Mystery of Christ ...

Tuesday, July 11, 2017. Christian faith is openly known and available. Today, in principle everyone can read the bible, everyone can study the sources. It is open for you and me, for any human on the planet. But it has not always been that openly known. It was known in part by the prophets, by the Old Testament books, for a long time. But then, through Christ himself, through the disciples and apostles, the full depth of the Gospel became known. We will read a passage today, where the apostle Paul talks about the unravelling of the mystery of Christ.

This mystery is …

What is the mystery, that is in Christ? What is it that is openly available today? It is that through the Gospel of Christ all men and women can be heirs of the glory of the creator. It means that through faith we can be part of the family. Forgiveness is openly available through faith in Christ. Restoration, new life, love, truth, joy … there is an unbelievable promise in Christ. This was a mystery for a long time, it is now openly available! Have a look into the original words of Paul:

1 For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles— 2 Surely you have heard about the administration of God’s grace that was given to me for you, 3 that is, the mystery made known to me by revelation, as I have already written briefly. 4 In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, 5 which was not made known to people in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets.

6 This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus. 7 I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of his power. 8 Although I am less than the least of all the Lord’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the boundless riches of Christ, 9 and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things. 10 His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, 11 according to his eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. 12 In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence. 13 I ask you, therefore, not to be discouraged because of my sufferings for you, which are your glory. (from Ephesians 3)

Approach God with Freedom and Confidence …

In Christ we may approach God with freedom and confidence. God is not longer to fear, God is to love. God is no longer far away, he is close to our mind and to our heart. He is closer to us than anything else - through the Holy Spirit.

Paul talks about the boundless riches of Christ. That might sound strange, as long as we look at it with purely worldly eyes. Yet indeed, if you approach Christ as who he is - the son of God - you will find riches in him beyond measure. He is, after all, part of the trinity, part of the community of God in father, son and spirit, part of the creating team, fully God, and fully human.

God's good news is truly good news. God is fantastic, and we can approach him, live with him, learn from him, love him and be loved by his unbelievable love and friendship. Things are much better than we might think if we only look at human affairs. And God loves all these humans, he loves all of us. He comes with restoration and his deep power, in all freedom. What a mystery still to discover in Christ, for you and for me, day by day! (Roland Potthast) ... more texts