The Fellowship of the Mystery: Our Greater Story

The Bible is filled with true accounts of God’s mighty dealings with men and women throughout history. These Old Testament stories are powerful testimonies of His faithfulness and His ability to use human instruments for His divine purpose. We read of Noah, who was chosen to build an ark and preserve humanity when the earth was filled with violence. Abraham left his home and believed God’s promises, becoming the father of the Hebrew nation. Moses stood against Pharaoh and led Israel out of bondage through the parted waters of the Red Sea. Joshua led the nation into their inheritance. Gideon and Samson delivered Israel from their enemies through miraculous victories. David slew Goliath with a sling and a stone and later reigned as king after God’s own heart. Solomon ruled in wisdom and majesty. Esther risked her life to deliver her people from destruction. These stories are true, and they are grand. They display the power of God, the faith of His people, and the unfolding of His purpose in the earth.

Yet as wonderful as these accounts are, they are not our story. As great as Noah’s ark, Abraham’s faith, Moses’ deliverance, David’s throne, and Esther’s courage were, they pale in comparison to what God has revealed for the Body of Christ. Our story, given through Paul’s gospel of the grace of God, is greater. Their stories were rooted in promises of land, earthly blessings, national deliverance, and future kingdoms. Our story is rooted in spiritual blessings, eternal life, a heavenly position, and a fellowship that transcends time and space. Theirs were earthly victories. Ours is eternal triumph in Christ.

Noah preserved his family through the flood by obeying God’s instructions, but our salvation is far greater. We are saved not merely from physical death, but from eternal condemnation. We are sealed by the Holy Spirit until the day of redemption (Ephesians 4:30). Abraham was promised a land flowing with milk and honey, but our inheritance is not a parcel of earth. We are blessed with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ (Ephesians 1:3). David reigned over Israel with power and might, but we are already seated with Christ in heavenly places, far above all principality and power (Ephesians 2:6). Esther saved her people by standing in the king’s court, but our acceptance is not before an earthly monarch. We are accepted in the beloved, already reconciled and secure in Christ (Ephesians 1:6).

Moses brought Israel out of Egypt with signs and wonders, yet even he could not enter the promised land. We, on the other hand, have already been delivered from the power of darkness and translated into the kingdom of God’s dear Son (Colossians 1:13). Joshua led Israel to conquer Canaan with the sword, yet Paul says our warfare is not carnal, but spiritual (2 Corinthians 10:4). We do not battle for territory, we stand in victory through the cross, knowing that Christ has spoiled principalities and powers and triumphed over them openly (Colossians 2:15). Gideon and Samson overcame enemies in weakness, but we are made more than conquerors through Christ (Romans 8:37). Their victories gave Israel temporary relief from oppression. Our victory is eternal deliverance and glory with Christ.

The Old Testament saints lived waiting for promises. They looked forward in hope. Abraham looked for a city whose builder and maker is God. David anticipated a kingdom on earth ruled in righteousness. The prophets longed for the day when the Messiah would reign. But Paul tells us that our position is not about waiting for promises to come, it is about being already complete in Christ (Colossians 2:10). We are not striving for acceptance, we already have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 5:1). We are not waiting to be sanctified, Paul calls us sanctified in Christ Jesus (1 Corinthians 1:2). Theirs were stories of hope looking forward. Ours is a story of accomplishment looking back to the cross and forward to glory already secured.

Our story is greater because it is not about a nation on earth but about a Body in heaven. Theirs was about inheritance in Canaan. Ours is about a position in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus. Theirs was about a throne in Jerusalem. Ours is about being seated with Christ far above all. Theirs was about deliverance from Pharaoh and earthly kings. Ours is about deliverance from sin and death itself. Theirs was about intercession before human rulers. Ours is about being joined to Christ who intercedes at the right hand of God.

This is why Paul declares that he was set forth as a pattern first (1 Timothy 1:16). He is the prototype of this new dispensation, showing through his conversion and ministry the greatness of the grace now revealed. Our salvation is not probationary. It is not based on enduring to the end. It is not tied to covenants or law. Our salvation is a present possession. We are justified freely by His grace, forgiven all trespasses, sealed with the Holy Spirit, and made part of Christ’s Body. Nothing in Noah, Abraham, Moses, David, or Esther compares to this fullness of grace.

And what is more, our story is not only great for us, it is a testimony to the universe. Paul writes, “To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God” (Ephesians 3:10). Angels and heavenly rulers look upon the Body of Christ and see God’s wisdom displayed. Israel’s stories were observed by nations on the earth, but our story is being observed in the heavens themselves. The fellowship of the mystery is not a footnote in God’s plan, it is the climax of His eternal purpose in Christ (Ephesians 3:11).

So while we can rejoice in Noah’s ark, Abraham’s faith, Moses’ deliverance, David’s throne, and Esther’s bravery, we must understand these are not our pattern. They were true and great in their time, but our story is far greater. Our story is not about surviving a flood, conquering a giant, or delivering a nation. Our story is about being joined to Christ in heavenly places, sealed forever in His grace, and displaying God’s wisdom to the universe.

The Fellowship of the Mystery is our greater story. It is greater than Noah’s ark, greater than Abraham’s covenant, greater than Moses’ miracles, greater than David’s kingdom, greater than Esther’s courage. It is the story of Christ in us, the hope of glory, revealed through Paul and given to us as our identity. It is the story that we are complete, accepted, secure, and destined for glory. And it is the story that will echo throughout eternity as the unsearchable riches of Christ are made known.

That is our story, and it is greater than all the rest.