What is the Mystery of Christ?

In Acts 9 on the road to Damascus, Saul of Tarsus was saved by the resurrected Christ. It wasn’t because he was seeking God or that he was good. In fact, it was quite the opposite (Acts 9:3-16, 26:9-23).

“[15] This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. [16] Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.” – 1 Timothy 1:15-16

Something changed with Saul, who was henceforth called Paul. He was set forth to be the pattern for salvation for those after him. But what exactly changed?

Paul was offered grace and was appointed an apostle with a distinct message and ministry (Rom 1:1, 15:15-16). He received additional revelation upon being saved and throughout his ministry concerning the “fellowship of the mystery.” (2Co 12:1, 1Co 2:7-10)

“[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, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:” – Ephesians 3:8-9

“[25] Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, [26] But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:” – Rom 16:25-26 

This additional revelation is called “the mystery of Christ,” the “dispensation of the grace of God,” and “the mystery among the Gentiles.” It is a message that was kept secret since the world began but was made known by the resurrected Christ through Paul.

Dispen…what? Mystery of Christ? You may be scratching your head and wondering why you never heard of this growing up in church.

So, what exactly is the mystery revealed to Paul? And why does it matter?

Let’s search the scriptures and find out! Two key passages for reference are found in Ephesians 3 and Colossians 1:

“[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; [6] That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel: [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.” – Ephesians 3:1-7

“[24] Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church: [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:” – Colossians 1:24-27

These passages showcase that the mystery of Christ is the formation, salvation, sanctification, message, edification, purpose, and destiny of the Body of Christ. Simply put, you in Christ and Christ in you is the mystery of Christ. Let’s unpack that a bit.

Part of this mystery revealed is the gospel of Christ given to Paul, which explains how anyone can be justified freely by God’s grace through faith in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sin (1Co 15:1-4, Rom 3:20-26, Eph 2:8-10). In fact, the mystery of the gospel was why Paul was imprisoned! 

“[19] And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, [20] For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.” – Ephesians 6:19-20

The other aspects of the mystery of Christ concern the identity, purpose, and destiny of the body of Christ. Our goal as the church today is to preach the gospel of Christ and all of its free blessings, in order to make known God’s manifold wisdom and edify the body (Eph 1:9-10, 3:1-11, Rom 12:5, Eph 4:1-6, 15-16).

This dispensation of grace, a distinct program of instructions and responsibilities given to man from God, is a shift in what God was doing. No longer is He working through the covenants and nation of Israel to establish an Earthly kingdom (which will happen again in the future), but rather, he formed a new creature with neither Jew nor Gentile, the body of Christ, to perform His heavenly purpose that was previously kept secret from the world (2Co 5:16-21, Gal 6:15, Eph 2:11-22, 1Co 2:7-10).

So, what’s the point of all of this? When you mix doctrinal instructions for Israel (OT, Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, the Hebrew epistles) with the doctrinal instructions for the Body of Christ found in Paul’s 13 epistles, you’re left with a heap of confusion and oftentimes heresy.

God has progressively revealed His will over time (Heb 1:1) and it behooves us to recognize what He revealed last to understand the complete picture (Col 1:25, 1Co 15:8-10). We must rightly divide what God has spoken by the mouth of His prophets since the world began with that which was kept secret since the world began (2Ti 2:15, Act 3:21-26 vs. Rom 16:25).

If we don’t understand the mystery of Christ, we most definitely can’t fulfill God’s charge for us to “make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery” (Eph 3:8-9). If we don’t understand the mystery of Christ, we won’t be effective stewards or ministers, as we will be blending instructions for Israel and the church.

“[1] Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. [2] Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.” – 1Co 4:1-2

All scripture is written for us, but not all of it is written to us (2Ti 3:16-17). Recognizing the audience of a passage and if the body of Christ is in it, prevents you from cherry-picking passages you like and avoiding ones you don’t, claiming covenant promises that aren’t yours, and trying to make contradictory passages say the same thing. By recognizing the mystery of Christ revealed to Paul, you will begin to align yourself with what God is actually doing today!