The Bible says that all things including man were created for God’s pleasure. Elsewhere, Scripture states that God desires a people to whom He is their God, they will be His obedient people, and He will dwell with them. This tri-part formula of a people of God is not fully accomplished until the mystery is finished with the final judgment. When this happens in the book of Revelation we see that God has a holy people, a kingdom of priest, with whom He can dwell in their presence.
God foreknew of the failure of Adam, of Israel, and of each of us and He put a plan in place (kept as a mystery) to provide restoration. This restoration process provides a people to whom He is their God, they are His people and He dwells with them (in them) in the form of the Holy Spirit. All this started prior to the world being created. However, God’s Word says that God’s mystery of Christ was kept secret to prohibit man from attempting to block God’s plan. God says if they had understood His plan they would not have crucified Jesus. (1 Cor 2:7-8)
Paul tells us in Colossians that the message Jesus and His crucifixion were kept secret for centuries and generations past, but now it has been revealed to His saints (followers). It has pleased God to tell his people that the riches and glory of Christ are for you Gentiles, too. For this is the mystery: Christ lives in you, and this is your assurance that you will share in his glory. (Col 1:26-27) In Ephesians Paul is asking for prayer that he might be able to open his mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel of Jesus Christ. (Eph 6:9) In Romans Paul has told us that he is not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus for it is the power of salvation to both the Jew and gentile. (Rom 1:16)
In Luke we see that this gospel (good news) is stated to some shepherds when an angel of the Lord appears among them, and the radiance of the Lord's glory surrounds them. They were terribly frightened. The angel reassures them. "Don't be afraid!" he said. "I bring you good news of great joy for everyone! The Savior-yes, the Messiah, the Lord-has been born tonight in Bethlehem, the city of David! (Luke 2;8-11)
God’s plan involved a logical progression for the mystery of God to be revealed. First Christ, then the individual believer (Christian), then the church (body of believers) and finally the mystery being finished with Christ coming for His bride which is that kingdom of priest mentioned back in the Old Testament.
In this lesson, I want us to look at the Person of the Mystery, the Process of the Mystery, the Presence of the Mystery, and finally the People of the Mystery.
Person of the Mystery
The person of the mystery is Jesus Christ Himself. Paul said he preached nothing but Jesus and Him crucified. Jesus was that mystery kept secret because God said if man had know His plan they would have tried to prohibit Jesus’ crucifixion. Jesus said Satan (the thief) comes only to steal and kill and destroy; but I came that you might have life, eternal. (John 10:10) Elsewhere in John God says that He gave His only Son and whosoever believes in Him will not die but have eternal life. (John 3:16)
Process of the Mystery
God is faithful to His Word. God had said that if man disobeys death is required. It told Adam and Eve if they disobeyed and took of the tree of knowledge of good and evil they would die. He told mankind in general in Romans that all have sinned and that the wages of sin is death. However a big part of God’s mystery was that He would not only allow but would also provide a substitute payment for man’s sin. This is pure grace.
In the book of John, Jesus told Nicodemus verily, verily, I say unto you, except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. (John 3:3) Nicodemus ask Jesus how can a human reenter his mother’s womb to be born again and Jesus responds verily, verily, I say unto you, except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. (John 3:5) We are born again by faith. Without faith we cannot please God. Faith is believing that God exist and that He rewards (forgives) those who seek Him. (Heb 11:6)
It is by grace (Jesus substitionary death) through faith (our believing God) that we are saved. It is not by our own works, but we are saved unto "good works" God has established for us. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16) However, he that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. (John 3:18)
Presence of the Mystery
When we believe a miracle takes place. God’s Spirit comes to dwell in us. He is our God and we become His people and He dwells with us. Jesus said, "I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper (Comforter), Who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world at large cannot receive him, because it isn't looking for him and doesn't recognize him. But you do, because he lives with you now and later will be in you." (John 14:17?)
Jesus went on to say, that the Father will send the Counselor as His representative to teach us everything and will remind us of everything He has told us. In Romans God’s Word states that His Spirit will testify to our spirit that we are His. Back in John states that if we love Him we will keep His commands. Jesus replied, "All those who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and live with them. (John 14:23)
Jesus said "Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: of sin, because they do not believe in Me; of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged. I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He *will take of Mine and declare it to you." (John 14:7-15)
People of the Mystery
The people of the mystery is those who have Christ in them. It is them that trust and obey God. Jesus says " If ye love me, keep my commandments." (John 14:15 Trust and obey is the opposite of the doubting and disobedience of Adam and Eve. Sin came into the world by the disobedience of one, the first Adam. . Now grace is available to all because of the obedience of one, the second Adam which is Christ.
If grace is available to all should we continue in sin so that God can show us more and more kindness and forgiveness? Of course not! Since we have died to sin, how can we continue to live in it? Or have you forgotten that when we became Christians and were baptized to become one with Christ Jesus, we died with him? For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives. (Rom 6:1-4) We are to consider ourselves dead to sin and that we are able to live for the glory of God through Christ Jesus. We are not to let sin control the way we live. We are not to give in to our lustful desires. We are not to let any part of our body become a tool of wickedness, to be used for sinning. Instead, give ourselves completely to God since we have been given new life. And use our whole body as a tool to do what is right for the glory of God.
We have been selected according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: may God’s grace and peace, be multiplied unto the believer.For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined {to become} conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; (Rom 8:29)
Notice the sequence of Romans 8:29, which states those He foreknew, He foreordained to become conformed to the image of His Son Jesus. Viewing God’s action in that sequence does not violate the freedom of will granted by God. He has made available salvation to all, but only those who accept by faith are saved. Obliviously because of God’s foreknowledge He knows who they will be but does not foreordain (predestine) their decision. Therefore the people of God’s mystery are the true believers n Christ, the church.
About the Author
Rev. Charles King is the founder of Four Soils Ministry and has been involved in the sowing the Word of God as well as the teaching and encouragement of God's servants in a number of countries around the world. He has taught the Bible in local Bible Schools while being in involved revivals in Africa, India, Europe, and Central & Latin America. |
