The Mysteries Mentioned In The New Testament – What Are They About? Series

THE MYSTERIES MENTIONED IN THE NEW TESTAMENT – WHAT ARE THEY ABOUT?

This study today is looking at the word “mystery” in the New Testament. It contains verses from the NASB. This will not be a full development of any of the themes but enough to introduce them. You may like to take up the study and look further into some of them. It will be rewarding to see what we have in Christ, and what lies ahead for us and what is in store for the world in the Tribulation that happens after the Rapture.

[1]. Mark 4 v 11 - Mystery of the kingdom of God

{{Mark 4 v 11 and He was saying to them, “To you has been given the mystery of the kingdom of God but those who are outside get everything in parables.”}} Parables need enlightenment and interpretation, and the Holy Spirit does that, and certainly does it for His own, His children in His family. The Author of the bible will interpret the bible for us. We can praise God that His will is not a mystery to us.

[2]. Romans 11 v 25. Mystery of Israel being grafted back into the olive tree

{{Romans 11 v 25 “Brethren, I do not want you to be uninformed of this mystery, lest you be wise in your own estimation, that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.”}} This mystery is God’s working with His people, the Jews, and with the Church. He never works with both at the same time. At present, a hardening and disbelief falls over the Jew while He works with the Gentiles. When the time of the Gentiles is complete at the Rapture, then in the Tribulation God again takes up Israel and many will be saved – the Jewish Tribulation saints.

[3]. Romans 16 v 25. Mystery of the gospel & preaching of Jesus Christ

{{Romans 16 v 25-26 “Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ according to the revelation of the mystery which has been kept secret for long ages past, Rom 16 v 26 but now is manifested, and by the Scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the eternal God, has been made known to all the nations, leading to obedience of faith.”}} The gospel is the good news of the salvation of mankind, once held secret but now revealed to the nations. For a long time God knew all this but at the First Advent God began to reveal the whole through Jesus Christ and His sacrifice. All this message was contained in the prophets of the Old Testament but it was concealed until the time of revelation.

[4]. 1Corinthians 2 v 7. Mystery of God’s wisdom, the hidden wisdom

{{1Corinthians 2 v 6-7 “Yet we do speak wisdom among those who are mature, a wisdom, however, not of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are passing away, 1Cor 2 v 7 but we speak God’s wisdom in a mystery, the hidden wisdom, which God predestined before the ages to our glory”}} – The gospel is nonsense and foolishness to the perishing, but it is true wisdom and life to the believers. The mystery of this gospel is that believers are wise in God’s will but the unsaved treat it as rubbish. Paul explained the foolishness of the wise and wisdom of the foolish (us). There is always a strong contrast as in light, darkness.

[5]. 1Corinthians 15 v 51. Mystery of not sleeping (continual death) but of being changed (resurrected)

{{1Corinthians 15 v 51 “Behold, I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed . . .”}} This great Rapture passage was certainly a mystery to the Old Testament believers, and the New Testament ones right up to the time of Paul, who was elected by God to reveal the blessed hope to the Church at Corinth. Before that time the Rapture was a mystery. Jesus did not teach the Rapture but the Second Coming. Now it is revealed to us in great promise and victory.

[6]. Ephesians 1 v 9. Mystery of His will being made known to us

{{Ephesians 1 v 9 “He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him.”}} God’s will is a huge mystery to us, but it is not all mysterious. He has revealed to us in the word of God, many really wonderful promises and intentions He has for us. God is so kind to His believers and has revealed something of the future when all things will be wrapped up in Jesus Christ as shown in the Revelation. There is so much of God’s will to be revealed in heaven.