Mike Arnold Podcast

The Fellowship of the Mystery

Explore the Mysteries Hid in God Before the Foundation of the World

The Fellowship of the Mystery Revealed to the Apostle Paul

The Apostle Paul was entrusted with a unique revelation from the risen Lord Jesus Christ, often described in Scripture as the “mystery”—a divine secret hidden from ages past but revealed through him to the Church. This mystery centers on the formation of one new spiritual body, composed of Jews and Gentiles, reconciled together in Christ. Paul not only proclaimed this truth but invited believers to enter into what he called “the fellowship of the mystery” (Ephesians 3:9).

The Mystery Defined

In biblical terms, a “mystery” is not something permanently unknowable but a truth once concealed and later unveiled by God. Paul explains in Colossians 1:26–27: “Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: To 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.” The mystery revealed through Paul is that salvation, spiritual blessings, and direct union with Christ are available equally to Jew and Gentile alike, without distinction.

The Fellowship of the Mystery

Paul describes his calling in Ephesians 3:8–9: “Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; 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 “fellowship of the mystery” refers to the shared participation of all believers—regardless of ethnic, cultural, or religious background—in the blessings of salvation. It is fellowship not based on the Law of Moses or national identity but upon Christ’s cross, where He reconciled both Jew and Gentile into one body (Ephesians 2:14–16).

Jew and Gentile United

One of the revolutionary aspects of Paul’s revelation is the equal standing of Gentiles in God’s plan. Under the Old Covenant, Gentiles were considered strangers and outsiders, but through the mystery revealed to Paul, they are brought near. Ephesians 3:6 states: “That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel.” This equality was not revealed to earlier generations but entrusted to Paul for proclamation to the world.

Christ in You, the Hope of Glory

The fellowship of the mystery also emphasizes the believer’s union with Christ. No longer is God’s presence confined to a temple made with hands; instead, Christ dwells in each believer through the Spirit. This indwelling is the basis of hope and assurance. Paul declared in Galatians 2:20: “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me.” The mystery is not merely about uniting Jew and Gentile but about God’s Spirit indwelling all who believe.

The Purpose of the Mystery

Paul teaches that God revealed this mystery to display His wisdom to all creation. In Ephesians 3:10–11, he writes: “To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord.” The Church—the Body of Christ—demonstrates God’s wisdom, grace, and eternal plan before both humanity and heavenly beings.

Living in the Fellowship of the Mystery

To live in the fellowship of the mystery is to walk in unity, recognizing that all believers share equally in God’s grace. It is to set aside divisions based on race, tradition, or status, and embrace the truth that “there is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28). It also means living with the hope of glory—knowing that Christ’s indwelling presence secures eternal life and empowers holy living now.

The Mystery Revealed

The fellowship of the mystery revealed to the Apostle Paul unveils God’s eternal plan hidden through the ages: to unite Jew and Gentile into one body, the Church, through faith in Christ. This truth exalts the sufficiency of the cross, abolishes human distinctions, and reveals the riches of God’s grace. Believers today are called not only to understand this mystery but to walk in its fellowship—living as one in Christ, proclaiming His unsearchable riches, and displaying God’s wisdom to the world.