THE MYSTERIES OF GOD: REVEALING THE HIDDEN SECRETS OF ETERNITY (I Corinthians 2:7-14; 4:1-2)
The Greek word translated mystery is (μυστήριον; mustērion) and has the idea of a hidden or secret thing, not obvious to the understanding. A hidden purpose or counsel of God (Thayer).
The Scriptural definition of the “mysteries of God.”
In the O. T. mysteries referred to God's purposes & plans which cannot be known by man apart from God’s special revelation in Scripture or by his prophets (Dan. 2:18-23; 27-30).
In the N.T. the "mysteries" make known eternal truths that had not been revealed to mankind during O. T. times but are now revealed to the world through the Gospel. (Col. 1:26; Eph. 3:4-5; Rom. 16:25-26; I Cor. 2:7; I Pet. 1:10-12; Dan. 12:9-10). The mysteries reveal God’s person, eternal purpose & sovereign plan. Understanding and believing the mysteries of God results in a salvation experience with God in Christ, We also learn truths about the problem of evil that empowers us to triumph over the forces of evil at work in our world today.
Every Christian is responsible to know & make known the Mysteries of God (I Corinthians 2:7-14; 4:1-2).
The scriptures tell us that we are to "speak the wisdom of God in a Mystery" (I Cor. 2:7). These mysteries are "foolishness to the natural man because they are spiritually discerned" (I Cor. 2:14). The treasures hidden within these mysteries can only be understood with the help of God's Holy Spirit (I Cor. 2:10-14) because they are truths which man cannot comprehend by experience, reason, or human philosophy (1 Cor. 2:6 -14; Mk 4:11-12). Pray that our Heavenly Father "may give you the Spirit of wisdom, & revelation in the knowledge of God" (Eph. 1:17-18)
These Mysteries are so important to the welfare of the World & Church that I Corinthians 4:1-2 makes it clear that Christians are supposed to be stewards of these mysteries! A steward is both a faithful servant and wise overseer of a household (Lk 12:42-43 ff.; Gen. 39:4-6). The steward's responsibility is to distribute & administer the wealth of the household according to his Master's will. As stewards of the "mysteries of God" we must faithfully distribute the spiritual riches of these mysteries to the ends of the earth (Matt. 28:18-20). We will be persecuted for faithfully preaching these mysteries (Col. 1:24-27; 4:3-4).
These mysteries contain the "unsearchable riches of Christ" (Eph. 3:4, 8) and are for our glory: “We speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, which God ordained before the world unto our glory (1Cor. 2:7). These mysteries are a priceless treasure because buried within them is the power to transform our lives & society for incredible good.
THE MYSTERIES ESTABLISH US IN THE FAITH
It is through a clear understanding of these mysteries that we will be established in the faith. Faithful preaching of these mysteries brings about the obedience of faith among all nations. "Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which was kept secret since the world began, but now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith." (Romans 16:25-26) (2 Thess. 2:13-17; 3:3).
THE TRUE CHURCH WILL BE ESTABLISED…
“according to my [Paul’s] Gospel”; Proclamation of the Gospel is the means by which God establishes his people in faith & holiness; Paul calls the Gospel ‘his Gospel’, not because he was the author of it, but because he was the minister of it. Paul received this Gospel by direct revelation from Christ (Gal. 1:11-12). The Gospel is a mystery of God (Eph. 6:19).
THE TRUE CHURCH WILL BE ESTABLISED ON…
“the preaching of Jesus Christ”: This Gospel is the same one Jesus preached, and of which he also is the subject as it reveals his divine person, offices, righteousness, blood sacrifice, resurrection & salvation.
THE TRUE CHURCH WILL BE ESTABLISED…
“according to the revelation of the mystery”: In Context this refers to the Mystery of the Gospel which includes within it all the other specific mysteries of God mentioned in the New Testament. These mysteries cannot be known or discovered by human reason & intellect alone. Some are beyond the ability of mere men to fully explain such as the doctrine of the Trinity. These mysteries are the glorious result of the eternal wisdom, love & counsel of God. They contain unfathomable depths of Divine wisdom, & inconceivable heights of glory, so as to surpass the limits of human knowledge (Eph. 3:19). These mysteries are things which even the angels desire to look into (I Peter 1:12).
THE TRUE CHURCH IS BUILT ON THE MYSTERIES OF GOD… “which was kept secret since the world began”:
This does not mean that this mystery of the Gospel was entirely unknown; the first prophesy of the incarnation was given to Adam after the fall (Gen. 3:15); Christ was revealed to Abraham (John 8:56); Moses (in Leviticus); David (Ps. 22); Isaiah (Isa. 53), and others; but they were given only a partial revelation. The mysteries were hidden within Old Testament Prophetic Types such as the Old Testament Priesthood, the Tabernacle and Temple, and the Levitical sacrifices. These Types were shadows of things to come (Heb. 8:1-5; 10:1; Col. 2:17).
What are the mysteries we are called of God to be stewards of?
How can we be faithful stewards if we don't know what they are?
12 MAIN MYSTERIES IN THE NEW TESTAMENT.
1. The Gospel (Eph. 6:19); Mystery of the faith (I Tim. 3:9). (Includes all the other Mysteries).
2. Mystery of God’s will (Eph. 1:9-10; 1 Cor. 15:21-28).
Mysteries of God related to the Kingdom and Israel:
3. Kingdom of Heaven (Mat. 13:11; Dan 2:44-45; 7:9-14; 2Sam. 7:8-17)
4. Kingdom of God (Mk. 4:11; Lk. 17:20-21; I Cor. 15:24, 27-28)
5. Israel’s temporary blindness to the truth of Jesus Christ (Rom. 11:25)
Mysteries of God related to the King:
6. Mystery of Godliness: the incarnation (I Tim. 3:16) & Trinitarian nature of God (Col. 2:2; 4:3; Eph. 3:3-4; I Tim. 2:5; 2 Cor. 5:19)
Mysteries of God related to the Bride of the King: The Church:
7. Christ living in Human hearts (Col. 1:26-27; Gal. 2:20; 2 Cor. 13:5).
8. The Church: union of Jews and Gentiles in “the Body of Christ” (Eph. 3:1-9; I Cor;. 12:12-13, 27). The Church is also the Bride of Christ (Eph. 5:25-32; Rev. 19:7-9; 21:9-10)
9. The Rapture of the Church (I Cor. 15:23, 51-58; I Thess. 4:13-16).
10. The 7 candlesticks and the 7 stars in Christ’s right hand (Rev. 1:20).
Mysteries of God related to the enemies of the King: exposing, solving the problem of, and eliminating evil:
11. Mystery of iniquity (2Thess. 2:7-9; I John 2:18-22; 4:3); mystery of God’s delay in destroying Satan & eliminating evil (Rev 10:7; 12:7-17)
12. Mystery Babylon (Rev. 17:3-7; Gen. 11:1-9; I Tim. 4:1-5; 2 Tim. 3:1-8; 4:3-4)
Understanding these mysteries of iniquity helps establish the church when she passes through times of great suffering or great revival (2 Thess. 3:3; I Pet. 5:10; James 5:7-8 in context of Chapter 5).
ALL THE MYSTERIES FIND THEIR FULFILLMENT IN CHRIST:
These mysteries of God” reveal how everything is working together toward one glorious eternal purpose: “That in the dispensation of the fullness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him” (Eph. 1:9-10). The following Scriptures reveal how Christ fulfills:
The Mysteries of the Kingdom (I Cor. 15:24-25, 28; Col. 2:9)
The Mysteries of the King (Phil. 2:8-11; Rev. 19:16)
The Mysteries of the King’s Bride, the Church (Eph. 1:19-23)
The Mysteries of the King’s enemies (Eph. 3:10-11; Col. 1:13).
THE MYSTERIES PROTECT THE CHURCH FROM HERESIES
Believing the mysteries of God protects us from dangerous demonic deceptions that would result in a crippled Christian life or eternal damnation (I Tim. 4:16; Acts 20:28-32).
The mysteries related to the Kingdom protects us from getting distorted views of Redemptive or World History. Human governments will never bring in a One World Utopia. Christ will set up the only perfect Government the World will ever know when He returns in glory!
The mysteries related to Israel (Rom. 11:25) prevent us from thinking God failed to keep His blood covenant promises to Israel. God is not through with Israel (Jer. 31:36; Heb. 6:16-20)! The church has not replaced Israel in the plan of God (Rom. 11:19-25).
The Mysteries related to the King prevent us from forming false concepts of the nature and person of God. They give us a solid grasp of the Trinitarian nature of God & protect us from falling victim to the false doctrines of Jehovah’s Witnesses, Mormons, or liberalism that “denies the Lord that bought them” (2Pet. 2:1)
The Mysteries related to the Bride of the King prevents us from ever thinking we are unlovable. How exciting life is when we live it in anticipation that our bridegroom could come for us at any moment!
The mystery of Christ “in you” protects you from false religions that teach salvation by your own good works (2 Cor. 13:5). This would include Buddhism, Hinduism, Judaism & even many so called Christian churches that have fallen into legalism. (I John 5:11-13).
The mystery of the 7 golden candlesticks which are the 7 churches (Rev. 1:20; Rev. 2:1 – 3:22) protects from getting so busy with the work of the Lord that we forget the LORD of the work (Rev. 2:2-5). We understand why churches die & what gives them spiritual life. The mystery of the Rapture prevents us from living morally careless lives without an eternal hope (Matt. 24:45-51; I Cor. 15:32, 58)
The Mysteries of God related to the enemies of the King prevents us from rejecting God or doubting His goodness because of the evil in the world. (Eph. 6:10-18; I John 5:19; Rom. 8: 35-39).
The mystery of the 7 stars reveals the ministry of angels to the church (Rev. 1:20; Heb. 1:13-14; Dan 10:10-21). Mormons falsely claim an angel Moroni revealed “another gospel of Jesus Christ” (Gal. 1:6-9).
MYSTERY BABYLON prevents us from falling prey to modern religions corrupted by ancient Babylonian beliefs. (Catholicism, New Age Movement, Oprah Winfrey, Hollywood movies, Eckhart Tolle, and parts of the Charismatic movement).
Change the world; change history; be a faithful steward of the mysteries of God!
