Understanding "The Mystery"

In this article I explain what “the mystery” is that Paul mentioned in Ephesians 3, 5 and Colossians 1. 

Understanding “the mystery” is crucial to understanding Christ’s relationship with the Church, the relationship we have with each other as members of his “body” and the very nature of New Testament Salvation.

It’s no wonder Paul so zealously preached and defended “the mystery” when dealing with both Jews and Gentiles, he called it “the truth of the gospel” (Gal. 2:5).

Understanding “the mystery” also dispels the dispensationalist view of the book of Revelation, being a description of literal future events as opposed to signs and symbols pointing to present spiritual realities ie millennial reign and marriage of the lamb. 

I hope this article, at the very least, inspires you to study and meditate upon “the mystery” for yourself.

Ephesians 3

1 For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,

2 If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:

3 How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,

4 Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)

5 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;

God, by grace, opened Paul’s eyes to “the mystery”. 

What is “the mystery?”

Ephesians 3

6 That the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, and of the same body and partakers of his promise IN Christ by the gospel

This is the mystery! That both Jews and Gentiles could be joined together in one body as partakers of the promise…

What is his promise?

Ephesians 2

13 …in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

The holy Spirit is the promise and in receiving him we become members of Christ’s body.

Ephesians 5

30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.

31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.

32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

The fact that under New Testament salvation, Christ and the church are joined together and become one flesh like husband and wife is a great mystery but one that Paul understood

Colossians 1 contains very similar language to Ephesians 3

Colossians 1

25 Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God;

26 Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:

27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:

“Christ in you” and “you in Christ” is the mystery Paul understood and preached to the Gentiles.

The fact that God, by grace, revealed this mystery to Paul, made him a minister to the Gentiles.

Ephesians 3

7 Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.

8 Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;

9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery…

The mysterious fellowship we have with Christ and each other through the Spirit is the riches in Christ we can now enjoy.

Whilst Ephesians 3 uses the image of a body, Ephesians 2 uses the image of a building. Compare the following verses:

Ephesians 3

6 That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel

Ephesians 2

9 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;

20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;

21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:

22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

Wether described as a body, a building or the Church, under New Testament salvation WE are an habitation of God, for the Holy Spirit inhabits his people.

Revelation 21 contains very similar language to that in Ephesians 2

2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.

14 And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

Ephes. 2:20 and Rev. 21:14 are almost identical! 

Both speak of a temple/tabernacle with twelve foundations representing the twelve apostles. 

Furthermore Rev. 21:3 states that the tabernacle of God is with men and he will dwell with them which is very similar language to that used in 

Ephes. 2:3 an holy temple…an habitation of God through the Spirit.

The notion that God no longer dwells in a literal temple rather he dwells in his people via the Spirit was a “mystery” that was not made known in other ages

Ephesians 3

5…in other ages was not made known…

9…from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God…

Colossians 1

26 …hath been hid from ages and from generations…

In Hebrews 11 it says

10… (Abraham) looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

However he

13… died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off…

The city that Abraham looked for and saw afar off has come!!! Under New testament salvation WE are that city.

Notice how Rev. 21:1 the holy city, New Jerusalem prepared as a bride adorned for her husband ties in perfectly with the description of the church in Ephesians 5?

25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;

26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,

27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.

31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.

32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

The New Jerusalem in Rev. 21:2 is the New Testament Church, the bride of Christ mentioned in Ephesians 5. 

When did the New Jerusalem descend from heaven prepared as a bride? 

When did Jesus present the church to himself for marriage, a glorious church without spot or wrinkle? 

Well, when did God inhabit his people? 

At Pentecost the holy Spirit came down and filled all those waiting in the upper room, this is when the New Testament church was established! This is when the marriage was consummated through the Spirit!

What was the result of this marriage? The apostles descended from the upper room, preached the gospel and 5000 were born of the Spirit, Children of promise.

Gal 4

22 For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman.

23 But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise.

24 Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar.

25 For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.

26 But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.

27 For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband.

28 Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.

The New Testament church is not a physical building, a sect or denomination, it is a spiritual entity which continues to bear children through the preaching of the gospel.

In conclusion-

The “mystery” that was revealed to Paul by God was “Christ in you” meaning God no longer dwells in a literal temple, rather he dwells in his people via the Spirit. 

We, his people are the church, the NEW Jerusalem. When did the NEW Jerusalem of Revelation 21 descend? At Pentecost, for it was then that God began dwelling in his people. 

Through the Spirit we are joined to Christ and one another thus together, we become members of his body. Through the Spirit we, the church, are “one flesh” with Christ like husband and wife are “one flesh”, hence it was at Pentecost that the "marriage of the lamb" took place.

Just as no building will literally descend from the sky to hover over the earth in the future, the marriage of the lamb (Rev. 19:7-9) is not a future event, it happened at Pentecost when the New Testament church was established! 

As a result of that marriage many “children of promise” were born and continue to be born through the Word (preaching of the gospel) and the Spirit.

One New Man

In this article I break down Ephesians chapter two which explains how two groups of people, the Jews and the Gentiles, became ONE NEW MAN through the Spirit of Christ.

Gentiles were not constrained by the Mosaic law and so fulfilled the lusts of their flesh.

2 Wherein in times past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:

3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the 

desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

11 Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;

12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:

Under the old covenant, Jews kept the Mosaic law thus were God’s chosen, seperate people.

The Jews called themselves “the Circumcision” and Gentiles “the uncircumcision”.

Thus the ordinance of circumcision was a “wall of petition” dividing Jews from Gentiles.

Through Christ, this wall was broken down.

14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;

15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;

When Jesus died, Jewish ordinances were nailed to the cross meaning they were fulfilled in Him.

Colossians 2:14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;

“Circumcision of the flesh” was replaced with “circumcision of the heart”, for the new covenant is all about a heart transformation rather than adherence to physical ordinances.

This is why Ephes. 2:8&9 make the point that we are saved by grace through faith and not of works lest any man should boast.

Adherence to physical ordinances does not save a person, rather a heart transformation from which “good works” manifest.

10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Jesus had to die to release his Spirit.

The New Testament is in his blood but the blood represents his Spirit, for just as physical life is in the blood (Lev.17:11) Spiritual life is in the Spirit.

13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.

18 For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.

The Spirit “quickens” 

1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;

4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us

5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)

Quicken means to cause to live, make alive, to arouse and invigorate metaph. Of seeds quickened into life, germinating, springing up, growing 

While sin results in spiritual death, repentance puts us in the position to be quickened by the Spirit. In this “quickening" we not only receive eternal life but are transformed into a new creature in Christ.

Thus those who receive the Holy Spirit are born-again and part of ONE NEW MAN which is the body of Christ, a holy temple and habitation of God, in which there is no race nor gender for everyone is equal.

16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:

19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;

21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:

22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

Galatians 3

27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.

Redemption vs Substitution

I don’t know if any of you can relate to this but I was part of a congregation for many many years and every Sunday we would sing a whole bunch of songs for example we would sing “i’m redeemed by love divine….” And in the next breath we would sing “he paid a debt he did not owe…”

So did Jesus die to redeem us or to pay our debt? 

Only in the last couple of years have I realised that it can’t be both. Redemption and the payment of a debt are two different concepts belonging to two opposing theologies. One is biblical and the other is totally unbiblical.

Let’s begin by looking at that word redeem.

There are numerous scriptures that include the word redeem and redemption such as…

Titus 2 

14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

Why did Jesus give himself? Why did he die on the cross? To redeem us.

Colossians 1

13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:

14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:

Notice how these verses link redemption to deliverance?

That’s because redemption means deliverance or more specifically liberation procured by the payment of a ransom

Christ’s paid our ransom.

But hang on, why do we need a ransom?

Because those who commit sin are slaves to sin. 

In paying our ransom Christ purchases us from out of a slavery situation so we no longer serve sin, instead we serve God.

That’s being delivered from darkness and translated into the kingdom of his dear son.

Translated means to remove from one place to another.

But how does that happen? How does redemption work?

To understand how redemption works one must understand that Jesus did NOT die in our place or instead of us or so we don’t have to. 

Rather he died as an example for us to follow.

1 Peter 2

21…Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:

24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

I love these verses because they show the participatory nature of the cross.

Jesus suffered…as an example that we should follow.

He bare our sins… that we being dead to sins should live unto righteousness. 

It’s in following Christ’s example and dying WITH him through repentance that redemption takes effect and one is set free from sin

Rom. 6:6&7

Knowing this that our old man is crucified with him that the body of sin might be destroyed that henceforth we should not serve sin.

For he that is dead is freed from sin

Therefore the ransom is essentially Christ’s example. 

And what did he say in the garden of Gethsemane? Not as I will but as thou wilt

And remember Col. 1:13

Who hath delivered us from the POWER of darkness…

The POWER of darkness is our will. The fact we don’t want to stop sinning. Therefore it’s in submitting our will to God’s will through repentance that we are delivered and translated and transformed into a new creature by the Spirit.

So we’ve looked at the word redeem, now let’s look at the word debt.

There are five verses in the New Testament that include the word debt and not one of them say that Jesus paid our debt.

In fact three of those verses belong to the parable of the unmerciful servant which teaches directly against that notion.

In this parable we read about a servant who owed a large debt to the king. 

Matthew 18

26 The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.

27 Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.

Did anyone pay the debt? Was the king so angry about the debt that he beat up his son? Did the king kill his own son to satisfy his need for justice, enabling him to forgive the servant? 

No! None of that happened! The servant demonstrated such remorse that the king was moved with compassion and freely forgave the debt.

Similarly God forgives our past sin, not because Jesus died in our place to pay our debt but because we died WITH him, we put to death our old man once and for all, we forsook our past life of sin through repentance.

God is absolutely just in forgiving a person on those grounds.

Like I said, there are two opposing theologies.

One is REDEMPTION- liberation procured by payment of a ransom, the ransom being Christ’s example, when we follow his example and die to self through repentance we are set free from sin and joined to Christ through the Spirit which is love. Love transforms us into a new creature.

The other is SUBSTITUTION- Jesus was punished in our place to pay our debt thus fulfil God’s wrath and satisfy his need for justice, enabling him to forgive us when we “trust” and “believe” in what Jesus did in our place, as our substitute.

Substitution theology is unbiblical and dangerous!

• It shifts ones focus away from repentance and towards “trusting” and “believing” in what Jesus did “in our place” 
• Because paying a debt and a ransom are not the same thing, It shifts one’s focus away from actual deliverance from sin and towards some cosmic legal transaction.

Substitution theology is not from the bible! It was not believed by the early church. It came from the teachings of men like John Calvin. 

John Calvin was a lawyer thus he viewed salvation as a legal transaction rather than a heart/life transformation. 

Where things get confusing is that over hundreds of years the teachings of men like John Calvin have been mixed together with the language of the bible until we have the situation I mentioned at the start of this article, where people are in a church service singing “I’m redeemed by love divine…” and in the next breath “he paid a debt he did not owe…” thinking that those two different concepts are the same thing, when they’re not.

You may believe in redemption, you may preach redemption but if you’re holding on to any part of substitution you are in error because a little leaven leavens the whole lump.

Let go of substitution theology!

The simple fact that NOT ONE scripture in the bible says that Jesus payed our debt should be enough for you to stop singing that song and stop preaching that lie to others.

Let us each work out our salvation with fear and trembling, God bless.

Why Jesus did NOT pay our sin debt rather our ransom

Jesus “gave himself for us” on the cross but for what purpose? Was is to pay our debt or our ransom and why does that matter? These are the question I want to answer today.

Titus 2:14

Who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purify unto himself a peculiar people zealous of good works.

Redeem means liberation procured by the payment of a ransom

There is no mention in the bible of Jesus paying our debt but there are several verses suggesting he paid our ransom.

Let me prove that to you.

Here are all the verses in the NT that include the word “debt”.

Matthew 6:12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

Matthew 18:27 Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt. 

30 And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt. 

32 Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me:

Romans 4:4 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.

You’ll notice that none of them say Jesus paid our debt. In fact the parable of the unmerciful servant teaches directly against that notion. 

In this parable the servant owed a huge debt to the king but did anyone pay it? Did the king beat up his son to balance the books? No.

The servant showed such remorse that the king was moved with compassion and simply forgave the debt. Mind you he reinstated it later when the servant failed to forgive his own servant.

Similarly, God freely forgives us our sin on the condition that we “go and sin no more”, not because anyone paid our debt.

Here are the verses in the NT that include the word ransom. 

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.

1 Timothy 2:6 Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.

Also verses that include the words redeem or redemption (payment of a ransom):

Luke 1:68 Galatians 3:13 Titus 2:14 1 Peter 1:18 Revelation 5:9 14:3&4 

Romans 3:24 Ephesians 1:7 Colossians 1:14 Hebrews 9:12&15

You may think “isn’t a ransom and a debt the same thing?” NO, they are not.

The notion that Jesus was punished in our place to pay our debt thus fulfil God’s wrath or satisfy his need for justice, came from the teachings of Anselem and John Calvin.

Over hundreds of years their teachings have been mixed with the teachings of the bible, causing much confusion.

Having one’s ransom paid implies that one has been released from slavery, the result of which is a transformed life.

Having one’d debt paid has nothing to do with release from slavery, it’s a legal adjustment by which God’s wrath is appeased or his honour upheld.

Acts 20:28

…the church of God which he hath purchased with his own blood.

In paying our ransom Christ “purchased” us from slavery but what were we slaves to? 

Romans 6:16&22

Know ye not that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; wether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness.

But now being made free from sin and become servants to God ye have your fruit unto holiness and the end everlasting life.

Sinners are servants of sin but when purchased by Christ’s blood they are not only freed from sin but they become servants to God.

Since we’re in Romans lets continue to 7:2&4

For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband.

Wherefore my brethren ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him that is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.

Redemption takes effect when we follow Christ’s example and die to ourselves through repentance.

Romans 6:7

For he that is dead is freed from sin

In repentance we are “loosed” from sin and thereby free to marry Christ through the Spirit. As a result of this marriage we bring forth “fruit” unto holiness.

It’s all about love

Rom. 5:8

But God commendeth his love toward us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

God commends or offers his love to sinners through Christ’s death, hence his death is a wedding invitation. 

It invites sinners to enter a love relationship with him, which they can only enter by sacrificing themselves, that is forsaking all known sin.

In “laying down his life” and “pouring out his soul unto death” Christ showed sinners “the way” to be free from sin. Freedom is found in denying oneself.

While Jesus had to die physically to release the Spirit, we have to die to our “flesh” to receive the Spirit and is through the Spirit that we are joined to Christ.

1 Cor. 6:16,17,19&20

What? Know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? For two saith he shall be one flesh. 

But he that is joined unto the Lord is ONE SPIRIT.

What? Know ye not that your body is the temple of the holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God and ye are not your own?

For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body and in your Spirit which are God’s.

Jesus indeed paid a heavy price in order to be joined to the church but he didn’t “do it all” for us.

A successful marriage is never one-sided, rather reciprocal. 

A covenant is an agreement between two parties.

The popular teaching that Jesus paid, not only for our past but present and future sins, is like saying we can be ONE with Christ while committing spiritual adultery.

Just as adultery nullifies a physical marriage we cannot be ONE with Christ while committing wilful sin hence salvation requires ongoing faithfulness and fidelity towards God.

Let us each work out our own salvation with fear and trembling, God bless.

Why we have NOT inherited a sin nature from Adam

In this short article I use the scriptures to challenge Augustine of Hippos's doctrine of Original Sin or the notion that we are born with a "sinful nature" inherited from Adam, as commonly taught in the church world today.

1 John 3:4

Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: For sin is the transgression of the law

We can see in this verse is that sin is a moral choice, it’s a choice to transgress or break God’s law, not a physical substance that can be passed from one person to another.

In order to “inherit” a sin nature from Adam it would have to be passed on through DNA.

Sin does not dwell in our DNA, it does not abide in our flesh or blood because it is a moral choice.

When we look at the story of Adam and Eve in Genesis we find that they started out innocent. Then the commandment came, “don’t eat of the tree in the midst of the garden”. 

When Adam and Eve knowingly transgressed that law, they committed sin and were cast out of the garden, representing spiritual death.

We see this same pattern described in Romans 7:7-13 particularly verse 9 where Paul said

For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came sin revived and I died

Just as Adam and Eve were born spiritually “alive” then “died” as a result of wilful sin, Paul said I was “alive once” but when the law came I “died”.

I think Paul is talking about being innocent as a child, then reaching the age of understanding at which point the “law” revealed sin to be “exceeding sinful” (vs 13)

To “knowingly” transgress God’s law, results in spiritual death.

Let’s go to Romans 5:12

Wherefore by one man (Adam) sin entered into the world and death by sin and so death passed upon all men for all have sinned

Notice here that sin did not enter into mankind, rather into the world meaning Adam and Eve were the first people in the world to commit sin.

Also, why did death pass upon all men? Because all have sinned.

Remember spiritual death is the result of wilful sin.

Rom. 5:3

For until the law sin was in the world but sin is not imputed where there is no law

“Sin is the transgression of the law” which means technically a child can transgress God’s law, for example lie, but until they reach the age of understanding, they are not held accountable for their sin. 

The law opens our eyes so we begin to feel morally accountable for our behaviours. This is when transgressing God’s law becomes wilful.  

Back to Romans 5:18&19

By the offence of one judgement came upon all men to condemnation

By the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life

For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners 

So by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous  

The “free gift” came upon all men in the sense that it’s offered to all men (Titus 2:11)

but are all men made righteous by Christ’s obedience? No, because not all receive the gift.

Rom. 5:19 many be made righteous… MANY but not ALL are made righteous.

Similarly, because of Adam’s disobedience were all men made sinners?

Rom. 5:19 …many were made sinners…MANY but not ALL were made sinners

Therefore we did not all inherit a sinful nature from Adam.

What we do have are natural appetites and instincts that are not sinful in themselves but can lead to sin.

I think this is what Paul is describing in Romans 7:22-24

For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:

But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. o wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?

The answer to his question is explained in the following chapter. 

Romans 8:13

For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. 

When we mortify or “put to death” the appetites and instincts of our flesh, the Holy Spirit strengthens our inner man to rule over them.

Ephesians 3:16

That he would grant you according to the riches of his glory to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;

God bless