In connection with the high and holy truth which the Holy Spirit designates “the MYSTERY” and “the UNSEARCHABLE RICHES of Jesus Christ,” we call your attention to several verses of Scripture.

Concerning the Open Door:

“WITHAL PRAYING ALSO FOR US, THAT GOD WOULD OPEN UNTO US A DOOR OF UTTERANCE, TO SPEAK THE MYSTERY OF CHRIST, FOR WHICH I AM ALSO IN BONDS; THAT I MAY MAKE IT MANIFEST, AS I OUGHT TO SPEAK.” Colossians 4:3 and 4.

Concerning the Open Mouth:

“AND FOR ME, THAT UTTERANCE MAY BE GIVEN UNTO ME, THAT I MAY OPEN MY MOUTH BOLDLY, TO MAKE KNOWN THE MYSTERY OF THE GOSPEL, FOR WHICH I AM AN AMBASSADOR IN BONDS; THAT THEREIN I MAY SPEAK BOLDLY, AS I OUGHT TO SPEAK.” Ephesians 6:19, 20.

Concerning the Open Mind:

“THAT THE GOD OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, THE FATHER OF GLORY, MAY GIVE UNTO YOU THE SPIRIT OF WISDOM AND REVELATION IN THE KNOWLEDGE OF HIM; THE EYES OF YOUR UNDER STANDING BEING ENLIGHTENED; THAT YE MAY KNOW WHAT IS THE HOPE OF HIS CALLING, AND WHAT THE RICHES OF THE GLORY OF HIS INHERITANCE IN THE SAINTS.” Ephesians 1:17 and 18.

So far as this blessed and glorious truth of Ephesians and Colossians is concerned, it is still a mystery with a great majority of Christians, including the so-called leading Fundamentalist Bible teachers. Most of these seem to be as ignorant of this Divine mystery concerning the Body of Christ, and the two-fold inheritance of the Head and members of that Body, as though it had never been declared in the Word of God. There is no limit to Satan’s opposition to the truth designated “the Mystery”. Undoubtedly he is responsible for the blindness that seems to be upon the minds of so many of the Lord’s redeemed people in this day and age. This evil one must be responsible for having kept the mystery of grace and glory covered up by the man-made religious creeds and sectarian religious mixtures down through the past eighteen centuries. It is rather pitiable and deplorable that even the present-day servants of the Lord, who are supposed to be messengers of the grace of God, are so blind and prejudiced as to confuse the hope of Israel with the blessed hope set forth in the Prison Epistles of the Apostle Paul. And the sad fact is that these messengers are the ones who are most bitterly opposing the very message that they think they are preaching; that is, the message of pure grace and the one Body, in which there is an eternal, inseparable union of the Lord Jesus Christ and sinners saved by grace, both Head and members seated in the upper heavenlies in Christ Jesus.

Apart from Satan it is most difficult to account for the bitter antagonism to the highest, the most blessed and most glorious truth in all of the Word of God. Quite significant it is that these servants of the Lord, who seem to hate this blessed truth with a vicious hatred, must resort to foul methods and carnal weapons in their vain and futile endeavors to discredit the Lord’s messengers rather than intelligently use the Sword of the Spirit to disprove the teaching of the “Body truth” as revealed in Paul’s final epistles, and expounded by the servants of the Lord who would faithfully obey Ephesians 4:3 and Ephesians 3:9. But let us bear in mind that this bitter and unholy opposition, these unjust and unscriptural methods, began in the days of Paul. But God, knowing the end from the beginning, has given us full warning and encouragement and He has left us instructions as to how to carry on with this glorious message. He has told us what to expect in the way of opposition from religious Bible teachers who are either unwilling or unable to rightly divide the Word of truth. Of course we all realize that men are naturally religious and so prejudiced by the creeds and traditions of Christendom that it is next to impossible for most of them to be a true Berean.

CONCERNING THE OPEN DOOR

We have observed from the reading of Colossians 4:3 and 4 that God alone can open doors for the truth concerning the believer’s position and possessions in Christ, independent of any of Israel’s covenants, the believer’s identification with the risen and glorified Christ in death, burial, resurrection and glorification, all by one Divine baptism which has nothing to do with Israel’s hope or Israel’s kingdom baptism. Certainly to mix the hope of the Body of Christ and God’s inheritance in the members of that Body, the mystery among the Gentiles, with the hope and inheritance of Israel is a great blunder, and seemingly inexcusable disobedience to II Timothy 2:15. Let us then, who are rejoicing in this glorious truth, pray earnestly that God will open doors that this message may be presented. Even ninety-five per cent of the assemblies, made up of Christians called Fundamentalists, are closed doors to this truth. But perhaps we have some reason to be encouraged because new doors are being opened, as new messengers are being equipped by the Holy Spirit to proclaim that secret which was hid in the mind of God from the foundation of the world until it was revealed from glory to the Apostle Paul, who was a special messenger of the glorified Christ, the ambassador with the ministry of reconciliation and custodian of the mystery. To his trust was committed the ministry, commission and deposit which not only supplemented but Superseded the revelations of God to His servants before the call of Paul.

CONCERNING OPEN MOUTHS

Because of the unpopularity of this blessed truth, many servants seem to lack boldness and liberty to proclaim it. Many of them are even persuaded and influenced by their very best friends to compromise for the sake of human unity and Christian fellowship. Some of these true friends are well meaning and they are willing to have peace and harmony among those who are agreed concerning the great fundamentals of the Christian faith even at the sacrifice of Divine truth and the surrender of Holy Spirit conviction. What option has the Spirit-led and Bible-taught grace preacher under such circumstances? His duty is plain; and for his stewardship he must give an account to the Lord. It is not our God-given duty to endeavor by means of compromise or religious diplomacy to establish unity or a church program. We must advance with God’s truth and do our utmost to complete the task of wholly ridding God’s message of grace of the religious entanglements and ecclesiastical traditions that have so long kept it hidden from the people of God.

We must pray that God will open the mouths of His servants, to whom this message has been revealed, that they may speak it forth with Holy Spirit boldness, speaking the truth in love, wholly disregarding either the praise or fear of man. Let us unite in this important prayer.

CONCERNING OPEN MINDS

We would impress upon our readers that they diligently study Ephesians 1:17 and 18 and meditate prayerfully this holy desire of the Lord concerning every member of the Body of Christ. Let us not forget that the human heart is desperately wicked and deceitful, and that the god of this age is accused of the crime of deceiving the whole world. We repeat that he is especially antagonistic to the Body truth and will use every effort to keep believers from understanding this truth. In the spirit of meekness we should confess our ignorance and the darkness of the natural mind. If even the simple doctrines of the Bible are spiritually discerned how can we expect to comprehend these profound truths of Ephesians and Colossians apart from God’s own way set forth in these two verses and several other verses in the Epistle to the Ephesians? The Father of glory is the one who is able to give to the believer the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Himself, and thereby enlighten the eyes of the understanding.

In connection with this prayer let us read also the prayer of Ephesians 3:16 to 19, which we quote

“THAT HE WOULD GRANT YOU, ACCORDING TO THE RICHES OF HIS GLORY, TO BE STRENGTHENED WITH MIGHT BY HIS SPIRIT IN THE INNER MAN; THAT CHRIST MAY DWELL IN YOUR HEARTS BY FAITH; THAT YE BEING ROOTED AND GROUNDED IN LOVE, MAY BE ABLE TO COMPREHEND WITH ALL SAINTS WHAT IS THE BREADTH, AND LENGTH, AND DEPTH, AND HEIGHT; AND TO KNOW THE LOVE OF CHRIST, WHICH PASSETH KNOWLEDGE, THAT YE MIGHT BE FILLED WITH ALL THE FULNESS OF GOD.”

I am sure after prayerfully considering these Scriptures we shall not expect the member of the Body of Christ to appreciate or appropriate his riches of grace and glory, which are likewise Christ’s richest, except as his mind and heart are opened by the power from above.

Let us unite then in our prayer that God will give open doors, open mouths and open minds that many of the saints of Christ shall come into the knowledge of the glorious truth of the Mystery given to us by Christ through His chosen vessel, Paul. Let us be wholly satisfied with Christ, without religion, knowing that the Father of glory was so well pleased with His perfect life and perfect sacrifice that naught but the precious blood of the spotless Lamb of God is required for acceptance by Him, and that none of Israel’s religious program will aid us in a holy walk and spiritual life.

For more articles by Pastor J. C. O'Hair, visit the J. C. O'Hair Online Library.