Christ's Church - the Mystery of God's Plan but is now revealed by the Spirit of God

March 8, 2013 - Ephesians 3:3-7

3:3		用 啟 示 使 我 知 道 福 音 的 奧 秘 、 正 如 我 以 前 略 略 寫 過 的 ．
3:4		你 們 念 了 、 就 能 曉 得 我 深 知 基 督 的 奧 秘 ．
3:5		這 奧 秘 在 以 前 的 世 代 、 沒 有 叫 人 知 道 、 像 如 今 藉 著 聖 靈 啟 示 他 的 聖 使 徒 和 先 知 一 樣 ．
3:6		這 奧 秘 就 是 外 邦 人 在 基 督 耶 穌 裡 、 藉 著 福 音 、 得 以 同 為 後 嗣 、 同 為 一 體 、 同 蒙 應 許 。
3:7		我 作 了 這 福 音 的 執 事 、 是 照 　 神 的 恩 賜 ． 這 恩 賜 是 照 他 運 行 的 大 能 賜 給 我 的 ．

³that is, the mystery made known to me by revelation, as I have already written briefly. ⁴ In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, ⁵ which was not made known to people in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets. ⁶ This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus. ⁷ I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of his power.

Paul proclaims the mystery of Christ that had been hidden in generations is now revealed by the Spirit of God to the apostles and prophets - Gentiles are now co-members with Jews in the same body and also co-sharers in the promise in Christ Jesus. This is a hidden mystery plan of God but is now revealed through the gospel of Christ that God builds up His one Church - one body that transcends all kinds of ethnicity, social differences, cultural differences that divide human beings from others. Through the Gospel, God destructs all kinds of hostility that divides people as well. Paul becomes a servant of the Gospel by the power of the Holy Spirit who reveals God's plan and works in him. 

We believers have a new identity in Christ that we are one of the members of this One Body that is built up by the Gospel of Christ. That is the mystery of God but is now revealed to us that we know that the church is the ultimate goal of His works in human beings. Through the Gospel, the church should show the peace that is brought by Christ, and the unity that transcends all kinds of human differences and hostility. My Father God, strengthen Your Church on earth by Your Spirit that we can show brotherly love to our members, reconcile each other, appreciate and treasure our differences, and witness together to the world that You are God and You are the One to reconcile us to You and also reconcile sinners together as One Body through the Gospel of Christ, Your Son.