Why is the Mystery So Important?

Living the mystery is a way of life.  The doctrinal basis of the mystery lies in the Pauline epistles, but what does it mean or look like when people get together or live life together according to the New Testament. Paul wrote in Ephesians 3 about his stewardship of what God had him write about and what he was to help people see:

 Ephesans 3:9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ (the oldest manuscripts omit this last phrase 'by Jesus Christ'): 10 To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, 11According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord: 12 In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.  

13 Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.14 For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, That He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man; ¹⁷ That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, ¹⁸ May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; ¹⁹ And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.

Paul was not mentioned in the book of Acts in the beginning. There was a big transition in thinking after the day of Pentecost and was carried on throughout the book of Acts. The transition took place over time and developed. Paul explained it's significance to our lives in his epistles. Jesus Christ is the central example. By his faith we have access to God and knowledge of what true love is all about. That is what is the basis of our relationship with others.

EW Bullinger in his Companion Bible translated verse 18:

¹⁸ May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height of love is; (God's love in Christ)

The Christian walk is a strengthened walk.  God fully intended that each of us would be empowered. God is no respector of persons. In the first century, the church was made up of people from all walks of life. Opportunity excluded no one. The wall of elitism was torn down with the veil of the holy of holies.  There is only one mediator between God and man and that was Jesus Christ, a man of faith and love.

Each of us is important to the body of Christ. I need other people to rejoice with and share the Word with. The key is to recognize our own personal responsibility in believing God's Word and then having respect for the spirit of God in each other. The true God wants his kids to thrive, anything short of that is not God's will. Christians cannot be passive to their spiritual responsibility to seek God and recognize the God-appointed Lordship of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ's example is huge. I love to look at what he did in the four gospels, his beautiful leadership style, his heart for God, his love for truth. Truth is love because it sets us free. That is big time gigantic love when we share it with each other!