Transformed in Christ: Mystery of God's Will (Ephesians - Part 8)

Brothers and sisters in Christ, let us turn our hearts and minds to the message Pastor Sam so wonderfully expounds in his sermon on "The Mystery of God's Will" from the "Transformed in Christ" series. This message, drawn from the wellspring of Ephesians, is not merely information, but revelation meant to transform our understanding and deepen our worship.

The Unveiling of God’s Glorious Mystery

Pastor Sam begins by directing our attention to Ephesians 1:9-10, where the Apostle Paul makes known to us "the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in Christ, things in heaven and things on earth in him". What a magnificent declaration! God, in His infinite wisdom, intended for us to grasp His saving purposes, and He has lavished His grace upon us with "all wisdom and insight" precisely by revealing this mystery.

Now, when the Apostle speaks of a "mystery" in the New Testament, he is not speaking of something unknowable, but rather of a previously hidden secret now divinely disclosed. This "mystery of God" centers squarely on salvation through the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. This is a crucial point, for this divine wisdom cannot be apprehended by human intellect or worldly sagacity. Indeed, as Pastor Sam reminds us from 1 Corinthians 2, it is God Himself who reveals this profound truth by His Spirit to those who love Him. It is a "secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glory". This wisdom, which no human mind could conceive or imagine, is not the product of human intelligence but is graciously revealed by the Holy Spirit, for only the Spirit searches and knows "even the depths of God". Therefore, if we, as believers, comprehend these divine matters, it is solely because the Spirit has been granted to us, communicating these spiritual realities in Spirit-breathed words. Unbelievers, lacking the Spirit, deem these spiritual truths as foolishness. Our ability to discern reality, then, is not an inherent human capacity, but flows directly from the indwelling Spirit, granting us the very "mind of Christ". What a humbling and uplifting truth – our comprehension rests not on our intelligence, but on God’s sovereign determination, and this understanding is ultimately for His glory and for ours.

Paul's Proclamation: Christ Crucified, Not Human Wisdom

The sermon further illuminates this truth by examining the Apostle Paul's own approach to ministry. Pastor Sam highlights Paul’s conviction, stated in 1 Corinthians 2, that he did not come proclaiming the testimony of God with "lofty speech or wisdom". His unwavering resolve was "to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified". This was not a mere stylistic choice, but a deeply held conviction that the proclamation of the gospel must not be veiled in human wisdom. Paul's own experience and even his physical presence—which some Corinthians deemed "unimpressive" and his speech "of no account"—matched his message of weakness and foolishness, reflecting the very nature of the crucified Christ.

Paul purposely eschewed the dazzling rhetoric and philosophical arguments that captivated the Graeco-Roman world. He was even fearful of relying on himself rather than on God's grace. His intention was clear: that the Corinthians' faith "might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God". This commitment to "Christ crucified" was far more than a theological point; it was the lens through which he viewed his entire Christian life and ministry. He understood his role not as an eloquent persuader, but as a faithful herald, a proclaimer of truth revealed by God, not human opinions. What a powerful lesson for us today: the power of the gospel resides in its divine content and the Spirit's work, not in the cleverness or charisma of its human vessels.

The Grand Design: Uniting All Things in Christ

At the very heart of this revealed mystery is God's majestic plan "to unite all things in Christ, things in heaven and things on earth". This is the ultimate goal of God's saving purposes, planned from eternity. It speaks to a "cosmic dimension" of God's salvation plan. Pastor Sam explains that Christ is not merely the means, the instrument, or a functionary in this grand design, but He is the "focal point," the one "in whom God chooses to sum up the cosmos," restoring harmony to the universe. The universe, as Paul describes in Romans 8, is presently "divided and groaning for redemption". Through sin, endless disorder and disintegration entered the world. But the glorious hope is that paradise, lost in Adam, "will be restored in Christ". God's two creations - His whole universe and His whole church - will eventually be unified under the cosmic Christ, who is the supreme head of both. All things were created in Christ, and through Him, all things will be brought back to their intended function and unity by being restored to His obedience.

To fully grasp this, Pastor Sam elaborates on the phrases "things in heaven" and "things on earth." These are not simply rhetorical flourishes, but signify two distinct spheres or domains that run throughout the epistle of Ephesians. "The heavenlies" refer to the powers that operate in the spiritual realm, while "the things on earth" primarily refer to the church, specifically the unity of Jews and Gentiles in the body of Christ. The sermon reveals that two major obstacles stand in the way of this divine unity: first, the rebellion of the spiritual powers, and second, the alienation of Jews from Gentiles, and indeed, the estrangement of all humanity from God Himself. Much of Ephesians, we are taught, unpacks the steps God has taken to overcome these obstacles and achieve this supreme goal.

The Fullness of Time: Already Initiated, Yet Awaiting Consummation

When will this glorious unification take place? Pastor Sam informs us it is "a plan for the fullness of time". This "fullness of time" is an apocalyptic expression, looking forward to the appointed climax of God's redemptive plan. Just as "when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son" (Galatians 4:4), so too, when the time is ripe for the consummation of His purpose, in His providential overruling of the world, that consummation will be realized.

It is important to understand that while the "content of the mystery has been revealed", the full "outworking of God’s saving purposes has not been completed". The phrase "to unite all things" points not to a past event, but to a grand purpose, a future goal yet to be achieved. However, this does not mean the divine plan is inactive. On the contrary, significant steps have already been taken. Through Jesus' saving work, the content of this mystery has already been revealed. Moreover, God has already exalted His Son, placing "all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church". Christ has been raised from the dead and seated at God's right hand, "far above all rule and authority and power and dominion," not only in this age but in the one to come. This is a mighty step towards the fulfillment of this goal.

Pastor Sam also draws a helpful distinction between Ephesians and Colossians here. While Colossians speaks of a reconciliation of "all things" (including principalities) that has already been effected through Christ's death, Ephesians points to the "summing up of the universe in Christ as the final goal of God’s plan which has not yet been realized". Both letters acknowledge the cosmic dislocation caused by sin, requiring restoration and harmony. But Ephesians, while affirming Christ's present headship, emphasizes the future consummation when all fragmented and alienated elements of the universe will be brought together and reunited in Christ as the focal point.

This mystery, while cosmic in scope, also has a deeply personal dimension. "He made known to us the mystery of His will". The recipients of this glorious disclosure are we, the Christian community, enabling us to praise God for His boundless kindness lavished upon us. We are not some select group of initiates, but those who have received the Word of God through the effective preaching and teaching of the gospel, for it is in this very process that the revelation of the mystery takes place.

Pastor Sam concludes this section by reminding us that God's choice of believers to be adopted as His sons and daughters was in accordance with His pleasure and will. Likewise, His making known the mystery of His salvation plan was entirely in line with His sovereign and eternal purpose, predetermined in Christ.

So, brothers and sisters, let us stand in awe of this magnificent truth! Our God has a plan, a grand, overarching purpose to unite all things in Christ. Though the world around us may seem fragmented and alienated, God is actively working out His design. We live in the "already" of the mystery's revelation and Christ's headship, yet we eagerly await the "not yet" of its glorious consummation. This profound understanding should fill us with hope, encourage our perseverance, and compel us to live in light of His sovereign will, knowing that our ultimate destiny, and indeed the destiny of the entire cosmos, is to be summed up in our glorious Redeemer, Jesus Christ. May this truth uplift your spirit and strengthen your faith!