In the book of Ephesians, Paul refers to six "mysteries" (1:9, 3:3, 3:4, 3:9, 5:32, 6:19). Specifically, he refers to the mysteries of God's will, God's revelation to Paul Himself, the mystery of Christ, the mystery of Christ and the Church, and the mystery of the Gospel.
Paul's use of this term and his insistence on referring to "mysteries" ought to give us reason to pause. Paul was an apostle, a "sent one", God's chosen messenger and an evangelist, preacher, and teacher to the Gentiles. He wrote much of our New Testament under the inspiration of God. He performed miracles through the power of God. He was filled with the Holy Spirit and had seen how God worked in his life, revealed truths, and enabled Paul to understand more than many others. Paul had been called by Jesus Himself to be an apostle (Acts 9) and therefore had been given a special message and ministry for his life.
Yet, in the midst of all of this, Paul continually refers to "mysteries". Why would such a man of God do this? Didn't he understand the Gospel or Christ? Aren't these simple truths that all can comprehend? Evidently not. We could discuss a variety of topics at this point but one remains crystal clear to me. Paul never lost his sense of the wonder of each of these "mysteries". Yes, he understood that God has a will and that he could discover it but he must have wondered, "Wow. How is it possible that the God of this universe can reveal His desires to someone like me?" Paul certainly understood how he was inspired but must have imagined, "Wow. How does it work exactly that I am being used by the Holy Spirit and through my words He is revealing His truth? Paul must have understood Christ but had to have thought, "How is it that God existed as both God and yet a man?" Paul thought a lot about the church, he himself being a chief cause of the building of its foundation. Yet, he must have pondered this "mystery" and wondered, "Wow. Christ is the groom and we are His bride. What does that mean and how does that work? How does it now differ from God's previous relationship to ethnic Israel long ago?" Additionally, Paul knew the Gospel message for he preached and taught it regularly both to Jews and Gentiles. Yet, he must have wondered, "How did all of this finally come to be? God sending Jesus with the good news that acceptance of Him as Lord leads to freedom in Christ and that through faith we can obtain the Eternal Life that He offers?"
Wow. Wow. Wow. Paul was in continual amazement of God Himself and what God had done through Christ. The question that you and I ought to consider is "Do we do the same?" Has the Gospel message or Christ as the Son of God become so mundane or routine that you and I have lost our sense of wonder at what God has done? If so, we need to repent of such thinking and actions. We need to re-examine these seemingly simple Gospel truths that so many have grown up with and once again proclaim their "mysteries".
Paul was not afraid to admit that while he had been given a tremendous understanding there was still a great deal of mystery within the very ministry he was apart of. He declared these mysteries to the church in Ephesus and asked them to recall the same. Maybe they had become lackadaisical because of the tremendous leadership at the church. Paul had left Timothy in Ephesus and certainly Timothy would have done a great job. Maybe the people had grown apathetic because Paul himself had been there and taught for several years.
Whatever the case may be in the book of Revelation we see that the church in Ephesus had left their "first love" (Rev 2:4). Having become enamored with doctrine and learning or having felt like they had "figured it all out" these people had grown cold and were no longer doing things in love. Paul calls them to change in this letter to the church in Ephesus and reminds them once again of the "mysteries".
Good study of the Scripture should not simply bring more understanding of God and His Word. It should also produce within us a "wonder" and desire as we discover the truths of so many of God's "mysteries". As you seek God for the first time or remain faithful to Him for the course of your lifetime, recognize these mysteries of God. Allow them to produce within you a desire to discover the truths contained within things which you may have known for quite some time.
Let's not forget the mysteries of God Himself and the Gospel message itself as we seek to know Him and make Him known to others.
Joshua
