Why would Paul call it the "mystery" of the gospel, if the gospel is how that Christ died for our sins "according to the scriptures?"
Ephesians 6:19
And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel.
1 Corinthians 15:3-4
For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
The first thing we need to do when studying is to see if there is another passage of scripture that can shed some light on the passage that we are considering. And as usually is the case, there is for this one. Look at how Paul writes the same thing in the book of Colossians...
Colossians 4:3-4
Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds: That I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.
Notice here that instead of calling it the "mystery of the gospel" as he did in Ephesians 6, our Apostle calls it the "mystery of Christ." So by simply comparing scripture with scripture (the way that the Holy Ghost teaches, per 1 Corinthians 2:13), we may define the "mystery of the gospel" as the "Mystery of Christ." And that is exactly what Paul's message is called!
Ephesians 3:4-5
Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;
Notice also that Paul says that his message of the mystery of Christ was not made known in other ages!
Romans 16:25
Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,
The second thing that we need to see from Ephesians 6:19 is that it is part of the immediate context. And that context includes verse 20 as well. So let's read them together...
Ephesians 6:19-20
And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
Notice in the context, Paul clarifies this "mystery" as that for which he was an "ambassador in bonds," that is, the message that he was proclaiming was what put him in prison.
For more light, let's look at Paul's other usage of these words...
Ambassador:
2 Corinthians 5:19-20
To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.
This "word of reconciliation" and "ministry of reconciliation" has to do with God's proclamation of grace and peace to the entire world today in the dispensation of grace! The gospel/good news today to the world is that because of the shed blood of Christ on Calvary's Cross, anyone in the entire world can have a relationship with the living God if they trust Him by faith! That is NOT the message of God to the world in time past under the Law with Israel! That is the new revelation given to our Apostle Paul!
Bonds:
Ephesians 3:1-5
For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles, If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward: How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;
So it is crystal clear from the scriptures that what Paul is preaching about our Lord Jesus Christ was not something preached or even known previous to him!
So all this makes sense, that the mystery of the Gospel is also Paul's message of the mystery of Christ!
But how or why is it called the mystery if the Christ died for our sins "according to the scriptures?"
Well, although the death, burial and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ was prophesied in the Old Testament, the meaning of that death, especially in relationship to gentiles was not made known!
Nowhere in scripture did God prophesy that through the shed blood of his cross, God would make a "one new man" called the church the body of Christ, made up primarily of gentiles (and through the fall of Israel), that would then rule and reign with him in the heavenly places!
Another simpler reason Paul uses the terminology "for our sins according to the scriptures" is that he is directly addressing the Jews there in Corinth...both those who were part of the church the body of Christ, and those few members of the Jewish little flock remnant who were mingled amongst them, like in the book of Galatians, when Paul, as he is rebuking Peter says,...
Galatians 2:15
We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles,
Paul at times, especially in his earlier epistles during the transition period of the book of Acts (when 1 Corinthians and Galatians was written), would use a lot of Jewish terminology, and quote a lot of Old Testament scripture that the Jews in the Body, as well as the left over remnant of the Little Flock, would know and learn from!
So when Paul says that Christ "died for our sins according to the scriptures," his main target audience was the Jews in the fellowship. And the Jews should have understood this fact as Isaiah testified to it!
Isaiah 53:3-11
He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we [Israel] hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we [Israel] esteemed him not. Surely he hath borne our [Israel’s] griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we [Israel] did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our [Israel’s] transgressions, he was bruised for our [Israel’s] iniquities: the chastisement of our [Israel’s] peace was upon him; and with his stripes we [Israel] are healed. All we [Israel] like sheep have gone astray; we [Israel] have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all [Israel]. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off [killed] out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my [Isaiah’s] people [Israel] was he stricken. And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth. Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many [in Israel]; for he shall bear their [Israel’s] iniquities.
And although His death, burial and resurrection was originally for the Jews, we now know through the ministry of the mystery of Christ given to Paul that He died for the sins of us gentiles as well!
Matthew 20:28
Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many [Israel].
1 Timothy 2:6
Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.
And our Apostle Paul is that "due time" testifier!
Titus 1:1-3
Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness; In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began; But hath in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Saviour;
Hopefully this
helps!
†††
†††
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Do you have a question
for Pastor Ron?
No comments:
Post a Comment