Mysteries
Summary
Divine truths previously hidden but now revealed through Christ and His apostles, encompassing the deep things of God's redemptive plan.
☩Biblical Definition
In Scripture, a mystery (Greek: mysterion) is not something incomprehensible but rather a truth once hidden that is now revealed. Paul writes: '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' (Colossians 1:26-27).
☩The Mystery of the Gospel
The central mystery is God's plan of redemption through Christ. Paul speaks of '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' (Romans 16:25-26). This includes the incarnation: 'Great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory' (1 Timothy 3:16).
☩The Mystery of Gentile Inclusion
A particular mystery is that Gentiles share equally with Jews in God's promises: 'That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel' (Ephesians 3:6). This mystery was 'not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit' (Ephesians 3:5).
☩Hidden from the Wise
Jesus thanked the Father for hiding these things from the wise: 'I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes' (Matthew 11:25). He explained parables to His disciples because 'unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given' (Matthew 13:11).
☩Spiritual Discernment Required
Paul declares: 'We speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory... which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth' (1 Corinthians 2:7, 13). Natural understanding cannot grasp these truths: 'The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned' (1 Corinthians 2:14).
