INTRODUCTION
Outline.
Revelation of Christ
Remarks.
1. We will consider the Holy Spirit’s work in the revelation of the Mystery of Christ. Jesus promises in our text of discussion, that the Holy Spirit: “would guide the apostles into all truth,” John 16:13.
2. Paul would speak of this revelation later as the “mystery of Christ,” Ephesians 3:1-7.
3. We know of Jesus; His work of redemption and Sonship because of the revelation of the Holy Spirit. Paul writes: “Great is the mystery of godliness,” 1 Timothy 3:16.
BODY OF LESSON
REVELATION OF CHRIST
A. Revelation of Christ. In our scripture lesson, Jesus stated that, all truth was not yet revealed, and this would be the work of the Holy Spirit. Notice: “I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth is come, he will guide you into all truth... and he will shew you all things,” John 16:12-15.
1. Revelation means to: reveal, uncover, or to make known.
2. God has purposed that it would be the Holy Spirit that would reveal Jesus Christ unto the world.
3. Jesus would send the Holy Spirit from the Father to guide these men and others in their understanding of the truth.
B. Pentecost. All this occurred on Pentecost, Acts 1:1-8; Acts 2:1-4.
1. He shall dwell in you: “Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you,” John 14:17.
2. Promise of John the Baptist, Matthew 3:11; Acts 1:8.
3. Filled with the Holy Spirit: “And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place...And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance,” Acts 2:1-4. Who received the “baptism of the Holy Ghost on Pentecost?”
a. Was it the 12 apostles; the 120 disciples; or the multitude? Read the text for yourself, Acts 2:1-14.
b. I know there is some disagreement on this point. So let’s look at the text together, regarding the day of Pentecost. Before we consider this, we will notice some events that lead us to that day. Notice:
1) The Upper Room: Acts 1:13-26.
a) Apostles congregated in the upper room.
b) They continued with one accord in prayer and supplication with the women.
c) Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples (about 120), and spoke regarding a replacement for Judas.
d) Selection of another apostle – qualifications outlined.
e) Joseph called Barsabas; and Matthias.
f) Lots casted – lot fell on Matthias.
g) Matthias numbered with the eleven – total of 12, Acts 1:26.
2) In the House: Acts 2:1-4.
a) They were all with one accord, in one place.
b) They were all in the house sitting.
c) There appear unto them cloven tongues – that sat upon each of them.
d) They were all filled with the Holy Ghost.
e) They began to speak with other tongues – as the Spirit gave them utterance.
3) The Multitude: Acts 2:5-13.
a) There was dwelling at Jerusalem, Jews and devout men from every nation under the heavens.
b) When this noised abroad – the multitude came together.
c) They were confounded.
d) They heard every man speak in his own language.
e) They were all amazed and marveled.
f) All nations numbered.
g) They asked: What meaneth this?
h) Others mocked saying: these men are full of new wine.
4) Peter Standing Up: Acts 2:14-18.
a) Peter standing up with the eleven (total of 12).
b) Lifted up his voice.
c) Peter answer charges, and speaks to Joel’s prophecy, Joel 2:28-29.
d) Peter declares this was the “last days” and God had “poured out His Spirit on all flesh” as it was promised by the prophet Joel.
5) Conclusion: The Holy Spirit with power was not given to the multitude, the 120 disciples; but to the 12 apostles alone as promised by John and Jesus, Matthew 3:11; Luke 24:49; Acts 1:5-8.
a) This promise was never meant for all the people; but for the apostles chosen by Jesus Christ. Their work was to spread the gospel of Christ, using signs and wonders to confirm the word of God, Mark 16:20; Acts 2:42-43; 2 Corinthians 12:12; 1 Thessalonians 1:5; Hebrews 2:1-4.
b) I might add; no one today can claim this promise, regardless of how sincere they might be in their claims. The Holy Ghost baptism with power was given to the 12 apostles alone. No one else on Pentecost received it as did the apostles.
c) Peter promised that believers that: “repent and are baptized in the name of Jesus Christ shall receive the remission of sins and the gift of the Holy Ghost,” Acts 2:38; Acts 5:32; Acts 19:1-7. Illustrate: Have your received the Holy Ghost, since ye believed?
4. Natural man cannot receive: “But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned,” 1 Corinthians 2:12-14.
5. Holy Spirit given to sons of God: “And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son: and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ,” Galatians 4:6-7.
6. Holy Ghost given to all that obey God: “And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him,” Acts 5:32; Romans 6:17-18; Romans 10:16-17.
C. The revelation of Christ. Paul’s message: “But I certify you, brethren that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ,” Galatians 1:11-12. To understand his “revelation” and how to apply it unto our preaching today, we need to consider his reference to the Roman’s regarding the “revelation of Jesus Christ.” Notice:
1. Paul’s Letter to the Romans: “Now to him who has made known the gospel to all nations for the obedience of faith: ...To God only wise be (is) glory through Jesus Christ forever. Amen,” Romans 16:25-27.
2. Paul states:
a. He is able to stablish you – “according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ.”
b. According to the “mystery, kept secret (hid) since the world began.”
c. But “now is made manifest and by the scriptures of the prophets.”
d. According to the “commandment of the everlasting God.”
e. Made known “to all nations for the obedience of faith.” This phrase was introduced by Paul in Romans 1:5: “By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name.” See also, Acts 6:7; Acts 14:22; Acts 16:5.
D. Mystery of Christ. God revealed to Paul the “mystery of Christ,” Ephesians 3:1-7. To the Ephesians he wrote:
1. First, he was a prisoner of Christ: “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:”
2. Further, he received the revelation of Christ: “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.”
3. Finally, he revealed the promise of Christ: “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,” Ephesians 3:1-7. Notice:
a. If ye have heard of the “dispensation of the grace of God.” Have you heard of the dispensation of the grace of God?
b. Which is “given unto me (Paul) to you-ward (Gentiles).” Paul says it was given unto him to be shared with us (you-ward).
c. How that “by revelation he made known to me the mystery.”
d. As I “wrote afore in few words.” Paul wrote of this mystery in a few words. That:
1) Whereby “when ye read, ye may understand his knowledge in the mystery of Christ.”
2) Which in “other ages was not made known unto the sons of men.”
3) As it is now “revealed unto His holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit.”
e. That the Gentiles should be:
1) Fellow heirs, and of the same body, and”
2) Partakers of His promise in Christ by the gospel.”
3) Illustrate: I Don’t See It Like That. Your problem: “You ain’t been reading.”
f. Whereof, “I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God.” This was given “unto me by the effectual working of His power.”
E. Truth which is after godliness. Finally, in Paul’s Letter to Titus he writes: “Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness; In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began. But hath in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Saviour. To Titus, mine own son after the common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour,” Titus 1:1-4.
1. Conceived by God: “Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the”:
a. Faith of God’s elect, and”
b. The acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness,”
c. In hope of eternal life,”
d. Which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began.”
2. Commission by God: “But hath in due times manifested His word through preaching,”
3. Committed by God: “Which is committed unto me (Paul) according to the commandment of God our Saviour.”
4. Summary: The revelation of Jesus Christ unto Paul was for these three purposes as revealed through his writings:
a. To standardize the preaching for “obedience to the faith,” Romans 1:5; Galatians 1:23.
b. To reveal that the Gentiles were to be “fellow heirs of the same body (the church), and partakers of His (God’s) promise in Christ by the gospel,” Ephesians 3:6; Ephesians 1:10.
c. To certify Paul’s apostleship and message was in accord to the “faith of God’s elect - (the common faith), and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness, in hope of eternal life,” Titus 1:4; Jude 3.
5. Conclusion: Why is this lesson so important? It is important to know and understand that the message we preach is not after man; it was not ordained by man; but, by God before the world began. It was made known unto the world through the preaching of the apostles. We can be certain that the message preached by the men of God is the same message given by God unto His “holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit.” I thank you for your patience in my preaching of this message.
CONCLUSION
A. Outline.
Revelation of Christ
B. Remarks.
1. First, we considered the Holy Spirit’s work in the revelation of the Mystery of Christ. Jesus promised in our text that the Holy Spirit: “would guide the apostles into all truth,” John 16:13. All truth was not yet revealed.
2. Paul wrote of this revelation of the “mystery of Christ,” Ephesians 3:1-7; Romans 16:25-27; and Titus 1:1-3.
3. We now know of Jesus; His work of redemption and Sonship because of the revelation of the Holy Spirit. Paul wrote: “Great is the mystery of godliness,” 1 Timothy 3:16.
C. Invitation.
D. Motivation.
E. Persuasion.
