The Mystery of God

There are so many things in life we do not understand.  There is so much about God we do not understand.  But, He has taught us many things and He has revealed much to us.  The Bible speaks of the mystery of God that has been revealed to us.  What is it?  Let’s find out.

Ephesians 3:8-12

To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ; to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places, according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him.

God has revealed Himself by coming in the flesh to save us from our sins.  This gift was not only for God’s chosen people, the Jews, but for us Gentiles, as well.  He made a promise, a covenant with Abraham that all the earth would be blessed through His “Seed.”  That blessing was eternal life to all who believe through Jesus Christ.

1 Timothy 3:16

And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen by angels, preached among the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up in glory.

Ephesians 3:1-7

For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles— if indeed you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which was given to me for you, how that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already, by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ), which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets: that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel, of which I became a minister according to the gift of the grace of God given to me by the effective working of His power.

This is what God wants us to understand:  That through Jesus Christ we can inherit the kingdom.  We can be His children.  We are given the Holy Spirit as a guarantee of that inheritance.

On a side note, any time you see “for this reason” or “therefore,” go back and read what it is there for.  Always read the context of any verse.  Study the Bible.  Learn what the culture was, who the audience was and what was going on during that time to get more of an understanding of what was written.  And, keep in mind that it was not only written for the time it is written, but God’s word is always relevant in all times, in all societies, in all people.

Ephesians 1:7-12

In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth—in Him. In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory.

We have obtained an inheritance.  It’s already been done.  Jesus paid the price in full.  We are a new creation.  It is through His blood that we receive it.  We did not earn it.  Just like when you receive an inheritance by someone who has passed, we receive it because of the Father’s will, because of the work that has already been done, given to those who are in His family.  Those who believe are children of God.  And one day He will gather His children so that they will be with Him for eternity.

1 Corinthians 15:50-57

Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed— in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written:

“DEATH IS SWALLOWED UP IN VICTORY.” “O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR STING? O HADES, WHERE IS YOUR VICTORY?”

The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Much of the hows, whens and wheres we do not understand.  But God reveals His mysteries to those who believe.  God reveals Himself through His Son and through His Holy Spirit.  When we trust in Jesus, a veil is removed.  We see the light.  We don’t understand everything, but we do know the truth.  And we are set free.

2 Corinthians 3:12-18

Therefore, since we have such hope, we use great boldness of speech— unlike Moses, who put a veil over his face so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the end of what was passing away. But their minds were blinded. For until this day the same veil remains unlifted in the reading of the Old Testament, because the veil is taken away in Christ. But even to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart. Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.

2 Corinthians 4:3-6

But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them. For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus’ sake. For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

May God bless you and open your eyes to all He has to offer.  His gift of salvation is to all who will believe.