CHAPTER 3
In this chapter the apostle speaks of himself as the
“prisoner of the Christ”. He was an ambassador, entrusted with the most pacific and wonderful message, yet bound with a chain by those to whom his message was addressed; for Paul’s mission was mainly to the “nations”. Hence he is “prisoner of the Christ;” he does not say ‘of Christ’, but introduces the thought of the “one new man” (Eph 2: 15)—
the Head—and the body formed of both Jew and Gentile; and for this he suffered, “even unto bonds”, 2 Tim 2: 9.
We have further light in this chapter on his use of this expression, “the Christ”. But first note that it is the activity of the Spirit (v 5) who Himself is speaking in the apostle, so as to engage the affections of the saints with what he has to communicate. The affections, not the intellect merely, for unless love is first and controls me, nothing is effected. For this affection he prays in chap 1: 18. “The eyes of your heart being enlightened”, and again in this chapter 3, “that the Christ may dwell … in your heart”. I think we get light on the use of the expression,
“the Christ”, where, in v 4, the apostle speaks of “the mystery of the Christ”. Because he goes on to say what that mystery is. It is that the Christ should now have associated with Himself, through faith, the NATIONS. His name, “Christ”, in Old Testament times, was exclusive. Now
“the Christ” is inclusive; the mystery is, That “the nations should be joint-heirs, and a joint body, and joint partakers of his promise in Christ Jesus by the glad tidings”. The mystery is now no longer one. “The mystery of the Christ”
is revealed to the apostle Paul from Christ in heaven, and it is now by him communicated, Gal 1: 12; Eph 3: 9.
We must remember that God had been practically cast off by the nations. Before Abraham’s call “they served other gods” (Josh 24: 2), and, “they did not think good to have God in their knowledge”, Rom 1: 28. Therefore it is the 279
most marvellous display of grace in God thus taking them up again, and having in Paul His special minister to them.
He calls himself “the apostle of the Gentiles”, Rom 11: 13.
And when God was thus shut up to Israel, Amos 3: 2; Rom 3: 1, 2. His name by their conduct was blasphemed among the Gentiles. Thus the chosen nation under law, and connected outwardly with God, makes a complete breakdown. Hence we come to this, that man has broken down in every way and under every trial, and the Jew and the Gentile, proving it by their act, unite in crucifying the Son of God. Now what will God do? “The mystery of the Christ”
will come out. God thus breaks through and over-tops all the evil, acting from His own heart and for His own glory, and gives to Saul, the persecutor, as he says, “this grace …
to announce among the nations the glad tidings of the unsearchable riches of the Christ”, v 8.
This is a marvellous expression. God’s thought now
embraces all mankind, Jew and Gentile, in a new association. The riches of “the Christ” are unsearchable, but they are “announced” in Paul’s gospel. Riches—
unsearchable riches—are announced among the nations, but only in connection with the Christ. It is not here merely the Messiah of Israel (for then it must be limited to them), nor is God leaving man as He once did before the flood to himself, nor is He claiming from men now as He did once from Israel on the ground of law. God is occupied with communicating and giving, using the apostle Paul as the vessel, desiring “to enlighten all with the knowledge of what is the administration of the mystery”. Notice, it is unrestricted, it goes out unto all men; its theme, the unsearchable riches of the Christ.
How it becomes the enjoyed portion of the soul is by faith and the presence of the Holy Ghost, chap 1: 13. There are many families in heaven and earth, but union with Christ is our association; and the one thing he desires is, that “the Christ may dwell through faith in our hearts”, and also that we “may know the love of the Christ which surpasses knowledge”. His love passes knowledge, but as 280
a believer I am united to Him in one body, and He dwells in the heart (faith being in activity). These are things that the apostle desires we may know. The heart is satisfied: the sense of rest and satisfaction, the delight in those things, and in that life which is of God is there in my poor heart, since Christ is there: and if it is really so it will come out and separate me from this scene where Christ is not.
How wonderful is this portion that His grace has made ours! And he closes, “That ye may be filled with all the fulness of God”. May we understand it better.
From A Voice to the Faithful—vol 23, 1889
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