Paul was fond of referring to the mysteries that had been revealed to him. One of those mysteries was the "mystery of Messiah". He addressed this topic in his letter to the Ephesians. We will consider this topic and develop the thesis that the subject remains a mystery in the minds of most believers today.

Mysteries of the First Century Church

One of the things that is evident from the study of the Gospels, is that Jesus’ disciples held traditional views concerning the Messiah and the implications of His ministry. They, like everyone around them, were looking for a warrior-king in the likeness of David who would deliver them from Roman bondage and elevate the Nation of Israel to the exalted position prophesied earlier through Moses and the Prophets. Immediately following the coming of the Holy Spirit on Yom Hashavuot (Pentecost), they realized that they had been ushered into the anointing of Messiah and began functioning as Messiah Jesus had in His earthly ministry. They understood that God had chosen them to become a Messianic nation which was to be a vessel of anointing in the midst of Israel (See 1 Peter 2:9-10) and, more generally, in the world.

Later, the Lord chose Peter to go to the house of a Roman centurion, Cornelius, (Acts 10) and to introduce this Gentile family to the gospel. This act was extremely controversial. Peter was immediately challenged upon his return to Jerusalem. Later, a general conference was held in Jerusalem to discuss how gentile believers were to be received in the Messianic nation. Even though this conference of the Church elders resulted in a published finding for the early Church, this issue was not finally and completely resolved. It remained for the Apostle Paul to work out the details of this mystery. Probably Paul’s greatest contribution to the early Church came in this area. We read his exhortations in many of his letters to the early churches. He addressed this issue directly in his letter to the Ephesians.

First, Paul made the point that these believers (specifically Gentile believers) had been made a part of the Nation of Israel when they had been joined to Messiah Jesus.

Therefore remember, that formerly you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called "Uncircumcision" by the so-called "Circumcision," which is performed in the flesh by human hands—remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ (Ephesians 2:11-13, emphasis added).

Then Paul argued that the "barrier of the dividing wall" had been broken down and that the two groups, Jewish and Gentile believers, had been made into "one new man" in Messiah Jesus. Some attempt to use this Scripture to show that there is now no distinction between Israel and the Nations because this barrier has been removed. This is an erroneous argument because Paul is clearly speaking of the two groups making up the body of Messiah not of the Nation of Israel in the world. Finally, Paul declares what he calls the mystery of Messiah:

And by referring to this, when you read you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed to His holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit; to be specific, that the Gentiles are fellow heirs and fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel... (Ephesians 3:4-6).

Paul recognized that the most fundamental function of the body of Messiah was to be the vessel of manifestation of its head, i.e., Messiah Jesus. In order to function in this most basic role, unity in the body was absolutely necessary. There could not be two distinct groups making up the body. Hence, Paul struggled to establish this dimension of unity in the churches where he ministered. We are truly blessed due to this ministry of the Apostle Paul.

Mysteries in Twenty-First Century Christianity

Christianity today has lost sight of much of the real basis and function of the First Century Church. In place of embracing the vision of being the vessel of manifestation of the head, Jesus, Christianity sees itself as the publicity team for Jesus. It wants to tell everybody about Jesus but hardly dares to believe that the ministry of Jesus could and should be manifested through the body. It forgets that Jesus said: “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go to the Father" (John 14:12). Of course, it is much easier to publicize the works of Jesus than it is to live a disciplined life, walking in unity with brothers and sisters while all share the common faith of being the vessel, or body, of Messiah in the world.

Christianity has also forgotten that it is called to be grafted into the Nation of Israel. Universal or catholic doctrine is embraced by virtually every segment of Christendom. By embracing catholic doctrine, Christians effectively deny their connection with the God of Creation and unwittingly attempt to separate Messiah Jesus from the Holy One of Israel.

Obviously, these are areas that the Church must repent from before it can be effective in the world at this crucial time when every sign indicates that we are approaching the Final Conflict between the Holy One of Israel and evil in this world. My book Hebraic Roots outlines the path of repentance that local churches must take in order to regain their position in God’s anointing and become functional in the process of Redemption in these latter hours. Call, write or visit http://www.tzemach.org/book.htm to receive a copy of Hebraic Roots. It will be a blessing to you.