Christ as God's Mystery vs. Church as Christ's Mystery

 

Christ as God's Mystery vs. Church as Christ's Mystery

Col. 2:2-3 "God's mystery, that is, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge"

Eph. 3:4-6 "The mystery of Christ...that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body"

Eph. 5:32 "This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church"

 

Analysis Items	Christ as God's Mystery	Church as Christ's Mystery	Relationship and Distinctions
Basic Definition	Christ is the revelation of God's hidden purpose, the manifestation of all God's story	The church is the manifestation of Christ's hidden reality, the continuation of all Christ's story	Like the relationship between head and body, inseparable yet distinct, together constituting a complete person
Core Meaning	All the fullness of the Godhead dwells bodily in Christ; all God's mysteries, stories, and intricacies are in Christ	All of Christ's content, riches, and intricacies are placed in the church; the church as Christ's Body manifests Christ	The first and second steps of the mystery; first Christ (Head) then the church (Body)
Historical Nature	Christ is God's history, including the complete historical process of divinity, humanity, incarnation, human living, crucifixion, resurrection, ascension, glorification, and enthronement	The church is the continuation of Christ's history; we in the church are the continuation of this history, continuing Christ's work on earth	God's history → Christ's history → Church's continuation of history, forming a complete chain of salvation history
Primary Biblical Basis	• Col. 2:9 "In Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily" • 1 Tim. 3:16 "Great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh" • Eph. 1:9 "Making known to us the mystery of His will"	• 1 Cor. 6:17 "He who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him" • Eph. 3:5 "Which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit"	Colossians speaks of the Head (Christ), Ephesians speaks of the Body (church); both books together reveal the complete mystery
Content and Scope	• All divine attributes • Complete human virtues • Mystery of incarnation • Perfect human living • Redemptive crucifixion • Resurrection power • Ascension position • Glorification reality • Throne authority	• Practical manifestation of Christ's Body • Organic union of all saints • Corporate expression of Christ's life • Earthly realization of God's eternal purpose • Practical constitution of the new man • Corporate testimony of Christ's riches • Actual building of God's house	Individual perfection  vs.  corporate perfection;   source riches  vs. manifested riches
Time and Space Dimensions	Concretization from eternity to time; the eternal God having history in time	Continuation of eternal purpose in time until eternal completion	Complete axis: eternity → time → eternity
Primary Functions and Purposes	• Reveal God's being and work • Accomplish God's eternal purpose • Serve as mediator between God and man • Be the only way for man to know God • Complete redemption and life supply	• Manifest all of Christ's riches • Continue Christ's work on earth • Be Christ's corporate testimony on earth • Be the practical channel for knowing Christ • Complete God's eternal purpose of building	Relationship of revelation and manifestation; accomplishment and continuation;  individual testimony and corporate testimony
Manifestation Characteristics	Incarnation: complete manifestation in one Person, God's only begotten Son	Union of saints: corporate manifestation in multiple persons, God's many sons	Perfect pattern of individual manifestation  vs. rich diversity of corporate manifestation
Ways of Recognition and Learning	Through biblical revelation and Spirit's enlightenment, knowing Christ's being and work	Through practical church life and Body coordination, experiencing Christ's riches and reality	Revelatory knowledge  vs. experiential knowledge; objective truth vs. subjective reality
Practical Applications and Exercises	• Receive Christ as personal Savior and life • Experience Christ's death and resurrection • Live by Christ, let Christ be manifested in personal life • Pursue knowing Christ's riches	• Actively participate in church meetings and service • Function organically in Christ's Body • Practice all aspects of church life • Coordinate and build together corporately	Individual relationship with Christ vs. relationship with Christ in the church;  individual spiritual pursuit vs. corporate spiritual building
Life Expressions	Personal character, behavior, and thought transformation, living out Christ's pattern in daily life	Corporate testimony, mutual coordination, love and oneness, manifesting the reality of Christ's Body in the church	Individual sanctification  vs. corporate sanctification; individual testimony  vs. corporate testimony
Significance to Believers	Provide foundation of salvation, source of life, content of truth, goal of pursuit	Provide environment for growth, platform for service, material for building, reality of coordination	Life supply  vs. life manifestation; spiritual foundation vs. spiritual building
Value to God	Satisfy God's heart of love, manifest God's glorious riches, accomplish God's plan of redemption	Complete God's purpose of building, realize God's eternal will, build God's eternal house	Satisfaction of God's heart vs. completion of God's purpose; manifestation of God's glory vs. realization of God's will
Universal Position	Head of all things, center of universe, sum total of all, connection point between God and creation	Core content of new heavens and earth, God's eternal dwelling, realization of universe's ultimate goal	Center of universe vs. consummation of universe; present Head  vs. eternal reality
Temporal Nature of Revelation	Gradually revealed throughout ages, reaching climax in incarnation	Specially revealed in New Testament age, beginning to be realized in apostolic times	Old Testament types and prophecies vs. New Testament reality and realization
Stages of Completion	Already completed on earth, now continuing ministry in heaven	Currently progressing on earth, to be fully realized in eternity	Already completed redemption vs. ongoing building
Ultimate Goal Achievement	Enable God to receive complete manifestation and satisfaction, God's glory receiving praise	Enable Christ to receive complete manifestation and satisfaction, Christ's Body being built	God's satisfaction vs. Christ's satisfaction; manifestation of glory vs. building of Body

 

Summary: Two Inseparable Stages of One Complete Mystery

Overall Relationship: 

This is the complete revelation of the great mystery in God's eternal purpose, divided into two interdependent stages

• First Stage (Christ as God's Mystery): All of God's story is revealed in Christ, focusing on God's manifestation
• Second Stage (Church as Christ's Mystery): All of Christ's story is revealed in the church, focusing on Christ's manifestation

Order of Recognition:

To know God → must know Christ; To know Christ → must know the church Practical Significance: When people see Christ, they understand God; when people see the church, they understand Christ Spiritual Value: This mystery is the foundation of all spiritual reality, the source of power and abundant life

 

*Please refer to the June 2025 Summer Training, General Topic: Experiencing, Enjoying, and Manifesting Christ (Part 3), Chapter 4: The Mystery of God—Christ