Bible Mysteries

"Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God." (I Corinthians 4: 1 KJV)

"And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing." (I Corinthians 13: 2 KJV)

"For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries." (I Corinthians 14: 2 KJV)

Christians can be identified by a testing of their understanding concerning the mysteries of the Bible, particularly the mysteries of the gospel and of the New Covenant (Testament), the mysteries relative to the person and work of Christ, the Messiah.

Christians have been shown divine things, having had knowledge given to them that is not given to others. Christians are spiritually seeing and hearing people, not spiritually blind or deaf, as are all those who do not know and believe the mysteries of the Christian faith.

Christians have their mysteries and their secret knowledge and hidden wisdom. Christians are those "Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience." (I Timothy 3: 9 KJV)

By affirming this, it is not intended to convey the idea that Christians have knowledge that they are deliberately keeping from others, as did the ancient Gnostic sects, and as did the pagan mystery religions, and as does the modern Masonic Fraternity; Rather, it is hidden to others due to their own willful blindness and hardness of heart.

Christians are telling these secrets and mysteries to others, but only the Holy Ghost can initiate one into them, thus making them truly in fact, and visibly, the "elect," or those chosen to receive this special saving knowledge.

"The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law." (Deuteronomy 29: 29 KJV)

Thus, all revelation of prior secrets is purely gracious on the part of Lord God. He has retained his secrets, as he always will, this being part of his nature and infinite wisdom, but praise be to him for what he has already been pleased to reveal! Glorious things!

"The secret of the LORD is with them that fear him; and he will shew them his covenant." (Psalm 25: 14 KJV)

"For the froward is abomination to the LORD: but his secret is with the righteous." (Proverbs 3: 32 KJV)

"Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets." (Amos 3: 7 KJV)

"But there is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets, and maketh known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days." (Daniel 2: 28 KJV)

"But as for me, this secret is not revealed to me for any wisdom that I have more than any living, but for their sakes that shall make known the interpretation to the king, and that thou mightest know the thoughts of thy heart." (Daniel 2: 30 KJV)

"And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables: That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them." (Mark 4: 11, 12 KJV)

All these verses emphasize the gracious nature of the revelation of Lord God's mysteries and secrets. Men do not "discover" this hidden knowledge as they discover things in natural science. Those who become initates into the heavenly mysteries are not "elect" in the sense that they are "elite," better than everyone else, and therefore chosen on the basis of their merits and natural gifts, but rather, they are chosen in grace and in mercy.

"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: To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen." (Romans 16: 25-27 KJV)

"But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory." (I Corinthians 2: 7,8 KJV)

The gospel is the revelation of what had been previously hidden to the generations of men. This is so because the gospel tells of the coming of Christ, the Messiah promised throughout the books of the Old Testament, and reports the words of Christ, his teachings, in which he greatly enlarged Lord God's revelation, imparting understanding of mysteries, both old and new.

"In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself." (Ephesians 1: 7-9 KJV)

The mystery of redemption through the sacrifice and death of Christ! Great and glorious indeed to understand and to have been graciously "let in on" these great secrets!

"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: 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; That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, 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...And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ." (Ephesians 3: 1-7, 9 KJV)

The mystery of Christ and the gospel! It is not a mystery that needs to be "figured out" like the cause of a crime, but one that simply needs to be heard and believed. The "mystery of Christ" has to do with things relative to the coming Messiah, and with regard to both his person and his work and to his program (or future plans), and it was precisely these things that the Jews were in darkness concerning; This is clearly evident in the gospels.

"Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God; Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily." (Colossians 1: 25-29 KJV)

"...unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ; In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge." (Colossians 2: 2, 3 KJV)

"Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving; Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds: That I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak." (Colossians 4: 2-4 KJV)

Thus, we see the mysteries all surround Christ and the things of Christ, his kingdom, his redemptive purposes, with regard to Jew and Gentile, and with regard to the church and the present witnessing of the gospel to all the nations, and of his coming again to judge the world in righteousness.

"And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory." (I Timothy 3: 16 KJV)

This appearance of God in the flesh, and of his experiencing death in the flesh, is indeed a great mystery. How can Christ be both God and man? This "mystery of godliness" is contrasted with the "mystery of iniquity," with the bodily appearance of Christ's nemesis, the AntiChrist. (II Thessalonians 2: 7 KJV)

"For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church." (Ephesians 5: 31, 32 KJV)

It is indeed a mystery to understand why a young man or woman would leave the comfort of home to start one of their own. It certainly takes some faith. It is also mysterious as to why sinners forsake all to follow Christ. It is mysterious too to think of the cause why the Lord would choose one, over another, for his bride. Certainly, it was not because the ones chosen deserved it.

"But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets." (Revelation 10: 7 KJV)

"Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep (or die physically), but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: f or the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed." (I Corinthians 15: 51, 52 KJV)

The mystery of God, and the mystery of his will, in creation, providence, and in redemption, with all the lessor mysteries involved in it, will one day be finished or completed (fulfilled). How will it be with you friend, when the last trumpet blows and the dead are all called to stand before the Lord?