Ephesians 1:9,10: The Mystery of His Will

One of the greatest privileges of the Christ-follower is that, having been adopted into God's family, we are now able to know the very will of God. Now, I don't mean that we can know all that God knows, or that we now know all the whats and hows and whys of the universe. What I do mean is that we are no longer in the dark as to the fact that God is in charge of the world, and is carefully working all things "according to the kind intention of His will" (vs. 5). Paul will later say that our God "works all things after the counsel of His will" (vs. 11). And here in vs. 9, 10 Paul goes so far as to say that God has revealed to those chosen in Christ, and now redeemed, just what lies at the very center of this will.

Paul's use of "mystery" in Ephesians has been the topic of much study by thousands of commentators. He uses it 6 times, and each time it refers so something that was previously unknown or not completely understood but has now been revealed by God to us. Think about that: Almighty God has taken us into His confidence. He has opened His mind to us, and our heart to Him to understand the very core of His will in regard to this world. We are here thinking God's thoughts after Him!

The "mystery" of God's will here refers directly to the means by which God intends to reclaim and reform all creation, restoring it to its original creative intention. He created all things to magnify Himself, and sin brought ruin and corruption to this plan.  But God determined that His glory would best be seen in rescuing a lost creation from bondage to sin. And so He set about the plan that had, in reality, been determined in eternity past. And now that plan has been revealed to us. God intends that all things, whether in heaven or on earth will ultimately be "summed up in Christ" (vs. 10). The will of God for all of history revolves around this man Jesus. In and through Him, God will accomplish every bit of His redemptive plan, on time. God has determined that sin will never win the day, and has initiated in Christ a rescue and reclamation plan that cannot fail, and is guaranteed to re-establish God's creation as God's masterpiece.  Included in this "mystery" is the inclusion of the Gentiles which will form the core of this epistle (see: 3:4-10).

But, before Paul unfolds the elements and nuances of this great mystery of God's will he first just wants to glory in the fact that God has let us into His mind. This is an amazing privilege! No longer are we in the dark. No longer do we have to wonder where history is going, or what the end of time will bring. We need not worry that the utter sinfulness of mankind or their best laid plans could ever overcome or prevent God from accomplishing all that He determines to do. God has made known to us, in the Gospel of Christ, the way He will administrate all of human history.

Too often we forget this privilege, especially when the events of the day seem to indicate that history is spiraling out of control. It is at those times that our theology is most important. We must not only remember the privileges we have "in Christ" but also determine to live in light of them, never lacking the courage and compassion that must come from knowing the very mind of God.

Hope this helps,

David