The Mysteries of Christ, Before and Now

“...which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit.” Verse 5.

It was impossible for the prophets of old to understand the mysteries of Christ as they were now being revealed to Paul by the Spirit. True, the Spirit of Christ that was in them testified about the sufferings of Christ and the glory that was to follow (1 Peter 1:11), but the Spirit alone, without the blood, could not possibly give man as thorough an understanding of this work as it was able to do for the Apostle, who himself suffered and was cleansed in the blood as he received revelations concerning the mystery.

The Spirit had not yet opened a way through the flesh in the days of the prophets. Instead of testifying with the blood and about the blood, the Spirit had to testify about sin in the flesh—the very thing that made it impossible to keep the law, since it was the power of sin in the flesh that rendered the flesh incapable of doing the good. These prophets understood that the Christ would have to suffer and die in order to deal effectively with sin in the flesh.

Since the Spirit had now been given, Paul had the advantage of being able to walk with Christ on the new and living way through the veil—through the flesh. During his walk he appropriated light and knowledge about the mysteries of Christ that none of the men of old were able to receive, because the countless sacrifices within the body put an end to sin for all time; those sacrifices that were outside the body only reminded them of sin.

Paul was a servant of the Spirit and came to understand the Spirit’s mind and purpose. But since the mind of the Spirit is the mind of God, and God’s mind is the mind of Christ, Paul was led to that same mind by walking in the Spirit. This gave rise to an intimate fellowship. Paul had a listening ear because he was willing; consequently, he was greatly used by God. And as one who was greatly used, he had use for all the light he could get in order to settle all the difficult questions in the local churches. And God, who fills all our need according to His riches in glory, was more than generous with revelation and insight. He let the Apostle look into unsearchable, glorious things, so that by these he might be filled with zeal for serving the churches and that they, in turn, might grow and be strengthened in the faith.

If we offer ourselves up in the power of an eternal Spirit, we will not only gain knowledge about how Christ suffered, we will share sufferings—and His glory as well. Then the wisdom that is in Him will quite naturally come to dwell in us. His mysteries become life; therefore, our whole life becomes a mystery. Yet, though it may be a mystery for all those who are on the outside, it is like an open book for the one who has life.