The Fellowship of the Mystery

11/24/2022

But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory,............. 1 Corinthians 2:7

A great multitude of people gathered by the Sea of Galilee as Jesus conveyed the parable of the Sower. He tells them how the sower scatters the seed falling to the various types of ground. Some sprout to a harvest while others wither and die. Without an explanation to the meaning of the parable Jesus leaves them with these words: “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”

I am sure many were left wondering “What does it mean?”. It was a rather anti-climactic ending for the crowd who anticipated to hear Jesus reveal details of the long awaited coming Kingdom of God and the mysteries of the ages. But to His disciples, Jesus later unveils the meaning of the parable explaining “To you it has been given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God….”. (see Matthew 13:1-23)

The Bible is ripe with mysteries that God has hidden until the time is fulfilled for them to be revealed. Some are given in the form of parables and some in prophecies. Countless prophecies have been fulfilled through time with more on the near horizon. (see Prophesies Fulfilled by Jesus Christ)

In the Old Testament book of Daniel which discloses many prophecies of the End Times, Daniel is told that much of the meanings of the prophetic words he has been given are not for him to understand now.

He replied, “Go your way, Daniel, because the words are rolled up and sealed until the time of the end. Many will be purified, made spotless and refined, but the wicked will continue to be wicked. None of the wicked will understand, but those who are wise will understand. Daniel 12:9-10

Daniel even asks “My lord, what will the outcome of all this be?” (Daniel 12:8) and he is told to go your way for the words are to be sealed until the time of the end. In other words, the revelation of these prophetic words must wait for their appointed times. Prophecies of the Bible are a dim foreshadowing of the events yet to come. Like those given to Daniel, they are dependent on eschatological timing and the fulfillment of other prophetic events before God’s Word can be revealed and understood.

However, we speak wisdom among those who are mature, yet not the wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory, which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.  1 Corinthians 2:6-8

There are many mysteries God has yet to reveal and to unfold before us. But God’s greatest mystery is before us to know and to behold now: that being the revelation of His Son, Jesus Christ and His redemptive work. The Apostle Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 2:6-8 that this incredible mystery of God was hidden and ordained before the ages. Yet, Christ has been now manifested for the glory of all who believe on Him. The secrets of Christ and His redemptive work are no longer hidden and are now available for all to know and believe.

But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. 1 Corinthians 2:9-10

In verse 9 and 10 of those same passages, Paul goes on to describe the glory and majesty of the work of Christ available to us through redemption in both times past, the present, and what lies ahead in eternity. The work of Christ could not be fathomed in times past by man but now can be known by all who will call on Him.

God through His Holy Spirit is the revealer of truth and the mysteries of the His Word. For the born-again believer, the revelation of the Scriptures become clear as His truth and prophetic events peel back the layers of God’s plan in Christ.

Many who scoff at the Bible and Jesus Christ cannot understand spiritual revelation because their eyes have been blinded and the things of God are foolishness to them but to those who love Jesus it is the power of God (1 Corinthians 1:18).

Paul the Apostle put it this way: “But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned (1 Corinthians 2:14). The mysteries and revelations of the Bible can only be spiritually known through the indwelling Spirit of Christ. Those who are not born of the Spirit will lack the understanding to know and comprehend God’s truth. (see John 3:1-21)

Like Jesus said to His disciples as He explained the parable of the Sower, it has been given to those who have trusted Him as Savior and Lord to know the mysteries of the Kingdom and glorious future in Christ. The scoffers and unbelieving are blind to the mysteries of God even perplexed by the truths of His Word.

Those who trust Christ and His redemptive work are part of the great mystery that God has ordained before the ages. We possess unsearchable riches in Christ and belong to the fellowship of that mystery. God willed to make known those riches of the truth in Christ to us whereby we can know the hope of glory – Christ in us. (Colossians 1:24-28)

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.  Ephesians 3:8-12

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says……….