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Introduction
In our previous articles on the glorious subject of preaching the unsearchable riches of Christ, we’ve explored two aspects of gospel ministry. We’ve discussed the proper estimation of our ministry, and we’ve seen the essence of our preaching. We come now to the end or the goal of gospel proclamation. Paul is empowered by grace and enamored with the inexhaustible, immeasurable, infinite riches of the Redeemer to the end that he would, (Eph 3:9) “bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things.”
Paul has already plumbed a paradox for us; namely, he’s preaching the unsearchable riches of Christ. How do you search out in a declaration what is unsearchable? You can’t, of course. It’s as if language itself is breaking as Paul tries to convey the depths of the glorious riches found in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Making Known The Mystery
But now Paul provides another paradoxical phrase. He’s bringing to light or making known the mystery. If there’s a mystery, doesn’t that mean, by its very nature, that things are hidden? In the purpose of God, who rules over all things as Creator (Eph 3:9), the eternal plan in Christ bringing Jew and Gentile together was hidden. Paul means to communicate that this insight into God’s redeeming purposes lay beyond the grasp of humanity. Man in his finitude cannot comprehend the infinitude of God. What God has chosen to conceal is thereby closed.
The prophets of old sought to understand the sufferings of Christ and the glories to follow (1 Pet 1:10-11). Even the angels longed to look into these things as though they’ve been standing on their tiptoes to get a peek (1 Pet 1:12). But now the things hidden have been unveiled. Indeed, this is the wonder of Paul’s preaching role in general. He is called to clarify what formerly confounded men. He is given the gracious privilege of taking the depths of God (His eternal plan, His manifold wisdom, His thoughts, which are not our thoughts), and conveying those things to sinners. Or even more specifically, Paul is announcing the mystery formerly hidden to the Gentiles. What is this mystery?
Paul defined it in Eph 3:6. “This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ through the gospel.” This gospel of Gentile inclusion through the seed of Abraham was present in the Old Testament. It is in Abraham’s seed that all the nations of the earth are blessed (Gen 22:18). In other words, the Messiah will bring blessings to the nations. The Psalms and the Prophets hinted at these blessings namely, that the Servant of the LORD would be, not merely a restorer of Israel, but a light to the nations (Is 49:6).
What was revealed in shadowy statements awaiting fulfillment is now brought front and center in Paul’s preaching. Light has come. Substance has arrived. The King of the kingdom, who rules over the nations (Ps 22:28) —He is here. He died and rose. And He, the Lord Jesus, is the Savior of the world (John 4:42).
Heralds Of The Mystery
Paul’s specific role then is to preach Christ, to spread abroad the glories of the Savior, so that, as Christ is preached, light may shine on Gentile sinners. What a remarkable thing it is that the former Pharisee, the Gentile-hater and man breathing out threats and violence against Christians, now goes around consumed by Christ’s commission and a love for sinners.
More than that, that this insolent opponent, a man once mad with rage (Acts 26:11) now insists on the mercy found in Jesus. He does so that he might be an instrument to awaken the dead among the nations. Of course, there’s a unique role for the apostle Paul here. He is the chief of sinners now made the trophy of grace. He is the persecutor turned preacher that the mercy of God in Christ might shine in him with staggering brilliance. He is sent on a mission to take the gospel of Jesus and preach Christ where he has not been named.
As Paul preaches the Messiah—the One to whom all nations must bow (Ps 2:8ff), who indeed was lifted up as a signal that all nations would seek him (Is 11:10; John 12:20-23, 32)—the goal, the aim, the end of this preaching, isn’t limited to Paul’s ministry. Paul has an unparalleled position as Christ’s apostle. He is a communicator of the revelation of Christ in a way no present preacher can be.
“Mystery” Ministry
Nevertheless, Paul’s ministry, which conveys Jesus as the sun and center of God’s saving plan for the nations (Eph 1:9-10), has implications for our ministry today. The goal of our preaching, the end of all of our study and prayer, all our crafting of words and conveying concepts, is that, in our preaching, we would bring the mystery to light.
We want sinners in darkness to see the light of Christ, to grasp those very things that baffle the angels. We want cold and miserable souls to feel the Sun of righteousness rising with healing upon them. We want the truth about Christ —who He is and what He has done —to banish the dreariness, inject vigor into the malaise, flood the dungeons of sorrow and bondage with the flaming light of God’s truth, so that sinners might find their chains falling off, their mouths confessing, and their feet following Jesus.
We, of course, want to convey our excitement, our passion, and our thrill in preaching a Savior who can satisfy. Living water can flow over dead hearts and, by the power of the Spirit, bring life. Such divine power at work as we preach should give an earnestness to our exhortations.
Light And Heat Is Required
The fire in the soul of the preacher can’t eclipse the light of truth that must shine. We are not receiving new revelations, like Paul, of the fullness of new covenant mercies found in Jesus; we are aiming to give illumination into the things the Spirit has revealed. Indeed, our task is to make the mystery known, to bring to light, to give the truth concerning the unsearchable riches of Christ in all the Scriptures.
We must, then, convey not merely ardent feelings but the facts of the gospel: Christ has died, Christ has risen, Christ reigns, and Christ will come again, all according to the plan and purpose of God. We convey Jesus as the Lamb of God for sinners. He is the sacrifice by which we are reconciled to God. He is the path of peace. He is the Surety of the covenant. He is the stone laid in Zion upon which the church is built.
There is deep content to convey. No one will be brought to light if the light of the truth doesn’t plainly shine. But as we speak of Jesus, His titles, His character, His works, His prerogatives, His fulfillment of all the shadows in the OT, we convey that the Lord Jesus is still appealing to sinners to seek Him and find rest in Him. For, as we preach the incomprehensible treasures in Jesus, sinners are made see and experience the mercy found in Christ.
Preaching The Mystery Of The All-Surpassing Glory Of Christ
What an incredible privilege that we proclaim Jesus —our Prophet, Priest, and King, the one who died and is alive forevermore (Rev 1:18). Jesus, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge (Col 2:3). Jesus, in whom there is redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our sins (Eph 1:7). As we preach His humiliation and exaltation (Rom 1:3-4; Phil 2:5-11), all that He is and all that He did to save sinners, that truth serves as a blazing beacon calling burdened souls from death to life.
We pastor-teachers, heralds of the King, get to explain how all the promises of God are yes and amen in Jesus (2 Cor 1:20). But as we do this the end of our preaching isn’t to merely marvel at culmination of God’s glorious plan in Jesus; we preach Christ so that souls would be plucked from the domain of darkness. We explain, clarify, plead, and persuade all with the aim of bringing enlightenment to the lost.
To see such a mission achieved we are utterly dependent on the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of the Lord (Eph 1:18). It is the Spirit who searches everything, even the depths of God (1 Cor 2:10), and the Spirit alone who can take our elucidations and explications and turn on the lights in the hearts of the blind (1 Cor 2:12-14). For the Spirit is pleased to use the means of our proclamation. Through the foolishness of what we preach (1 Cor 1:21); namely, Christ crucified, the Spirit glorifies Christ and unveils his saving mercies to souls. Who are we to get to participate in such an incredible thing?
Conclusion
Our goal is simple: make much of Jesus Christ. We, of course, are totally inadequate to speak of this Savior with unsearchable riches. How can it be that as we in all our weakness set forth the facts of the gospel, with fresh ardor unto Jesus, that understanding would be granted to the hearer and that darkened soul could be delivered? Yet our sufficiency comes from God (2 Cor 3:5), and he is pleased to enlighten those in darkness, raise the dead, even cause new birth to come as we preach Christ!
