History is not everyone's favorite subject. Henry Ford is reputed to have said: "History is bunk." He felt that the only history that was really important was the history being made today. An inscription posted at the site of the Dachau concentration camp near Munich, Germany, expresses a different sentiment. It warns: "Those who do not learn from history are condemned to repeat its mistakes." To this we could add another: "Those who forget history are doomed to be ungrateful." This is especially true of spiritual history. The statement in Eph 3:6 that we are "sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus" is a reminder of what we were and what we will be.In this section of Scripture, the apostle Paul explains that God had made him caretaker of a "mystery" (Eph 3:3,6). We usually think of a mystery as a puzzle that needs to be figured out. The reader of a mystery novel, for example, looks for clues that lead to the identification of the murderer. But when Paul uses the term mystery in the New Testament, he refers to something that had been previously known to God and is now made known to man. In this sense, a mystery is a form of revelation. If God had not revealed it by His Spirit, it would have remained hidden. The mystery Paul speaks of here, ". . . was not made known to men in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God's holy apostles and prophets" (Eph 3:5).
God revealed to the apostles and prophets that the Gentiles had a part in the promises of God through Jesus Christ. This mystery is one that we now take for granted, but it means that Paul's mystery is also our history. Because God made this mystery known, we have a hope of heaven. If it had been kept hidden, Paul would never have been allowed to preach the gospel message to those who were not of Jewish descent. Had that been the case, the message would never have reached our ears, and we would still be destined for hell. Instead, we are partakers of "the promise."
This promise is one of life (2 Tim 1:1). More specifically, it is the promise of eternal life: "And this is what he promised us—even eternal life" (1 John 2:25). It is also the promise of an eternal inheritance (Heb 9:15). It is the same promise made to the Old Testament saints and patriarchs, but which had to wait for the coming of Christ to find fulfillment: "These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised. God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect" (Heb 11:39-40). It is remarkable to consider that others had to wait so that we would not be left out.
In certain respects, however, we are in the same position as our Old Testament ancestors in faith. They received tokens of the promise but waited for its ultimate fulfillment. Like them, we too received a token of the promise when we were given the Holy Spirit as a down payment or "deposit" guaranteeing our inheritance (Eph 1:13-14). We have received forgiveness through Christ: "But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness" (2 Peter 3:13).
What will this new heaven and new earth be like? The Bible tells us that it will be familiar. It will still be the earth, and in many ways it will be like the earth we know today. According to the book of Revelation, it will contain plants, rivers, and even cities (Rev 21-22; Luke 19:17,19). But the new earth, upon which believers will live following the reign of Christ, will be just that—new!
The new heaven and new earth will be a challenging place to live. Jesus promised that those who trust in Him will also reign with Him (Rev 3:21; cf. 2 Tim 2:12). Although we do not know all that will be involved, the language used implies a measure of responsibility. We won't be floating on clouds all day and strumming harps. There will be meaningful work for us to do .We will continue to grow and develop in our obedience to Christ. Someone has said that the thing that most of us don't like about work is that it is so daily. There is always an element of drudgery, even in the best of jobs. This is a result of sin (Gen 3:17-19). But in the new heaven and earth, the curse of sin will be removed, and with it the drudgery of daily work.
The most important characteristic of the new earth is that it will be "the home of righteousness" (2 Peter 3:13). At that time, all the brokenness that we see in this present world will be repaired. Our wounds will be healed, our broken hearts mended, and every tear dried.
As partakers of the promise, then, we stand in a unique position. Not only do we have the hope of the promise, we possess the promise itself. Paul makes it clear that the promise and all its benefits are encompassed in the person of Jesus Christ. While it is true that we look forward to the complete fulfillment of all that Jesus has promised, as those who share in Christ, we are already partakers of what He has promised (Heb 3:14).
The Bible is filled with promises that are the birthright of those who have placed their faith in God's Son. All of these promises find their ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ. Ultimately, He is the promise.
Dear Father, do not let me forget that I was once a stranger to the hope that I now have. Thank You for sending Your Son Jesus, who embodies all the promises of God. Amen.
Thanks to John Koessler for allowing us to publish his material.www.johnkosessler.com______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
John Koessler serves as chair and professor of pastoral studies at the Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, Illinois. He is married to Jane and has two sons, Drew and Jarred. John is the author of ten books and numerous articles. He also serves as a contributing editor for the Moody Bible Institute publication Today in the Word, where you can read his monthly “Theology Matters” column. You can contact John via email at John.Koessler@moody.edu or by phone at (312) 329-4077
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