The mystery of God

1. The mystery ofGod – 26th
May 2016
“To them Godhas chosento make known amongthe Gentilesthe gloriousrichesof thismystery,
whichis Christin you, the hope ofglory”( Colossians1:27).
The Bible tellsusthatthe mysteryof God is JesusChrist: We can learnwhenthe apostle Paul saidin
Colossians2:2–3, “My purposeis that they may be encouragedin heart and unitedin love, sothat they
may have the full riches ofcomplete understanding,inorder that they may know the mystery of God,
namely,Christ,in whomare hiddenall the treasures ofwisdomand knowledge”
A “mystery”inthe NewTestamentissomethingthathadat one time beenhiddenbutisnow revealed
to God’speople.Jesusspoke of “the mysteryof the kingdomof God aswe read in Mark 4:11, “He told
them, “The secret ofGod’skingdomhasbeen givento you. But to outsiders everythingis toldusing
stories”.He wasat thatpointrevealingtoHisdisciples.The apostle Paul usedthe word mystery 21times
inhis Epistles.Ineachcase,the “mystery”involvedawonderfuldeclarationof spiritualtruth,revealed
by God throughdivine inspiration.A mysteryisthatwhichwasnot made knowntopeople inother
generationsasithas nowbeenrevealedbythe SpirittoGod’sholyapostlesandprophets” We can learn
thisfromEphesians3:5, “The mystery was not made knownto people of other times. But now the Holy
Spirithas made thismystery known to God’sholyapostlesand prophets.
The mysteryof God’s will isthat“whichhe purposedinChrist,tobe putintoeffectwhenthe times
reach theirfulfillment—tobringunitytoall thingsinheavenandonearthunderChrist” Ephesians1:9–
10 “….heshowed usthe mystery of hisplan.It wasin keeping withwhat he wanted to do. It was what
he had plannedthroughChrist. 10
It will all come about when historyhas been completed.Godwill
then bringtogether all thingsin heavenand on earth under Christ”.We can alsolearnfrom 1
Corinthians2:7, “No,we announceGod’swisdom.Hiswisdomis a mystery that has been hidden.But
before time began,Godplannedthat his wisdomwouldbringus heavenlyglory”.
The mysteryof God is the consummationof God’splan inbringingHiskingdominChristtofulfillment.
The kingdomhadlongbeenprophesied,butthe how andthe when and the by whom wasnot clearuntil
the time of Christ.It isin Christthat God has beenmanifestedtoall of mankind.AsJesussaid,“Anyone
whohas seenme has seenthe Father aswe can learnfrom John14:9, “Jesus answered,“Don’t you
know me, Philip?Ihave been among yousuch a longtime! Anyonewho has seen me has seen the
Father. So how canyou say, ‘Showus the Father’?
We can readin Colossians1where the apostle Paul saidthathe had beencommissionedtopreach by
God: “I havebecome itsservant by the commissionGodgaveme to present to you the word of Godin
its fullness— 26
themystery that hasbeen kept hiddenfor ages andgenerations,but is nowdisclosed
to the Lord’s people.” (Colossians1:25–26). It is throughthe apostlesthatwe have beengiventhe
capstone of Scripture;theirwritings,all of whichpointtoChrist—representthe final disclosureof God’s
Word to mankind.

2. Paul tellsus ina shortpassage foundin 1 Timothy where the Bible revealsthe heartof the gospel which
teachesus the mysteryof “true godliness.” We can learnfrom 1 Timothy3:16, “Beyond all question,
the mystery fromwhich true godlinessspringsisgreat: He appeared inthe flesh, wasvindicatedby the
Spirit,was seen by angels, was preached amongthe nations, wasbelieved on inthe world, was taken
up inglory”.
The secretof beinggodlywashiddenbutisnow revealed.Itisto those whobelieve inChristthatthe
mysteryismade known “Tothem God haschosen to make knownamong the Gentilesthe glorious
riches of thismystery, whichis Christin you, the hope ofglory”( Colossians1:27).Wevcan get a deeper
understanding byreading1 Corinthians 2:7–14. We alsocome to learnthat of our ownvolition we
cannot please God; andtherefore asChristians we mustdependonChrist.We canlearnthisin 2
Corinthians3:5, “ Notthat we are competent in ourselvesto claimanythingfor ourselves,but our
competence comes from God”. Asa man,Jesuslivedaperfectlife and therefore He isa perfectexample
of howto live.AsGod,Jesusgivesusthe powertodo whatis right. AsChristianswe mustclearlyknow
that itis possible forus tolive a godlylife throughthe powerof Christ aswe learnfrom Philippians4:13,
“I cando all thisthroughhim who givesme strength”.
In itsfullestsense,the “mysteryof God”isGod’splanof salvationthroughJesus.We wouldneverhave
beenable tocomprehendthe waytoeternal life withoutthe comingof Jesus,Hisdeathand
resurrection.We wasthe atoningsacrifice tosave usfrom eternal damnation
“To them Godhas chosento make known amongthe Gentilesthe glorious
riches of thismystery, whichis Christin you, the hope ofglory”
( Colossians1:27).