In the third chapter of Ephesians Paul says, “Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power. Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Here we see Paul teaching that God is using the church on earth as a means by which to display his power to the angels–those who are the “principalities and powers in heavenly places.” Paul says that by the church–the bride of Jesus Christ–the manifold wisdom of God is made known to the angels. The “wisdom of God” encompasses a great many things, but namely it is none other than the incarnate Jesus Christ, the God-Man, “the heir of all things, by whom [God] made the world” (Heb 1:2). “But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumbling-block, and unto the Greeks foolishness; But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God” (1 Cor 1:23-24).

Humanity teaching angels is no small thing to overlook, for it marks an important development in the maturation in the sons of Adam. In former times God used angels as means by which to deliver his word to humans (Hebrews 2:2). However, after the first advent of Jesus Christ, who is the Second Adam, we see that true humanity–the church/bride of Jesus Christ–delivers a word to the angels, a message which makes “manifold [much variegated; a wide spectrum like colors] the wisdom of God.”

Humanity is maturing, and Jesus Christ is both the reason and the proof that humanity is maturing. How so? God eternally purposed to reveal Jesus Christ–“the manifold wisdom of God”–by the church. You cannot talk about Son of God–Jesus Christ the God-Man–without talking about the church, and vice versa. In times past God spoke to humanity by the angels and prophets, however, now the Lord speaks to us (humanity) by his incarnate Son, Jesus Christ (Hebrews 1). Thus, now true humanity–the church–teaches the angels about the “manifold wisdom of God.” Because of Jesus Christ humanity has been transformed from glory to glory (2 Cor 3:18). Humanity has put on the new man: Col 3:10–“And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him.” Truly humanity in Jesus Christ (and united to Jesus Christ and counted righteous in Jesus Christ) is maturing, for in putting on the new man we are “created in righteousness and true holiness” (Eph 4:24).

So, humanity is growing up because true-humanity/the Church knows Jesus Christ. We know Him, He who is the Son and Wisdom of God. Humanity: we are maturing, we are growing up, we are becoming wiser. Praise God!