Stewards of the Mysteries – Ministers in God’s Economy
Paul said, “Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.” 1 Corinthians 4:1 KJV. There are two great mysteries in God’s economy – the Mystery of God, and the Mystery of Christ. The mystery of God is spoken of in Colossians. This mystery is Christ the revelation and expression of God. God was hidden and unknowable, but has revealed Himself in Christ. The mystery of Christ is spoken of in Ephesians, and it is the Church as the revelation of and expression of Christ. In Colossians 2:10, we are told that the fullness of the Godhead dwells in Christ. But in Ephesians, we are told that the Church is the Body of Christ, which is “His Fullness” (Eph 1:23). On the one hand the fullness of God dwells in Christ. However the fullness of Christ is expressed as the Church. The Church becomes the fullness of Christ as His riches are distributed in God’s household by the stewards, who function in the New Testament Ministry primarily by speaking. The Word of Christ is the food. The Word is the clothing. The Word is Christ – it is Spirit and Life.
This message that presents Christ as everything to us is the Gospel. We cannot underestimate the significance of the Gospel and its power unto salvation. This message is the handling of the riches of Christ. The Gospel brings to us the death of Christ, the resurrection of Christ, and what was accomplished in Christ, as an inheritance for us! The revelations concerning what was accomplished is distributed and becomes the “milk” and the “meat” in God’s household as well as the clothing and supply, the wisdom and even the training.
The Gospel is everything because it presents Christ, who is the reality of God’s economy and the way God is fulfilling His Eternal Purpose! This is how we should ultimately understand New Testament ministry — it’s about dispending the riches of Christ in a stewardship to the heirs, the sons in God’s household, so that Christ ultimately becomes everything to them and they become the expression of Christ. This why Paul said, “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.” Ephesians 3:8 KJV.
The mystery of Christ is the Church – the masterpiece of God, that God hid in His heart in ages past. The mystery now being revealed and being made known to the saints is “Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Col 1:25-27).
Paul’s prayers are all according to that rich mystery. For example, in Colossians, Paul prays, “That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ; In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” Colossians 2:2-3 KJV.