Paul’s “Revelation of the Mystery” - A Proof Verse Outline

In Point 8 below Paul explains:WHY the meaning of Christ’s Cross-work was ‘Kept SECRET.’ 

A few years after the cross, with the stoning of Stephen (Act 7:58), which sealed Israel’s “fall” (Rom 11:10-11), Saul of Tarsus, the persecutor of the Messianic Jewish believers, was soon converted by Jesus from Heaven while on the road to Damascus.

“And now, behold, ‘the hand of the Lord’ is upon thee [Saul Paulus – Paul]” … (Acts 13:11 (KJV)

“… for he [Saul Paulus - Paul] Is A Chosen Vessel Unto Me [Christ], to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:” (Acts 9:15)

The ascended Lord from heaven, appeared to Paul as a bright “light” and spoke to Saul. Saul then became “Paul… THE Apostle to the Gentiles(Rom 11:13). Paul received “the REVELATION OF THE MYSTERY [secret of God’s Plan for the Cross], that body of truth that is the core of Paul’s “GOSPEL OF THE GRACE OF GOD” (Act 20:24) ... and the formation of the Gentile “church, which is His body(Eph 1:22b-23a).

Let’s now examine the Mystery [Greek. musterion, secret]” gospel message that Christ revealed to Paul for us.

1) Paul’s My Gospel is God’s “MYSTERY” Gospel, that is “NOW [revealed] to us” through Paul.

Romans 16:25-26a Now to him [Christ] that is of power to stablish you according to my [Paul’s] gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the Revelation of THE MYSTERY (former secret Gospel), which was KEPT SECRET SINCE THE WORLD BEGAN, 26But NOW is made manifest [revealed] ...

Ephes. 3:1-4, 11 For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you ‘GENTILES,’ 2If ye have heard of the dispensation [Gk. oikonomia, age of the administration] of the GRACE of God  which is given me to youward [to the believing members of ‘the body of Christ’]: 3How that by REVELATION he [the ascended Christ] made known unto me [Paul] THE MYSTERY; as I wrote afore in few words,  4Whereby, WHEN YE READ, YE MAY UNDERSTAND MY [PAUL’S] KNOWLEDGE IN THE MYSTERY OF CHRIST …  11According to the ETERNAL PURPOSE which he [God the Father] purposed in Christ

2) Paul’s “MYSTERY” GOSPEL had been KEPT SECRET SINCE THE WORLD BEGAN.”

1Cor. 2:7 we speak the wisdom of God in a MYSTERY, even the HIDDEN [Gk. apokrupto, concealed] wisdom, which GOD ORDAINED BEFORE THE WORLD UNTO OUR [ETERNAL] GLORY:  

Rom 16:25 to him [Christ] that is of power to stablish you according to the Revelation of THE MYSTERY, which was KEPT SECRET SINCE THE WORLD BEGAN,

Col. 1:26a THE MYSTERY which HATH BEEN HID From Ages and From Generations...

3) What about Jesus? He no doubt knew the “MYSTERY,” but He kept God’s Eternal Plan a “secretsaying;

John 16:12-13, 15 I [Jesus] have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. 13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. 15he [the Spirit of truth] shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.

Peter and “the twelve” Apostles did NOT Know of the “MYSTERY [secret]” gospel at the time of Pentecost because Paul had not yet been converted to receive that Gospel for The GENTILES. Rather, Peter was called to preach to “ye men of ISRAEL what had “been spoken by the mouth of ALL [the] prophets SINCE THE WORLD BEGAN(Act 3:21b) concerning the Messianic kingdom of heaven to Come To Israel On Earth.

Note below how Peter’s final epistle to Israel deferred to ... “THE WISDOM GIVEN UNTO HIM [to PAUL].”

2 Pet 3:15-16 15And account that the longsuffering (delay) of our Lord is salvation; even as our BELOVED BROTHER PAUL also according to THE WISDOM GIVEN UNTO HIM hath written unto you; 16 As also in ALL HIS (PAUL’S) EPISTLES, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things HARD TO BE UNDERSTOOD, which THEY THAT ARE UNLEARNED AND UNSTABLE WREST (twist), AS THEY DO ALSO THE OTHER SCRIPTURES, UNTO THEIR OWN DESTRUCTION.

4) The Ascended Lord first Revealed the MYSTERY of this Secret GOSPEL message … to Paul Alone.

Acts 9:15 Jesus told Ananias: he [Paul] is a chosen (ekloge, divinely selected) vessel unto me…”

Gal 1:12 (Paul says) I NEITHER RECEIVED IT [the secret gospel] of man, Neither was I taught it, but [rather] BY THE REVELATION OF [meaning, ‘directly from’] JESUS CHRIST

Colossians 1:25 Whereof I [Paul] am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, TO FULFIL [Gk., pleroo, finish, make replete] THE WORD OF GOD;

1 Cor. 14:37 If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I [Paul] write unto you ARE THE COMMANDMENTS OF THE LORD.  

Romans 2:16 Paul wrote; ... God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to MY GOSPEL.

5) Paul says, today “Any Other Gospel” Is to Be “Accursed” Gal 1:8-9 though we, or an angel from heaven, preach Any Other Gospel [such as ‘the Law’] unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him Be Accursed. 9As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach ANY OTHER GOSPEL unto you than that ye have received [of Paul], let him BE ACCURSED [Gk. anathema, banned].

6) Paul here REVEALS the Core of “MYSTERY” Gospel?

Col. 1:26-28 Even the MYSTERY which hath been HID from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints (believers): 27To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of … this MYSTERY AMONG THE GENTILES; which IS CHRIST IN YOU, the hope of glory: 28aWhom we preach (Paul preached Christ IN the believer)

7) How can Christ actually Indwell Every Believing Child of God? It is only as “The Spirit of life” in our spirit.

Zech. 12:1 … saith the Lord, which stretcheth forth the heavens, and layeth the foundation of the earth, and formeth THE SPIRIT OF MAN WITHIN HIM.

Jn 3:6…that which is born of the Spirit [of Christ], is [our] spirit [of man].

1 Corinthians 6:17 he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.

Rom 8:9-10 But ye arein the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell In You. Now if any man have not the SPIRIT OF CHRIST, he is none of his.

2 Cor. 3:17a NOW the [resurrected] Lord [JESUS] is that Spirit and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.

1 Cor. 15:45Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam [Christ] was made [became] a quickening [life-giving] spirit.

1 Jn 4:13 Hereby know we that We Dwell IN HIM, and HE IN US, because HE HATH GIVEN US OF HIS SPIRIT

8) Paul explains ‘WHY the meaning of Christ’s Cross-work was ‘Kept SECRET.’

1 Cor. 2:7-8 we speak the wisdom of God in a MYSTERY [secret], even the hidden wisdom, which GOD ORDAINED BEFORE THE WORLD Unto Our Glory: 8Which None of the PRINCES OF THIS WORLD knew: for had they known it, THEY WOULD NOT HAVE CRUCIFIED THE LORD. (“Princes of this world” = Satan’s Religious leaders and Rome)

In retrospect, Satan no doubt would rather have One Living Jesus still on earth than the Crucified, Risen Lord dwelling IN every believer’s spirit, to ultimately bear His life and authority in the universe, reigning with Christ from Heaven!

9) “Christ IN” the Members of “the body of Christ” is the outcome of the Pauline MYSTERY Gospel!

Gal 2:20-21 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but CHRIST LIVETH IN ME: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith (that is) OF the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. Col. 3:4 CHRIST, WHO IS OUR LIFECol. 2:9-10 For in him [Christ] dwelleth all the fulness Godhead bodily. 10ye are Complete in Him, which is the head of all principality and power:

10) As Believers, We WalkIn Christ,” subject to our union with His Indwelling Spirit of Life.”

Rom 8:2 the law (inner working) of the Spirit of LIFE in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law (working of) of sin and death (in my flesh). Gal 5:16 I say Walk in (accord) the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.

Gal 5:25 If (Since) we live (have His life) in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

11) Our Ministry is according to Paul’s Admonitions.

Ephesians 3:9a to MAKE ALL MEN SEE WHAT IS THE FELLOWSHIP of THE MYSTERY [the secret plan of God], which from the beginning of the world hath been HID in God...

2 Corinthians 5:20a Now then we are AMBASSADORS FOR CHRIST...     

12) The ‘Two Gospels’ Are Contrasted seen in Galatians 2:7 (KJV, NOT in the corrupt NIV, NASB, KNJV, etc.)

“But contrariwise [as opposites], when they saw that the gospel of [pertaining to] the uncircumcision [GENTILES] was committed unto me [Paul], as the gospel of (pertaining to) the circumcision (Israel) was unto Peter;”

13) But the Destiny of “the body of Christ” is to dwell in and reign “Eternal In The Heavens” (2Cor 5:1b) with Christ.

Philip. 3:20-21a our conversation [Old English, citizenship] is In Heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: 21 Who shall change (metamorphoo) our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body...  

2 Cor. 5:1 For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle [our body] were dissolved [disintegrated], we have a building of God, an house [body] not made with hands, ETERNAL IN THE HEAVENS.

Ephesians 1:10 [So] That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he (the Lord) might gather together in one all things IN CHRIST, both which are IN HEAVEN, and which are ON EARTH; even IN HIM: The members of the Gentile “body of Christ” will co-reign with Christ IN “the New Heaven (2Tim. 2:12), while the believers of the circumcision [Israel]” will co-reign with Christ ON “the New earth (Rev 5:10, 20:6).