"In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth." - ESV
When we study redemption, and forgiveness, and grace, we are studying the GOSPEL. The gospel reveals the purpose and will of Christ.
There is no greater knowledge than the knowledge that we have been redeemed by our Creator back to himself. He has rescued us from sin and death and brought us into his family as sons and daughters.
The word "mystery" in Greek (mysterion) refers to the revelation of something that was previously hidden or known only vaguely, but now is more fully made known. Kyle Snodgrass tells us, "Whereas in modern usage mystery refers to what is unknown, in Jewish and early Christian literature this word refers to the hidden divine plan now revealed by God."
What is this "mystery" that Paul speaks of? Verse 10 answers part of this question for us. Uniting all things to him...things in heaven and things on earth.
Paul gives us more clarity about this "mystery" in Colossians 1:26-27, which says, "...the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory."
We will see this "mystery" mentioned again in Ephesians 3:3-6. Verse 6 specifically says that this "mystery" is that "the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel."
The "mystery" has been revealed! CHRIST is the revelation of this mystery! It is that we live in a divided, defeated, sin-laden world, but ultimately this world will be rescued through CHRIST. The salvation we have in Christ makes us heirs to God's great inheritance (Romans 8:17), members of the universal church, and partakers in the promise!
John MacArthur puts it this way, "Jesus Christ is the goal of history, which finds its resolution in Him. The paradise lost in Adam is restored in Christ."
Eventually this world, as we know it, will come to an end, and the entire universe will kneel before Christ (Phil. 2:10), and creation will be united under Christ.
These verses point directly to the truth that our redemption is both present and future! We are completely redeemed from sin and death right now, but all of creation will be redeemed when Christ returns!
What I also love about this passage is that we read that God's plan from the beginning was to reveal Christ to us. The text says that he revealed this "mystery" according to his purpose.
God chose to reveal Christ to you. This wasn't something you figured out on your own. You didn't stumble upon some hidden truth randomly. It wasn't because of your lifelong journey, and effort that you found God, NO...God found you! He revealed himself to you!
John 6:44 says, "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them." You were selected by the Creator of the world to have the greatest knowledge in the world!
It all goes back to God's Grace! God chose to reveal his son to us and save us! He set is amazing favor on us and revealed the greatest mystery known to man...election, adoption, justification, sanctification, and glorification all through the death and resurrection of His son.
And some day He will return to unite all things to himself. How great and marvelous is our God!
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