According to
Paul the apostle, God's desire was that every person “see what
is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the
world has been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ”.
This “mystery” was that Gentiles and Jews were to be
participants in God's redemption plan of Salvation. In chapter three
and verse ten to the Ephesian church members, Paul shared how the
powers that be should know “the manifold wisdom of God” where
we read:
To the
intent that now unto the principalities and powers
The
verse begins, “To the intent that now unto the principalities
and powers...” Paul began with the words, “To the intent
that” which means “in order that, so that, because and lest”
“now” or “at this time and in the present” “unto
the principalities” which refers to “the first, beginning,
origin and in the first place” “and powers” or “liberty
of doing as one pleases, of authority, rule of government and one who
possesses authority both regal and with a crown”. Not only was the
“mystery” of God to be known by “all people”, but God
“intended” for those who are in “authority and power” to know
it as well.
The
verse goes on to say, “...in heavenly
places might
be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,” Paul
continued, “in heavenly” which
means “celestial, high and the abode of God and angels” “places
might be known”
or “be recognized, gain knowledge of, have thorough knowledge of,
certify, declare, understand and do to wit” “by
the church”
which refers to “a gathering of citizens
called out from their homes into some public place or an assembly of
the people convened at the public place of the council for the
purpose of deliberating, worship and hoping
for eternal salvation through Jesus Christ, observe their own
religious rites, hold their own religious meetings, and manage their
own affairs, according to regulations prescribed for the body for
order's sake” “the manifold”
or “much variegated, marked with a great variety of colors and much
varied” “wisdom”
which means “broad and full of intelligence with knowledge of very
diverse matters” “of God”
which refers to “the Godhead bodily and trinity which is comprised
of God the Father, Christ the Son and the Holy Spirit”. God's
intention was for those in authority in “heaven” and in the
“church” to know the “varied wisdom of God”.
When
we think through these words of Paul, we admire God's intentional
plan to include everyone in His Salvation plan. He “hid” this
purpose from those who are in “authority in heavenly places” as
well as those on the earth until Paul came along to deliver it. The
expansion of the gospel of the Kingdom of God was to all people, and
everyone who will venture in faith to see it will know the “manifold
wisdom of God”.
Next
time Paul shares about God's “eternal purpose”,
so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
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