The Mystery & Manifestation of Christ is Us!

[Vine Abider]

It is easy to see in the bible that the "mystery of God" is Christ. But then in Ephesians 3 Paul talks about the "mystery of Christ" in verse 4. In the verses following Paul spells out what the mystery of Christ is - it is the one body of Christ . . . us.

So the manifestation of God is Christ; the manifestation of Christ is His body, the church!

The Two Great Mysteries

"That their hearts may be comforted, they being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, that they may know the mystery of God, Christ." Colossians 2:2 (ASV)

Of the mysteries mentioned in the Bible, two are basic. The first is the mystery of God. The phrase "the mystery of God, Christ" is an appositional statement. That is, the mystery of God is Christ. Christ is the unveiling of God! If we want to know God, if we want to see God, if we want to touch God, if we want to understand the mystery of God in this universe, then we must see that this mystery is embodied in Christ. To look at Christ is to look at God! To know Christ is to know God!

The second basic mystery in the Bible is the mystery of Christ. After Paul speaks concerning some of the details of this mystery in Ephesians 3:3-5, he then unveils what the mystery is in verse 6: "That the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel." Thus, the mystery is the one Body of Christ, made up of both Jews and Gentiles. Paul continues to refer to the mystery of Christ in Ephesians 3:9 by saying, "And to bring to light what is the administration of the mystery . . ." (NASV). Then he specifies in verse 10 that the administration, or the economy, of the mystery is being worked out through the church. Thus, the mystery of Christ is the church! If we want to know Christ, touch Christ, hear Christ, and see Christ, we must realize that Christ is revealed in the church. The mystery of Christ is His Body, the church, the fullness of the One who fills all in all (Eph. 1:22-23). The church is the expression of Christ. It is Christ Himself lived out in a corporate way through His members. The revelation that the mystery of Christ is the corporate Christ was the unique revelation of Paul's ministry. It was given to him in order that all believers might enter into his understanding. In other words, there is not going to be another revelation of the church for us to enter into. No! All believers are required to enter into Paul's revelation and understanding.

from The Supplied Life daily devotional by Bill Freeman

[Vine Abider]

As the song says, "Born to raise the sons of earth - born to give them second birth . . . fix in us thy humble home . . . bruise in us the serpent's head . . . reinstate us in Thy love!"

We need our vision of God's eternal purpose raised to a much higher plane:  Christ will restore and fulfil God's purpose - IN & THROUGH US!

[Your closest friendnt]

On 12/17/2024 at 10:02 AM, Vine Abider said:

It is easy to see in the bible that the "mystery of God" is Christ. But then in Ephesians 3 Paul talks about the "mystery of Christ" in verse 4. In the verses following Paul spells out what the mystery of Christ is - it is the one body of Christ . . . us.

So the manifestation of God is Christ; the manifestation of Christ is His body, the church!

The Two Great Mysteries

"That their hearts may be comforted, they being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, that they may know the mystery of God, Christ." Colossians 2:2 (ASV)

Greetings to you. You have given me a big task. Colossians and Laodiceans were Gentiles believers. 

And what can we know about the Gentiles is that they were politheistis. They had a God for every different situation in life and every different need in life. 

...

On 12/17/2024 at 10:02 AM, Vine Abider said:

 

Of the mysteries mentioned in the Bible, two are basic. The first is the mystery of God. The phrase "the mystery of God, Christ" is an appositional statement. That is, the mystery of God is Christ. Christ is the unveiling of God! If we want to know God, if we want to see God, if we want to touch God, if we want to understand the mystery of God in this universe, then we must see that this mystery is embodied in Christ. To look at Christ is to look at God! To know Christ is to know God!

The second basic mystery in the Bible is the mystery of Christ. After Paul speaks concerning some of the details of this mystery in Ephesians 3:3-5, he then unveils what the mystery is in verse 6: "That the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel." Thus, the mystery is the one Body of Christ, made up of both Jews and Gentiles. Paul continues to refer to the mystery of Christ in Ephesians 3:9 by saying, "And to bring to light what is the administration of the mystery . . ." (NASV). Then he specifies in verse 10 that the administration, or the economy, of the mystery is being worked out through the church. Thus, the mystery of Christ is the church! If we want to know Christ, touch Christ, hear Christ, and see Christ, we must realize that Christ is revealed in the church. The mystery of Christ is His Body, the church, the fullness of the One who fills all in all (Eph. 1:22-23). The church is the expression of Christ. It is Christ Himself lived out in a corporate way through His members. The revelation that the mystery of Christ is the corporate Christ was the unique revelation of Paul's ministry. It was given to him in order that all believers might enter into his understanding. In other words, there is not going to be another revelation of the church for us to enter into. No! All believers are required to enter into Paul's revelation and understanding.

from The Supplied Life daily devotional by Bill Freeman