Ephesians 1:7-10

In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace which He lavished on us. In all wisdom and insight He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him with a view to an administration suitable to the fullness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth.

“He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins” (NLT). The Greek for "redemption" (ἀπολύτρωσις apolutrōsis) signifies deliverance from slavery to sin and its evil consequences. Through the blood of Christ we are redeemed from bondage to sin and freed from the consequences of our trespasses. The word insight (φρονήσις phronēsis insight) means understanding, thinking, or prudence. It is an understatement to say that God showed great intelligence in the design of the plan of salvation. No part of history has occurred without being part of God’s original plan. Nothing has caught him by surprise. He doesn’t have to “think on the fly.” God has never needed a “Plan B.”

The mystery of which Paul is writing is that through Christ God would bring the Gentiles into reconciliation with Himself apart from submission to circumcision and the laws of the Old Covenant. The word for mystery signifies something concealed, but once God’s plan was revealed it was available for any to understand. I can imagine Paul with his great knowledge of Hebrew Scripture thinking back on things once the mysteries were revealed to him at his conversion saying the Hebrew equivalent of, “Oh…. Now I get it!”

The things of God often seem a mystery or foolishness to those in the world. As Christians how can we share the truth of the gospel and let it permeate our lives to draw others to the truth? We have a limited time until all things are gathered under the submission of Christ at the end of the age and harmony is restored to the universe. Through no merit of our own we are free from the bonds of sin! From stay at home mom to corporate warrior we are all called to reveal this mystery through our daily walk. You can rest in His Spirit and the knowledge that God has intentionally placed you in the life you now live. How will you share the gospel in your life today?