" (Revelation 1:8). He is the beginning of life, not just physical life, but spiritual life as well, for "in Him was life" (John 1:4).
Firstborn From the Dead
Jesus Christ is not only the "firstborn over all creation," "He is the firstborn from the dead" (Colossians 1:18c). Jesus was not the first man to be raised from the dead, but He is the first to be raised unto eternal life, never to die again. Christ's resurrection ensures resurrection and eternal life to all who will trust in Him as Savior. Paul assures us of this truth from the negative standpoint in 1 Corinthians 15:17-18: "And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins! Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished;" Then from a positive standpoint in 1 Corinthians 15:20-23: "But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ's at His coming." Christ is, therefore, both "the Author and Finisher of our faith," having endured the cross for our sins and being raised from the dead (Hebrews 12:2). He is our risen and glorious Savior and Head.
That He May Be Preeminent
Jesus Christ, simply because of who He is, is to "have the preeminence (first place)" in all things (Colossians 1:18d), for He truly is superior to all things. He is the eternal God; He is the Creator and Sustainer of all things; He is the Firstborn from the dead; He is the Alpha and Omega; He is the Head over all things to the Church, His Body. "In Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily" and, because of this fact, those who trust in Christ as Savior are "complete in Him" (Colossians 2:9-10). How important it is to acknowledge the superiority of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and to give Him the preeminence in our hearts and lives.
King James Bible
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