THE MYSTERIES OF GOD
"And
the disciples came and said to Him, 'Why do You speak to them in parables? He
answered and said to them, 'Because it has been given to you to know the
mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given" Matthew
13:10-11
The word
"mysteries" (Gr. mysterion, secrets) comes from the Old Testament and
the Hebrew word “raz” [Daniel 2:47]. It refers to what God knows will happen in
the future. "Mysteries" are "secrets," namely, divine plans
for the future that He reveals to His elect. Paul defined it as … "the
mystery which has been hidden from the past ages and generations, but has now
been manifested to His saints." [Coll. 1:26]
Jesus was revealing
some of God's plans concerning the future of the messianic kingdom, but He was
not allowing the unbelieving multitudes to understand these plans but spoken
coded but in understandable idioms to the believers. Some have interpreted
these parables as revealing "the coming of the Kingdom into history in
advance of its apocalyptic manifestation."
“In
that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of
heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent,
and hast revealed them unto babes: even so, Father; for so it seemed good in
thy sight” Luke 10:21
The counsels of God
concerning man's reconciliation to himself were revealed to some of the
children of men, who might be fit also to teach others, and it is God that by
his Son has spoken these things to us and by his Spirit has revealed them in
us; he has revealed that which had been kept secret from the beginning of the
world. These revelation come in times like this so that many can know their
God, be strong spiritually speaking and do exploits on behalf of Christ the
Master [Dan. 11:32]
They were revealed to
babes or spiritually immature believers, to those who were of mean parts and capacities,
whose education level and understanding of scriptures were not of high standard,
who were but children in understanding, till God by his Spirit elevated their
faculties, inspired their spirit man, upgraded their knowledge, and furnished
them with “epignosis” truth and deep revelation knowledge, and gave them
ability to communicate it. We have reasons to thank God, not so much for the
honor he has hereby put upon babes, as for the honor he has hereby done himself
in perfecting strength out of weakness.
"Let
a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of
God." 1 Corinthians 4:1
Ministers in the
service of Christ; are qualified, called, and sent forth by God to preach his
Gospel not because of their expertise, natural wisdom or longevity in the
service but by release of grace to understand mysteries and minister under the
unction of the Holy Spirit. They are ambassadors in His name, standing in his
place and stead, and representing him, and therefore for his sake to be
respected and esteemed; and as such who make CHRIST the subject of their
ministry, preach Him and teach Him only, exalt Him in his person, offices,
blood, righteousness and sacrifice, and direct souls to Him alone for life and
godliness including salvation and deliverance.
"Now
to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of
Jesus Christ, revelation of the mystery kept secret since the world began but
now made manifest, and by the prophetic Scriptures made known to all nations,
according to the commandment of the everlasting God, for obedience to the
faith— to God, alone wise, be glory through Jesus Christ forever." Romans
16:25-27
The ministers are not
to be looked upon as masters of the household, that have power to do things in
the Kingdom of God at their own pleasure; but they are to be regarded as
stewards or ambassadors, the highest officers in the house of God; to whose
care are committed the secret and hidden things of God; whose business it is to
dispense, and make known, the mysteries of divine grace and many other things
they are entrusted with.
“For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus
Christ for you Gentiles, If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of
God which is given me to you-ward: How that by revelation he made known unto me
the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, Whereby, when ye read, ye may
understand my knowledge in the MYSTERY of Christ) Which in other ages was not
made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles
and prophets by the Spirit; That the Gentiles should be fellow-heirs, and of
the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel: 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” Eph. 3:1-11
Mysteries can only be
made known by revelation of what has been kept secret. [Eph. 3:3]. These things
are deep secrets hidden for so long such that even angels are seeking to know
them as God reveals them to mankind. This enlightenment has come to cause all
to understand the manner in which this great truth of the plan of salvation is
communicated to people. If the word “fellowship” is to be retained, it means
that this doctrine, or secret counsel of God, was now “common” to all
believers. It was not to be confined to any class or rank of people.
“Wherefore
I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the
saints, Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers;
That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you
the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: The eyes of
your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the
hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of
his inheritance in the saints, And what
is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe,
according to the working of his mighty power, Which he wrought in Christ, when
he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly
places, Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and
every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to
come: And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over
all things to the church, Which is his body, the fullness of him that fill all in
all” Eph. 1:15-23
The apostle Paul used
the word mystery 21 times in his Epistles. In each case, the “mystery” involved
a wonderful declaration of spiritual truth, revealed by God through divine
inspiration. A mystery is that “which was not made known to people in other
generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles
and prophets” (Ephesians 3:5). The spirit of wisdom and revelation,
understanding being enlightened, knowing the hope of our calling and the
exceeding greatness of His power are part of the grace released and enjoyed
when these mysteries are revealed according to the above scripture.
The mystery of God’s
will is that “which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times
reach their fulfillment; it is to bring unity to all things in heaven and on
earth under Christ” [Ephesians 1:9–10; 1 Corinthians 2:7; Revelation 2:7]. The
mystery of God is the consummation of God’s plan in bringing His kingdom in
Christ to fulfillment and both physical and spiritual manifestation. The
kingdom had long been prophesied, but the how and the when and the by whom was
not clear until the time of Christ. It is in Christ that God has been
manifested to all of mankind. As Jesus said, “Anyone who has seen me has seen
the Father” (John 14:9).
Paul said that he had
been commissioned to preach “the word of God in its fullness that is the
mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now
disclosed to the Lord’s people” (Colossians 1:25–26). That is, it is through
the apostles that we have been given the capstone of Scripture; their writings,
all of which point to Christ—represent the final disclosure of God’s Word to
mankind.
There is no
understanding of God apart from a personal relationship with His Son [Matthew
12:50; John14:23; 2 John 1:6]. Christ is the “mystery” revealed to those who
believe as seen in the mystery of “Christ in you, the hope of glory”
[Colossians 1:27]. The key to having the “full riches of complete
understanding” [Colossians 2:2] is to be born again by the power of the Holy
Spirit. “The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God”
“But
God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searches all
things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man knows the things of a man,
save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knows no man,
but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but
the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given
to us of God” 1 Corinthians 2:10-12
The Gospel is the
good-news of the Kingdom of God, and it encompasses the secret truth or the
whole counsel of God’s mystery. We will not acquire knowledge by the wisdom and
knowledge which this world can give, not the learning and philosophy of men but
by the revelation of secrets by the Holy Ghost. The views of truth which we
have, are not such as this world gives, but are such as are communicated by the
Spirit of God. We will just attempt to look at a few of the hidden secrets of
God.
It is the duty of God
to conceal these matters but it takes diligent kings to read, study and
meditate these things so that they can search and understanding them as
unveiled by the Holy Spirit. If God permit, we will attempt by His grace to
dissect and explain these hidden truths in future write ups.
1.
The
mystery of the kingdom of God [Mark 4:11]
2. The
mystery of Israel’s rejection [Romans 11:25-36]
3. The
mystery of God’s wisdom [1 Cor. 2:1-7; Eph. 3:8-10; Coll. 2:1-3]
4. The
mystery of Godhead and His trinity [1 Cor. 4:1; Rev. 10:7]
5. The
mystery of the rapture [1 Cor. 15:51-57]
6. The
mystery of His will [Eph. 1:9-10]
7. The
mystery of the body of Christ [Eph. 3:1-12,5:32; Coll. 1:24-29]
8. The
mystery of Christ [Eph. 3:3-5; Coll. 2:2; Coll. 4:3; Eph. 5:32]
9. The
mystery of the gospel [Eph. 6:19]
1. The mystery of godliness [1 Tim. 3:15-16]
1. The mystery of iniquity and lawlessness
[2 Thess. 2:1-4, 6-12]
1. The mystery of faith, confidence or
assurance in God [1 Tim. 3:8-11]
1. The
mystery of the seven stars [Rev. 1:20]
1. The
mystery of Babylon [Rev. 17:7]
1. The
mystery of “Christ in you the hope of glory” [Coll. 1:26-27
1. The
resurrection of the dead [1 Cor. 15: 12, 14, 21, 42; Acts 24:15; Romans 1:4;
1 Peter 1:3]
1. The
mystery of the whole doctrine of Christ including justification and
righteousness; holiness unto God, sanctification and glorification [Romans.
8:30]
1. The
mystery of the blood, and atonement [Lev. 17:11; Mark 14:24; John 6:53-56; Eph.
1:7; Hebrews 9:14]
MYSTERY
OF REDEMPTION
"Can
you search out the deep things of God? Can you find out the limits of the
Almighty? They are higher than heaven— what can you do? Deeper than Sheol— what
can you know?" Job 11:7-8
While the New Testament
speaks of several different mysteries, there is one that stands out in
greatness of importance. It is revealed
to us by the apostle Paul, and it contains the details of God’s grand
redemptive plan. Details of the plan is enumerated because redemption in
general is a theme that pervades the whole Bible and vitally important. So what
exactly was the mystery? That God would send a Messiah to save His people
Israel was not a mystery. Neither was it a mystery that Gentiles would be
saved. It was even revealed that the Messiah would be a suffering servant in
Isaiah 53. What was the great mystery?
“I the Lord have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles” Isa 42:6
What was hidden in the secret counsels of the Almighty was this: that an entirely New Creation, made up of a diverse assortment of people including both Jews and Gentiles, possessing incredible spiritual riches (Eph 3:8), would come into existence.
This new creation is described as being in a living, organic union with the resurrected and glorified Lord Jesus Christ. It is called ‘the Body of Christ’, or the ‘Bride of Christ’, or ‘the Church’. It is not an organization, but an organism. The Lord Jesus is the head of this unique organism.
“Christ is the head of the church: and he is the savior of the body” Eph. 5:23b
“Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular” 1 Cor. 12:27
The rules for joining organizations are pretty well defined, but how does one join such an organism?
The New Testament says that members enter the Body by a supernatural operation, that is by being baptized in water and by being baptized or immersed by the Holy Spirit [John 3:3, 5].
“For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ” Gal 3:27
FOOTNOTE
We must apply eye salve to our spiritual eyes, unplug our ears and receive with meekness the en-grafted words that is able to save our soul so that the Holy Spirit can unveil depths of the knowledge, wisdom and understanding of mysteries and we can say “I was blind but now I see”; knowing that then we shall know God and His truth; and both will set us free. The entrance of His word gives light and understanding to the simple at heart. Let us open up to the knockings of His Spirit.
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