What Is the MYSTERY OF THE AGES?
The plainest answer to this question can be found in this passage:
24Now I rejoice in what I am suffering for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church. 25I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness— 26the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the Lord’s people. 27To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
Colossians 1:24-27
The New Century Version renders the key verse like so:
God decided to let his people know this rich and glorious secret which he has for all people. This secret is Christ himself, who is in you. He is our only hope for glory.
Colossians 1:27 (NCV)
This point is elaborated by Paul in the opening verses of the next chapter of his epistle (keeping in mind that there were no chapter divisions when Paul wrote it):
2My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, 3in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
Colossians 2:2-3
These verses were written by the apostle almost three decades after the Lord died for our sins and was resurrected for our justification (Romans 5:18). Yet this “mystery of the ages” — this “secret” — was known by Peter & the other apostles during the early days of the Church, as disclosed here:
41The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name. 42Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Messiah.
Acts 5:41-42
The point is that Jesus Christ is the mystery of the ages — the secret that the Creator kept hidden until the time of the New Covenant era, which began with John the Baptist, the forerunner of Christ (Luke 16:16). Believers today tend to take this awesome mystery for granted, which is Christ in you, the only hope of glory, as observed above in Colossians 1:27. How is Christ in us? Through spiritual rebirth wherein we’re “created to be like God in true righteousness” (Ephesians 4:22-24) and also through the indwelling Spirit of Christ (Romans 8:9). (For inspiring details, see this video).
After pointing out that the mystery of God is the Lord Christ, Paul goes on to say “in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Colossians 2:3). In other words, Christ is the key of knowledge (Luke 11:52). Chew on that!
The global social implications of this glorious secret were not realized by the apostles until Peter was given an illuminating vision (Acts 10-11), after which the Hebrew believers realized that “God has granted even the Gentiles [non-Jews] repentance that leads to life” (Acts 11:18). As it is written in the Gospels: “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them” (John 3:36). In other words, the Good News of the message of Christ applies to all people worldwide, not just Jewish people. This is a key element of the mystery of Christ, as elaborated by Paul some three decades later:
2Surely you have heard about the administration of God’s grace that was given to me for you, 3that is, the mystery made known to me by revelation, as I have already written briefly. 4In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, 5which 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. 6This 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.
7I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of his power. 8Although 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, 9and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things. 10His 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, 11according to his eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. 12In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence. 13I ask you, therefore, not to be discouraged because of my sufferings for you, which are your glory.
Acts 3:2-13
So, the mystery of the ages is Christ in you, the only hope of glory (the glory being eternal life in a redeemed Universe), which is available to all people through the Good News (John 3:16 & Romans 6:23). The more you meditate on this truth, the more mind-blowing it is!
Related Topics:
The Fountain of Life Within (video)
KEY of KNOWLEDGE — What Is It?
The DEFEAT of Satan & His Losers
The Ark of the Covenant in the New Testament (video)
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