Paul specifically mentions that the mystery was the bringing of Jew and Gentile in one body. The hostility and division was the issue and context of that day. The big picture of division starts with the scattering of man in the dispersion at Babel (Genesis 11) and the advancement of nations. Then, God’s choice to create a nation through one man, Abraham, accomplished His purposes, including the division that exists in the world. The flow of history reveals the creation of diverse worlds that compete with each other. For example, the temple emphasized the conflict as no Gentiles were allowed at a certain point. It marked the right of sonship that allowed one man to cross, while forbidding another. All those forbidden are on the outside, looking in to a world that they were not priviledged to partake. The temple was the greatest symbol of separation between men. The line of Isaac and Ismael represent one great division that runs through the story of redemption in the Bible. For the Jewish people, they were told by God that they were called and preserved to be a light to the Gentiles and open the eyes of the blind (Isaiah 49:6). Of course, the origin of blessings come from the hand of God, not the nation he chose to represent Him. God intended that they become the example of service/obedience so that others may come to know Him, also. However, a class system developed between the identify of God’s people by birth versus God’s proselytized people. The twist was taken from the promise of Abraham that gave blessings to all the nations through his lineage. However, it was through the seed, not seeds, of Abraham that granted blessings to the nations. Paul wrote,
Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ. (Ephesians 3:16)
He never intended that a nationalistic exclusive nation to be the expression of this will. It is a rejection of the God’s will to suggest the view that during the church age there was equality between Jew and Gentile but that when Jesus returns and set us His kingdom, Israel and her distinction from the nations will once again be established.” Devasting of the work of Jesus, who came to accomplish God’s purpose to bring men together.
Their law brough nothing but a curse (Galatians 3:10-13). The grammar construct of verses 13-14 is saying that Christ redeemed them from the curse of the law in order that “the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith” (Galatians 3:14). Accordingly, the Spirit was promised to be poured out on all flesh in the last days of the Jewish era.
We are specifically told that he mystery of the gospel is the Gentiles inclusion into the body of Christ. This is described as the “one new man” from the standpoint of “bringing together both Jew and Gentile into one body. Of course, each individual in Christ is to put off certain offences and put on those characteristics that represent the mind of Christ. Chapters four through six describes that new life. However, though obviously related to one another, we must not confuse this “new man” with the maturity of individual transformation from the old self. One is viewed as the body of Christ as a whole, while the other is applied individually. In other words, individuals make up this one new man that comprise both Jews and Gentiles.