In the past I have heard teachings on the Mystery hidden in the ages past, but now revealed to the church. This has something to do with God's eternal purpose, and I sense that it deals with predestination.
Eph. 1:11 In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will.
So what is the purpose of Him, or God's eternal purpose. What is the counsel of His will? I think that this has something to do with God indwelling His people, and bringing many sons and daughters to glory.
Anyone know about this particular topic? I think that If we properly understood more about this, then you'd have many forsaking their precious reformed theology.
Any thoughts anyone???
SoaringEagle
The Mystery, God's eternal purpose and predestination
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The Mystery, God's eternal purpose and predestination
Last edited by Guest on Wed Dec 31, 1969 7:00 pm, edited 0 times in total.
Reason:
Reason:
As for the Mystery, I would think the answer is clearly spelled out in Eph 3:3-6 " . . . through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise of Christ Jesus."
As for Eph 1:11, the wording, especially in the Greek, is very similar to 3:11. In fact, the beginning of Eph 1 is very much an introduction to chapters 2 and 3 (esp 2:11 - 3:11). In 3:3 Paul mentions the "mystery . . . as I have already written briefly" -- it seems to me he is referring right back to chapter 1, particularly 1:9.
When Paul wrote this letter he was sitting in prison for preaching the "mystery of the gospel" (6:19), which clearly refers to the idea that the gospel includes Gentiles along with Jews, per 3:6; see also Acts 22:21ff which describes why Paul was put in prison.
The "mystery of the gospel" was a very controversial topic in those days, as we see that it could land one in prison. And it was personally relevant to the Ephesians believers, mostly Gentiles, who were being pressured to live as Jews, and looked down upon as 2nd class believers by others in town. After all, the other congregation of believers in Yahweh in town, the Jewish synagogue, had been around much longer, and didn't go along with everything that was said by this upstart Paul.
From this standpoint, Ephesians 1 starts off with a bang -- nothing boring or heavy theology in it at all. It's just the simple message that everything the Jews thought they had exclusively, is now available to all believers. E.g. the Jews were the "chosen people", but now all believers are "chosen in him". The Jews claimed the "adoption as sons" (1:5, see also Rom 9:4), but now this is available through Jesus Christ. Move on to 1:7, and you have redemption through his blood (the blood sacrifices were formerly thought of as a Jewish thing) -- and then it is all pulled together with the "mystery" in 1:9-10, and restated in 1:11-14.
Anyway, that's how I see it. Sorry for being overly long. Hope it helps.
Tychicus
As for Eph 1:11, the wording, especially in the Greek, is very similar to 3:11. In fact, the beginning of Eph 1 is very much an introduction to chapters 2 and 3 (esp 2:11 - 3:11). In 3:3 Paul mentions the "mystery . . . as I have already written briefly" -- it seems to me he is referring right back to chapter 1, particularly 1:9.
When Paul wrote this letter he was sitting in prison for preaching the "mystery of the gospel" (6:19), which clearly refers to the idea that the gospel includes Gentiles along with Jews, per 3:6; see also Acts 22:21ff which describes why Paul was put in prison.
The "mystery of the gospel" was a very controversial topic in those days, as we see that it could land one in prison. And it was personally relevant to the Ephesians believers, mostly Gentiles, who were being pressured to live as Jews, and looked down upon as 2nd class believers by others in town. After all, the other congregation of believers in Yahweh in town, the Jewish synagogue, had been around much longer, and didn't go along with everything that was said by this upstart Paul.
From this standpoint, Ephesians 1 starts off with a bang -- nothing boring or heavy theology in it at all. It's just the simple message that everything the Jews thought they had exclusively, is now available to all believers. E.g. the Jews were the "chosen people", but now all believers are "chosen in him". The Jews claimed the "adoption as sons" (1:5, see also Rom 9:4), but now this is available through Jesus Christ. Move on to 1:7, and you have redemption through his blood (the blood sacrifices were formerly thought of as a Jewish thing) -- and then it is all pulled together with the "mystery" in 1:9-10, and restated in 1:11-14.
Anyway, that's how I see it. Sorry for being overly long. Hope it helps.
Tychicus
Last edited by Guest on Wed Dec 31, 1969 7:00 pm, edited 0 times in total.
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Reason: