Mystery Unraveled Series

Ephesians 3:1-13 [3:1]For this reason I, Paul, a prisoner for Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles-- [2]assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God's grace that was given to me for you, [3]how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have written briefly. [4] When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ, [5] which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit. [6] This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel. [7] Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God's grace, which was given me by the working of his power. [8]To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, [9]and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things, [10]so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. [11] This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, [12]in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him. [13] So I ask you not to lose heart over what I am suffering for you, which is your glory. (ESV)

Canada’s first official name, the Dominion of Canada, reflected a new country composed of Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia. The name was suggested by one of the Fathers of Confederation, Sir Leonard Tilley (New Brunswick), as early as 1864. Tilley was inspired by Psalm 72 from the Bible, which contains the verse: “dominion from sea to sea and from the river to the ends of the earth”. This phrase perfectly embodied the founders’ vision of building a strong, united country that spanned a continent. This all changed at 4 o’clock on Friday, July 9, 1982, when the House of Commons was almost empty. The 13 parliamentarians taking up space in the 282-seat chamber were, by most accounts, half asleep as they began Private Members’ Hour. But then one of the more wakeful Liberals noticed the Tory MPs were slow to arrive in the chamber. Bill C-201, a private member’s bill from Hal Herbert, the Liberal MP from Vaudreuil, that had been gathering dust ever since it had received first reading in May of 1980. “An Act to Amend the Holidays Act” proposed to change the name of the July 1 national holiday from “Dominion Day” to “Canada Day.”[…] The whole process took five minutes. The MPs celebrated by declaring an early end to session at 4:05 p.m. (https://christianrootscanada.org/curriculum/history-bites/how-well-do-you-know-your-history-lesson/).

• Without any national discussion or consideration, the name and identity of our Country was changed through underhanded means, one sleepy Friday afternoon.

Things that unite a people come through clear principles and values. Things that divide a people are often presented through covert means with unexplained or examined motives. The work of Satan reflected in a corrupt world order and a depraved mind, is to divide people by ethnicity, class, language and any other factor that unnecessarily invokes hostility and antagonism. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is the unfolding plan of God to unite a people through a single, gracious, redemptive means and message. What may seem like a confusing, exclusive purpose is actually the divine mystery unravelled to the people of God showing the wonder, majesty and divine glory of God through the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

In Ephesians 3, Paul begins a prayer for believers to understand their resources as one in Christ and then decides to reemphasize and expand some of the truths he has already mentioned. Although our world may seem chaotic and in a spiral of decline, the purpose and plan of God is unfolding. In Ephesians 3:1–13 the apostle Paul leads us to focus on five aspects of the divine mystery of Oneness in Christ. Here we see its: 1) Prisoner (Ephesians 3:1–4), 2) Plan (Ephesians 3:5–6), 3) Preaching (Ephesians 3:7–9), 4) Purpose (Ephesians 3:10–11), and its 5) Privileges (Ephesians 3:12–13).

Rejoicing in the Mystery Unravelled of the Oneness in Christ, we must comprehend:

1) The Prisoner of the Mystery (Ephesians 3:1–4)

Ephesians 3:1-4 [3:1]For this reason I, Paul, a prisoner for Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles-- [2]assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God's grace that was given to me for you, [3]how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have written briefly. [4] When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ, (ESV)