PAULINE DOXOLOGY - PART 6

WEDNESDAY 08 NOVEMBER 2023

As a highly regarded authority, apostle Paul stated: "I have become servant of the body by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness, the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the Lord's people. To 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 1:25-27 NIV).

Apostle Paul became servant of Christ's body which is the church, according to the stewardship from God which was given to him to expound Christ, bearing in mind that Christ is the mystery hidden from ages and from generations, but has been revealed to His saints. Isn't it wonderful that God willed to make known the riches of the glory of His mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in us, the hope of glory? Christ, the hidden mystery, containing the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, has been made known to us and in us. Hallelujah!

Reference: Romans 16:25-27 New International Version (NIV) "Now to him who is able to establish you in accordance with my gospel, the message I proclaim about Jesus Christ, in keeping with the revelation of the mystery hidden for long ages past, but now revealed and made known through the prophetic writings by the command of the eternal God, so that all the Gentiles might come to the obedience that comes from faith— to the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen."

Today's focus is on the third segment of my expository structure: "But now revealed and made known through the prophetic writings by the command of the eternal God."

What does this imply? We just got informed about the way in which Christ was revealed and made known to us, which is through the prophetic writings inspired by God's command. Prophetic writings simply imply that the writings were uttered by prophets. Put in another way, Christ was revealed to us, just as the prophets foretold and as the eternal God has commanded. Got it? Prophetic writings are divinely inspired; they are not ordinary written information, like newspapers and magazines (see 2 Timothy 3:16-17 NIV). And so, there is something about prophetic writings that moves and inspires us to believe in what God has said, which Paul acknowledged in his epistles.

For instance, in Ephesians 3:2-5, Paul says, "Surely you have heard about the administration of God's grace that was given to me for you, that is, the mystery made known to me by revelation, as I have already written briefly. In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, 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" (NIV).

Paul hinted at the concept and influence of his inspired writings in verses four and five, saying, "In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, 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." Beloved, as born again Christians, when we read what Paul had written, we are able to better understand the depth of his insight into the mystery (Christ), because it comes from the inspiration of the Spirit.

Petrine epistle according to 2 Peter 1:20-21 says, "Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost" (KJV). Simply put, the main thing to keep in mind is that no prophetic utterance or writing is a matter of private human opinion. And why? Because it's not something concocted in the human heart.

Divinely inspired prophecies resulted when the Holy Spirit prompted men and women to speak God's mind, which includes the mystery of His will, namely Christ. To that effect, Ephesians 1:9 reads, "God has now revealed to us His mysterious will regarding Christ—which is to fulfil His own good plan" (NLT). Stay tuned for part 7. Shalom!

Scripture Reading - 1 Corinthians 2:7; Ephesians 3:9; Colossians 2:2; 1 Timothy 3:16.

Exuberant Declaration: God has revealed to me the mystery of His perfect will - regarding Christ in me, which is to manifest His own good purpose through my life by the Spirit. Hallelujah!