Sadly, for most Christians the length, breadth, height, and depth of ‘the truth’ Paul’s grace gospel is still a mystery, largely unrevealed to so many believers even today. This is largely because the church at large has marginalized Paul, his unique calling and ministry and his rich gospel for the Gentile “body of Christ.” They consider him as just one of the Apostles, not recognizing that Paul is “THE [one] Apostle to the Gentiles” (Rom. 11:13)

“For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles, ² If ye have heard of “the dispensation of the grace of God” which is given (to) me (Paul) to you-ward: ³ How that by revelation he (Christ) made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, ⁴ Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) ⁵  Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets (inspired speakers) by the Spirit;” (Ephesians 3:1-5)

Paul tells us he is the ‘prototype’ and ‘pattern’ for Christians in the age of grace.

“[Paul] Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. ¹⁴ And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. ¹⁵ This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief [Gk. protos, the prototype]. ¹⁶ Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first [Gk. protos, the prototype]. Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting. (1 Timothy 1:13-16 (KJV)

Now read below, noting “the princes of this world” (below), who are Israel’s religious leaders and the Roman authorities that together called for and carried out the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus.

“But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery (God’s formerly secret plan), even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained (planned) before the world unto our glory: ⁸ Which None Of The Princes Of This World Knew: for Had They Known It, they would NOT have Crucified the Lord of glory. (1 Corinthians 2:7-8)

Now, knowing Paul’s “mystery” of “Christ in you” with its ‘glorious riches’ that flow to us from Christ’s Cross we can better see why Satan and his “princes of this world,” in retrospect, “would not have crucified the Lord of Glory” (v8).

Question: Why would Satan Not have crucified the Lord had he known “the mystery”? Is this because he would now be sorry? No!!!

Answer: Satan thought he had the victory when he moved in “Caiaphas,” the high priest of Israel in that day, to call for Jesus’ death, and then in the people, crying out “Crucify Him!” (Mark 15:13). So, Israel’s high priest was one of Satan’s religious “princes of this world” that Paul refers to. The “princes of this world” then included the Roman authorities who carried out the crucifixion of Jesus… all of which as was prophesied thousands of years before.

Even today Satan has his “princes” working to thwart God’s work by blocking the knowledge of the truth of the pure grace gospel for today. Scholarly “princes” have also corrupted the Scriptures to diminish the truth bring known… by the many so-called modern Bibles that have key phrase and verses totally missing when compared to the received text of the King James Bible. Pulpits today are filled with men, sincere perhaps, who do not know or preach the liberating truth of the all-sufficiency of Christ’s cross-work and the fruit of His life indwelling the believers as their new life, so they ignorantly promote ‘good works’ as the way to please God.

Jesus was crucified, having been rejected and condemned by the “princes of this world.”  Note that over Jesus’ head on the cross was nailed a small sign that mocked Jesus.

“And a superscription also was written over him [over Jesus’ head on the cross] in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.” (Luke 23:38)

This inscription over the Cross of Calvary was written in the three significant languages of the day.

• Greek, representing the intellectual wisdom of man’s philosophy that had rejected Jesus!
• Latin, representing the Roman authorities who had rejected and condemned Jesus to the cross!
• Hebrew, representing religion’s leaders, those of Israel who had rejected Jesus their Messiah King!

“But they cried out, Away with him, away with him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Shall I crucify your King? The chief priests [of Israel] answered, We have no king but Caesar.” (John 19:15 (KJV)

These three represent the “princes of this world” who were inwardly ruled by the Satanic influence of “THE (high) Prince of the power of the air” that “worketh in the children of disobedience” as “the god of this world.”

Yet, in God’s economy, all negative works for the good. Think of it… if Satan had NOT crucified the Lord, “the riches of the glory of this mystery” of Christ’s life, death, and resurrection would never have been released to dwell in us. The resurrected life of Christ, now as “the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus” indwells in each and every believing member of “His body.” Now, as members of “His body,” we have His very life and nature. (cf. Col. 3:4, 2Pet 1:4)

So, in the crucifixion of Jesus, Satan was taken in his own craftiness.

In retrospect, no doubt, had Satan known the Pauline “mystery,” he would rather still have a living Jesus walking the earth… than the crucified and resurrected Christ now dwelling in every believer as His resurrected “Spirit of life.” The actually cross served to multiply God the Father’s family and this Christ’s presence on earth by His indwelling “His body.”

Satan was duped!!

Now we know why “the Mystery” had to be “kept secret since the world began.”

“But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: ⁸ Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.” (1 Corinthians 2:7-8 (KJV)

Only the blossoming of Christ’s own crucified and resurrected life seeded within us is able to give expression of “the riches of His glory (His life’s expression).” This “glory” is the full blossoming of “Christ In You, the hope of Glory,” much as the flower’s blossom is the glory of the seed which birthed the flower to life.

“Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.” (1 Peter 1:23 (KJV)

“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.” (Galatians 3:16 (KJV)

Thus, the “hidden wisdom” and love of God is able to take the greatest ‘negative’ the world has ever seen (The Cross of the Son of God) and make it the ‘greatest positive blessing for humanity.’

“O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!” (Romans 11:33 (KJV)

Sadly, for most Christians the length, breadth, height, and depth of ‘the truth’ Paul’s grace gospel is still a mystery, largely unrevealed to so many believers even today. This is largely because the church at large has marginalized Paul, his unique calling and ministry and his rich gospel for the Gentile “body of Christ.”

“For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles, ² If ye have heard of “the dispensation of the grace of God” which is given (to) me (Paul) to you-ward: ³ How that by revelation he (Christ) made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, ⁴ Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) ⁵  Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets (inspired speakers) by the Spirit;” (Ephesians 3:1-5)

Read below, noting that “the princes of this world” (below), who are Israel’s religious leaders and the Roman authorities. They together called for and carried out the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus. Now, knowing Paul’s “mystery” of “Christ in you” with its riches that flow from the Cross, we can better see why Satan and his “princes of this world,” in retrospect, “would not have crucified the Lord of Glory” (v8).

“But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery (God’s formerly secret plan), even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained (planned) before the world unto our glory: ⁸ Which None Of The Princes Of This World Knew: for Had They Known It, they would NOT have Crucified the Lord of glory. (1 Corinthians 2:7-8)

Why would Satan Not have crucified the Lord? Is this because he would now be sorry? No!!!

Satan thought he had the victory when “Caiaphas,” the high priest of Israel in that day, called for Jesus’ death and the people followed, crying out “Crucify Him!” (Mark 15:13). So, Israel’s high priest was one of Satan’s religious “princes of this world” that Paul refers to. The “princes of this world” then included the Roman authorities who carried out the crucifixion of Jesus… as was prophesied thousands of years before.

Jesus was crucified, having been rejected and condemned by the “princes of this world.”  Note that over Jesus’ head on the cross was nailed a small sign that mocked Jesus.

“And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.” (Luke 23:38)

This inscription over the Cross of Calvary was written in the three significant languages of the day.

• Greek, representing the intellectual wisdom of man’s philosophy that had rejected Jesus!
• Latin, representing the Roman authorities who had rejected Jesus!
• Hebrew, representing religion’s leaders, those Israel who had rejected Jesus!

These three represent the “princes of this world” who were inwardly ruled by the Satanic influence of “THE (high) Prince of the power of the air” that “worketh in the children of disobedience” as “the god of this world.”

Think of it… if Satan had NOT crucified the Lord, “the riches of the glory of this mystery” of Christ’s life, death, and resurrection would never have been released to dwell in us. The resurrected life of Christ, now as “the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus” indwells in each and every believing member of “His body.” Now, as members of “His body,” we have His very life and nature. (cf. Col. 3:4, 2Pet 1:4)

So, in the crucifixion of Jesus Satan, was taken in his own craftiness.

In retrospect, no doubt, had Satan known the Pauline “mystery,” he would rather still have a living Jesus walking the earth… than the crucified and resurrected Christ now dwelling in every believer as His resurrected “Spirit of life.” The cross served to multiply Christ’s presence on earth by His indwelling “His body.” Satan was duped!!

Now we know why “the Mystery” had to be “kept secret since the world began.”

Only the blossoming of Christ’s own seeded life within us is able to express “the riches of His glory (His life’s expression).” This “glory” is the full blossoming of “Christ In You, the hope of Glory,” much as the flower’s blossom is the glory of the seed which birthed the flower to life.

“Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.” (1 Peter 1:23 (KJV)

“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.” (Galatians 3:16 (KJV)

Thus, the wisdom and love of God is able to take the greatest ‘negative’ the world has ever seen (The Cross of the Son of God) and make it the ‘greatest positive blessing for humanity.’

“O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!” (Romans 11:33 (KJV)