The Mysteries of The Bible

THE MYSTERIES OF THE BIBLE

Writing to the Corinthians Paul says - "Let a man so account of us as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the - 'Mysteries of God'." I Cor. 4:1.

In Romans 16:25, 26, Paul speaks of what he calls "MY GOSPEL," which he calls the "Revelation of the Mystery," which was kept "Secret" since the world began, but now is made "manifest." It was the "Revelation" that was promised to Paul at his conversion (Acts 26:16-18), and which comprises the "Mysteries of God."

The "Mysteries" are eleven in number, eight of which were revealed to Paul. Of the remaining three, one was revealed by Christ, and two were revealed to the Apostle John. A "Mystery" in the New Testament sense is not something that cannot be understood, but is some plan or purpose of God that has been known to Him from the beginning, but which He has withheld from the knowledge of men until the time came for Him to reveal it. Let us examine these "Mysteries" in the order in which they are fulfilled.

I. THE MYSTERY OF THE "INCARNATION."

          "without controversy great is the 'MYSTERY OF GODLINESS';

     God was manifested in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, recieved up into glory." I Tim. 3:16.

     It is no mystery that God should reveal Himself by speaking from the heavens, as on Mt. Sinai, but that He should take on the "Human form" and Tabernacle" among us that was a great mystery. This He did in the person of Christ. John 1:1-14. So Jesus could say "He that hath seen Me hath seen the Father." John 14:9.

II. THE MYSTERY OF THE "DIVINE INDWELLING."

     In Col. 1:26-28, Paul speaks of another "Mystery" which had been hid from "Ages" and from "Generations," but was then made manifest to the saints. He calls it the Mystery of "Christ in you." This is a great mystery because it is the mystery of the "New Birth."

     A Mystery that brought from Nicodemus the exclamation - "How can a man be born when he is old?" John 3:4. The New Birth is wonderful, but it is a wonderful fact. It is the union of the Divine Nature and ours. So that just as Jesus became one with us by His taking our human nature, so we become one with Him by taking on the Divine Nature. The mystery of this union is, that it is a union of "Identity." We are just as much a part of Christ as the members of the body are a part of the body. I Cor. 12:12. It is for Christ to live in us. Gal. 2:20.

Lesson on Mysteries continues in part 2