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 men 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.
The mystery of Christ, the mystery that was NOT MADE KNOWN to men of other generations (v5). Please consider the context of when this was written. Paul was referring to those who lived before Jesus Christ’s ministry on earth. Right there is Scriptural proof that those outside of the people of Israel, with few exceptions (e.g. Ruth & Rahab), were never going to hear about the Christ, or the Gospel. Of course this means there was no “availability” of salvation for them to accept or reject. Now since God determined the specific times and EXACT places for men to live (Acts 17:26) and since He did NOT make Christ known to hundreds of millions of Gentiles, what was the purpose for their miserable wretched lives? One reason is answered in Romans 9:21-23; to make the riches of His Glory known to the objects of His mercy, US!
There is a reason God had Paul use the word mystery. The very definition of the word in the spiritual context means that the information is not known by man and can NOT be known until it is revealed by God.
Does God reveal the mystery of Christ to EVERY man who ever lived? NO! He didn’t reveal Christ 5,000 years ago to everyone, He didn’t reveal Christ 2,000 years ago to everyone, and He hasn’t revealed Christ to everyone today because it is truth that there are people dying today who have never heard the Gospel. But hearing the Gospel of Jesus Christ audibly with their ears is NOT “hearing” the Gospel. The Gospel MUST be heard with spiritual ears and be understood by the spiritual heart. The problem is a lost person has a dead spirit and so is unable to spiritually hear or understand the Gospel. (John 8:43)
The mystery of Christ has now been revealed by the Holy Spirit to the apostles and prophets, and through them to us (also by the Holy Spirit). Christ, through the gospel, made the Gentiles heirs together with the Jews. Here is another example of the idea of “world” NOT meaning every single soul on the planet. Is every Gentile an heir with Israel? Unless you are a universalist the answer is, “Of course not.” The only Gentiles who have been made heirs together with Israel are those Gentiles CHOSEN in Christ before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:4). If a Gentile WASN’T chosen, God’s wrath remains on him (John 3:36). There is nothing he needs to DO, or NOT DO, to go to Hell. He was conceived in sin (Psalm 51:5) and already bound for the Lake of Fire.
My final point: I’m not a Greek scholar but there are several English versions (NASB, NIV, ESV, RSV, ASV, HNV) that are written in the context that the “Gentiles are heirs...” with the emphasis on the word “ARE.” In God’s economy of things, in the timelessness of eternity, it’s already a done deal, which would make complete sense and is reconciled with Ephesians 1:4 in that we were chosen BEFORE the foundation of the world.
Bottom Line: Not every Gentile is an heir so it should be clear there is a distinct group from among the Gentiles who ARE heirs together with Israel.
PRAISE GOD FOR HIS MERCY AND GRACE!!!!!
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