Joining Together the Two Flocks
The administration God purposed would ‘gather together all things’ in the Christ. There would be no division among God’s people such as had existed when Christ first arrived:
“Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called “uncircumcised” by those who call themselves “the circumcision” (which is done in the body by human hands)— remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world.”
– Ephesians 2:11-12
But that division was done away with and now both Jew and Gentile can join together as one people, one flock, one body:
“But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility.”
– Ephesians 2:13-16
The message Christ brought of the fatherhood of God and brotherhood of man is a message of peace to both the Jew and the Gentile:
“He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.”
– Ephesians 2:17-18
Both flocks were joined together as one body, one holy temple for the Father wherein His spirit would dwell:
“Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.”
– Ephesians 2:19-22
Paul knew of what he wrote. He reminded the brothers of his conversion and the revelation given to him by Christ Jesus (Acts 9:1-19), granting him a unique personal comprehension of the sacred secret. (Ephesians 3:1-4) He continued:
“Which was not made known to people in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets. This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus. I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of his power.”
– Ephesians 3:5-7
Again, Paul tells us that the sacred secret of sonship – being joint heirs with Christ (Romans 8:17) – was unknown to previous generations, but was always the Father’s purpose!
“Although I am less than the least of all the Lord’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the boundless riches of Christ, and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things.”
– Ephesians 3:8-9
After the great error of Adam and Eve, many in the heavenly places did not understand how God would accomplish his purpose to gather all things together in Christ:
“His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to his eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.”
– Ephesians 3:10-12
The apostle Peter also spoke about the heavenly interest in the way God would work out his purpose:
“Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care, trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of the Messiah and the glories that would follow. It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things.”
– 1 Peter 1:10-12
Paul was thankful to be blessed with the revelation of the sacred secret. And he encouraged us to likewise be thankful and to apply ourselves toward gaining a complete understanding of the Father’s purpose:
“For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge —that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.”
– Ephesians 3:14-19
The spirit of the Father that dwells in each of us helps us in this endeavor:
“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.”
– Ephesians 3:20-21
