“For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles—if indeed you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which was given to me for you, how that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already, by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ), which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets” (Ephesians 3:1-5).
Behind all the smoke and mirrors of secret handshakes and coded passwords of a mystery religion are cunningly devised fables. Underlying God’s marvelous mystery are the prophetic Scriptures (Romans 16:26) and historical facts (2 Peter 1:16-18).
It is only because of and by divine revelation that any cogent understanding of God’s marvelous mystery can be known.
It is only because of and by divine revelation that God’s marvelous mystery can be known and understood by all. Even though Paul was an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God (Ephesians 1:1) and had personally seen the risen and reigning Lord (Acts 9:3-6), he was not given elite or exclusive knowledge of the mystery; therefore, when you read and understand what he writes in Scripture, you understand as he does (Ephesians 3:4).
In Christ we have a common faith (Titus 1:4) and a common salvation (Jude 3). No special initiation is needed to know God’s marvelous mystery—the good news of spiritual victory in Christ.
You can read it, understand it, and respond appropriately. No funny hats. No covert initiations. No smoke or mirrors.
