Mysteries of God

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As humans we are fascinated by mysteries. Popular TV programs like, Murder She Wrote, Unsolved Mysteries, Law and Order, America's Most Wanted, and the popularity of them prove that we are intrigued by mysteries. By definition, a mystery is "something unexplained, unknown, or kept secret." 

Some things that I consider a mystery:

1.      How a woman can murder her own children (and we see multiple reports of it), its a mystery;

2.      How kids can walk into a school with a gun and open fire on classmates – Or how a person can abduct a child… not so much a “who dun nit” but rather “how could somebody have dun it.”

3.      When a presidential candidate, in reference to partial birth abortion, makes a statement like, 'I will not allow anything to prevent a woman from her right to choice' and the large crowd of people at the convention cheer and applaud, it’s a mystery to me.

4.      Popular culture refers to homosexuality as natural or normal, that’s a mystery.

5.      It is a mystery how God has blessed me… a wonderful wife, great kids, an awesome church… etc.

By the Roman Church a mystery is "a sacrament; esp. the Eucharist" and "any of fifteen events in the lives of Jesus and Mary serving as a subject for meditation during the saying of the rosary."

            The theological definition of a mystery: any religious truth made known to man only by divine revelation and believed through faith. The Bible is the greatest piece of literature held by man, not only because it contains divine revelation, interesting plots, themes, ironies, and poetry, but because its also full of mystery. There are over thirty references to mysteries in the Bible.

            The three synoptic gospels, Matthew, Mark, and Luke, record some of the parables spoken by our Lord, and in all three, the disciples ask the meanings of the parables to which Jesus responds, “The secret (mysterion) of the kingdom of God has been granted to you...” By Jesus coming, He uncovered many mysteries and today we are going to discuss three of the mysteries found in the New Testament.

I. The Mystery of Lawlessness

2 Thessalonians 2:7-8 (HCSB) 7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; but the one now restraining will do so until he is out of the way, 8 and then the lawless one will be revealed. The Lord Jesus will destroy him with the breath of His mouth and will bring him to nothing with the brightness of His coming.

What could the “Mystery of Lawlessness” mean? We have plenty of laws.

Listen to some of these laws:

  • Young girls are never allowed to walk a tightrope in Wheeler, Mississippi, unless it's in a church.
  • In Blackwater, Kentucky, tickling a woman under her chin with a feather duster while she's in church service carries a penalty of $10.00 and one day in jail.
  • No one can eat unshelled, roasted peanuts while attending church in Idanha, Oregon.
  • In Honey Creek, Iowa, no one is permitted to carry a slingshot to church except a policeman.
  • No citizen in Leecreek, Arkansas, is allowed to attend church in any red-colored garment.
  • Swinging a yo-yo in church or anywhere in public on the Sabbath is prohibited in Studley, Virginia.
  • Turtle races are not permitted within 100 yards of a local church at any time in Slaughter, Louisiana.

            A. This lawlessness was working then and we see it in our society today. Not because people are breaking the laws made by the government, but because they are breaking the laws of God. This is evident in the laws that are made by our government: i.e. abortion and partial birth abortion; homosexual marriages; and the laws being made against evangelizing the lost.

            B. Notice also in this verse that there is a restraining, or holding back of this lawlessness. Some scholars interpret this as the Holy Spirit's doing and I follow that interpretation. But as people continue to reject the wooing of the Holy Spirit, in our generation and the generations to come, we will see this lawlessness strengthen until the anti-christ is revealed (2 Thessalonians 2:8).

II. The Mystery of His Will (v.9)

Ephesians 1:5-9 (HCSB) 5 He predestined us to be adopted through Jesus Christ for Himself, according to His favor and will, 6 to the praise of His glorious grace that He favored us with in the Beloved.

7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace 8 that He lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. 9 He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure that He planned in Him

God is not a distant Supreme Being that is not interested in His creation. In fact, He has shown us the secret of His will. In the mystery religions from the days when Paul penned these words, their belief was that secret things were revealed to those who were initiated into the religion. Paul used this word, mysterion, in a different way. He used it to describe something formerly hidden or obscure but now revealed by God for all to know and understand.

  • In Ephesians 1:5-7 we can see what the mystery of His will is. That we should be saved, through Jesus Christ. Notice especially Ephesians 1:7...
  • 2 Peter 3:9b (HCSB) “...not wanting any to perish, but all to come to repentance.”
  • Ephesians 1:7 again as a summary of the gospel.
  • Ephesians 1:8: (KJV) “abounded toward us...” in other translations “...He lavished on us

When Chris and I were dating, and I was pursuing her as my wife, I “lavished” her with gifts and love. We see here that God has lavished us with grace, poured it out to overflowing, in order that we might be saved.

Ÿ         The mystery of God's will is now solved in that we can have a relationship with Him by the blood of Jesus Christ. I pray that if you haven't solved that mystery for yourself, this would be the day for you to do so.

III. The Glory of this Mystery

Colossians 1:26-29 (HCSB) 26 the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to His saints. 27 God wanted to make known to those among the Gentiles the glorious wealth of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. 28 We proclaim Him, warning and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone mature in Christ. 29 I labor for this, striving with His strength that works powerfully in me.

This mystery involves a certain group of people and is described as the hope of glory.

Colossians 1:27 discloses the mystery, “which is Christ in you.”

The indwelling Spirit of God to all believers (the saints).

  • It used to be for the O.T. Prophets of Israel, but now it’s for Gentiles also. That is us! “…the glorious wealth…” & “... the hope of glory” means this is an exciting revelation to all believers.
  • One of the purposes of this is for maturity. Verse 28 reminds us that believers are to become mature until the coming of Christ. A continual process from faith in Christ to His revelation.
  • Another purpose is to give us strength to do His will (Colossians 1:29).

I recall while growing up, how dad used to do a lot of welding and brazing with torches. Many times I would wear gloves and hold the piece of iron while dad used the torches. The flame of the torch would glow with a blue flame and dad would hold the flame against the piece of iron until the metal glowed orange with heat. I noticed a couple of things; as long as the flame was on the iron, it would stay hot and as long as that metal was glowing orange, it would catch fire to whatever it touched. The Spirit of God works in much of the same way with believers. As long as believers keep under the flame of the Spirit, they remain hot for God. When they suppress the Spirit from working in their lives, it’s much like the metal moving away from the flame, they become cold. The last thing I notice from this illustration, as long as we remain reddish-orange with the heat of the Spirit, the Gospel will spread like fire to all of those around us.

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