God's Mysteries Revealed
The Bible speaks of the “mysteries” of God, His ways which are hidden from human wisdom and defy humanity’s expectations. In his teachings, Jesus declared that not everyone could understand the “mysteries of the kingdom.” It was God who revealed the deep and obscure things to whomever He pleased. However, in His Son, He has unveiled them for all who have “eyes that can see” to behold.
According to the New Testament, God did not
disclose a complete understanding of His redemptive plans until the appropriate
time: “Now, to him who has the power to
establish you according to my gospel, even the proclamation of Jesus Christ,
according to the revelation of the mystery, in age-past times kept
silent, but now made manifest”
- (Romans 16:25-27).
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| [Photo by Trevor McKinnon on Unsplash] |
Indeed, the disclosure of His redemptive plan marked the arrival of the era of fulfillment: “But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, that he might redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons” – (Galatians 4:4).
He certainly revealed truth in the
Levitical system with its elaborate rituals, as well as in the “Law and the
prophets.” However, His earlier words were partial, promissory, and
preparatory. The substance of the Gospel was foreshadowed in the words and
images of the former covenant - (“In many parts and many ways of old” –
Hebrews 1:1-2).
The prophets of old foretold the coming redemption
that would be revealed in the Messiah, though they did not comprehend all
the ramifications of the promises of God. For that matter, even angels lacked
full insight into the mysteries of His redemption:
- (1 Peter 1:10-12) – “Concerning which salvation prophets, who concerning the grace for you did prophesy, sought out and searched out, searching into what particular or what manner of season the Spirit of Christ which was in them was pointing to when witnessing beforehand as to the sufferings for Christ and the glories after these, to whom it was revealed that, not to themselves but to us they were ministering them, which things have now been announced to you… into which things angels are coveting to obtain a nearer view.”
Nonetheless, the “mystery” that was concealed
has been revealed in Jesus, and at the appointed season, and above all, in
his death and resurrection.
The “Law and the Prophets” were
vital parts of God’s redemptive plan, but in them, many of His “mysteries”
remained hidden. But now, “at the consummation of the ages,” they have
been disclosed fully in His Son:
- ”In whom we have our redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, disclosing to us the mystery of his will, according to his good -pleasure which he purposed in him” - (Ephesians 1:7-9).
Paul
and the apostles were appointed as Christ’s ministers who were sent to reveal
the “mystery that has been hidden
for ages and generations, but now has been manifested to his saints.” And this disclosure 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 PROMISED ACTUALIZED
With his coming, the rituals and regulations
of the Mosaic legislation have been relegated to the status of “shadows and
types.” Jesus is the one who was foreshadowed in the “types” of the
Hebrew Bible - (Colossians 2:16-17).
For believers to return now to the outmoded
rituals and partial truths of the old order constitutes regression, not
revelation, reversion to bondage under the “elemental things” of the old
system. The inauguration of the New Covenant demonstrated that the former Levitical
system is now obsolete - (Galatians 4:8-11, Hebrews 8:13).
Neither is there any need to turn to
mystical practices such as the observation of astronomical signs and lunar
cycles for deeper insight into divine “mysteries.” In “these last
days,” God’s nature and “mysteries” are revealed in Jesus, and they
are available to anyone who hears the Word that He now “speaks in His Son.”
The hidden “mystery” that the prophets
and angels desired to understand is revealed to all men and women of faith. What
is required is not secret knowledge or mystical insight but the “obedience
of faith.”
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