Ephesians 1: 9-10
Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:
"Having made know unto us the mystery of his will,..." This mystery that Paul is speaking of I believe is the Gospel, too it is important to recognize the tense in which he is speaking, it's in the past tense. This mystery is something that has been revealed previously to the reader. Now the Gospel is no mystery to those of us who have heard it and believed it but the Gospel was a mystery and sadly still is a mystery to so many. It was a mystery to the Israelite's in the time of Jesus. It was a mystery to even Paul before God knocked him off his high horse on the road of Damascus and revealed himself to him. It was a mystery to me until my grandmother, father, mother, pastor, Sunday school teacher and God's own Spirit all, little by little, revealed unto me and uncovered the mystery of the Gospel. How Jesus came and lived a perfect life and died in my place on Calvary, rising three days later conquering death, hell and the grave so that all who would believe on him could be saved. Redemption is what you could call it and men are completely blind to it until the glorious light of the gospel shines unto them. Dear reader, please read your bible on a daily basis, it has within it everything we need to know about this mystery of the Gospel. Don't let the mystery of the Gospel be a mystery to you.
"That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ,..." The fulness of times, the point at which all things come to a pinnacle. The very turning point of our calendar system. The point at which Christ hung there on Calvary and proclaimed "It is Finished." All things were gathered together in Christ. The fulness of the Godhead bodily is in Him. In the beginning was the word and word was made flesh and dwelt among us. Jesus ministry on earth was the pinnacle of the ages and Calvary was the turning point of the whole universe..
"Both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him." When I read this line I was instantly reminded of the Jesus' prayer in Matthew 6:10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Calvary was the point on earth when Christ became here what He already was in Heaven, The Lamb slain before the foundation of the earth. In heaven Christ was the choice, the elect the chosen one. Before the foundations of the world Christ was the savior of man, but in the dispensation of the fulness of times He fulfilled here what He was there. Calvary is the point where time and eternity meet and Gods purpose and will was achieved. When Jesus said it is finished He meant it is finished. The weight of just those three words are immeasurable. Our salvation, redemption, all our benefits were completed. Not only our portion was finished but God's eternal will and purpose was finished. Let us recognize Calvary as the dispensation of the fulness of time and stand in awe of what eternal purpose was accomplished in our earthly realm to bring all things in one, in heaven and earth, to fulfillment in Christ.
"O the love that drew salvation's plan,
O the grace that brought it down to man,
O the mighty gulf that God did span,
At Calvary"
According to the riches of His Grace!!
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