The Mystery of Christ

"This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same family, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel." Ephesians 3:6 (ESV)

Long years ago, probably 4000 or so, God chose, out of all the men on earth, a man named Abram to be the father of God's own people. Although God occasionally revealed Himself to others, it was to this people, the Israelites (or Hebrews or Jews) that God offered salvation and blessing and promises.

At the very beginning of His relationship with Abram, or Abraham, God told him, "...in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed." Genesis 12:3b (ESV) Which takes us all the way to Paul's statement about the mystery of Christ.

For 2000 years, only the Jews had known God. Only the Jews had been the recipents of God's laws and God's forgiveness. "But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of a woman...to redeem..." Galatians 4:4 (ESV) To redeem all mankind, not just the Jews.

Jesus has made me, a non Jew, to be equally accepted into the family of God as His ancient chosen people. I can share equally in the promises, in the blessings, in the salvation, in the eternal life, in the eternal hope that was once given only to the Jews.

Jesus broke down all the barriers of race, of gender, of national origin, of economic standing. That makes me want to jump up and shout HALLELUJAH!! What a privilege to be part of the family of God.