Pastor Rockwell / DISPENSATIONALISM AND THE MYSTERY OF CHRIST


Pastor Jerry Rockwell

DISPENSATIONALISM AND THE MYSTERY OF CHRIST

      

Ephesians 3:1-11

Introduction: We now embark on the third major doctrine presented in the book of Ephesians delivered by the Apostle Paul. John Phillips gives a perspective on this passage. He says, “The Jews were infuriated when Paul taught that believing Gentiles were full members of God’s family and the fellowship of saints. The Jews’ national pride was stung.” We saw in Ephesians 2:1-21, Paul’s exposition of the situation between Jew and Gentile and its truth. Paul was giving explanation of union of Jew and Gentile  and stated in Ephesians 2:16 (KJV), “And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby.” Today we do not experience the “enmity” shown in the New Testament between Jew and Gentile. Paul was given the revelation of the “mystery” when God called him and delivered this “mystery” is that Gentiles would be Ephesians 3:6 (KJV), “That the Gentiles should be fellow-heirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel.” This battle was strong in the first century of church history between Jew and Gentile and ended when God dispersed Israel when Rome sent the

When you read the book of Acts, you find that there was great hostility between the Jews and the doctrine Paul was proclaiming. The Jews were unhappy with what the Disciples of Jesus were preaching and proclaiming in Acts 1-8. The Jews jailed the Disciples for their preaching, and Stephen, one of the Twelve, was put to death by the Jews in Acts 7. At the “stoning of Stephen,” a young man by the name of Saul was “consenting unto his death” (Acts 8:1). When you come to Acts 9:1, it says that “Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord went into the high priest.” The next verse (vs. 2) indicates he “desired letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.” The next verses tell of Saul’s conversion to Jesus Christ (Acts 9:3-22). When Paul was eventually taken to Antioch (where the “disciples were called Christians first in Antioch”) by Barnabas, they stayed there (Acts 12:24-25). The story is developed in Acts 10-12 showing the tension between the disciples and the Jews as well as the involvement of “Herod the king” against the Christians. He had James, the brother of John (both disciples) put to death “with the sword” because he “saw it pleased the Jews” (Acts 12:1-3). This made two major enemies of the Christians, Jews and Romans. Saul and Barnabas had been in Jerusalem during this time and could have witnessed these events (Acts. 12:24-25). These events sets the stage for what is read in Ephesians 3:1 (KJV), “For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles.” This verse speaks volumes about what was taking place in the first century of the current age, called by Bible students and theologians “The Church Age.” 

  1. THE DISPENSATION OF THE GRACE OF GOD, Ephesians 3:1-6. This section of scripture has several items that need exploration. 
  1. The Gentiles, vs. 1. The word “Gentile(s)” is found 101 times in the New Testament (NT). It is not in the Old Testament. Of the occurrences, 47 are in the Gospels, 50 are in the Pauline epistles, 3 of them in the General Epistles, and one time in Revelation. In the study of Ephesians 2, it was clear that Paul was explaining to the Gentiles why there was a controversy over “circumcision.” The first verse of Ephesians suggests the reason for Paul writing to them. The verses in Chapter 2 set the stage for the following passage. Paul was in prison for his preaching to the Gentiles the “gospel of Christ” (Rom. 1:16; 15:19, 29; 1 Cor. 9:12, 18; 2 Cor. 4:4; 9:13; 10:14; Gal. 1:7; Phil 1:27; 1 Thess. 3:2). Paul understood his calling and commission from God. When God intercepted Paul on his way to Damascus (Acts 9:2) his life changed dramatically. He moved from a hater of Christians and Christianity to being one of the most productive Christians in history. God enlisted a Jewish believer, Ananias, to go where Paul was and put “his hand on him, that he might receive his sight” (Acts 9:12). He protested to God about going, due to the reputation Paul developed by persecuting Christians. God instructed him in Acts 9:15 (KJV), “But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel.” Paul told the church Galatians 2:7–8 (KJV), “7 But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter; 8 (For he that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles:).” He informed Timothy in 2 Timothy 1:11 (KJV), “Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.” Paul clearly had a commission from God to reach the people called Gentiles.
  2. The Dispensation of the Grace of God, Ephesians 3:2. In this verse, we are introduced to the “Dispensation of the Grace of God.” It is important to understand that the word “dispensation” is not a period of time. It has the meaning of “the management, oversight, administration, of other’s property.” It is  section of history when God calls a person or people to administer the revelation given to them in the scripture. This might suggest a period of time, yet the purpose of a dispensation is that God places the people under a responsibility and usually there is a leader of this responsibility.  

The Bible has a principle of studying and applying the scripture correctly called “rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Tim. 2:15). This is demonstrated by the difference in the OT and NT. Lewis Sperry Chafer gives some definitions of what a “dispensationalist” is. He says, “(1) Any person is a dispensationalist who trusts the blood of Christ rather than bringing an animal sacrifice. (2) Any person is a dispensationalist who disclaims any right or title to the land which God covenanted to Israel for an everlasting inheritance. And (3) a person is a dispensationalist who observes the first day of the week rather than the seventh.” The word “dispensation,” thus means a stewardship. Dr. Charles Ryrie summarizes the matter. He says, “Dispensationalism views the world as a household run by God.” It is important to make note that “grace” is not just for the dispensation Paul is referring to. This was the time the Gentiles had access to the “grace of God.” We should re-examine Ephesians 2:12–13 (KJV), “12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: 13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.” Paul is telling the people of Ephesus that there was a time when they were without Christ and had no hope. That has changed and the Grace of God is not available to you by the “blood of Christ” (Eph. 2:13). The Gentiles now have access to the grace of God unto salvation as stated in 1 Peter 1:5 (KJV), “Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” That is made possible by the grace of God. The Gentiles now have access to the “grace of God.”  

  1. The Mystery of Christ, Ephesians 3:3-6. Paul knew the “mystery” by revelation from God (see: Gal. 1:20-24). He was in Arabia for three years and was given the message of the mystery from God by “revelation” (Gal. 1:11-18). The revelation Paul received is found in the epistles he wrote to the churches, Romans, 1-2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and 1-2 Thessalonians. He wrote to seven churches. This mystery was not known in other ages (cf. Rom. 16:25-27) but is now revealed to his apostles and prophets by the Spirit (Eph. 3:5). Here is the “mystery” stated in Ephesians 3:6 (KJV), “That the Gentiles should be fellow-heirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel.” This is the truth Paul was giving to the Gentiles in Ephesians 2.  A Mystery definition: “A New Testament mystery is a truth hitherto withheld, or ‘hid in God’ (vs. 9), but now revealed. The sum total of all the mysteries in the New Testament represents that entire body of added truth found in the New Testament which is unrevealed in the Old Testament.” This is the same as stated in Romans 16:25-27. [There are seven mysteries, see: pg. 7-8]
  1. The Minister of the Mysteries, Ephesians 3:7-9. 
  1. Ephesians 3:7. Paul explains his involvement in the “mysteries” of God and that he is the “minister, according to the grace God. . .” given to him. He is careful to emphasize that he did not make this up and he is not a charlatan. This is Paul’s explanation of his ministry to the Gentiles as is explained in the book of Acts as seen earlier in this study. Paul gives credit to the power of God which enabled him in this ministry. 
  2. Ephesians 3:8. Here he demonstrates his humility and abasement which he has done in other places. He said in, 1 Corinthians 15:9 (KJV), “For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.” Paul was always careful to give God the credit for what was being accomplished through him. He was never guilty of aggrandizing his position as a minister of Christ. He stated in 1 Timothy 1:15 (KJV), “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.” Paul had a background that he was not proud of when he persecuted the church as described in Acts 7-9. He tried to destroy the church and its people (Acts 8:1-3; 9:1-2, 4-5, 7-8). He said in Acts 26:9 (KJV), “I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.” Paul understood clearly what the “grace of God” was, because he had it applied to his life.
  1. Ephesians 3:9. Paul had a great desire to see all understand the grace of God as he did and understand the workings of God in history and people. Here is a verse which gives credit to Jesus Christ as the creator. This is another statement of the “deity” of Christ. He was God in the flesh (John The Purpose of Paul’s Ministry, Ephesians 3:10-13. It is to be noted the content of Ephesians 3:10 (KJV), “To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God.” The phrase “to the intent” suggests Paul’s purpose. The phrase “the principalities and powers in heavenly places” might know “by the church the manifold wisdom of God.” Have you ever wondered what is meant by 1 Peter 1:12 (KJV), “Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into?” [Emphasis added.] This might be a clue. The next two verses (Eph. 3:11-12) indicate Paul’s desire to communicate these principles.  

THE SEVEN MYSTERIES

The New Testament contains at least seven mysteries. They are:

  1. The Mystery of Godliness, 1 Timothy 3:16 (KJV), “And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.”
  2. The Mystery of “Christ in you,” Colossians 1:26–27 (KJV), “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.”  
  3. The Mystery of Christ and the Church, Ephesians 5:32 (KJV), “This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.” 
  4. The Mystery of the Restoration of Israel, Romans 11:25–26, 28-29 (KJV), “25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. 26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: 28 As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers’ sakes. 29 For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.” 
  5. The Mystery of Babylon the Great, Revelation 17:5 (KJV), “ And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.” 
  6. The Mystery of Iniquity, 2 Thessalonians 2:7 (KJV), “For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. This verse is the explanation of what is said in 2 Thessalonians 2:2-8. 
  7. The Mystery of the Rapture of the Church, 1 Corinthians 15:51–55 (KJV),  

“51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. 55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? See also: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18.