Sunday 112424
Don’t let me or my writings influence or scare you in any way, instead, allow me to be used as a vessel to open the Word, just a little bit, and hopefully, together we are going to read and study His Word, and let God teach us what He wants us to hear.
So, our study consists of two ground rules:
1st we ONLY read and follow what is found in the Holy Bible.
2nd we ONLY learn from a study by what effort we put into that study.
The verses we are going to study tonight:
1 Corinthians 2:1-16; Romans 11:25, 16:25; 1 Corinthians 2:7, 15:51, 15:44; Ephesians 1:9, 3:3, 4, 9, 5:32, 6:19.
So, let’s continue this study on the word Mystery.
In our lesson yesterday, we visited the five verses where the word ‘MYSTERY’ was used, but it was used by someone other than, the apostle Paul.
In this lesson, we will focus on those verses written by Paul using the word ‘MYSTERY.’
So, before we begin, let’s try and define what God is telling us through this word ‘MYSTERY.’
Here is the apostle Paul trying to define what we are being told:
1 Corinthians 2
vs1 ‘…Christian friends, I came to tell you God’s true message. I did not use clever words when I spoke to you. I did not try to make you think that I was very wise…’
vs2 ‘…While I was with you, I decided to teach you only about Jesus Christ. I taught you about his death on a cross. I wanted to forget everything else…’
vs3 ‘…I lived among you as someone who felt weak. I was very afraid…’
vs5 ‘…As a result, you now believe because of God’s power. You do not believe because of human ideas…’
vs6 ‘…But we do speak about wise thoughts to those of you who know Christ very well. But those wise thoughts do not belong to this world. They are not the ideas that the rulers of this world think are important. Those rulers will not be powerful for long…’
vs7 ‘…No, the wise thoughts that we speak about belong to God. He has hidden them from people until now. But before God made the world, he decided to let us know these secrets. He wanted us to enjoy his glory…’
vs8 ‘…None of the rulers of this world understood God’s wise plan. If they had understood, they would not have killed Jesus on a cross. He is the Lord who rules heaven and earth…’
vs9 ‘…This is written in the Bible: Nobody ever saw or heard anything about this. Nobody ever thought that it could happen. But these are the things that God has prepared for his people who love him…’
vs10 ‘…But God has sent his Spirit to show these secrets to us. God’s Spirit looks carefully into everything. He even knows God’s secret thoughts…’
vs11 ‘…Only a person’s own spirit can know everything that is in his thoughts. And it is the same with God. Only God’s Spirit knows everything that is in God’s thoughts…’
vs12 ‘…We have received God’s own Spirit, not a spirit that belongs to this world. As a result, we can understand all the good things that God has given to us…’
vs13 ‘…Those are the things that we speak about. We do not use clever words to speak about human ideas. Instead, we speak the message that God’s Spirit has taught us. In that way, we explain a spiritual message to people who have God’s Spirit…’
vs14 ‘…If someone does not believe in God, they cannot accept the message that comes from God’s Spirit. They think that God’s message is silly. They cannot even understand those things. Only God’s Spirit can explain them to people…’
vs15 ‘…But we have God’s Spirit with us. So we can understand the true value of all things. But other people cannot truly understand us, who belong to God…’
vs16 ‘…As it says in the Bible: Nobody can know what the Lord God is thinking. Nobody can tell him what he should do. But we think about these things in the same way that Christ thinks.…’ EASY (Easy English Version)
This chapter is one of the better chapters I’ve read in the Bible, where God is trying to explain to each one of us, through the apostle Paul, what He has planned for us.
Once again, ALL it takes is for us to believe and have FAITH in Him and we will be able to understand His every word.
Beginning in Romans, it is explained how our eyes are being opened so we can begin to realize this mystery that has been kept quiet until now, which is being revealed to His church.
Vs25 discusses the mystery of Israel’s future and God’s plan for the Church. The verse states, ‘A partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.’ This verse is part of Paul’s discussion of God’s plan to restore and redeem Israel, which began in Romans 9 and 10. Paul explains that God has hardened some of the Israelites in their unbelief until enough Gentiles have come to Christ. However, this hardening is not permanent, and one day the fullness of the Gentiles will be complete, and God will deliver Israel.
Romans 16:25 ‘…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…’ KJV (King James Version)
In vs25, the ‘revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages’ refers to the proclamation of the gospel of Jesus Christ to everyone, including the Gentiles. Paul describes this great truth as a mystery that was revealed by God when the time was right, and not something he or anyone else discovered
1 Corinthians 2:7 ‘…But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory…’ KJV (King James Version)
The wisdom of God in a mystery – the Gospel of Jesus Christ, which had been hidden from the foundation of the world, (the settling of the Jewish economy, as this phrase often means,) though appointed from the beginning to be revealed in the fulness of time
1 Corinthians 15:51 ‘…Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed…’ KJV (King James Version)
Vs51 talks about the mystery he has been revealing throughout chapter 15. In a word, this is ‘transformation.’ God will, in fact, transform the ‘natural’ bodies of the Christians into glorified, or ‘spiritual’ bodies (1 Corinthians 15:44) that will inherit God’s kingdom, after all.
1 Corinthians 15:44 ‘…What we bury in the ground is a human body. But the body that God raises up is a spiritual body. There is a human body that belongs to this earth. So there also has to be a spiritual body that belongs to heaven…’ EASY (Easy English Body)
Ephesians 1:9 ‘…Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself…’ KJV (King James Version)
In vs9, Paul says that the mystery of the administration of the fullness of times was revealed to him. Some say that this mystery is God’s will, which is the uniting of all things in heaven and earth under Christ. Others say that the mystery is Christ in you, and that the essence of the mystery is Jesus himself and his redemptive work on the cross.
Ephesians 3:3 ‘…How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; as I wrote afore in few words…’ KJV (King James Version)
Ephesians 3:4 ‘…Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ…’ KJV (King James Version)
In vss3–6, Paul reveals a mystery to the Ephesians that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs with the Jews in Christ through the Gospel. This is called a mystery because it was not known to humans in previous generations but was kept secret by God for a long time and is now being revealed. Paul’s message is framed in the context of addressing Judaizers who had been a problem for his ministry. He clarifies that Gentiles should be fellow heirs through the Gospel, or in Christ, not through circumcision or the Mosaic Law
Ephesians 3:9 ‘…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…’ KJV (King James Version)
In vs9, Paul writes of the ‘plan of the mystery hidden for ages.’ This mystery is the idea that Jews and Gentiles can both receive salvation through Jesus Christ. Paul calls this a mystery because it was revealed from God and was not known to others, including the men who wrote the Old Testament
Ephesians 5:32 ‘…This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church…’ KJV (King James Version)
In vs32, the term ‘mystery’ refers to the relationship between Christ and the church. Paul uses the word ‘mystery’ frequently in his letter to the Christians at Ephesus, and in this passage, he explains that the deepest meaning of marriage had been partially hidden until this point. Paul says that marriage is a metaphor or picture that stands for something more than a man and a woman becoming one flesh. It is meant to be a portrait of Christ’s covenant with his people, his commitment to the church.
Ephesians 6:19 ‘…And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel…’ KJV (King James Version)
In vs19, the apostle Paul asks the Ephesians church to pray for him to have the words to proclaim the Gospel, which he calls the ‘Mystery of the Gospel.’ The Greek word for ‘mystery’ in this verse is moos-TAY-ree-on, which means ‘something hidden, secret, unknown, or not obvious.’ Paul believed that the gospel was once hidden but has now been revealed by God, and that it is up to people to bring the message to others. Paul believed that through prayer, the Holy Spirit can give people the words to explain the Gospel.
Next lesson hopefully, we will finish this study on the word ‘MYSTERY.’
Continue reading the Word. The more we read His Words, the more we will be able know what is expected from us and what awaits us.
Jesus, I pray that those ears and eyes, either listening or seeing this message today would be opened to the very fullest and allow Your love to come inside their lives and comfort them. Teach us Jesus. Protect us. We love You. Amen
InHIM. ><)))o>