What does "the mystery of His will" mean in Ephesians 1:9? Setting the Scene “ And He has made known to us the mystery of His will according to His good pleasure, which He purposed in Christ.” (Ephesians 1:9) What “mystery” means • Greek mustērion: not a puzzle for clever people to solve, but a divine secret once hidden, now revealed by God Himself • Always unveiled on God’s timetable (cf. Romans 16:25-26; Colossians 1:26-27) Unpacking “the mystery of His will” • God’s long-concealed plan centers on Christ—His life, death, resurrection, and exaltation • It brings together: – Redemption through His blood (Ephesians 1:7) – Adoption as sons and daughters (1:5) – Unity of Jews and Gentiles in one body (Ephesians 3:3-6) – Future cosmic harmony under Christ’s headship (Ephesians 1:10) Linked Passages that Illuminate the Mystery • Ephesians 3:8-11—“to enlighten everyone about the administration of this mystery… according to the eternal purpose that He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.” • Colossians 1:27—“Christ in you, the hope of glory.” • 1 Corinthians 2:7—“We declare God’s wisdom, a mystery that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began.” Key Features of the Mystery • Christ-centered: He is both the revealer and the content of the secret • Grace-driven: made known “according to His good pleasure,” not human merit • Time-spanning: conceived “before the foundation of the world” (Ephesians 1:4) yet revealed “in the fullness of time” (Galatians 4:4) • All-inclusive: embraces every believer, regardless of ethnicity or background Practical Implications • Confidence—God’s plan is not ad-hoc; it was lovingly crafted before history began • Unity—believers share one body and one future, eliminating barriers (Ephesians 2:14-16) • Mission—because the mystery is now disclosed, we proclaim it boldly (Colossians 4:3) • Hope—Christ will ultimately “bring all things in heaven and on earth together in Him” (Ephesians 1:10) Takeaway Truths • The “mystery of His will” is God’s age-old plan to redeem and unite all things through Christ. • What was hidden is now plainly revealed in the gospel. • Every believer stands as evidence that the mystery is real, active, and unstoppable. |