Yesterday we looked at God's power, how it is manifested and how salvation is received today, by "my gospel", that is Paul's gospel (Rom. 16:25-26). Here is the passage again:
"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:"
God's power to stablish anyone, by first saving anyone from their dead state, to making them alive and raising them in Christ to be edified, taught, and to gain understanding of their identity in Christ, is according to Paul's gospel. However, it is Paul's gospel, but also "the preaching of Jesus Christ". Is that all it says? No. Paul says, "and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to (in line with) the revelation of the mystery". Paul taught Christ according to the revelation of the mystery. What is this mystery?
Eph. 3:2-6,8-11
"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 (Paul) 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 reavealed unto His holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;" (2-6)
"Unto ME (Paul), who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, THAT I SHOULD PREACH AMONG THE GENTILES THE UNSEARCHABLE RICHES OF CHRIST; 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: TO THE INTENT THAT NOW unto principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the MANIFOLD wisdom of God, according to the eternal purpose which He purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:" (8-11)
Col. 1:25-28,
"Whereof I (Paul) am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, TO FULFILL 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:"
1 Cor. 2:4-8,
"And my speech and my PREACHING was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: that your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect (mature): yet not the wisdom of this world (carnal wisdom), nor of the princes of this world (religious wisdom-really it is Satan's wisdom, he is the prince of this world), that come to nought: 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."
These passages will do for now. In each of these passages, Paul mentions either "dispensation" that God hid from the beginning of the world, or explains the mystery that was hid in God before the foundation of the world.
Do you attempt to make all men see the fellowship of the mystery? Do you know the mystery? If Satan would have known this mystery of Christ he would not have crucified Him, think about that? Do you speak and preach about the hidden wisdom of Christ?, anything else is man's wisdom with enticing words. This mystery of Christ is the very thing "Paul's gospel" that he was teaching, preaching, and making all men see during his missionary journeys.
Paul is going to these churches, giving them his gospel that he received of the Lord Jesus Christ and Him alone, and then preaching Christ according to "the revelation of the mystery, WHICH WAS KEPT SECRET SINCE THE WORLD BEGAN," Rom. 16:25.
IT WAS KEPT SECRET SINCE THE WORLD BEGAN, and Paul is now making it manifest, Paul was and still is God's chosen man. Paul is the apostle of the Gentiles, all nations were given unto him. Paul's measure was not the outward appearance, but that he was teaching everywhere the mystery of Christ, the gospel of Christ. (2 Cor. 10:11-14)
Let's look at one verse to compare with the mystery.
Acts 3:17-21, (Peter preaching Christ)
"And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did it (killed Christ), as did also your rulers (those were the princes we saw earlier). But those things, which God before HAD SHOWED BY THE MOUTH OF ALL HIS PROPHETS, THAT CHRIST SHOULD SUFFER, HE HATH FULFILLED (notice, the fulfilling of the glory of Christ second coming hasn't been fulfill). Repent (change your minds) ye (Israel) therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out (when?, right away), WHEN THE TIMES OF REFRESHING shall COME (second coming) from the presence of he Lord; and he shall send Jesus Christ (again second coming), which BEFORE was preached unto you: (is this the mystery, let find out) whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution (wrath, 7 year tribulation, pay back for God) of all things, which God HATH SPOKEN BY THE MOUTH OF ALL HIS HOLY PROPHETS SINCE THE WORLD BEGAN."
What Peter reveals and preaches here is Christ, no doubt about it. It is truth, however this truth is according to what "God before had showed by the mouth of all His prophets" and "which God hath spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets SINCE THE WORLD BEGAN." This is prophecy, His word that He made known since the world began, but Paul doesn't say that, he says mystery. Paul is preaching what God had NOT made known unto the world (He has now), but what God had kept secret, hid in Himself "since the beginning of the world".
Peter preached Christ as the Messiah over Israel, to be the King of kings and Lord of lords, which Christ surely is and will reign in that position of authority at His second coming. However, God is not just dealing with Israel or Gentiles through Israel at this time. God is dealing with both Jew and Gentile and BY the Cross, God is making "both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; (Eph. 2:14)"
These are differences that must be recognized, properly understood, and believed. Christ according to prophecy to Israel, and Christ according to mystery to the Body of Christ. It is the same Christ, however God in His "manifold wisdom" (Eph. 3) has a two-fold purpose in Christ. God's purpose in Christ is to reconcile His creation back unto Himself, from Satan's dominion. Christ while on earth calls Satan, "the prince of this world (earth)". Paul calls Satan, "the prince of the power of the air (heavens)". God in Christ will reconcile the earth unto Himself by Christ being the King of kings and Lord of lords over the nation of Israel. God also had a plan and purpose in Christ that He hid in the counsels of His will to not only reconcile the earth in Christ, but to reconcile the heavenly places unto Himself by Christ being the Head of the Body of Christ. This is what everyone who receives God precious free gift (to us, it cost Christ His life) is apart of, God's plan and chosen purpose of the Body of Christ to reconcile the heavenly places unto God. The Body of Christ is the means by which God will reclaim part of His creation from Satan and be glorified for His manifold wisdom in and through Christ. However this can be done now by understanding the mystery of Christ and making all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery.
There is a lot here, but I will be going over it scripture by scripture, verse by verse in the days to come. Please if you have any questions, whether you want to reveal your name of not, please ask. Also I have an email that is, josh.strelecki@yahoo.com, I check that daily. Tomorrow we will look at "Paul's gospel" and how distinct not only his gospel truly is, but also his apostleship.
Until next time.....
In Him,
Joshua Strelecki
1 comment:
Josh,
I like how you pointed out that the mystery hath been hid in God. That doesn't mean that is wasn't understood in the Old Testament or hid in the words of the Old Testament, otherwise God would have said that. It was HID in GOD! That means that no one but God himself knew about it. And something that was preached since the world began and made known since the world began CANNOT be the same as something that was not made known and hid in God before the world began. It is as clear as day that the message preached from Peter and Paul contain two different doctrines since one was being preached since the world began and made known, while Paul was preaching something that was hid in God before the world began and NOT MADE KNOWN. The question that everyone needs to ask is what is this mystery that was not made known, and what was Peter preaching that was made known. They can't be the same and Christians HAVE to recognize that other wise mixing two different messages leads to confusion. After all, why can't God who is all powerful and perfect, have two different plans for two different groups of people, with two messages,and two sets of good news? He is GOD and he can, and he did! amen brother! Great post!
Jeremy
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