(25) Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God; (26) Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: (27) 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: (28) Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: (29) Whereunto I also labor, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.
I do not think it necessary to swell the pages of the Poor Man's Commentary on those things which are too plain to need observation. Neither in a work of this kind to lead the Reader into the investigation of what is here said, concerning the length of time in which the mystery of the Gospel was hidden from ages, and from generations. I stop the Reader only to observe, that when Paul speaks, as he doth here, of Christ in his people, the hope of glory, the expression means, such a revelation of the Lord, in the glories of his Person, and the compleatness of his salvation, as make him indeed, to every regenerated believer, known, and enjoyed, the hope of Israel, and the Savior thereof. Paul very properly here, and elsewhere, calls it, Christ revealed in me, Galatians 1:16. For it becomes an inward manifestation of an outward work. Not a work in me, but for me. Not inherent holiness in the sinner; but derived holiness from the Savior. Not a supposed improvement in ourselves by the whole procuring benefit from Christ: yea Christ altogether, the Lord our righteousness! The blessedness of a life of faith lies in this. Yea, the blessedness of a life of glory can only be in the same. And while men, who are unacquainted with the plague of their own heart, are looking for holiness within, and taking comfort from their supposed progressive sanctification; looking to Christ to make up, if any, their deficiency: Paul calls off the Church from everything of self and self-attainments, to fix the soul wholly upon Christ. Paul himself trusted no more upon inward sanctification, as some men call it, but none ever knew, than he would upon a law righteousness in himself, to recommend him to God. To Christ he looked wholly, desiring to win Christ, and to be found in him. And the first, and last, consolation of this great Apostle was, that Christ was made of God, unto all his Church, wisdom, and righteousness, sanctification, and redemption, that he which gloried might glory in the Lord, 1 Corinthians 1:30
I admire the very sweet way, and manner, in which Paul closeth this chapter, in addressing the Church. It is to the Church Paul is preaching: and to that Church he preacheth Christ. Warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom (saith the Apostle) that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. What every man was it Paul warned and taught? Surely the Church. For who but the Church could be presented perfect in Christ Jesus? None but the members of Christ can be perfect in Christ. And what wisdom, yea, all wisdom was it, that he warned every man in? Surely Christ himself, who, in his comprehensive name, includes everything contained in that wisdom which maketh wise unto salvation. Who therefore doth not see, that all this refers to the Church, not to the world; to Christ's members, and not to those who have no interest in him. But how did Paul know how to warn every man, and teach every man of the Lord's people, and not they that are without? Simply by preaching Christ, and Christ only. For Christ is the power of God, and the wisdom of God, for salvation to everyone that believeth. Therefore, as faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God, whenever the Lord opened the eyes of any, Paul warned every one, and taught everyone only of Christ. And he found, that as many as were ordained to eternal life believed, Acts 13:48. And here exhortation becomes most blessed, because they are warned and taught, and God the Spirit is their teacher that they can be presented perfect only in Christ Jesus!