Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)
By reading what Paul wrote, readers can grasp his Spirit-given insight into the mystery of Christ, including the Scriptures and the mission of Christ. That insight was made known to him by revelation under the grace given him for the Gentiles, for whom he became a prisoner, and it discloses what was hidden in other ages but is now revealed, that Gentiles are fellow heirs with Jewish believers, of the same body and partakers of His promise in Christ by the gospel, engrafted into Christ through whom a new and living way is opened for all. The revelation laid open before him the work accomplished through Christ to deliver from hopelessness under sin and death, to quicken through faith unto holiness and love, and to give insight into riches of grace so deep and firmly inwrought that no suffering, reproach, or false theory could move him. It belongs to the message of the third chapter of Ephesians to be given to believers now because the end is near, as the worldwide last warning of salvation calling them to arouse, take hold of God, and proclaim unitedly with Paul's burden where the world stands in its history. As a lesson for all to study, and especially for teachers, ministers, and all in responsible positions, its truth is not for that generation only but to be manifest in every age and place, that Christ is to be revealed in, by, and through everyone who is saved, bringing nearness and fellowship with the Holy Spirit, hatred for the sins that wounded Jesus, renewal in love, fruit in good works, and partaking of the divine nature.
Mystery Revealed by Revelation
By reading what Paul wrote, readers may understand his knowledge in the mystery of Christ, including the Scriptures and the mission of Christ. Reading his brief account makes that knowledge understandable, and reading the third chapter is the way to receive and practise its instruction. That understanding is learned by looking to God and seeking wisdom in most earnest prayer beyond what any human voice or counsel can teach.
That knowledge was made known to Paul by revelation as part of the dispensation of the grace of God given to him for the Gentiles. For those Gentiles he became the prisoner of Jesus Christ, because preaching to the Gentiles made him a prisoner. The mystery in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, but is now revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets. It was previously hidden from humanity and is now revealed by the Spirit to God's holy prophets and apostles.
The mystery is that the Gentiles should be fellowheirs with Jewish believers, and of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ by the gospel. They share with Jewish believers as fellow heirs, members of the same body, and participants in God's promise through the gospel, engrafted into Christ. Through the sacrifice of Christ a new and living way has been opened for all. The revelation laid open before Paul the work accomplished through Christ to teach how to obtain deliverance from hopelessness under sin and death and to lead through faith in Christ to be quickened and to reach forth to holiness and love. That knowledge was insight into the unsearchable riches of grace so marvelous and deep and so firmly inwrought that no suffering, reproach, or false theory could move him.
Worldwide Message for Now
The third chapter of Ephesians is a message to be given to believers now because the end is near. Paul's knowledge in the mystery of Christ is that present message, a worldwide work to be done earnestly and in a short time to proclaim the truth. It is the last message of warning and salvation to the world, to be borne worldwide with the same burden Paul carried.
It calls believers to arouse to an understanding of their true position and to take hold of God in earnest. They are to take up God's work intelligently and unitedly and proclaim it as with one voice. That knowledge outlines a worldwide work of proclaiming salvation, reaching those who have never heard the reasons of the faith and telling them where the world stands in its history. It is to be received personally and then proclaimed to those who have not heard it, while confronting the transgressions and sins hindering its proclamation.
Satan devises plans to keep the Lord's forces out of the work and to keep people from realizing the swift judgments coming upon the world. He hinders through alienation, disunion, diversity of opinion, envy, evil surmisings, faultfinding, seeking the highest place, and turning attention and means to commercial business. God will not be trifled with, His judgments are reproof to arouse those working at cross-purposes with Him, and there will be no second probation. Delay has left the work undone while time passes and the world grows worse.
His sudden coming must not find believers unready. Now, while it is called today, those who hear His voice and turn fully to Him will receive mercy and abundant pardon. Putting self out of sight, refusing Satan's plans, and putting on the whole armor of God advances the work. The Spirit of God still strives with souls in mercy.
Living and Teaching Truth
As part of the whole third chapter of Ephesians, the verse gives a lesson for all to study and for all teachers, ministers of the gospel, and all who occupy responsible positions in God's work. Those who believe the truth must manifest its characteristics and demonstrate the principles of the law of God to an unbelieving world. If professed believers act out the perversity of the sinner they evidence a deficiency and departure from the righteous principles of Jehovah's law that separates their souls from God. Then they do not receive the quickening, discerning influence of the divine mind, their minds are not fashioned and molded by God, and God's power is not seen in their spiritual discernment, choice of words, or care to preserve the fragrance of the Holy Spirit.
They need to be converted before they can be trusted with responsibilities. When imperfections of character are manifest in spirit or in action, setting a wrong example in the family, in the school, in the church, or in the world, unless converted they should be advised to take up some other calling or work where they will not in character act the spirit of the unbeliever and lead others in the wrong direction. Believers should seek to understand the mystery so they are brought into nearness and fellowship with the Holy Spirit, improve the privileges God has given, rise to increased faith and confidence, and walk circumspectly before God. So seeking, they grow in spirituality and knowledge, abide in Jesus Christ, impart to the world the love God designs to give His followers, and are led by the Holy Spirit to remember all things and to act on a higher plane.
The lesson of the second and third chapters is learned by looking to God and seeking wisdom in most earnest prayer beyond what any human voice or counsel can teach. It shows how transgression of the law required the blood price of the Son of the infinite God to redeem, leading to hatred for the sins that wounded Jesus and to a contrite heart viewing Jesus as a compassionate, tender High Priest. Reading the third chapter is urged as the way to receive and practise its instruction. Its truth is not for the generation then living only but to be manifest in all ages and in every place, revealing the work done for everyone who is saved, that Christ is to be revealed in them, by them, and through them.
So readers yield former opinions, receive the gospel in its fulness, and see the heavenly things Paul had seen. With Jews and Gentiles together they are at peace with God, renewed in love, bearing fruit in good works, and made partakers of the divine nature in disposition, words, and works.
By reading what Paul wrote, readers can grasp his Spirit-given insight into the mystery of Christ, including the Scriptures and the mission of Christ. That insight was made known to him by revelation under the grace given him for the Gentiles, for whom he became a prisoner, and it discloses what was hidden in other ages but is now revealed, that Gentiles are fellow heirs with Jewish believers, of the same body and partakers of His promise in Christ by the gospel, engrafted into Christ through whom a new and living way is opened for all. The revelation laid open before him the work accomplished through Christ to deliver from hopelessness under sin and death, to quicken through faith unto holiness and love, and to give insight into riches of grace so deep and firmly inwrought that no suffering, reproach, or false theory could move him. It belongs to the message of the third chapter of Ephesians to be given to believers now because the end is near, as the worldwide last warning of salvation calling them to arouse, take hold of God, and proclaim unitedly with Paul's burden where the world stands in its history. As a lesson for all to study, and especially for teachers, ministers, and all in responsible positions, its truth is not for that generation only but to be manifest in every age and place, that Christ is to be revealed in, by, and through everyone who is saved, bringing nearness and fellowship with the Holy Spirit, hatred for the sins that wounded Jesus, renewal in love, fruit in good works, and partaking of the divine nature.
Mystery Revealed by Revelation
By reading what Paul wrote, readers may understand his knowledge in the mystery of Christ, including the Scriptures and the mission of Christ. Reading his brief account makes that knowledge understandable, and reading the third chapter is the way to receive and practise its instruction. That understanding is learned by looking to God and seeking wisdom in most earnest prayer beyond what any human voice or counsel can teach.
That knowledge was made known to Paul by revelation as part of the dispensation of the grace of God given to him for the Gentiles. For those Gentiles he became the prisoner of Jesus Christ, because preaching to the Gentiles made him a prisoner. The mystery in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, but is now revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets. It was previously hidden from humanity and is now revealed by the Spirit to God's holy prophets and apostles.
The mystery is that the Gentiles should be fellowheirs with Jewish believers, and of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ by the gospel. They share with Jewish believers as fellow heirs, members of the same body, and participants in God's promise through the gospel, engrafted into Christ. Through the sacrifice of Christ a new and living way has been opened for all. The revelation laid open before Paul the work accomplished through Christ to teach how to obtain deliverance from hopelessness under sin and death and to lead through faith in Christ to be quickened and to reach forth to holiness and love. That knowledge was insight into the unsearchable riches of grace so marvelous and deep and so firmly inwrought that no suffering, reproach, or false theory could move him.
Worldwide Message for Now
The third chapter of Ephesians is a message to be given to believers now because the end is near. Paul's knowledge in the mystery of Christ is that present message, a worldwide work to be done earnestly and in a short time to proclaim the truth. It is the last message of warning and salvation to the world, to be borne worldwide with the same burden Paul carried.
It calls believers to arouse to an understanding of their true position and to take hold of God in earnest. They are to take up God's work intelligently and unitedly and proclaim it as with one voice. That knowledge outlines a worldwide work of proclaiming salvation, reaching those who have never heard the reasons of the faith and telling them where the world stands in its history. It is to be received personally and then proclaimed to those who have not heard it, while confronting the transgressions and sins hindering its proclamation.
Satan devises plans to keep the Lord's forces out of the work and to keep people from realizing the swift judgments coming upon the world. He hinders through alienation, disunion, diversity of opinion, envy, evil surmisings, faultfinding, seeking the highest place, and turning attention and means to commercial business. God will not be trifled with, His judgments are reproof to arouse those working at cross-purposes with Him, and there will be no second probation. Delay has left the work undone while time passes and the world grows worse.
His sudden coming must not find believers unready. Now, while it is called today, those who hear His voice and turn fully to Him will receive mercy and abundant pardon. Putting self out of sight, refusing Satan's plans, and putting on the whole armor of God advances the work. The Spirit of God still strives with souls in mercy.
Living and Teaching Truth
As part of the whole third chapter of Ephesians, the verse gives a lesson for all to study and for all teachers, ministers of the gospel, and all who occupy responsible positions in God's work. Those who believe the truth must manifest its characteristics and demonstrate the principles of the law of God to an unbelieving world. If professed believers act out the perversity of the sinner they evidence a deficiency and departure from the righteous principles of Jehovah's law that separates their souls from God. Then they do not receive the quickening, discerning influence of the divine mind, their minds are not fashioned and molded by God, and God's power is not seen in their spiritual discernment, choice of words, or care to preserve the fragrance of the Holy Spirit.
They need to be converted before they can be trusted with responsibilities. When imperfections of character are manifest in spirit or in action, setting a wrong example in the family, in the school, in the church, or in the world, unless converted they should be advised to take up some other calling or work where they will not in character act the spirit of the unbeliever and lead others in the wrong direction. Believers should seek to understand the mystery so they are brought into nearness and fellowship with the Holy Spirit, improve the privileges God has given, rise to increased faith and confidence, and walk circumspectly before God. So seeking, they grow in spirituality and knowledge, abide in Jesus Christ, impart to the world the love God designs to give His followers, and are led by the Holy Spirit to remember all things and to act on a higher plane.
The lesson of the second and third chapters is learned by looking to God and seeking wisdom in most earnest prayer beyond what any human voice or counsel can teach. It shows how transgression of the law required the blood price of the Son of the infinite God to redeem, leading to hatred for the sins that wounded Jesus and to a contrite heart viewing Jesus as a compassionate, tender High Priest. Reading the third chapter is urged as the way to receive and practise its instruction. Its truth is not for the generation then living only but to be manifest in all ages and in every place, revealing the work done for everyone who is saved, that Christ is to be revealed in them, by them, and through them.
So readers yield former opinions, receive the gospel in its fulness, and see the heavenly things Paul had seen. With Jews and Gentiles together they are at peace with God, renewed in love, bearing fruit in good works, and made partakers of the divine nature in disposition, words, and works.